IPN Admissions FAQ

How are decisions made?

All applications for admission are reviewed individually, and admission to the program is on a competitive basis. Students are selected on the basis of academic records, recommendations, research experience and publications, and interviews with faculty members of the program.

Is my application competitive?

Read the biographies of students who have matriculated in the past to understand the research backgrounds and interests of students before they entered the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience (IPN). If you have questions about the competitiveness of your application, please contact us at ipn@georgetown.edu.

Do you require a GRE?

Currently, the IPN does not require a GRE for entry into the program. Additionally, GRE scores are not used in the IPN Admissions decision process.

Should I apply to a psychology or neuroscience program?

Students interested in applying to the Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Ph.D. in Psychology can read the detailed comparison between the programs.

Can I submit my CV and apply to enter into a laboratory?

We do not accept students directly into a research laboratory but instead they are accepted into the program first and then complete 3 research rotations before committing to a laboratory. For more information on the process of applying please visit our Admissions page. Alternatively, if you are seeking only lab experience (not as a program applicant), you may search the Georgetown University jobs website for positions (general lab positions, that are not for a student program, usually entail a 2-year employment commitment from the employee – therefore they wouldn’t apply to enter a program for that duration of time).

What statements are required as part of my IPN application?

  • The Academic Statement of Purpose is required
  • The Optional Statement (Diversity, Personal Background, and Contributions) is not a requirement
  • The Neuroscience Supplemental Information is required
  • The Cognitive Science Concentration writing is only required if you are applying for a Cognitive Science Concentration

For the academic statement of purpose on the application, is it acceptable to go over 500 words?

We recommended that you follow the rule set up by the graduate school, but your application will not be rejected for an essay with more than 500 words.

Does the program offer advanced admissions?

All applicants must submit applications on December 1st for summer admissions of the following year. However, if an accepted applicant wishes to defer admission for one year, arrangements can potentially be arranged during the Spring interviews.

How many students are accepted each year?

The program accepts between six to ten students in each entering class.

Does the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience offer a master’s degree?

The Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience does not have a Master’s Degree program. Only applicants intending to complete the Ph.D. program of study should apply. Please see the following site for information on a one-year MS in Integrative Neuroscience at Georgetown.

Ph.D. students can apply for a Masters in Passing upon completion of the necessary requirements (contact the chair of the Student Advisory Committee for specifics).

How do I submit TOEFL/IELTS scores?

Please review the Grad School information about TOEFL and IELTS scores under the section labeled “Submitting Test Scores”. Please also review the section labeled “English Proficiency: TOEFL/IELTS” for minimum score information.

What is student interaction like within the IPN?

IPN students have a IPN Student Government who create student-only social events. The department also has a student/faculty mixer social event once a month to encourage getting to know students and faculty within the program. Many students also study together and have group texts within their cohort to keep each other up to date with information. Visit our Instagram and Facebook pages to see some of the student activities, events, and more.

Is there an IPN Admissions Application fee waiver?

Please review the BGE FAQ page for the Affiliation- and Recruitment-Based Application Fee Waiver information. Please review the information carefully and know that the waiver application may take 14 days for them to process. The office of BGE Recruitment processes and issues the waivers if a candidate qualifies.

Are there different deadlines for International Students who are selected to enter the IPN?

International applicants need to reach out to Office of Global Services and International Student & Scholar Services for critical deadlines and mandatory events if they are selected to enter into the program. Checking email frequently is very important to ensure a candidate/student does not miss a required deadline.

Can I learn more about the Georgetown Campus?

Plan a virtual or in-person visit to the Georgetown University Hilltop Campus via Graduate Admissions office. A virtual tour of some of our IPN facilities is also available.

I have questions not covered on the FAQ page.

Please view our Program Information document, or reach out to us via email to send your questions at ipn@georgetown.edu.

Contact the IPN staff, after reviewing the FAQ page, to learn more about our program and application process.