Admissions Channel 2

Admission Channel 2 Due Dates

November 1 for foreign MS and PhD applicants 

February 1 for domestic MS and PhD applicants (US citizens or US permanent residents) 

 

Channel 2 applications should be submitted through the CSU admissions portal by the due dates above. Review will begin immediately after these dates for the applications that contain all the required review components listed in the table below. Applications missing any of these minimal required components may be declined without further review. 

 

All MS and PhD students admitted through Channel 2 are expected to begin their graduate studies by the next fall semester (e.g., Apply Feb 1, 2023 to start MS or PhD Aug ~15, 2024) 

 

Admission Channel 2 Application Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in any of the biological, biochemical, or physical sciences 
  • Includes a minimum of one year of biology, organic chemistry, physics, biochemistry and mathematics through differential & integral calculus. 
  • Additional courses in cell biology, microbiology, developmental biology, immunology, genetics, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, biophysics, physiology, anatomy, math, programming, and statistics are taken into consideration during evaluation for admission. 
  • Applications are also considered from students who are on track to receive their undergraduate degree before the expected enrollment in the CMB program (e.g., Apply on Dec 1, 2023; Earn final Bachelor’s degree on May 15, 2024; Start MS or PhD on Aug 15, 2024). 
  • Most recently completed degree must meet a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. In cases where applicants have not yet completed their Bachelor’s degree by the time of application, their GPA must also meet the 3.0 minimum at the time of application. 
  • Applications from promising students with deficiencies in entrance requirements, including GPA below 3.0, may be reviewed and accepted into the program, provided the deficiencies are justified, and are corrected during the first year in the CMB program. This may be accomplished on a cases-by-case basis by passing an examination, by taking appropriate remedial undergraduate courses, or by successfully completing graduate level courses that require the undergraduate courses as prerequisites. 
  • The CMB Program welcomes qualified students from non-English speaking countries. These applicants must meet the same admission requirements as domestic applicants, and in addition, they must show evidence of competence in the written and spoken English language as specified below. 

Admission Channel 2 Application Components

Channel 2

MS or PhD Application Components 		Required by the CMB program for the application review process to begin

These items must be submitted by the application due date:

Nov 1 for foreign applicants, or Feb 1 for domestic applicants


Higher Education Transcripts 		Unofficial transcript (scan, screenshot or PDF uploaded by the applicant) from the institution where you earned (or will soon earn) your final undergraduate degree. Transfer credit transcripts are not needed at this stage.

When applicable, Unofficial transcript (photo, screenshot or PDF uploaded by the applicant) from the institution where you earned (or will soon earn) any advanced degree (e.g., MS, DVM, MD, etc).

All submitted transcripts must be either originally written in English, or must be translated to English. Foreign transcript grades should be converted to the US GPA scale.

Undergraduate degrees obtained at foreign institutions must be equivalent of a 4 year US BS degree or a 3 year BS plus MS.

After admission and before the end of the first semester in the CMB program, students will be required to provide official transcripts (transmitted to CSU directly by the institution) for all undergraduate and advanced degrees you obtained, from all institutions you earned course credits from, and from the final institution that granted your degrees. This includes all course credits you may have earned from institutions other than the ones that granted your degrees.


Letters of Recommendation 		Minimum of two (2) letters submitted by your recommenders received. More than 2 letters may be submitted if they are available, but these extra letters are not required. However, applications that only have one (1) letter on file by the due date will be considered incomplete, and may be declined without review.

CMB encourages recommendation letters to be written by research and professional mentors who have first-hand knowledge of the applicant in a research laboratory, a research-based course, or other professional contexts.

Letters from instructors who know the applicant primarily from the classroom environment are also acceptable, although these are typically not as effective in describing the applicant’s potential as a future graduate researcher.


Resume or CV 		Up-to-date resume or CV.

Effective resumes/CVs typically include items such as: A list of your degrees with earned (or anticipated completion) dates; A list of your research experiences; A list of other relevant professional experiences; A list of extra-curricular activities, service engagements, or other relevant life experiences that contributed to your preparation for the PhD; A list of publications, posters, talks, and/or other forms of research presentation at conferences or other scientific events. List also any other brief additional information you feel might be relevant.


Structured Statement of Purpose

CMB-format Structured Statement of Purpose.
Use the appropriate Channel 2 MS or Channel 2 PhD templates for the degree you are applying for.

CMB requires applicants to prepare their statement of purpose using a structured fillable PDF form. This template requires applicants to write short narrative essays covering topics valued in the review process, such as research experiences, lived experiences, your specific interests in the CMB program and our faculty’s research, and other topics.
External funding documentation Upload with your application documents demonstrating that you have a source of external funding which is already secured and committed to your graduate education (e.g., letter from a government agency confirming that a scholarship has been granted).

Funding documents must specify the amount ($) committed to you and the duration of the funding, with start and end dates.

Typical examples of acceptable external funding sources include: External fellowships provided by governmental entities or research foundations; Financial support from the US military offered to active service members or veterans; GRA or GTA funding managed by a CMB faculty member. Note that personal wealth or family financial support are not acceptable funding sources. Student educational loans are also not acceptable.

Alternatively, applicants may provide evidence that they have already applied for funding from an external source, but the outcome of the application is not yet known at the time of CMB application (e.g., email notification from a foundation acknowledging receipt of your scholarship application). Note that in such cases, the CMB admission decision will be conditioned on the final confirmation of the external funding availability.

CMB faculty endorsement letter For cases where the planned external funding will be managed by a specific CMB faculty member, a letter certifying this intention must be uploaded with the application.

The faculty member must communicate directly with the CMB Director to discuss their intention to sponsor the applicant before the application is submitted.

If the application is recommended for admission, the CMB Director will provide a comprehensive commitment letter template, which the faculty member must fill and sign before final admission can be processed.


GRE scores 		NOT required. If you have already taken the GRE, you may submit your scores with your application if you would like to. Most applicants do not.


CSU application fee payment 		NOT required at application review stage. The review of applications can and will begin before you make this payment. You may wait to make this payment until after you learn the outcome of the application review process.

Note that, without payment, you will likely receive periodic automated reminders from the CSU admissions platform, but these reminders do not impede or detract from the review of your application.

For admitted applicants, payment of the CSU application fee will be required at the final stage of the admission process. The CSU application fee payment must be received before the formal final admission to CSU can be processed.

CMB may pay the fee for exceptional applicants after they accept an admission offer.

Some applicants may request a waiver if they are eligible
English Language test scores

foreign applicants only

One official test score from the options below:

TOEFL score of 550 or higher (paper based) or 80 or higher (internet based)

IELTS score of 6.5 or higher.

PTE of 58 or higher.

Duolingo of score N or better.

Exemptions: Students are exempted from this requirement if the official language of their country is solely English, if they are a U.S. citizen from a U.S. territory or protectorate (e.g., Puerto Rico), if they have recently earned a degree at a university in the United States or if they have recently earned a degree from a university in a country on the English Language Proficiency Exempt List maintained by the Graduate School. Specific requirements and exemptions are listed here.

Channel 2 Application Review Process: Summary and Timeline 

Coming soon, check this section again in October 2023 for updates. 

Channel 2 Admissions Frequently Asked Questions

With the application deadline so near, can I just upload my unofficial transcripts to my application? 

 

Yes, the review stage only requires unofficial transcripts, and only from institutions where you earned (or are pursuing) your undergraduate degree (no transfer credits needed), and when available, please also provide the unofficial transcript from the institutions where you earned (or are pursuing) an advanced degree (e.g., MS, DVM, MD, etc). 

 

Is there any recording of the CMB program and admission questions from a virtual session? 

  • Yes, use this link to watch the recording of the online informational session offered on September 21, 2023. 

 

Is there someone I can contact within the CMB program for application and admission questions? 

  • Yes, but you are first encouraged to navigate through our website and review the comprehensive information provided there. You can also contact us through the methods below (email is fastest, and strongly preferred). 
  • Email (preferred) GRAD_CellMoBio@Mail.ColoState.Edu 
  • Phone: (970) 491-0241. 
  • Physical Address: Room 220 Student Services Building, Colorado State University. 

 

PhD vs. Masters, What’s the difference? 

 

What GPA and GRE are required for admission to the program? 

  • The Colorado State University (CSU) Graduate School has a minimum 3.0 GPA requirement for Admission. However, students with GPAs above 2.8 may also be admitted if they have an otherwise strong application. 
  • GRE is NOT required, but applicants may provide scores if they wish. Most applicants do not submit GRE scores. 

 

My GPA is not great. Should I still apply? 

  • Yes, you should still apply. Our review process is comprehensive, qualitative and holistic. We evaluate all aspects of the application, not just grades. An application that is strong in other areas (extensive lab experience, compelling and relevant life experiences, effective letters of recommendation, publications, etc) can also be favorably reviewed and may receive serious consideration regardless of a relatively low GPA. 

 

When can I start working on my application? 

  • Submit an online application any time starting the first day of classes in August until the published due dates for the desired CMB admissions channel. 
  • For Channel 2 (MS and PhD): Nov 1 for foreign and Feb 1 for domestic (US citizens and US permanent residents) applicants. 

 

Do I need to identify an advisor before I apply? 

This will depend on the source of your external funding described in your channel 2 application: 

YES – for MS and PhD applicants who plan to receive funding managed by a specific CMB faculty member and join their laboratory directly (without rotations). These applicants must secure a funding and mentoring commitment from that faculty member before they submit their application. See instructions in the application components table above. 

NO – for MS and PhD applicants who plan to receive funding from other external sources (governments, foundations, etc). If admitted to the program, these applicants would be encouraged to participate in laboratory rotations to identify their advisor after they enroll in the CMB program. See instructions in the application components table above. 

 

In either case, nothing stops all applicants from reaching out to our faculty members early on in the process. CMB does encourage applicants to communicate with our faculty. This will help highlight your interest in our program, and your application will possibly be stronger if you have communicated effectively with our faculty to learn more about the program and their research. Advice on how to make a connection with faculty can be found here and here. 

 

Can I apply for a Spring or Summer Admission? 

We do not accept applications for Spring or Summer admission

 

How do I know whether my application has all the required components to begin the review process? 

  • For channel 2, as soon as the review of applications begins, applicants will receive an email from the CMB indicating this fact. 
  • In addition, the CSU online admissions system also provide ways for you to monitor the progress.  
  • Once an online application has been received and processed by the Admissions Office, a checklist will be available when you next open your application. 
  • View the status of your application at any time after submission / processing to ensure your application checklist is complete or check on updates. 
  • If your application does not contain the required components, it may be declined without review, in which case you will be notified through the CSU online admissions system. 

 

Can I submit my own test scores, and how would I do this? 

  • You may submit a ‘self – reported’ GPA and unofficial transcripts during the application process. 
  • GRE scores are not required, but if you choose to submit them they must be official.  Scores should be sent directly to CSU from the testing facility, using university code 4075. 

 

What if I am still working on my degree and I need to submit a transcript for my current education? 

  • Yes. In this case you should provide your latest transcript, and you can and should update your application after the end of the fall semester. 

 

What proportion of applicants are admitted? 

  • For channel 2, applications are not reviewed competitively, so the outcome will depend only on the qualifications of the applicant. If the applicant is considered to be qualified, and the external funding is acceptable, the applicant will be offered admission into the CMB program. 

 

What are you looking for in the CMB Structured Statement of Purpose (SSoP)? 

  • Applicants should carefully read and follow the guidelines that are provided for each part of the CMB SSoP. Doing this should enable you to provide answers that are focused on the main topics we want you to address. 
  • More generally, below are some ideas of the points to consider when you write your answers in the CMB SSoP: 
  • Try as best as you can to provide evidence that you understand what a PhD or MS graduate degree will entail, and that your career plans need and fit with that degree. You can also touch on why one of the degrees (MS or PhD) would not be the best path to achieve your goals. 
  • Provide evidence that you have had previous hands-on lab experience, and that you know what to expect once you get started in your graduate research training. 
  • Provide evidence that you have a passion for research. 
  • Include a discussion of some of the transferable skills you already have to offer, such as time management, teamwork / collaboration, problem solving, critical thinking, leadership, mentorship. Discuss how those skills might be valuable for your graduate research. 
  • If you have them, highlight examples of your previous successes in research, which can include awards, scholarships, presentations, publications, etc. Tell a story about how you were able to achieve those successes, and what barriers you had to overcome along the way. 
  • Demonstrate that you have an ability to clearly describe a research project including background hypothesis, experimental design and outcome / impact. 
  • Show evidence that you have thought deeply and carefully about our program and what we can offer to you as an individual and as a member of a team. Write in specific terms as much as you can. 
  • Tell us about other valuable broader qualities, skills, experiences that you have and that you would bring to enrich our program and community. 

 

I am having difficulty getting the money for the application fee.  Is there a waiver available? 

  • The CSU application fee is NOT required for CMB to review your application. 
  • The application fee is only require after the review outcome is known. See information in the application components table above. 

 

What is the current stipend for CMB students? 

  • The precise stipend for PhD students who enroll in Fall of 2024 has not been determined yet. In fall 2023 GTAs were admitted with a stipend equivalent ofto$34352 per year. 
  • In addition, GTA and GRA appointments cover health insurance (valued at over $3,000 for a year with a minimum 5 credits per semester), 75% of student fees, along with full tuition. 

 

I submitted an information request via the Admissions / Grad School Inquiry process. When can I expect to receive a response? 

 

Can I pursue the MS or PhD online? 

  • No 
  • There is not an online option. 
  • All Cell & Molecular Biology training includes Face to Face experiences with extensive research done in a lab. 
  • Our classes are Face to Face. 

 

Where can I find the cost of tuition? 

  • All CMB admitted students will have their tuition paid as part of them being appointed through GTAs, GRAs, scholarships, etc. 
  • CMB students do NOT pay tuition from their own incomes, but you can find the cost of tuition (paid by someone other than you) at this link 

 

 

Additional FAQs for foreign MS and PhD students 

 

What are the minimum scores for the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or PTE Academic Exams for English Language Proficiency? 

  • See the application components table above 
  • The only exceptions accepted are listed in the table. 

 

My BS or MS degree was taught in English.  Do I still need to pass an English Proficiency test? 

  • See the application components table above 

 

What are the funding opportunities for international students? 

  • International students applying to the MS or PhD program through channel 2 are eligible for teaching assistantships (GTA) and for research assistantships (GRA) managed by their CMB faculty mentor. 
  • Some of the external funding opportunities that foreign student may apply for are listed below. Other external funding opportunities, including from foreign governments also exist and will depend on the applicant’s country of origin. Past and current international CMB students have been successful a obtaining funding from these sources: 
  • Schlumberger: https://www.fftf.slb.com/