2008 Hippocrene Now On-Line

HIPPOCRENE is an arts magazine by and for the students, faculty, and staff of Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM). Submissions are accepted year-round, and published each Spring. Issues are freely available to all current medical students, graduate students in the Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences (DBBS), and Medical School and DBBS Faculty.

Check out the 2008 Hippocrene On-line HERE.

SEPTEMBER Fact of the Month

DBBS Applicants are Required to Submit 2 Essays

Applicants are encouraged to give considerable time and thought to writing the three essays. (Some schools ask for a general “personal statement”, however DBBS requires that the applicant answer the specific essay questions listed.) The Admissions Committee evaluates a number of characteristics in order to assess a candidate’s ability to benefit from and contribute to their selected program. These include academic ability, research experience, leadership, teamwork, communication skills and other personal qualities. The essays are an opportunity to help the Committee relate to the applicant’s distinctive values, motivation, and perspectives and obtain as much information as possible about their previous research experience


The three essay questions are:
Required: Describe the scope and focus of your laboratory research experience(s). Please also indicate when, where, and with whom the work was done. Please do not simply list the research techniques you have mastered.
Required: Describe why you are interested in undertaking a graduate program in biology or biomedical sciences. Also, discuss the types of questions you wish to pursue during graduate study and how you envision your professional career developing.
Optional: Please provide any additional information (exceptional accomplishments as a student, obstacles, or special challenges) which you feel would be useful to the admissions committee in reaching a decision regarding your application.


Applicants may type the essay information directly in the space provided or copy text created in MS Word or a similar type document into the essay section of the application. Applicants will be allotted approximately two (2) pages per essay. Please address each essay question separately. Do not insert a personal statement in lieu of the three essay questions.