Frequently Asked Questions

COVID-19

How do shelter-in-place restrictions affect PREP@UCD?

• Our research labs operate under restrictions imposed by the State of California and UC Davis, subject to decisions by individual faculty for their labs. The UC Davis Office of Research has more information on the campus ramp-up for research. All PREP@UCD scholars will be supported through any shutdowns and programming continues via remote means.

Program basics

When does the program start?

• Each year, PREP@UCD runs from 1 July through 30 June of the next year.

I’m interested in med school. Will your program prepare me for MCATs and interviews? 

• No. PREP@UCD prepares students for PhD programs in the biomedical sciences.

Well, I already took the MCAT! So I can apply to PREP@UCD, right??

• Honestly, PREP@UCD seeks to prepare postbacc students for PhD programs in the biomedical sciences. If you wish to pursue a research postbacc in preparation for an MD, check out the intramural postbac programs at the Bethesda campus of the National Institutes of Health. Be sure to watch the (very friendly and clear) videocast that contains instructions for applying. The Jackson Lab postbacc program also accepts students with a wide range of career goals.

What about joint degree programs?

• We will consider joint degree applicants, however, joint degree programs are extremely selective and PREP@UCD is a 12-month program, whereas the application cycle for MD/PhD programs spans more than a year. PREP@UCD is not well-suited for dual degree aspirants; the NIH IRTA and Jax programs (see above) might be a better fit.

How big is PREP@UCD?

• We initiated PREP@UCD in 2017 and we’re ramping up slowly. For 2017 and 2018, we have 3-5 scholars per cohort, with six per cohort after that. You can find other PREP sites at a list of participating institutions.

How long is the program?

• PREP@UCD is designed and intended to be a one-year program. In individual cases, a second year might be possible if the mentor, PREP@UCD PI, and scholar all agree that an extension would serve a useful purpose.

Structure

How does the program at UC Davis differ from PREP at other sites?

• Each site designs its program to fit the institution, with research that varies depending on the interests of the faculty. It’s up to you to figure out the research, program components, and institutional and community setting that best fit you.

Does the PREP@UCD curriculum include a GRE preparation course?

• We do not. We encourage our scholars to apply to the 300+ graduate programs that do not require GRE scores (with sincere thanks to Josh Hall, the keeper of this list)

How do you place scholars in labs?

• As part of the application process, you indicate up to five faculty whose work interests you. PREP@UCD research labs span the breadth of biomedical sciences within six colleges and professional schools, so you have many options! As part of the admissions process, you will interview via skype with several faculty. All faculty selected to be part of PREP@UCD are skilled and experienced mentors, with strong records in guiding undergraduates and new graduate students. Finally, lab placements are a mutual decision between individual scholars and prospective mentors, with input from the PI.

I’d like to do clinical research and I found a lab at the UC Davis Medical Center that does really interesting research. Can I work in that lab?

• No. PREP@UC Davis scholars must work at labs on the Davis campus. In addition, we focus on basic biomedical sciences and do not place PREP scholars in translational or clinical labs.

Benefits

Do PREP students live in dorms?

• PREP@UCD scholars will live in the community, i.e., they need to find a rental. The bad news is Davis has an extremely low vacancy rate for apartments. The good news is that everyone always seems to find a place. The other good news is that many graduate students, postdocs, and young working professionals go in together to rent a house. You’ll get suggestions about finding housing if admitted to the program.

What are the health benefits?

• PREP@UCD scholars are university employees and get the same benefits as any other employee who works more than 50%. That means medical, dental, and vision, plus other optional benefits.

What am I responsible for paying for?

• A contribution to health insurance, which depends on the plan that you select, and taxes (FICA, state, and federal taxes are withheld). If you drive your car to campus, you will need to purchase a parking permit.

Eligibility

I did a research internship at UC Davis/I graduated from UC Davis. Can I apply to PREP@UCD?

• Yes, we are happy to receive applications from students who have prior connections to UC Davis. However, to increase their breadth in biomedical research, students with UC Davis research experience who are admitted to PREP@UCD will be placed in labs other than ones in which they did undergraduate research.

I’m not a UC Davis student. Can I apply to PREP@UCD?

• Of course, provided you meet the eligibility criteria specified by the NIH.

What are the criteria for eligibility?

• From the National Institutes of Health:

“Underrepresented Populations in the U.S. Biomedical, Clinical, Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Enterprise
In spite of tremendous advancements in scientific research, information, educational and research opportunities are not equally available to all. NIH encourages institutions to diversify their student and faculty populations to enhance the participation of individuals from groups identified as underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral and social sciences, such as:

• 1. Individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis (see data at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/showpub.cfm?TopID=2&SubID=27) and the report Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering). The following racial and ethnic groups have been shown to be underrepresented in biomedical research: Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.  In addition, it is recognized that underrepresentation can vary from setting to setting; individuals from racial or ethnic groups that can be demonstrated convincingly to be underrepresented by the grantee institution should be encouraged to participate in NIH programs to enhance diversity. For more information on racial and ethnic categories and definitions, see the OMB Revisions to the Standards for Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1997-10-30/html/97-28653.htm).
  2. Individuals with disabilities, who are defined as those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as described in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended.  See NSF data at, https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2017/nsf17310/static/data/tab7-5.pdf.
  3. Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as those who meet two or more of the following criteria:
     1. Were or currently are homeless, as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Definition: https://nche.ed.gov/mckinney-vento/);
     2. Were or currently are in the foster care system, as defined by the Administration for Children and Families (Definition: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/focus-areas/foster-care);
     3. Were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program for two or more years (Definition: https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/income-eligibility-guidelines);
     4. Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree (see https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2018/2018009.pdf);
     5. Were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell grants (Definition: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/fpg/eligibility.html);
     6. Received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) as a parent or child (Definition: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/wic-eligibility-requirements).
     7. Grew up in one of the following areas: a) a U.S. rural area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer (https://data.hrsa.gov/tools/rural-health), or b) a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional Shortage Areas  (qualifying zipcodes are included in the file). Only one of the two possibilities in #7 can be used as a criterion for the disadvantaged background definition.

• For information on GPA and disciplinary criteria, please see our applications page. Note that in your statement of purpose, you need to specify how you satisfy the NIH eligibility criteria. It’s easiest for us if you are very specific but if we have questions, we’ll pester you for more info.

I’m a DACA recipient. Am I eligible for your PREP?

• NIH funding requires that PREP scholars be US citizens or permanent residents. We do not have institutional funding that allows us to support a DACA recipient or student who qualifies for AB540. Please email Academic Coordinator Carole Hom at clhom@ucdavis.edu for a (partial) list of sites that have this capacity.

What’s next?

Do I email my application to you?

• No, you need to submit it through the UC Recruit web page. See prep.ucdavis.edu/apply for details.

The recruit page only allows one upload for each document required. I have two transcripts. What should I do?

• Go to a website like https://download.cnet.com, search for software that allows you to edit .pdfs, and concatenate your transcripts.

It’s March and I just learned about your cool program! Can I still apply?

• Applications will continue to be accepted, but those received after 15 February will only be considered if positions have not yet been filled.

Sooo….what can I do if I’m not admitted to PREP@UCD?

• apply to other postbacc programs, posthaste. See the bottom of the sidebar.
• apply to a master’s program. Master’s programs come in two main flavors: coursework + thesis, and coursework only. Either way, you gain experience and knowledge. If you apply to universities that offer only the MS (e.g., campuses of the California State University system, such as SF State), you will be first in line for TA and RAships, whereas at many universities that offer both graduate degrees, doctoral students have higher priority for financial support. Other institutions with a large master’s program may fund both master’s and doctoral students, e.g, Delaware State.
• search for bridge programs like this one or the NIH-funded ones listed here…and there are others out there too.
• volunteer in the lab of a faculty member — perhaps a former research mentor? If you can swing the finances, this can work: we know of a student who volunteered part time in a faculty lab for three months, got a paid position in that lab after that, and was admitted to a PhD program later that year.
• search for other options at www.pathwaystoscience.org

I have a question not addressed here.

• Please email us — see below for contact info. We’re happy to help you with specifics.