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Student Selection Process and Statistics

The Interdepartmental Toxicology Program oversees the Toxicology graduate (Ph.D. and M.S.) major at Iowa State University.

Things you should know about applying to the Toxicology Graduate Program

  • Admission is based on the complete application. All application materials must be received before a decision regarding acceptability to the program or admission can be made.
  • DEADLINE for best chances of admission and funding is February 1.
  • Faculty members MUST indicate an interest in a student, domestic or international, before we proceed with admission.
  • We admit both domestic and international applicants.
  • GREs, TOEFLS and GPAs: We do not have minimum GRE scores. We appreciate scores around Verbal 155; quant 160; Analytical 4.0, but we do not restrict admission to these specific scores. We look for TOEFL scores around 600/250/100. We appreciate GPAs around or better than 3.4. Students who apply and are admitted into the program whose undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0 will be admitted as restricted. This means that you would not receive tuition scholarship support at Iowa State University until you have completed 9 credits of graded graduate coursework with an overall GPA of 3.0.  An overall GPA of 3.0 is required during graduate training.
  • ALL APPLICANTS ARE CONSIDERED FOR ALL AVAILABLE ASSISTANTSHIPS , Fellowships, and Tuition Scholarships.  We do not admit unless financial support is provided by the program, a faculty member, an approved government support or agencies like FULBRIGHT or LASPAU. 
  • We typically offer admission late in the spring, generally between March and May 15.
  • The Toxicology Graduate Program is committed to recruiting a diverse group of students that enriches the educational experience of our students and their ability to work within the larger scientific community, including students from different racial, ethnic, socio-economic and nationality backgrounds, gender and, sexual orientation.
  • Iowa State University is a diverse community of people of all genders, ages, cultures, races, religions, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds and abilities. Iowa State celebrates and advances diversity by creating a safe place in which people can express themselves freely and share their unique talents. Diversity encompasses acceptance and respect by fostering an environment of inclusion that moves beyond simple tolerance to recognizing the richness in individual identifies of people.

HOW DO WE PROCESS YOUR APPLICATION AND CONSIDER IT FOR ADMISSION.

  • After the complete application is received, it is reviewed by the Toxicology Supervisory Committee.
  • If the Toxicology Supervisory Committee indicates that an application is acceptable, information on that student is provided to the toxicology faculty.
  • Faculty then can indicate if they are interested in the student.
  • If a faculty member or members indicate an interest in a student, the student will be contacted regarding interview(s)
  • After interviewing with faculty, a decision is made regarding admission.
  • We admit students directly to labs to work with specific major professors and we admit students to participate in rotations.
  • Students are not admitted with self-funding support.
  • Students who participate in rotations can spend 6 to 8 weeks each in up to three laboratories before deciding on a major professor and research project.
  • Faculty members must indicate an interest in a student, domestic or international, before we proceed with admission.
  • If a faculty member indicates interest, then that faculty member's department must concur with admission.
  • The Iowa State University Graduate College has final say in whether a student will be admitted.
  • Iowa State Graduate Admissions determines if the student has met the academic preparation for graduate school based on the student's transcripts and GPA.
  • Prospective international students must meet the minimum TOEFL/IELTS scores required by the University. There are NO exceptions to this requirement.

Program statistics as of August 2017 for the Toxicology Graduate Program

  • 20 toxicology majors
  • 4 female students; 16 male students
  • 10 domestic students; 10 international students
  • 2 Under-represented students
  • International students are from: India, China, Eritrea
  • 95% of the toxicology full-time students are supported by either RAs or TAs; 05% by other resources
  • Graduation: On average, four students complete their degrees each year. The average time to completion of a Ph.D. is 5 years. The average time to completion of an M.S. degree is 2.5 years.
  • Fellowships: Two of our present graduate students have been supported by a Graduate Minority Assistantship Program Fellowship (GMAP), one student received a Presidential Initiative Fellowship, one student received a 3-year Miller Fellowship and two students received 1-year Brown Fellowships. Some of our students have received funding from resources outside of the University towards their education, research, and travel. One student is supported through a DVM residency program.
  • For Fall 2018 five new students were admitted; 4 Ph.D, and 1 MS.