Admissions

Bachelor's degree (BA or BS) in a biomedical discipline or science‑related field from an accredited college or university.

Provide a personal narrative detailing your reasons for wanting to pursue a PhD degree in Biomedical and Translational Sciences. Your SOP should summarize key research experiences and accomplishments and state why you wish to do your PhD training at Cedars‑Sinai Medical Center. Although not required, you may name specific investigators at Cedars-Sinai with whom you would consider as potential mentors. The SOP is carefully considered in the selection process and is an important component of your application. Please be concise and specific. The SOP is limited to 3 double-spaced pages, 11 or 12 pt font, and 0.5-to-1-inch margins on all sides. If not formatted within these rules, your SOP will not be considered. Please convert your SOP to PDF and upload with your application.

GRE scores are NOT required to be considered for admission for the PhD program. However, you may submit your official scores directly from ETS (GRE institution code: 5739) and add them to your application.

A least 3 letters of recommendation (LOR) must be submitted from persons who have supervised or mentored the applicant in a research or academic setting or who have interacted with the applicant in such areas. LORs are carefully considered in the selection process and are very important components of your application. LORs must sent on letterhead and must be sent directly to the graduate program office from the person writing the letter.

The following are recommended prerequisites for admission to the PhD program:

• One year each of general biology and biochemistry
• Two years of chemistry (general and organic), including laboratory
• One year of mathematics
• One year of general physics, including laboratory
• Significant experience in a research laboratory

Including payment of $55 application fee.

Please submit your official transcripts and GRE scores (if applicable) electronically to [email protected]. Should you need to mail your documents, please send official versions to:

Cedars‑Sinai Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences PhD Program
ATTN: GRE Admissions
Pacific Design Center
8687 Melrose Ave., Suite G‑700, #47
West Hollywood, CA 90069

For students whose first language is not English, official TOEFL scores are required. These must be sent directly from ETS to the graduate program office (TOEFL institution code 5739). Official MCAT scores are acceptable.

Yes. Explore the Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University website to learn more about other available programs.

Yes. The PhD BTS program offers a one-time application fee waiver to applicants who are currently participating in—or have participated for at least one year in—an eligible program. Eligible programs include but are not limited to:

• AmeriCorps

• Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists

• Bill and Melinda Gates Millennium Scholarship

• Careers Opportunity Research/NIMH

• Current or past service in the U.S. military

• Institute for Recruitment of Teachers

• Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation

• Ronald McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program

• Mellon Minority Undergraduate Fellows Program

• Minority Access Research Careers

• Minority Biomedical Research Support Program

• National Association of African American Honors Program

• Peace Corps

• Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science

• Teach for America

• Jackie Robinson Foundation

If you do not see the program you participated in and would like to be considered for a fee waiver, please contact the graduate program office: [email protected]

Eligible applicants must submit a letter from the corresponding program coordinator before submitting the online application. Please email the letter to the graduate program office:  [email protected]

Applicants who have not participated in an eligible program and who experience financial hardship may contact the graduate program office to request a fee waiver application.

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You are welcome to check the status of your application by sending an email inquiry: What is the status of my application? Please provide your first and last name as they appear in the application.

Yes. For the initial review of applications, unofficial transcripts are acceptable. However, requesting official transcripts early is recommended. The online application provides the capability of uploading/attaching transcripts and any other supporting documents.

It depends, based on the criteria below:

• GRE and related standardized test scores are not required but are accepted if you wish to submit them. You may submit your official scores directly from ETS (institution code: 5739) and add them to your application.

• Applicants whose first language is not English must submit official TOEFL scores sent directly from ETS (institution code 5739). Official MCAT scores are also accepted.

The online application collects the essential information for competitive review. Supporting documents that can be added to the application include:

• Transcripts

• Standardized test scores (optional)

• TOEFL scores (if applicable)

• MCAT scores (if applicable)

The online application provides the capability of uploading/attaching these supporting documents.

Note: Letters of recommendation must not be sent separately. Applicants must list referees within the online application, which will automatically send an evaluation form for referees to submit ratings and upload letters.

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Application deadline: Dec. 31

Referee evaluation deadline: Jan. 15

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