Prospective Neuroscience Graduate Students

Admission and Entry

In addition to general graduate requirements, applicants should fulfill the following requirements:

- Applicants should have a strong background in neuroscience. This should include 1) at least one advanced course completed in Behavioral Neuroscience AND 2) at least one advanced course completed in Molecular/Cellular Neuroscience. Students who do not fulfill either or both of these requirements may be conditionally accepted into the program, on condition that they take the course(s) they are missing (NEURO 460 and/or 480, respectively) during their first semester and pass each course with a grade of 3.0 or higher.

- Applicants should also have a solid foundation in the basic sciences, with university-level credit in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, and Biology/Physiology.

- Applicants’ undergraduate GPA should be 3.0 or greater. Applicants with a lower GPA must submit a petition.

Required Tests

GRE, MCAT or DAT are not required, but may be submitted if desired.

Students whose native language is not English must successfully complete the TOEFL or IELTS examination with a minimum score as given below:

TEST	MINIMUM SCORE
Duolingo English Test (DET)	125 in listening, reading, speaking, & writing, comprising an overall score of at least 130
IELTS	6.0 in each section, 7.0 overall
CAE	185 (or grade of “C”)
TOEFL PBT (paper-based)	580
TOEFL IBT	85 (22 in Speaking, 21 in other sections)

For more information about English Proficiency Tests, please visit English Proficiency for BYU Graduate Studies.

Non-English-speaking students must also provide sufficient documentation to permit an appropriate evaluation of their previous academic performance.

Additional Requirements

Resume

Transcripts

Three letters of recommendation
Letters of recommendation are most helpful when provided from individuals that can speak about your potential as a graduate student*. Here are the criteria that the recommenders would be commenting on:

• Intellectual and academic ability
• Ability to work well with others
• Emotional stability and maturity
• Ability to communicate: orally and in writing
• Ability to see implications and synthesize ideas
• Judgment, industry, initiative, and motivation
• Research potential
• Teaching potential
• Overall competence and potential

*We would prefer that the recommenders are faculty or researchers, but supervisors might have to do if you don’t feel that your professors would remember you. If you can get a letter from your previous research lab that would be very helpful.

Statement of Intent: Document of your academic preparation and goals, indicating how graduate work fits into those goals. Statements are generally 1-2 pages. This statement gives the admissions committee an opportunity to learn the following:

1. Your preparation and background for the program.
2. Your academic or professional goals (both short (3-5 years) and long-term) and reasons for your choice of career.
3. Your particular academic or professional reasons for applying to Brigham Young University and the scholarly or professional contributions you expect to make to your program.
4. Do you have special circumstances you wish the department to consider, such as circumstances that may have affected undergraduate academic performance, test scores, unexplained job gaps, etc.
5. (If you have previously applied) How have you strengthened your candidacy if you previously applied to this program and were denied admission? (e.g. changes in your professional development, improved academic qualifications, etc.)

Letter of Interest: Document summarizing your background, career goals, research experience, interest level, likely fit, and desire to conduct graduate research with at least three specific faculty members in the program.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact individual faculty members whose research is aligned with the prospective student's long-term goals. This allows the faculty member to advocate on behalf of the applicant during the acceptance process. Students will work directly with faculty mentors throughout their graduate programs. Faculty contact information can be found here.

Contact our Graduate Program Supervisor, Heidi Jensen, for additional information or with questions at heidijensen@byu.edu or 801-422-8633.