Looking Back on Graduate BME Admissions Data: Lessons Learned and Implications for Holistic Review and Diversity
Elaheh Rahbar1,2, Franck Diaz-Garelli1,3, Vincent M Wang2,4
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 575 N. Patterson Ave. Suite 530, Winston Salem, NC 27101 USA.
Biomedical Engineering Education
|July 20, 2022
Summary
Predicting graduate school admission in Biomedical Engineering (BME) is complex. GPA, research experience, and holistic reviews are key factors influencing acceptance, especially with changing GRE requirements.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering (BME) graduate admissions.
- Academic and research metrics analysis.
Background:
- Rising graduate school applications in BME increase competition and review complexity.
- Holistic reviews are increasingly adopted to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in BME graduate admissions.
- The predictive power of application metrics for BME admission and enrollment remains unclear.
Discussion:
- Retrospective analysis of a three-year BME graduate application dataset.
- Evaluation of grade point average (GPA), standardized test scores (GRE), and prior research experience as predictors of admission.
- Examination of the impact of GRE waiver policies on BME graduate applications.
Key Insights:
- GPA and prior research experience are significant predictors of graduate BME admission.
- Holistic review implementation is crucial for encouraging applications from underrepresented backgrounds.
- Faculty engagement in overcoming implicit bias is vital for equitable admissions.
Outlook:
- Encouraging institutions to "self-reflect" on admissions data and practices.
- Implementing strategies to engage underrepresented students in research and networking opportunities.
- Enhancing diversity in BME graduate programs and the broader STEM workforce.
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