Application Instructions
CONTACT INFORMATION
Institute for Public Health Genetics
University of Washington
Box 357236
Seattle, WA 98195-7236
Phone: (206) 616-9286
FAX: (206) 685-9651
phgen@u.washington.edu
ENTRY QUARTERS
MS, MPH and PhD: The admissions committee reviews applications during the winter quarter for admission to the program in the following autumn quarter. Students are not accepted for other quarters due to the sequencing of the Public Health Genetics core courses.
DEADLINES
MS, MPH and PhD: Admission is based on committee review of each applicant's academic and professional qualifications, including previous degrees and grades, work experience, applicable test scores, statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation.
Domestic Applicants: All materials, including the Graduate School application must be in our office by close of business on January 15, 2008. (Although the Graduate School application indicates it is due May 15 or July 1, please be sure to return it by January 15, otherwise we will not receive the Graduate School materials in a timely manner for admissions committee meetings.)
International Applicants: You must submit the Graduate School application, application fee and official transcripts to the central UW Graduate Admissions Office by November 1, 2007. All other application materials must be in our office by close of business on January 15, 2008.
PUBLIC HEALTH GENETICS APPLICATION
The following items must be sent to the address above:
The completed appropriate program application form.
A printed copy of your completed Graduate School web application should also be sent along with the Public Health Genetics program application.
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Statement of purpose.
MPH and PhD:
A one- to two-page typed statement of purpose in which you describe your reasons for seeking admission to the IPHG MPH or PhD program. Although there are no specific guidelines, consider including your relevant past experience and educational background, which core knowledge areas are of most interest to you, your personal strengths and how they will contribute to the program, your perspective on the field of public health genetics, and your long term career goals. The admissions committee will use your essay to evaluate your writing, thinking, and editing skills, as well as to understand your intellectual priorities and your ability to think across disciplines. Your statement should be a maximum of 2 typewritten or word processed pages in 12-point font, single-spaced.
MS:
Please discuss your educational and professional background, reasons for seeking admission, career goals and how a degree in genetic epidemiology would contribute to these goals. Your statement should reflect your understanding of the field of genetic epidemiology and the training you will receive in our program. The admissions committee will use your essay to evaluate your writing, thinking, and editing skills, as well as to understand your intellectual priorities. Your statement should be a maximum of 2 typewritten or word processed pages in 12-point font, single-spaced.
MPH, MS and PhD
Public Health Genetics believes that students with varied cultural experiences and/or disadvantaged social backgrounds contribute to the intellectual and social enrichment of our program. If you wish to have these factors included in the review of your application, please include information in your statement of purpose concerning your personal history, family background, and influences on your intellectual development.
- Official sealed transcripts including courses, grades and degrees from all institutions attended after secondary school. (You may send good quality photocopies to speed initial processing of your application, but official sealed transcripts must follow.)
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Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Public Health Genetics requires GRE scores from all applicants, except those who hold a U.S. doctorate (neither the MCAT nor ECFMG are acceptable substitutes for the GRE.) The UW code is R4854. No department code is necessary. ETS will eventually send your score electronically to UW Graduate Admissions. Applicants should take the examination at least one month before the application deadline to ensure timely receipt of official scores. Official GRE score reports must be received by the UW Graduate Admissions Office by January 15th. Please include a photocopy of the unofficial score report with your application or fax us a copy when you receive your GRE score. This will expedite the review of your application.
GREs must have been taken within the last 5 years. For a registration booklet and information, contact ETS-GRE, P.O. Box 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000, (609) 771-7670, fax (609) 771-7906, email gre-info@ets.org. Information is also available at http://www.gre.org - Three recent letters of recommendation from professors, supervisors, or
others who know your work reasonably well. No standard format is required for
these letters, but the recommendations should comment in detail on your
qualifications for training in public health genetics or genetic epidemiology.
At least two of these letters must focus on your academic performance.
Recommendation letters may either be sent with the departmental application
in sealed envelopes or they may be sent directly to Public Health Genetics.
Letters of recommendation for the MPH and PhD should be addressed to:
Melissa Austin, Ph.D., Chair
Graduate Admissions Committee
Institute for Public Health Genetics
University of Washington, Box 357236
Seattle, WA 98195-7236.Letters of recommendation for the MS in Genetic Epidemiology should be addressed to:
Karen L. Edwards, Ph.D., Chair
M.S. Admissions Committee
Institute for Public Health Genetics
University of Washington, Box 357236
Seattle, WA 98195-7236.It is your responsibility to check with your references to ensure that we receive your letters on time.
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A recent copy of your resume or curriculum vitae.
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MPH/JD Concurrent Degree Applicants need to apply separately to both the Public Health Genetics MPH Program and to the Law School. The applications to both schools should state the applicant is seeking concurrent degrees.
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INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
We must receive an official copy of your TOEFL score before the application deadline. (The ECFMG is not an acceptable substitute.) Important: You must carefully review the information at the following website: https://www.grad.washington.edu/admissions/adminfo.html#International
CLOSE TO DEADLINE
If you send the application within a few days of the deadline, we advise you to use an express courier service. Two-day priority mail is not reliable. If you use an express courier, you must use the street address: Public Health Genetics, Room F-363 Health Sciences Building, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195. The phone number is (206) 616-9286.
COPIES
It is best to make a copy of your application packet in case items are lost in the mail.
ADMISSIONS DECISIONS
Applicants will be notified of the admissions committee’s decision by April 15.
MINORITY APPLICANTS
The School of Public Health and Community Medicine (SPHCM) is committed to increasing the enrollment of students from groups traditionally underrepresented in public health professions. Toward this goal, the Office for Student Services provides various services to minority applicants. For further information, please contact Christine Edgar, Director, Office for Student Services, SPHCM, University of Washington, Box 357230, Seattle, WA, 98195-7230; Her email is cedgar@u.washington.edu and her phone is (206) 685-3057.
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"The University of Washington is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation contact the Disability Resources for Students Office at least ten days in advance at: 206-543-8924/V, 206-543-8925/TTY, 206-616-8379 (FAX), or dso@u.washington.edu."