IPREP Fellows are considered IUPUI employees. As such, you are not in school. Not being in school prohibits you from using the in-school deferment option. If you graduated or left school in May, then you do have a 6-month grace period on your Federal student loans that will take you to November when payments begin on your Federal Student Loans. You can request the Graduate Fellowship Deferment that can be used in lieu of repayment until you complete the program in June. Thereafter you will likely be asked to begin repayment until you begin a Ph.D. program or are back in school. As an alternative to the Graduate Fellowship Deferment, you will be able to use one of the income-driven repayment plans, specifically PAYE or RePAYE whereby you may be able to get a zero payment or a low payment that is manageable using the IPREP stipend information or paycheck information. Questions related to your student loans should be directed to your Loan Servicer.
IPREP's main goal is to support students that meet the NIH eligibility ( https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-20-031.html) to help get into a Ph.D. program. IPREP is NOT designed to accept students who have the academic preparation necessary to get into a medical or professional doctoral degree, but who may be interested in a gap year for study and research.
Yes, with the mentor's and Director's approval. Fellows can take one class per semester. The class should be in an area/subject that will make the Fellow more competitive for admission to a Ph.D. program. Because of the NIH classification of Fellows as university employees, Fellows will be required to use an IU Employee Tuition Discount. The institution provides some funding towards in-state tuition, and Fellows may have to pay for some portion of the course's tuition. Keep in mind the tuition benefit from the university will be taxed. Please consult with IPREP director before enrolling and to obtain permission.
No, you do not need a GRE score to apply or be accepted into IPREP. If you have already taken the GRE, there is a place to report your score on the application; however, this is not required. During the first month of the program, all scholars participate in an extensive GRE review course. Taking the exam prior to this course can be helpful since you’ll know firsthand what to expect on the test. Our own research shows that GRE scores do not predict future success in graduate school.
No. The goal of IPREP is to prepare individuals who are interested in pursuing research-oriented graduate degrees (Ph.D.). Thus, all of the program components are specifically tailored to help students be prepared for entry into and success in Ph.D. programs. For example, all IPREP scholars participate in preparation for the GRE (which is required for Ph.D. program applications), but there is no programmatic preparation for the MCAT (required by MD programs). If you are interested in an MD degree and could benefit from some additional support, IU offers the MED Program, which has been highly successful in preparing students for medical (and dental) school for almost 40 years.
Maybe. As you probably know, the application process and timeline for MD/Ph.D. programs differ from Ph.D. programs (for example, requiring the MCAT vs the GRE). While IUPUI PREP does not offer direct programming related to the MD/Ph.D. application and admission process, we have a close relationship with the IU School of Medicine. However, please be aware that the IPREP programming is specifically focused on preparation for Ph.D. programs.
IPREP can often offer a limited housing option for the 1st month of the Fellow's employment. This will give Fellows time to explore places to live near campus and options to rent housing together (cheaper). IPREP will provide Fellows' advice on places to live as well as public transportation options and parking on campus. If you choose to live far away from campus you will need a car and most likely a university parking permit.
No, your baccalaureate degree must be conferred by June 1st of the year you apply to PREP. If your degree is conferred after this date, you will have to wait until the following year to apply.
If you have a specific faculty member in mind that you would like to work with as a IPREP scholar that is not listed as a vetted and trained mentor with the program, we are happy to reach out to them to see if they are interested in serving as a IPREP mentor and working with you as a scholar. You will have the option to provide us with their name in the IPREP application.
In order to be eligible to participate in IPREP, you must have completed your baccalaureate degree within three years or less of the program start date.
Parental, medical, or other well-justified leave for personal or family situations is not included in the 3-year eligibility limit, nor is national service (e.g., Peace Corps, or service in the National Guard or Armed Forces Reserves).
Yes. You do not have to have prior research experience to be accepted into IPREP. This may be the area where you have a gap that IPREP can address in your graduate program application.
At this time we are unable to accommodate lab and site visits, however, applicants are encouraged to review the information on the IPREP website, reach out to the IPREP Program Coordinator, Dr. Ann Kimble-Hill with any questions at ankimble@iu.edu.
Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program IUPUI Office of the Dean of School of Health and Human Sciences1050 Wishard Blvd. Health Sciences Building, RG Indianapolis, IN 46202 Tel:317-274-7447 Fax:317-274-1024 Email:IPREP@iupui.edu Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.
