MS-BATS About Us MS-BATS: Teaching Faculty & Mentors Admissions Curriculum Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions Home Education MS-BATS: Frequently Asked Questions General Admissions FAQ What are your minimum requirements for MS-BATS? Complete the online application 3.0 GPA minimum cumulative 3 letters of professional reference Transcripts from all undergraduate and postgraduate institutions Proof of degree MCAT test scores if you are a current medical student Applicants who completed their undergraduate/graduate/medical degree(s) outside of the United States must also submit TOEFL or IELTS scores unless the entire degree was completed in a country in which English is the dominant and primary language AND the language of instruction was English. What if my GPA is below 3.0? The University of California requires that applicants to our graduate degree program have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA upon completing their undergraduate degree. If a student subsequently completes graduate level work with a higher GPA, exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis. What is UCI’s School Code or Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) number? Number used to identify UCI in dealings with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education: 00131400. I have been awarded a fellowship to support my enrollment at your institution in biomedical & translational science. Should I list this fellowship somewhere on the application? YES, an applicant should disclose any special financial arrangements they have made in preparation for their graduate studies here at UC Irvine; i.e., a non-UC Irvine fellowship/scholarship they have already been awarded or expecting to be awarded, their participation in any programs sponsored by their home country, or otherwise, that can provide all or part of the funds they will need to study and live here, any pre-arranged housing plans while living near UC Irvine or other matters related to your education tenure at UC Irvine. Depending upon the nature of any support you may receive, you can describe it in your “Statement of Purpose” or your “Personal History” sections of the application. What is the difference between “The Statement of Purpose” and “Personal History”? Are both required for the application? Yes, both “The Statement of Purpose” and “Personal History Statement” are required for the application. The "Statement of Purpose" should focus on your academic and clinical research background and interests. Include names of mentors, institutions and specific research projects you’ve worked on and the length of time. The "Personal History Statement" should focus on your personal background and is especially important for applicants applying for Diversity fellowships or financial aid. I will be submitting my MCAT scores. However, the online application does not have a section for this. How do I report my MCAT scores? MCAT score reports should be uploaded in the Transcripts tab of your application. Your MCAT report should clearly show your name and AAMC ID number. I’ve been accepted into the program, I completed my SIR form and I registered my UCI net ID but I still cannot access UCI systems such as housing. What’s wrong? Although you have completed your SIR form and activated your UCI net ID, you will not have access to many of the systems until you are officially admitted as a student. This can be a lengthy process handled by the Graduate Division Admissions office. Masters students typically are not formally admitted until July/August. Until then, the only systems that will recognize your UCI net ID are the Registrar’s Office and Financial Aid. Once I’m accepted into the program, am I guaranteed a spot for campus housing? No. Masters students are not guaranteed housing so we encourage new students to sign up as soon as possible. Please see availabilities at Palo Verde, Verano Place, Vista del Campo, Vista del Norte and Puerto del Sol. Additionally, off-campus housing is also available to UCI students. You may apply for housing using your UCI net ID here: UCI Student Housing UCI Off-Campus Housing Website I have been accepted into other UCI programs including MS-BATS but can’t decide which one to choose. May I complete an SIR form for each program while I decide? Yes, you may submit multiple SIR forms, but keep in mind that this will cause delays with admissions which will also delay housing requests and other UCI systems access. It will also be your responsibility to follow up with Graduate Division to retract SIR forms for programs that you’ve decided not to accept. I’ve graduated with a BA/BS degree. May I be considered for the accelerated program? While the accelerated program was designed for faculty and 3rd-year medical students, we have accepted applicants with a BA or BS degree. To be considered, applicants must meet the following requirements: have at least two full years of clinical research experience have already selected a mentor with whom they will work already be working on a research project or have IRB approval to start a research project immediately Transcripts Do you accept photocopies of transcripts? No. All transcripts should be uploaded online. If you are offered admission into MS-BATS, you will be instructed to have your original transcripts mailed to the Graduate Division. I received my undergraduate degree from UCI. Do I still need to upload a transcript from UCI? Yes. The MS-BATS program cannot access student transcripts so we will need this to complete your application. I am a medical student at UCI. Do I need to upload a transcript of my records? Yes. The MS-BATS program cannot access student transcripts so we will need this to complete your application. Letters of Recommendation How should letters of recommendation be sent? Letters of recommendation should be submitted online by your referee. May I submit more than 3 letters of recommendation? Yes. May I use the letters of recommendation from my medical school application as part of the 3 required? No. Letters of recommendation should be written specifically for the MS-BATS program. If you would like to include general letters of recommendation or copies of those from your medical school application in addition to the 3 required, they may be added as supplemental information to your online application. Financial Aid Does the MS-BATS program offer financial aid? The MS-BATS program does offer financial aid to those who qualify. You must complete a FAFSA application or California DREAM application by the published deadline and contact the MS-BATS office by email to inform us of your need. How much financial aid is given out to students? Financial aid is determined by the amount of need per student and available funds which will vary from year to year. MS-BATS does not cover full tuition. How can I learn more about graduate student financial support matters? The UCI Graduate Division provides an excellent primer on financing your graduate education for those applicants new to graduate education or those just needing a refresher course. International Students I am an international student. Where may I find TOEFL and IELTS requirements? TOEFL/IELTS minimum requirements are detailed here. I am an international student and need an I-20. Where do I start? After the MS-BATS program and Graduate Division offers you admission, the first step is to complete your Statement of Intent (SIR) form online and ensure that you have fulfilled your English language requirement. You will then be sent a New Graduate Student Request form to complete, which will require copies of your passport, visa, documentation of your financial support and other documentation, depending on your specific situation. This packet, along with the required documents, should be returned as soon as possible by e-mail. Processing time may take several weeks. Once the International Center mails the visa document, you may apply for a visa in your home country.