The Application Process : School of Health Sciences : Simmons College

Admission options and prerequisites vary for each program within the School of Health Sciences. In general, most programs require a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution in the U.S. or an institution abroad recognized by the country's Ministry of Education. All prerequisties must have been completd within ten years prior to the application deadline date for each program.
AP(Advanced Placement),IB, and CLEP scores,pass/fail or audit courses do not fulfill prerequisites. Please check the admission requirements for the specific program to which you are applying:

NOTE: Information on this and other pages of the SHS web site are subject to change without notice. Be certain to re-visit this section before you apply to determine if any changes have occured since your last viewing.

Application Information

Applicants should download a SHS application for a specific program. Applicants to all SHS programs must submit a downloadable application and all supporting materials in one envelope,except standardized test scores(GRE,GMAT, or TOEFL-when required) which should be sent directly to the Office of Admission,School of Health Sciences by the appropriate testing agency. Each application packet must include the application, a non-refundable application fee or fee waiver form, an application check-list, an essay or personal statement depending upon program, resume, and Certificate of Finances Form (for non-U.S. citizens). Each SHS program (except the DPT Bridge, Clinical Genetics, and the post-master's certificate in Health Professions Education programs)has its own Simmons recommendation form which must be completed and signed by the recommender;enclosed in sealed/signed envelopes. When receiving these recommendations, do not open the sealed envelopes but include them in your admission packet. Recommendations for all other programs must be submitted on letterhead stationery in signed/sealed envelopes;included in your admission packet.

Additionally,official academic transcripts in signed/sealed envelopes are required from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended whether or not a degree was earned and regardless of when courses were taken, or if they are not specific to the program for which you are applying, or appear on another transcript as study abroad or transfer credit. Student photocopies of transcripts or score reports or copies stamped "Issued to Student" are not acceptable. When you receive the transcript(s), do not open the sealed envelope(s) as this will render it/them unofficial; include them in your admission packet. Official test score reports ( GRE, and TOEFL) must be sent directly by the Educational Testing Service to the SHS Office of Admission. Applicants who have studied abroad must submit academic documents in the native language,as well as an official English translation,by someone other than the applicant or a family member. Interpretations of foreign credentials by an evaluation service do not replace official academic records. These evaluations are assessments of the curriculum and are not accepted in lieu of the official documents. All documents submitted become the property of Simmons College and cannot be returned.

Standardized Test Scores

For SHS programs requiring GRE or GMAT, official scores must be sent directly to the Office of Admission at the School of Health Sciences by the Educational Testing Service(ETS) by the designated application deadline. GRE/GMAT scores must have been taken within five years prior to the application deadline and TOEFL scores must have been taken within two years prior to the application deadline. For pograms where GRE is not required, TOEFL is still required for applicants whose first language is not English. Please see futher details below about TOEFL.

GRE is required for the DPT and Nutrition programs. Several program combinations exist in nutrition and the GRE is required whenever the M.S is part of the selected program combination. By successfully completing (earning a grade of B+ or better) in the following courses: HCA 500 and HCA 501, individuals may apply to the Master's in Health Administration(MHA) program without submitting official GRE/GMAT scores. GRE is not required for application to any certificate programs.

TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required of all applicants whose first language is not English; the requirement is based upon native language not citizenship. TOEFL does not replace GRE or GMAT when these exams are required for a specific program:TOEFL is still required. No other English language proficiency exams are accepted and student score reports are not acceptable.TOEFL is not required if a student has earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. post-secondary institution or at an institution recognized by the Ministry of Education in English-speaking countries only.

A minimum TOEFL score of 550(paper-based),230(computer-based) or 88(internet-based) is required.

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by program and by term. Check the specific application deadlines for your program on our deadlines page. Be sure to allow time for official academic transcripts and official test scores to arrive by the deadline date.

Admission Evaluation Process

Faculty admission committees carefully review and evaluate all SHS applications. An applicant's academic performance in the prerequisite courses ( minimum of 3.0 G.P.A.)and in overall undergraduate and/or graduate study (minimum of 3.0 G.P.A.) is important. Generally, repeated required courses are not accepted but are included in the G.P.A.The preferred scores in standardized tests are :500 GRE verbal, 500 GRE quantitative and 4.0 analytical writing. The required TOEFL scores are: 570(paper-based),230(computer-based) and 88(internet-based). In addition to academic factors, other aspects are important in the review process: paid or volunteer experience, outside interests, writing ability, potential for leadership, and academic and employment references. For a better understanding of the demographics about accepted students, please view the current Admission Profile which provides information about previously accepted classes by program Admission Profile.

Admission Decisions

All admission decisions are rendered and sent after the established application deadline date. Mailings of decision letters are different for each program but are not done on a rolling notification basis, rather as a group on a specific date.

Enrollment Deposit

Accepted students will be required to submit a non-refundable enrollment deposit by the date indicated in the letter offering admission. No extensions to the enrollment deposit due date will be granted. Deposits will be applied to the first semester bill.

Deferred Entrance

Accepted students may obtain a deferral of enrollment. Deferrals can be granted up to a maximum of one year(two academic semesters). Students must submit a written request for a deferral indicating the semester and year they wish to start enrollment and what they will be doing in the interim.Send this letter along with the non-refundable enrollment deposit to the SHS Assistant Dean/Director of Admission. This material must be received by the deadline indicated in the acceptance letter for the originally intended semester of entry. Deposit due dates are different for each program and semester,so check the appropriate application carefully. International student deferrals are considered on an individual basis, due to immigration issues.

Reapplication Procedure

If you have applied to an SHS program in the past and either did not complete the application, withdrew the application, or were denied admission, you must re-apply. You must submit the current application form and processing fee,any outstanding transcripts for courses completed since the initial application, a letter stating what you have done in the interim, and why you are interested in re-applying. Newly dated recommendations are also required. Depending upon how long ago you first submitted an application, copies of orginally submitted official trancripts may be needed since we may no longer have these on file.

Contact Us

Please e-mail the SHS Office of Admission at shs@simmons.edu or call 617-521-2605 if you have questions about the application process, a program, or Simmons. We also encourage you to visit Simmons and attend one of the SHS information sessions offered throughout the year.Office hours during the academic year,except for college holidays, are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.(closed for lunch :noon to 1:00 p.m.). Office hours during the summer(May-August),except for college holidays are Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m;Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.