Frequently Asked Questions: M.S. in Computational Biology
Is there an application fee and when is the application deadline?
| Final Deadline | Non-refundable Application Fee | Enrollment Deposit |
| May 1 Applications received by February 15 will received priority consideration and will be eligible for an early decision. |
$75 US |
$150 US Submit this deposit after acceptance into the program. It is required to secure your place and will be applied toward tuition. |
How much is tuition?
For the 2012-13 academic year, tuition is $38,800. Room/board and other costs are not included within this total. A complete list of graduate tuition and cost of attendance information may be found at http://www.cmu.edu/hub/tuition/graduate/mcs.html.
Is there financial support for graduate students?
A limited number of small departmental fellowships are available for students. It is advised that you review Carnegie Mellon's Enrollment Services Web site for other external sources of financial aid.
Is health insurance provided?
No, students must provide their own insurance. Carnegie Mellon requires full-time, degree-seeking students to enroll in the university's contracted student insurance plans or request a refund of the premium by completing a medical insurance waiver form on which they verify that their alternative insurance meets the university's mandated requirements. Information about the insurance options available for purchase from Carnegie Mellon is found at the Student Health Services Web site.
Are international students accepted?
Yes, the program is very diverse and welcomes international students. The numbers of foreign-born applicants, accepted students and matriculating students vary each year.
Is there financial aid for international students?
What are my chances of being accepted to the M.S. program?
The Admissions Committee is selective and only considers those applicants who have the potential for a successful academic career. Your chance of acceptance depends upon both the applicant pool and the strength of your complete application.
Are M.S. students able to serve as Research Assistants (RAs) or Teaching Assistants (TAs)?
No, M.S. students are not eligible to become Research Assistants or Teaching Assistants.
Do M.S. students have employment opportunities in faculty research groups?
Where should transcripts be mailed?
Department of Biological Sciences
Carnegie Mellon University
4400 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Do you accept photocopies of GRE scores, TOEFL/IELTS reports or transcripts?
No, photocopies are not accepted for evaluation.
Is there a minimum GRE score?
NOTE: Scores must be no more than five years old.
Are subject GREs required?
NOTE: Scores must be no more than five years old.
What are the Carnegie Mellon codes for the GRE test?
The school code is CMU 2074 and the department code is Biology 0203.
Is there a minimum TOEFL score?
What are the Carnegie Mellon codes for the TOEFL test?
The school code is CMU 2074 and the department code is Biology 35.
How many copies of each transcript should I submit?
Submit only one official transcript from each college-level institution attended (whether or not a degree was conferred). International applicants must send one copy of each transcript officially translated in English and with a GPA, calculated officially, on a 4.0 scale..
How do I get my transcript translated and GPA calculated?
Contact the translation service, WES. For international applicants, the admissions commitee will not review an application without transcripts in English and a GPA that has not been calculated on a 4.0 scale.
Are there required forms or formats for the online recommendation letters?
Yes, online recommendation forms are automatically e-mailed to recommenders once a student has submitted the application.
What should be included in the three online recommendation letters?
The three letters of recommendation should be written by professional or academic references. Recommenders should evaluate the following attributes of the applicant: academic performance, research experience, motivation and perseverance, speaking and writing skills, strengths and weaknesses; recommenders should also state their relationship to the applicant.
What information should be included in my Statement of Purpose?
Your statement of purpose should be a well-written 1-2 page essay describing:
1. your motivation to enter the computational biology field,
2. any previous research experience (including your role in any projects),
3. primary areas of interest,
4. and reasons for considering the Department of Biological Sciences for graduate work.