Academics / Graduate program

Admissions FAQs

Applying

How do I apply to BCS?
BCS only accepts online applications. You can apply online at: http://www.applyweb.com/apply/mitg/menu.html. For reference, the application is downloadable as a pdf from the MIT Graduate Admissions Office (http://web.mit.edu/admissions/graduate/how_to_apply/application_download.html), however an emailed or paper application will not be accepted.
What is the deadline for applying?
Completed applications must be received no later than midnight EST December 10 for admission the following September. Since GRE scores are required, applicants should take the exams early enough so the scores will reach MIT before the December 10 deadline.
Where should I send my transcripts and/or letters of recommendation?
Regular Mailing Address:
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Graduate Office 46-2005Q
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307

Overnight Mailing Address:
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Graduate Office 46-2005Q
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
43 Vassar Street
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
I cannot send all of my application requirements in the same packet. What should I do?
It is crucial that your online application be submitted on or before the Dec. 10 deadline. Please make an effort to send all transcripts, test scores, and letters of recommendation before the Dec. 10 deadline if possible, whether in a single packet or seperate letters. If it is not possible for a document to arrive before the deadline, then it will be added to your file when it is received. Please be aware that the Graduate Admissions Committee begins reviewing applications shortly after the Dec. 10 deadline, and so materials that are received late may not be reviewed.
Should I send my application to a specific faculty member with whom I am interested in working?
No. Admission decisions are made by a committee of departmental faculty. Applications must first be sent to the BCS Graduate Office for processing, then are sent to the Graduate Admissions Committee for evaluation.
How are graduate students selected?
Graduate student selection is based primarily upon evidence of research interest and potential for work within the areas represented in the department. Candidates may have undergraduate concentrations in a variety of fields, but regardless of undergraduate major, applicants are expected to have outstanding records, particularly in mathematics and the sciences. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical test scores are required with the application; GRE subject tests are not required.
What if my current institution does not offer adequate research opportunities?
If you are unable to obtain any research experience at your undergraduate college, you may be well advised to work in research during summers or after graduation.  Work in a related industry, in an academic lab, or at a research institution is likely to result in stronger graduate applications to doctoral programs at major research universities.
How many applications do you receive each year? Of those, how many are accepted or enrolled?
On average, we receive over 300 applications per year, and of these, we admit approximately 40 students and enroll between 10 and 20 students. The number of students admitted into the graduate program annually is around seven percent of the total number of applications received.
Can you assess my chances of admission to your program based on GRE scores, class rank, etc.?
We cannot provide preliminary evaluations of chances for admission based on any one or two qualifications. The Graduate Admissions Committee carefully reviews the application package (statement of objectives, GRE scores, recommendation letters, transcripts, etc.) to determine admission decisions.
Is it OK to request my admission decision by email?
We automatically notify applicants by email after regular letters have been posted.
Do I need to complete the Record of Subjects section of the application form?
Probably the most frequently asked of all the frequently asked questions. Yes, unless your undergraduate degree is from MIT. You may attach a separate document or spreadsheet giving all the required information. Please note: you are only required to report relevant subjects, not all subjects taken.
Why do I have to complete the Record of Subjects in addition to sending an official transcript?
The Record of Subjects gathers information not included on transcripts, i.e., textbooks used and number of lecture and laboratory hours. BCS faculty use this information in evaluating applications.
What if I don't know the textbook/did not use a textbook for a course in my Record of Subjects?
If you don't know the textbook or did not use a textbook for a course listed in your Record of Subjects, just leave that area blank. Be sure to list as much information as possible about your relevant courses, as the BCS faculty use this information in evaluating applications.
Does BCS allow deferral of enrollment?
Deferral of admission to a later term or year is not permitted.
How do I decide which "Area of Research" to indicate on my application?
Research in the area of molecular and cellular neuroscience focuses on the development of neural connectivity, the molecular basis of behavior in simple neural circuits, synaptic plasticity, and neurochemistry.

In the area of systems neuroscience the main concerns are with vision, movement, and endocrine regulation, with the scientific goals of understanding the transduction and encoding of sensory stimuli; the organization, development, and plasticity of sensorimotor systems; the neural basis of cognition; and the effects of circulating compounds on brain composition and behavior.

Cognitive science comprises interdisciplinary methods that include experimental studies, linguistic theory, and computational modeling are recruited to characterize the origin, acquisition, and processing of knowledge. Research focuses on psycholinguistics, visual perception and cognition, concepts and reasoning, and their development in children. Research on neurologically impaired patients is another important area of investigation.

In the area of computation, emphasis is on the interdisciplinary study of the brain as an information processor and computing device. Research fields include robotics and the control of movement, vision, learning by neural networks, and knowledge-based perception and reasoning.

Reapplying

I applied to BCS within the last two years, but was rejected. How do I reapply?
If you would like to reapply to our program, please send us a letter or email requesting us to reactivate your previous application. You will be required to submit a new statement of objectives, and to pay a new application fee. It would also be in your best interest to forward any new documents that would help strengthen your application package.
Does BCS allow deferral of enrollment?
Deferral of admission to a later year is not permitted. Reapplication is necessary and readmission is not guaranteed.

Standardized Tests

Do I need to take the GRE exam? If so, do I need to take any of the subject tests?
GRE Exam scores, the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing sections, are required of all applicants to the BCS Graduate Program. The subject test section of the exam is not required
Can I use the MCAT rather than the GRE?
No, BCS requires the general GRE test for applications to the doctoral program.
Do I need to take an English proficiency exam? Can the exam be waived?
All applicants whose first language is not English, including those currently enrolled in US institutions, must present evidence of their ability to conduct their studies in English by taking the IELTS (preferred) or TOEFL exam. Minimum scores: IELTS 7, TOEFL 577 (paper-based), 233 (computer-based) or 90 (internet-based). Students who have received instruction in English in primary and secondary schools and students who have been in the US for four years or longer and have received a degree from an American university may be eligible for a waiver of the English proficiency exam requirement by sending a written request to BCS.
Please Note: Beginning with applications for Fall 2009 admission, BCS strongly encourages international applicants who are non-native speakers of English to take the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) instead of the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).
What codes do I use when reporting my GRE and TOEFL scores to BCS?
GRE: Institution code 3514 (for MIT); departmental code 0213 (Neurosciences) or 2002 (Cognitive Psychology)

TOEFL: Institution code 3514 (for MIT); departmental code 58 (Psychology, Experimental/Developmental)

IELTS: Request that scores be sent to:
Graduate Admission Office, 3-103
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
If I am taking the GRE in December should I keep my application until after I take the exam?
No, please send or submit your application before the December 10th deadline; if a test score will arrive later, it will be added to your file when it is received.

Degree Programs

Does BCS offer a Master's degree?
No. The final degree objective for all admitted students to the BCS Graduate Program is the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy.)
Does BCS offer clinical, counseling, or social psychology?
We do not offer studies in clinical, counseling, social, or industrial/organizational psychology.

Financial Support

What type of financial support can I expect?
Financial support made available by the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences includes predoctoral traineeships sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, as well as various fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. Such appointments typically provide full tuition plus a 12-month stipend.
Do you provide financial support for foreign applicants?
We provide financial support, including tuition, for all students accepted into the graduate program. This support may be in the form of assistantships. However because most of the department's funding is restricted to US citizens, we can accept only two or three new international students each year. You should make every effort to apply for grants and fellowships in your native country.