Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access the online application process?

Go to the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Admissions page.

What are the application deadlines?

• Domestic Applicants: December 15, 2012 (please note the on-line application will not be available after 1/5/12)
• International Applicants: November 15, 2012

What are the differences in the application process for domestic and for international applicants? How do I tell which one I am?

International students attending a U.S. university should use the domestic application. International students attending international colleges or universities should use the international application.

What is the code for submitting GRE scores to UTHSC-Houston Registrar's Office?

The code is 6907; no department code is necessary.

What are the institution and department codes for the Educational Testing Service to send official GRE and TOEFL score reports?

The institutional code for The University of Texas - Houston is 6907; no department code is necessary.

Who needs to take the TOEFL Exam?

International applicants who have received a diploma from a university at which English is the language of instruction are not required to take the TOEFL exam.

What factors are considered for admission?

The Medical Physics Program Applicant Review Committee and the GSBS Admissions Committee consider the following factors in evaluating applicants for admission:

• Previous research experience and accomplishments, including participation in science fairs
• Enrollment in laboratory and research-based courses
• Involvement in research projects and publications
• Expressed commitment to a career involving biomedical research
• Undergraduate grade point average
• Performance in undergraduate courses in the biological and physical sciences, physics and mathematics
• Trends in academic performance
• Degree difficulty of undergraduate academic program
• Previous graduate-level study
• Honors and awards for academic achievement
• Performance on the Graduate Record Examinations (and, for international applicants, the Test of English as a Foreign Language and the Test of Written English)
• Success in overcoming socio-economic and educational disadvantages
• Letters of recommendation
• Statement of purpose

What are the average GRE scores for applicants offered admission to both the SMS and PhD Program for fall 2012?

Although there are no cut-offs, a competitive score for the combined Verbal and Quantitative is 1250. A competitive score for the Analytical Writing section is 4.5.

Do you have a minimum GPA requirement?

Applicants are expected to have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 on all undergraduate and graduate level work previously. The average GPA for applicants admitted to the Specialized Masters and PhD Medical Physics Program trainees for fall 2007 through fall 2011 was:

What are your recruitment statistics for the last 12 years?

What stipends and/or financial support are offered?

Entering PhD students for fall 2012 will receive a guaranteed stipend of $29,000 annually for two-years, tuition remission, and premium sharing for health benefits.

For the SMS Program, starting in fall 2009, there will be four partially funded admissions of $15,000 annually for the first year only and one year of tuition remission guaranteed and at least one offer of admission without any funding or tuition remission guaranteed. Partially funded admissions are not eligible for health benefits.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Med-Into-Grad Fellowship opportunity?

The Rice University Biomedical Engineering Program and the MD Anderson Cancer Center Medical Physics Program collaboratively administer an HHMI “Med-Into-Grad” (MIG) program. Starting in summer 2010, MIG positions were made available for highly qualified students entering the Medical Physics Program.

Each year, 10 highly qualified new students from Rice University and MD Anderson Cancer Center are admitted to the program. In their first summer of enrollment in the Rice University Biomedical Engineering Program or the MD Anderson Medical Physics Program, the HHMI MIG program provides stipend support for MIG fellows while they complete an intensive cancer internship that includes curricula in gross anatomy, cancer pathology, cancer biology, and cancer medicine. These didactic opportunities are integrated with clinical rotations in diagnostic imaging, medical oncology, surgical oncology, and oncologic radiotherapy providing a very unique multidisciplinary learning opportunity. Seminars for the HHMI MIG fellows continue after the summer term, and joint interdisciplinary mentorship is provided.

The Medical Physics Program faculty members encourage applicants to the program to review information on this unique HHMI MIG program and to contact the Program Director, Dr. Ed Jackson, if they are interested in being considered for admission. More information can be found at http://medintograd.rice.edu/index.cfm. Please do note that the requirements for the medical physics fellows in the HHMI MIG program differ from those for others in the program with regard to certain required formal courses. Dr. Jackson can provide specific information.

What about letters of recommendation?

The applicant should arrange to have the recommendations submitted directly to the GSBS Office of the Admissions by at least three persons who are well qualified to evaluate the applicant's scholastic performance, scientific ability, research interest and motivation, and personal attributes such as character and personality. If the applicant is currently enrolled in or has completed a graduate degree program, one of these recommendations must be from the applicant's academic advisor or mentor.

Mailing address:

GSBS, Office of Admissions
6767 Bertner, Ste. 3.8344
Houston, TX 77030

Do you admit new students every semester?

The majority of students entering the Medical Physics Program enter in the fall semester. However, there has been a rare occasion where a student was able to enter the program during the summer semester due to special circumstances.

What sort of academic background are you looking for in applicants?

In addition to admission standards established by the GSBS, the Program will use the following standards in evaluating Medical Physics applicants:

Degree:

• B.S., B.A., M.S., or M.A. in Physics
• M.S. in Medical Physics, or B.S., B.A., M.S., or M.A. degree in a physical science or engineering discipline with adequate physics preparation. 

Please note that many such programs (including some B.S. programs in Medical Physics) do not include sufficient physics in their standard curricula.

A suitable preparation in physics would be completion of upper level (junior, senior and graduate) courses:

• Electricity and magnetism
• Modern physics and quantum mechanics
• Additional upper level courses in classical mechanics, thermodynamics, and atomic and nuclear physics, or their engineering equivalents

Mathematics should include multivariate calculus and ordinary differential equations. Additional study in linear algebra and probability and statistics is desirable.

Can I waive previously completed coursework?

There is a process in place for waiving of previously completed coursework. Once an individual officially enters the program they will meet with the course coordinator to review the syllabus for the course taken against the syllabus for the program course. The course coordinator can either recommend unconditional waiver of the course or approve waiver with conditions.

The paperwork is then submitted to the Program Steering Committee for approval. If it is a GSBS area course requirements, after approval by the Program Steering Committee the paperwork will be forwarded on to the GSBS Academic Standards Committee for final approval.

What are the typical timelines for both the SMS and Ph.D. programs?

• SMS Program: 2 years to 2 years, 1 semester
• PhD Program: 5 years

What are the demographics of your students?

How successful are your graduates in finding employment?

To date, trainees who have conferred their degrees in our program have had multiple offers to consider before completing their degrees.

Do you require interviews?

Our program requires interviews before any offer of admission is extended. The graduate school or the Program will cover the cost of reasonable travel expenses to visit and interview during one of the GSBS five visitation weekends held each year between the months of January - April. The program will not invite international applicants for an on-site interview unless they are currently located within the 48 contiguous US states. However, we will arrange to interview international applicants by phone.

Do you have a question not on this list?

Please contact us.