Below are some frequently asked questions incoming students generally have.
Who will serve as my advisor?
All new graduate students are assigned a faculty advisor by their program. For doctoral students, this individual normally serves as the student's advisor until such time as the student identifies a thesis mentor.
The faculty advisor is expected to assist new matriculants with their transition to life as a graduate student at GU, and to generally counsel the student on program requirements and monitor the student's progress. It is the responsibility of the faculty advisor to maintain regular contact with the student in order to facilitate the resolution of any issues and/or concerns that might arise. Similarly, students should bring to the attention of their faculty advisor any difficulties they may encounter related to their academics or enrollment.
Many doctoral programs also assign a peer advisor to incoming students; in most instances, the peer advisor is a senior student, and is available to provide assistance and counseling from a student's perspective.
If you are not sure who your assigned faculty advisor is (or student advisor, if applicable), please contact your program.
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As a Ph.D. student, how do I go about arranging my first laboratory research rotation?
Laboratory research rotations are viewed as a vital component of the doctoral curriculum designed to provide a basic research foundation and assist the student in ultimately identifying a laboratory for thesis research. Rotation requirements may vary from program to program; for example, most programs require students to commence their academic studies with a laboratory research rotation during the summer prior to their first Fall semester of coursework. If you are unsure if this requirement applies to you, please contact your program.
Normally, summer rotations begin on our about July 1st, and continue until the commencement of classes at the end of August. The actual duration of the rotation, as well as goals to be accomplished and other expectations and guidelines, are determined by consultation between the student, the rotation mentor, and in some cases the student's general faculty advisor. Students who will be conducting a rotation over the summer are strongly encouraged to work with their assigned faculty advisor to identify an appropriate laboratory as soon as possible, as space in many laboratories may be limited, and is generally available on a "first-come, first-served" basis. Students receiving a stipend award will receive their stipend effective with the start date of their rotation.
You may wish to visit the website for your department or program to learn about research being conducted by participating faculty. Links to departmental/program web pages may be found here.
A general, more comprehensive listing of graduate faculty research interests may also be found on the Office of Biomedical Graduate Education web page here.
Please keep in mind that your program may have a specific pool of potential laboratories from which you may choose your rotations, and your faculty advisor should be consulted accordingly.
Please note that you must complete a Laboratory Research Rotation Proposal Form, and obtain requisite approvals, prior to starting a rotation. Similary, once you have completed your rotation, you must complete a Laboratory Research Rotation Summary Form, summarzing what was accomplished during the rotation. Both of these forms must also be completed for all subsequent rotations.
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How do I go about getting a GU Student ID card?
Once you are in the university's data system as intending to matriculate as a regular full-time graduate student, you will be able to obtain a GU Student ID card (GOCard). Students should receive information by mail (providing their NetID and password), which will allow them to receive their GOCard.
You may also wish to visit the GOCard website for further information.
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When can I start using my GU e-mail account?
Once you are in the university's data system as intending to matriculate as a regular full-time graduate student, a NetID will be generated for you. Your NetID is important, as it allows you to use a number of GU's online services, such as access to your GU email account, the online Student Access information system, and online registration. NetID letters are sent to each student by mail. Once you receive your NetID letter, you can activate your GU email account online.
Please note that all GU students are required to use their GU email account. If you prefer to use another account (such as Yahoo or Hotmail), you must arrange to have your GU email forwarded to that account. Most faculty and staff utilize GU information systems which only provide GU email addresses, which is why it is important that you activite and use your GU email account.
You may also wish to visit the NetID website.
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When can I begin using Yates Field House?
The Yates Memorial Field House features state-of-the-art facilities that allow members to achieve their health and fitness goals while utilizing a wide variety of activities. This multifaceted recreational center offers value-packed memberships to Georgetown University students, Alumni, Faculty and Staff, and members of the local community.
Yates membership is mandatory for pre-thesis students; for most biomedical graduate doctoral students, the membership fee is normally covered by your graduate program while you are enrolled in the pre-thesis portion of your curriculum. The mandatory Yates fee is paid directly to the Office of Student Accounts (not directly to the student). Once a doctoral student enters full-time thesis research, Yates membership becomes optional; should you choose to continue membership, the fee may or may not be covered by your graduate program or thesis mentor.
Once you are in the university's data system as a registered full-time graduate student, and have been issued a GU Student ID card (GOCard), you will be able to access the Filed House (you must have a valid GU ID card to access the facility).
Please visit the Yates Memorial Field House website for additional information about the facility.
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How do I sign up for Student Health Insurance?
Once you are in the university's data system as intending to matriculate as a regular full-time graduate student, you should receive information about health insurance by mail.
All students are required to have health insurance coverage. Students who do not wish to be covered under the Georgetown University Student Health Plan must demonstrate that they have health insurance from another source, and sign the required waiver form.
For most doctoral students, the premium for individual coverage is normally provided by your graduate program as part of your scholarship award; this would be noted in the award letter you received along with your offer of admission. Most programs will not cover the premium to insure spouses and/or children. Students wishing to obtain such coverage for their spouse and/or children may do so, at their own expense, under the Georgetown University Student Health Insurance Plan.
For new students who will be covered under the Georgetown University Student Health Insurance Plan, coverage becomes effective on August 15th. However, students who will be conducting a laboratory research rotation over the summer must sign up for supplemental coverage under the Georgetown University Student Health Insurance Plan. Again, the premium for individual supplemental coverage for doctoral students is normally provided by your graduate program, which would be stated in your award letter.
Further information may be found at the Student Health Insurance website.
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If I am receiving a stipend award, when can I expect my first stipend payment?
All students who will be receiving a graduate fellowship stipend as part of their financial award package should have been informed of this award in writing, and should have signed and returned the accompanying Formal Acceptance of Financial Assistance and Recipient Obligations Form (blue form).
The annual stipend for biomedical graduate doctoral students at the Medical Center campus has been set at $25,500.00 (effective July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009). Unless otherwise stated in your award letter, students will receive twelve monthly stipend payments of $2,125.00 each, made once per month on the last working day of the month. Stipends are not subject to withholding and are not reported as taxable income. However, stipends may taxable. Students receiving stipends are encouraged to visit the GU Department of Taxation website.
Please note that the full annual stipend amount is contingent upon beginning your first laboratory research rotation on July 1st; if you will not be conducting a laboratory research rotation over the summer, or should you begin your laboratory rotation after July 1st, your stipend will be prorated accordingly.
International students may also be required to submit additional documentation or to complete additional paperwork. International students must hold a visa status that permits them to receive the award. Students holding a valid F-1 or J-1 status sponsored by Georgetown University are eligible for any of the awards offered by the Graduate School. For international students who will not be in a GU-sponsored F-1 or J-1 status, it is important that you contact the Office of International Programs to confirm that you will be eligible to receive the award you have been offered. Awards will not be given to students who are ineligible based on visa status.
Additional information about stipends may be found online by clicking here.
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How is my tuition paid?
For the fall semester, tuition bills are generally generated and mailed to students during the first week in July. Instructions will be provided on paying your tuition.
Doctoral students who will be receiving a graduate tuition scholarship as part of their financial award package should have been informed of this award in writing, and should have signed and returned the accompanying Formal Acceptance of Financial Assistance and Recipient Obligations Form (blue form). Tuition scholarships are paid directly to the Office of Student Accounts (not directly to the student).
International students must hold a visa status that permits them to receive the award. Students holding a valid F-1 or J-1 status sponsored by Georgetown University are eligible for any of the awards offered by the Graduate School. For international students who will not be in a GU-sponsored F-1 or J-1 status, it is important that you contact the Office of International Programs to confirm that you will be eligible to receive the award you have been offered. Awards will not be given to students who are ineligible based on visa status.
If you have been awarded a graduate tuition scholarship, but receive a bill for tuition, please contact the Office of Biomedical Graduate Education.
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How do I know what courses I need to sign up for?
Please consult your assigned faculty advisor.
For a description of courses offered by individual departments and programs, as well as a schedule of classes, please visit the University Registrar's web page.
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How and when do I register for classes?
Once you are in the university's data system as an accepted applicant and have returned your confirmation to matriculate form, a NetID will be generated for you. Your NetID is important, as it allows you to use a number of GU's online services, such as access to your GU email account, the online Student Access information system, and online registration. NetID information is distributed by mail. Once you have been appropriately advised and have been given your NetID letter, you can then register online.
Registration instructions may be found on the University Registrar's website.
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When do classes start, and when are University holidays?
The Academic Calendar, which includes information on registration deadline dates, dates for beginning and ending of classes, examination periods, and University holidays for students, may be found at the University Registrar's website.
It has been endorsed by the Medical Center's Graduate Advisory Committee (GAC) that all graduate courses on the Medical Center campus adhere to the university's academic calendar, and that stated holidays for students be observed. Biomedical graduate students should be sure the observe the university's academic calendar, which differs from the School of Medicine's academic calendar.
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What do I need to know about Laboratory Safety?
Classes in Laboratory Safety are a mandatory requirement for all graduate biomedical Ph.D. students who will be conducting laboratory research at GU. Information may be found on the Biomedical Graduate Orientation website.
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Is there parking for students on campus?
Parking at Georgetown is extremely limited. The University is located in a congested and busy urban area where street parking is severely limited and strictly enforced. On-campus parking is not available to students.
Fortunately, there are convenient alternatives to driving to campus. The Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle (GUTS) provides frequent service to and from Metrorail locations at Dupont Circle (in the District) and Rosslyn (in Virginia), as well to the Georgetown University Law Center on Capitol Hill, University offices on Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown, and an Arlington Loop shuttle. GUTS service is free of charge to faculty, staff and students with University I.D.s and Georgetown University Hospital physicians, staff, patients and visitors. The Georgetown Metro Connection (unaffiliated with Georgetown University) provides frequent connections seven days a week in the Georgetown business district to the Rosslyn, Foggy Bottom/GWU and Dupont Circle Metro stations for a nominal fee.
For more information, including GUTS bus stops and schedules, please visit the Office of Transportation Management website.
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Is there housing for graduate students on campus?
Georgetown University does not have on-campus housing for graduate students.
Students are encouraged to visit the Off-Campus Housing Resource Services website for assistance with finding off-campus housing.
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How can I find my way around campus?
Please click here for online access to the Georgetown University campus map.
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Who should I contact for help with other questions I might have?
Click here for contact information for individual programs.
An additional listing of the major services, facilities and resources available to all Georgetown University graduate students may be found on the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences' website.
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Georgetown University
Office of Biomedical Graduate Education
Biomedical Graduate Research Organization
3900 Reservoir Rd, NW, Med-Dent, Room NE 303
Box 571411
Washington, DC 20057
updated 6/27/2006
