Rutgers Graduate Admissions
Please follow the directions on the Rutgers Graduate Admissions web site to apply to our graduate program. The Application Guidelines page has a preview of the questions asked by Rutgers on the application form. Microbial Biology Ph.D. applications are due by December 15 and M.S. applications are due by April 1.
Application Fee Waivers
Application fee waivers can be obtained by U.S. citizens who have been traditionally underrepresented in graduate education, including racial and ethnic minorities, women in STEM, first-generation college students, and individuals who have faced adversity, such as societal, economic or academic disadvantages. Please complete the very simple application at the Big 10 Academic Alliance FreeApp website and the Rutgers Admissions Office will evaluate your request for a fee waiver.
Microbial Biology Graduate Application Requirements
1) A completed Rutgers graduate application submitted through the Rutgers Application Portal. Please note that there are two microbiology graduate programs at Rutgers so please choose Microbial Biology on the "Program of Study" page of the Rutgers Graduate Application. Our program is Microbial Biology and focusses on microorganisms. The other graduate program, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, is part of the Molecular Biosciences umbrella of programs.
2) A Personal Statement telling us why you are interested in microbiology and describing your previous research experience.
3) A CV is requested but not required. Besides basic information about the applicant, a CV should include oral and poster research presentations, journal publications, relevant research experience, and any summer internships or work after graduation. A CV can be uploaded as Supporting Material after the Rutgers application has been submitted.
4) Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended are needed. Unofficial copies of transcripts should be uploaded on the "Education History" page of the Rutgers Graduate Application. Please note that it is very important to upload unofficial copies of your transcript since it takes time for official copies to reach Rutgers and be posted in the admissions system. We will review your application with the unofficial transcripts and official transcripts are only needed if we offer you admission into our graduate program. Official copies of transcripts can be sent to Graduate and Professional Admissions.
5) Three letters of reference are required. The best reference letters are written by research advisors and professors teaching advanced courses. Please give your reference writers adequate time to submit their letters. We will review your application with less than three letters but it is to your advantage to have all three letters sent on time.
6) Foreign students must submit TOEFL scores unless you received a previous degree from a college or university in an English speaking country. Official TOEFL scores can be sent to Rutgers using the code 2790.
7) GRE scores are NOT required. GRE scores are NOT taken into consideration by the admissions committee and we have in the past admitted Ph.D. and M.S. students who did not submit GRE scores.
Microbial Biology Application Review
The Microbial Biology admissions committee meets in the middle of January to review the Ph.D. applicants. The committee meets ONCE ONLY so it is very important that all your application materials be submitted before the committee meets (including reference letters). The admissions committee looks at many factors to make an admission decision: adequate preparation (grades in courses taken in microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, and related fields especially junior/senior level science courses), research experience, letters of recommendation, and personal statement. Our best applicants have focused personal statements, good undergraduate research experience, good grades in advanced science courses, and excellent letters of recommendation (especially from research advisors).
The Microbial Biology admissions committee reviews the M.S. applicants in batches between January and April. The deadline for M.S. applications is April 1 but it is advisable to submit your application as early as possible.
Microbial Biology Application Information
Applicants may contact the Program Director Dr. Zylstra (email preferred at zylstra@sebs.rutgers.edu) at any time about the admissions process.