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Basic eligibility requirements for admission to PiN include a bachelor’s degree and strong preparation in the sciences. While there are no specific degree subject, course, or research requirements, our curriculum assumes new students have completed rigorous college coursework in the sciences, including biology, chemistry, and physics, and have prior lab research experience. We welcome applicants who have trained outside of neuroscience and biology, but applicants are expected to have a demonstrated interest in neuroscience. 

Recognizing that not all undergraduate students have access to the same research opportunities and advising resources, PiN has established an in-house post-baccalaureate program (PiNBAC, launched in 2021) and offers informal advising to prospective applicants (see Application Support and Open House events below). Many of our current students gained research experience after completing their undergraduate degree through a post-baccalaureate program or working as a lab assistant or technician, before applying.

Our committee takes a holistic approach to application review, carefully reading every section of the application in order to gain insight into the whole person in the context of their unique lived experience. We look for applicants who demonstrate the ability to “think like a scientist," whose academic training has prepared them for successful research in their area of interest, who have made the most of the opportunities available to them, and who have shown resilience and leadership. Most of our successful applicants have completed at least a year’s worth of lab research before applying.

All applications must be submitted via the GSAS Admissions applicant portal and are due with all supporting materials by December 1 at 5:00pm EST. The applicant portal opens in mid-September each year.

Statement of Purpose (SoP)

Through the SoP, we’re looking to get to know you as a scientist. How did your life experiences help shape your interests in science? What are your goals for graduate school? How do your research experiences fit within this context? You are welcome to briefly mention multiple research experiences as they relate to your trajectory, but your SoP should focus on your primary research experience, discussing the question/topic that drove the project, its importance, your hypotheses, how you tested your hypotheses, your findings or possible outcomes, and how you interpreted those outcomes. We’re excited to see evidence of your ability to “think like a scientist” in this section of the application. (No longer than 1000 words)

Personal Statement

Please describe the personal experiences that led you to pursue graduate education and explain how these experiences will contribute to the academic environment and/or community in your program or Harvard Griffin GSAS. These may include interests or passions, leadership positions, community engagement, other opportunities, or challenges. Please note that there is no expectation to share detailed sensitive information and you should refrain from including anything that you would not feel at ease sharing. Please also note that the Personal Statement should complement rather than duplicate the content provided in the Statement of Purpose. (No longer than 500 words)

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants are required to submit three letters of recommendation (we can accept up to four). Letters from research advisors are the most informative. Your letter writers should know you well and should be able to speak to your intellectual character and other qualities as a scientist. Letters from course instructors can be helpful, but letters from research advisors are preferred. Applicants should make every effort to include a letter from the PI for their primary research experience; if your primary research PI is unable to submit a letter of recommendation, please let us know why in your application (by uploading a brief statement to Additional Materials).

Transcripts

Applicants should upload an unofficial copy of their transcript(s) to complete their application via the GSAS applicant portal and will be able to add fall term grades after the December 1 deadline as needed. Only matriculating students are required to submit official transcripts (with a deadline in July before enrollment). The PiN admissions committee reviews transcripts considering whether your academic coursework provides sufficient background knowledge and predicts success in your research area of interest.

GRE

PiN no longer accepts GRE scores (as of 2019). If you submit them, they will not be seen by our admissions committee.

TOEFL/IELTS

If English is not your native language and you completed your undergraduate degree in a language other than English, you are required to demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting TOEFL (minimum 100) or IELTS Academic (minimum 7.0) scores. We are not able to accept any other proof of proficiency. A master’s degree or other graduate degree is not accepted as proof of English proficiency. This requirement applies to all applicants regardless of residency or citizenship status. More here.

Application Fee Waiver

GSAS is committed to ensuring that the application fee does not create a financial obstacle. Applicants can determine eligibility for a fee waiver by completing a series of questions in the Application Fee section of the application. Once these questions have been answered, the application system will provide an immediate response regarding fee waiver eligibility.  More here.

Virtual Open Houses

PiN hosts a series of virtual open houses for prospective applicants in October and November each year, where the admissions chair and program directors are joined by current faculty and students to discuss all aspects of the program and the application process. See below for dates and registration links!

PiN Application Assistance Program (PiN AAP)

We are excited to announce the launch of a new PiN student-run application assistance program (PiN AAP) in the fall of 2024, aiming to support applicants to PiN with the understanding that the path to graduate education can present unique challenges, including difficult, unclear, or hidden expectations, especially for individuals who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

PiN AAP will pair applicants with a current PiN student mentor who will provide feedback on the written application. Please note that because PiN AAP is a volunteer program initiated and run by students, space is limited, and not all applicants are guaranteed to be matched with a mentor. PiN AAP is in no way affiliated with the PiN admissions committee, and participation does not guarantee admission to any Harvard program.

PiN AAP especially encourages applications from students who are from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds (see also NOT-OD-20-031). Applications are open to all, and race, ethnicity, and national origin are not considered in reviewing applications.

If interested, please apply here by November 1, 2025.

The PiN admissions committee comprises current PiN faculty with substantive experience mentoring students. Each application is read by multiple committee members, who take a holistic approach to review (i.e., carefully reading every section of the application in order to gain insight into the whole person in the context of their unique lived experience). All applicants are reviewed in the same pool regardless of citizenship status or other demographic factors. 

Interviews are held in Boston in late January every year. We schedule five faculty interviews and one student interview for each applicant based on research interests and applicant requests, on Friday, in addition to offering recruitment events Thursday afternoon through Saturday evening. Interviews are casual but focused on scientific discussion. Our interviewers are excited to talk to you about their research and to hear about yours! PiN student interviewers are given the same weight as faculty interviewers in the interview evaluation process. The interview weekend is designed to help applicants get to know us as a community, get to know each other, and have fun along the way!