MS and MBST Admissions
Requirements for Admission to the MS/MBST in Biostatistics
The application cycle for Fall 2013 is now closed. The deadline was February 15, 2013. All supplemental materials noted below must be received by this deadline.
Prerequisites: One undergraduate course in statistics and one year of calculus must be completed prior to matriculation.
While there is not a hard cutoff for the GRE and GPA scores, as they are only one component of a successful application, we do have minimum score guidelines:
GRE: 500 Verbal, 600 Quantitative, and 4.5 Analytical (New as of 11/2011: V: 153, Q: 148; A: 4.5)
GPA: 3.0
Also, we require that applicants who have not graduated from an accredited English-speaking university take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Minimum scores are listed below:
Internet exam: 80
Paper exam: 550
Computer exam: 213
The institution code for OHSU for both the TOEFL and GRE exams is 4865.
All test scores must be no more than 5 years old at the time of application.
Application Process
The following materials should be submitted at the time the online application is completed. (Select "Biostatistics MS/MBST.")
1. Score reports sent directly to the university from the testing service:
2. All of the following items must be sent in one application packet directly to OHSU by the deadline:
- Certified report of scores for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). As noted above, our GRE code is 4865. If you send your scores to the wrong code, you are responsible for tracking them down or re-ordering the reports. Our office is unable to do do any investigating of scores sent to anything other than the 4865 code.
- TOEFL scores for foreign graduates.
Mailing address:
- Three letters of reference from employers or instructors. These individuals should be able to speak to your academic ability and potential for a successful career in biostatistics. The letters must be in sealed envelopes. Please use the form below:
- Letter of Recommendation Instructions and Form for Evaluators
- Official transcripts from each university you have attended (in sealed envelopes). This includes transcripts for coursework taken at PSU, community colleges, study abroad experiences, etc.—even if only one course was taken at an institution or if the transfer credits show up on another transcript. Applications missing transcripts will not be reviewed. (International applicants must have their transripts evaluated by World Education Service. Details are below.
- A CV (optional)
- Official copies of GRE score reports should be ordered from the testing service and sent to OHSU directly (code: 4865), but you are welcome to include an unofficial copy for review purposes.
- Personal statement: The online application has a field into which you can paste your personal statement. Please address your interest in the program, your research background, and why you think the Biostatistics program is a good fit for your career goals.
OHSU School of Medicine Graduate Admissions
Oregon Health & Science University
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Mail Code L102-GS
Portland, OR 97239
Completed applications are reviewed soon after the deadline. Letters offering admission (or regret) are typically sent by the end of March. For additional questions about the application process, please contact biostatprogram@ohsu.edu.
Fees and Financial Aid
The program uses the OHSU graduate medicine student fee schedule.If you wish to apply for financial aid, contact the OHSU Financial Aid Office at (503) 494-8249. At the present time, there is no financial aid available for foreign students. Additional information is available at the financial aid site.
State Residency
Registrar's Office maintains a .PDF file of their residency policy. We do not offer a tuition discount for neighboring states.
Housing
Apartments are available nearby and within Portland. At this time, OHSU does not offer direct housing services. There is a housing bulletin board in Mackenzie Hall, and a resource list and notebook is available for review in Baird Hall, Room 1028, in the Office of Academic and Student Affairs.
Transportation and Parking
Since parking is limited on the OHSU campus, students are encouraged to take public transportation. OHSU subsidizes Tri-Met bus passes for students for a substantial discount. Please contact the OHSU Parking Office for more information.
Course Scheduling
Many classes are generally scheduled either early or late in the day to accommodate students who are working or enrolled in combined programs. Every attempt is made to avoid conflicts with PSU courses and core courses offered at both PSU and OHSU. Please review our Courses and Schedules page. Although each quarter's schedule is not finalized until shortly before the registration period begins, we try very hard to minimize changes to the schedule because we understand how important it is to plan ahead.
International Students
Please contact OHSU's Office of International Services for detailed information about immigration advice and services to international students, employees, and visitors.
Effective Fall 2013: All international student applicants are required to provide World Education Service (WES) International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) credential evaluations for all foreign colleges attended. International applicants need to consult WES's website for instructions and fees at www.wes.org. The applicant will be responsible for the full cost of this service. International applicants of all countries of origin will need to complete this service.
If international applicants have already completed a similar credential evaluation through WES or another company, the Graduate Studies Office may evaluate on a case-by-case basis whether a WES ICAP will be needed.
Please have WES ICAP Credential Evaluations sent to:
OHSU School of Medicine Graduate Admissions
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Mail Code L102-GS
Portland, OR 97239-3098
