Official transcripts will only be required for applicants who are admitted and accept the offer of graduate admission. Please do not arrange for any official transcripts to be sent to the department or Stanford graduate admissions until that time.

Recommenders should know you well and be able to comment on your strengths and your potential for graduate study. Our faculty strongly prefer letters of recommendation from academic (or professional) references who can speak to your academic and/or research background (e.g. professors who have acted as research supervisors, or instructors who have had extensive individual interactions with you).

Your resume/CV provides the admissions committee with additional information to better evaluate your preparation and fit for our program. Your resume/CV is an opportunity to summarize your qualifications, honors, educational accomplishments (including publications and presentations) and interests.

In your statement of purpose, you should succinctly describe your reasons for applying to the Bioengineering graduate program, which may include: Preparation and motivation for graduate study in Bioengineering Research and relevant work experience Specific features of our program and university that make us a good fit for you Possible general areas of research you might pursue Possible general areas of bioengineering that you might pursue in your career Any faculty member’s research that is of specific interest to you Aspects of your background and interests outside of research that are directly relevant to thriving in graduate school, such as obstacles overcome and experience in service and leadership The maximum length is three pages (single-spaced); the recommended length is two pages or approximately 1,000 words. Your statement of purpose should be a well-structured essay that effectively communicates the information above while demonstrating your expository writing ability; it is often effective to open with a summary paragraph rather than e.g. a personal anecdote.