{"id":503,"date":"2023-01-24T14:15:28","date_gmt":"2023-01-24T22:15:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mcb\/?page_id=503"},"modified":"2026-02-26T15:24:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T23:24:11","slug":"admissions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/mcb\/admissions\/","title":{"rendered":"MCB PhD Program Admissions"},"content":{"rendered":" \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Apply to the PhD program in the Molecular and Computational Biology Section at USC to join a diverse group of researchers working on cutting-edge research in areas such as biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, evolutionary biology, and genetics.<\/p>\n

Admission Deadline: December 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\n\n \n Flexibility in how you enter the program<\/span>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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\n Two tracks for admission\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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Open Admission Track – Students admitted through the Open Admission track will do three ~8 week rotations in research labs during their first year. After the 3rd<\/sup> rotation is complete, in the Spring of their first year, students will join one of these three labs to complete their dissertation research.<\/p>\n

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Direct Admission Track – Students admitted through Direct Admission have already identified their research advisor before applying to the program. They start research directly in the chosen lab at the beginning of the first semester, without rotations. Note that applicants who would like to apply for the direct admission track must get approval from the selected research advisor prior to submitting their application or the application will not be considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n

\n\n \n \n \n\n More info here! \n <\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
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\n Required Materials\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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\u2022\tApplication
\n\u2022\tOfficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
\n\u2022\tCV
\n\u2022\tThree letters of recommendation
\n\u2022\tPersonal Statement
\n\u2022\tTOEFL scores (for international students)
\n\u2022\tapplication fee – $90 (email ca23207@usc.edu for waiver requests)<\/p>\n

Note: GRE scores are not required for admission to the PhD program<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\n Meet the MCB PhD Program Faculty!\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n
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Faculty listed here can train graduate students in the MCB PhD Program<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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\n\n \n \n \n\n Training Faculty \n <\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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\n Apply here!\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n
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Click the link to go to the Graduate School application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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\n Information for international students\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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\n Country of citizenship requirement for international students\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n