# Frequently Asked Questions ## expand\_more Open all sections Close all sections ### Admission Requirements expand\_more **Do I need to secure an advisor or lab before applying to the program?** No. PiN is a rotations-based program, and we provide students with exposure to a wide range of labs during their first year, requiring 2-3 in-depth lab rotations and encouraging students to explore new research areas and techniques before committing to a lab for their dissertation research. As such, we do not expect applicants to contact faculty during the application process. You are welcome to briefly mention 2-3 faculty in your statement of purpose whose research excites you, in the context of your trajectory as a scientist and goals for graduate school, but you are not expected to contact them before you apply. Applicants invited to interview will have the opportunity in late December to list 6-8 faculty they’d like to meet with during the interview weekend. **Are publications required for admission?** No. Publications are not required for admission into our program. We recognize that the peer review process can be protracted and that publications do not always accurately reflect the level of engagement with a project. We are more interested in getting to know you as a scientist and how you’ve engaged intellectually with your research projects through your statement of purpose and letters of recommendation. ​**Do I need to secure outside sources of funding before applying?** No. All PiN students (both domestic and international) receive full tuition and stipend support in addition to a competitive benefits package. Students who receive external fellowships may be eligible for a stipend bonus. Learn more about the [OGE PhD Fellowship Incentive Policy](https://ogephd.hms.harvard.edu/fellowship-incentive-policy). **Do you require wet lab experience or experience in a neuroscience lab specifically?** No. Our admissions committee looks for evidence that you would thrive in the basic/preclinical lab environment, and prior experience in a similar research environment is the greatest predictor of success for students in our program. While you should have at least a year’s worth of lab research experience it doesn’t necessarily have to be in neuroscience; lab experience in adjacent fields in the biomedical sciences, including purely computational experience, is welcome. **Can you recommend any courses that would strengthen my application?** We look for strong academic preparation in the sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, and physics). Additional preparation in mathematics through linear algebra would strengthen your application. If you don’t have a strong quantitative background, however, you are still welcome to apply. PiN offers introductory courses in data analysis and math tools for neuroscientists. **Do you have a minimum GPA requirement?** No. We are committed to holistic application review. ### Application Protocols expand\_more **Should I contact faculty I'm interested in working with before applying to the program?** No. PiN is a rotations-based program, and we provide students with exposure to a wide range of labs during their first year, requiring 2-3 in-depth lab rotations and encouraging students to explore new research areas and techniques before committing to a lab for their dissertation research. As such, we do not expect applicants to contact faculty during the application process. You are welcome to briefly mention 2-3 faculty in your statement of purpose whose research excites you, in the context of your trajectory as a scientist and goals for graduate school, but you are not expected to contact them before you apply. Applicants invited to interview will have the opportunity in late December to list 6-8 faculty they’d like to meet with during the interview weekend. **Can I apply to more than one GSAS Program?** While you are encouraged to carefully choose the program that best fits your academic goals, you may apply to up to three HILS programs. If you elect to apply to three programs, only two may be programs in the Division of Medical Sciences. Each application must be unique, containing a tailored statement of purpose and separate recommendations. Please note there is a lifetime limit of three applications to GSAS. **Does your program offer rolling admission?** No. Admission is for the fall term only, and we review all applications in the same pool after the December 1 deadline each year. **Why do you ask applicants to list other schools they’re applying to on the GSAS application?** This is a standard GSAS question for high-level, aggregate data analysis and is not a consideration in PiN application review. **Do you accept transfer students from other PhD programs?** If you wish to apply to PiN after matriculating in another PhD program, you should follow the standard application procedures. You will be evaluated in the same pool and based on the same criteria as applicants who are not yet in a PhD program. If admitted, you will be required to complete all PiN course and program requirements after matriculating as a PiN student. ### Program Structure & Outcomes expand\_more **Can I rotate in/join labs outside of PiN?** Yes. Our students are able to rotate in and join labs outside of PiN. However, they are strictly limited to labs affiliated with a [HILS program](https://gsas.harvard.edu/programs/life-sciences). **What is your average time to degree?** The vast majority of our students take 5 1/2 - 6 years to complete their PhD. **Do you have a teaching requirement?** There is no teaching requirement for PiN students, but we encourage students to make the most of teaching and mentoring opportunities during their time in the program. Details [here](/student-resources/career#teaching). **Do you offer training in cognitive neuroscience or clinical research? Do you offer neuro-engineering?** While there are PiN faculty who are involved in cognitive neuroscience and neuro-engineering, we do not offer formal training in these areas. Our program is focused on cellular/molecular, systems/circuits, and computational neuroscience and provides training in basic/preclinical research labs. Please refer to our [faculty list](https://pinphd.hms.harvard.edu/faculty) to get to know the research areas and techniques in which we offer training. While undergraduate or post-baccalaureate training in cognitive neuroscience or neuro-engineering can provide excellent preparation for students entering our PhD program, prospective applicants who are mainly interested in cognitive/clinical neuroscience or neuro-engineering *for their PhD* *work* should explore other graduate programs or other institutions. At Harvard, the [Psychology Graduate Program](https://grad.psychology.fas.harvard.edu/) offers clinical research opportunities and training in cognitive neuroscience, and [Harvard SEAS](https://seas.harvard.edu/academics) offers graduate programs in engineering. **What careers do PiN graduates pursue after completing their PhD?** Most of our students pursue careers in academic research, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, consulting, finance, government, law, medicine, science policy, science writing/publishing, and venture capital. ### International Applicants expand\_more **Am I required to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores if I completed a graduate degree in the English language and/or have worked in the US?** Yes. Unless English is your native language and/or you completed your undergraduate degree at an institution where English is the primary language of instruction, you are required to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores per the GSAS [English proficiency requirement](https://gsas.harvard.edu/apply/applying-degree-programs/english-proficiency). Unfortunately, we are not able to make exceptions to this policy even if you have been working in the US and/or hold a graduate degree from a US institution. **Do you accept the TOEFL iBT Home Edition?** Yes! As of July 1, 2024, we can accept the at-home version of TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic. **What funding resources are available to international students?** All of our students receive the same funding support and benefits regardless of citizenship status. Details [here](/student-resources/financial-support). **Is there a cap on the number of international students admitted to your program? Are there additional admissions criteria for international applicants?** No. All applicants are reviewed in the same pool based on the same criteria, and there are no demographic quotas. Approximately 30% of our current students are international.