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A team of four screeners (Brett Bouma, Roger Mark, Collin Stultz, and Mehmet Toner) have reviewed all applications to MEMP (~240) and selected those that fall in approximately the top one-third for further review by the full committee. Therefore, on average, the caliber of these applications will be considerably higher than what you may have seen in prior years when the full committee reviewed the vast majority of applications received.

For each application, please provide a score of A, B, C, or D (no pluses or minuses, together with comments regarding the primary factors for the grade you assign.

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Five committee members have been assigned to review each application, and a ranking based on the average score will be used to determine which candidates are to be invited to interview at the beginning of March. During the interview process, your comments will be provided to the interviewers, so please flag any issues that you feel should be further explored during an applicant's interview.

In scoring the applications, please pay particular attention to evidence that the applicant:

• has a solid scientific or engineering background, with an undergraduate major in engineering or in physical science and with adequate preparation to succeed in one of the MEMP concentration areas Current concentration areas are: Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Chemistry, Physics, Nuclear Engineering, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Brain and Cognitive Science, Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics.  Full details at http://hst.mit.edu/image Anchor_Hlt125732929_Hlt125732929s/upload/TQEForm.pdf.
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• has successfully completed some coursework in the biological or biochemical sciences;
• has demonstrated significant interest and ability in the biomedical area, based on coursework, research, and/or industrial experience; (This should be medical or translational, as opposed to purely biological.)
• understands the objectives of MEMP and is committed to the biomedical and clinical elements of the curriculum, specifically intense coursework in biomedical sciences and structured clinical experiences;
• a commitment to research and a strong track record in research;
• is seriously committed to pursuing a PhD degree Unfortunately, MEMP tends to attract some applicants who hope it might be a back-door route for admission to Harvard Medical School...²

In your review of applications, please consider the following factors:

• Academic performance and ability** GPA
  • course selection
  • GRE scores - Beginning this year, GRE scores are required for all MEMP applicants. The quantitative and analytical GRE scores of successful candidates are generally above the 90th percentile, and verbal scores are generally above the 75th percentile. However, scores are given less weight than grades, research experience, and recommendations.
• Research potential** letters of recommendation
  • publications and/or conference presentations
  • awards
• Motivation and career goals** essay
  • letters of recommendation
  • course selection
  • research topic(s)
  • extracurricular activities
• Intangibles / Interpersonal** consistent performance, or sufficient explanation for any gaps
  • clear messages in letters of recommendation, especially if written by individuals known to you
  • understanding of the unique aspects of the MEMP program
  • leadership and service

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Please enter all scores via the wiki by Thursday, January 28.