Application Process

Applicants should have a bachelor's degree in the biological sciences or a related discipline (e.g., chemistry, engineering, physics). Although there are no prerequisites, most applicants have taken courses in general biology, cell/molecular biology, calculus, general physics, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and biochemistry.

Competitive candidates will have the following:

• Excellent academic record (minimum overall cumulative GPA = 3.0). The average GPA of registrants is 3.6, with top grades in science courses.
• Research experience in a wet laboratory setting. A minimum of 1,000 hours of lab experience is expected. Computer-based research is acceptable for students with strong interests in bioinformatics.
• Scientific presentations at regional or national conferences.
• Co-authorship in peer-reviewed biomedical journals.
• Co-authorship in a peer-reviewed journal is expected for all foreign applicants.
• Strong letters of recommendation from science mentors who can evaluate the applicant’s motivations and research potential.
• Motivation to pursue state-of-the-art biomedical research and long-term plans for a career within the biomedical workforce. 

BioMed Centralized Application Service (BiomedCAS) welcomes applicants to use a single online application and one set of materials to apply to multiple biomedical science programs at participating schools. All applicants must apply online through BiomedCAS.

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Application Fee Waivers

Qualified applicants who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents or foreign nationals residing in the United States with documented membership in approved programs or demonstrated financial need (those who fall below the federal poverty guidelines) may request an application fee waiver. Please note that waivers are very limited. Apply early. 

The following are examples of qualified organizations:

• AmeriCorp or City Year Volunteer
• Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minorities Students (ABRCMS)
• Fulbright Scholars
• Gates Millennium Scholars
• McNair Scholars
• Minority Biomedical Research Support Program (RISE)
• PeaceCorp Volunteers
• Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
• Teach for America Volunteers
• Applicants who fall below the federal poverty guidelines
  

Applicants must submit the following to ogs@miami.edu:

• Completed Fee Waiver Request Form
• Latest 1040, 1040EZ, or 4506T-EZ tax form
• Documentation of scholarship or volunteer participation

The BioMedCAS application is divided into four sections. Carefully review the following instructions before applying.

In Section One, applicants are asked to provide basic biographic and demographic information.

• Release Statement
• Biographic Information
• Contact Information
• Citizenship Information
• Race & Ethnicity
• Other Information

Applicants must report all previously attended colleges/universities and enter all coursework on their application. This information must be reported fully and accurately; discrepancies will delay application review.

Official Transcripts

Please do NOT send any documents to the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine by mail. 

ALL official academic records – including degree and non-degree programs, community college, and English language programs – from all previously attended colleges and universities must be sent electronically from each institution to BiomedCAS. 

Applicants with Canadian transcripts with French language or grading systems should follow the international transcript instructions below.

Electronic transcripts are required. Follow the BiomedCAS instructions for submitting your transcripts through Credential Solutions, Parchment, or National Student Clearinghouse.
 
Institutions that have not converted to digital records can mail transcripts to:

BioMedCAS Transcript Processing Center
P.O. Box 9207
Watertown, MA  02471

International Transcripts 

Applicants who have attended institutions outside of the U.S. must submit all official transcripts, mark sheets, and a photocopy of their diploma(s) (with English translation when applicable). All post-secondary/university transcripts must be submitted with a course-by-course transcript evaluation with GPA from the World Education Service using the WES CAS website. Select BiomedCAS from the drop-down menu, which provides country-specific document requirements. Your evaluation will be sent electronically to BiomedCAS.

Submit Your WES Evaluation

Official transcripts with translation and credential evaluation must be received before an application is reviewed.

If you have already had your transcripts evaluated by a NACES-accredited agency on this list, have official copies resent to:

BioMedCAS Transcript Processing Center
P.O. Box 9207
Watertown, MA  02471

Standardized Tests

GRE Exam: GRE is no longer required. Competitive GRE scores (top 50th percentile) can be submitted through BiomedCAS as supporting information, institution code 4090.

English Proficiency: International students whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Test scores must be less than two years old. This requirement is waived for applicants who have completed 30 consecutive credits at the university level, where English was the language of instruction, or for those who passed Step 1 of the USMLEs. 

TOEFL: When registering for the test, please request that your score be sent to BiomedCAS, institution code B765. The minimum score is 80.

IELTS: When registering for the test, please request that your score be sent to the University of Miami, institution code 4862. The minimum score is 6.5.

MCAT Exam: The MCAT is not required for graduate medical programs though it may be submitted as supporting information.

References: In this section, applicants will enter the contact information for their references. You must submit a minimum of three (and a maximum of five) letters of recommendation from those who are best able to assess your ability to be successful in graduate school. We strongly recommend you request letters from research mentors and/or supervisors who have directly observed your laboratory experience.

Once you have saved an electronic recommendation, an email request will automatically be sent to the recommender on your behalf. Please advise your recommender to look for this email in their inbox and spam folder.

Experiences and Achievements: You may skip the sections, as we will assess these qualifications based on your resume/CV. Note that other institutions may require it.

Documents: Upload your CV/resume. It should include research experience with bulleted summaries, community service, education, academic or professional honors, conference presentations, and publications.

Questions: In this section, we ask questions specific to the PiBS program. Additionally, you will be asked to report (1) your total number of hours conducting research and (2) information on any peer-reviewed publications in print or accepted.

Documents: Upload the following documents to section four of your application.

Personal Statement: Your statement allows you to submit a narrative discussing your research experience, life experiences, motivations for pursuing a doctorate, career goals, and research interests at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Supporting documents: Optionally, you may upload publications, poster abstracts, etc.