<p>Does anyone know if it’s too risky to send your transcripts via regular postal mail?
I’m an international, by the way.</p>
<p>I sent my transcripts with regular mail (from Europe) and all of them arrived just fine. If your postal system is known to lose mail, however, this might be more risky for you.</p>
<p>Well, I’m getting lots of datapoints from everyone else, so I suppose I should contribute my own.</p>
<p>Applying for PhD programs in genetics/genomics (or umbrella programs of schools strong in genetics).</p>
<p>Undergrad: small state school (you’ve never heard of it, trust me)
GPA: 3.86
Major: Dual major in biology and chemistry
GRE: 630Q, 740V, 5.5AW (no, that’s not a typo… I really did score higher V than Q)
Research: 3 summer programs at a good school, all in the same lab, fairly well known- unfortunately not in genetics (pharmacology). Plus 1 academic year doing mol bio. Also no papers 
Letters: 1 from summer research prof, 2 from undergrad profs (1 chemistry, 1 biology)- all should be strong.
Work: I graduated several years ago. I previously worked as a high school chemistry teacher, and currently work as a product chemist.</p>
<p>Schools: (in alphabetical order)</p>
<p>Case Western- Biomed Sciences Training Program
Duke- University Program in Genetics
Harvard- Bio. Sciences in Public Health
UNC- Bio & Biomed Sciences Program
Virginia Commonwealth- Integrative Life Science
Virginia Tech- Genetics, Bioinformatics, & Computational Biology
Wake Forest- Mol & Cellular Biosciences (Mol Genetics area)</p>
<p>So what do y’all think? Do I have a shot at any/all of these? Will my low GRE-Q score or my no-name undergrad or my lack of pubs keep me out the more competitive schools?</p>
<p>Just updating with some news:</p>
<p>Completed a phone interview with Louis Pasteur Institute in Paris.</p>
<p>It got me ‘pumped’ for working on my applications to other schools seeing one small victory already.</p>
<p>wow, a first victory already- congratulations!! :D</p>
<p>Hi guys! I’m applying to 5 universities at top 25-50 US schools (based on “College Ranking” by USNEWS 2010). My stats are not very good, therefore I considered 25-50 to be quite…realistic?</p>
<p>Undergrad Major: Biochemistry (from top 25-50 US universities, and yes I’m applying to my previous University as well)
PhD Major of interest: Genetics</p>
<p>Cumulative GPA: 3.15
Major GPA: 3.07</p>
<p>GRE: 580V 800Q 4W (I’m international)</p>
<p>Experience: 0.5 year intern in chemistry, 1.5 year research, both at US (one co author in genetics, one co author publication pending in US)</p>
<p>Letter of Recommendation:
Three of them are from Genetic professors at my previous university:
- One of them will give a VERY strong recommendation (I worked with the professor for a year, and on a couple occasions the professor personally told me to apply Grad school of that university)
- One of them will give a strong recommendation (I worked for a year, and they know I work very hard)
- One of them, I got an A+ in the class (and it’s quite a hard class), and from what I remember the professor knows me personally (at least by name) and I believe I left the impression that I worked hard.</p>
<p>Those professors have on average 10 publications (Nature, Cell, JBC, PLoS), but not member of NAS.</p>
<p>No other extracurricular beside those research, but if this would be relevant at all, I was my country’s national finalist on junior high Math Olympiad (finished 8th…the top 5 were sent to world Math - some got golds and silvers). I was state Physics Olympiad too, but didn’t get to national.</p>
<p>Another one problem I have in mind, my Grades were ok “A/Bs” on freshman/sophomore, but on my junior year I didn’t pass (D) two related classes, failed (F) one English class and didn’t pass (D) one unrelated class (Econ), due to “hanging with wrong crowd” (I was…21). On my senior year I repent and my grade improved from C/Bs to B/A/A+s. I retook those classes and got Bs, the grades were completely replaced and the previous grade will not be included in GPA, but will still appear.</p>
<p>Would it be likely that I will get into at least one of the 5 top 25-50 schools?</p>
<p>vitiatethis-- I think you’d be a ‘wild-card’ applicant. If you thoroughly explain the GPA, and let the admins know that you know you screwed up, but know how to fix it, you might have a better shot. Some school might take you as is, however. Your GRE scores are fairly strong (Quant. is, at least), and you have a good amount of research experience and publications. To be on the safe side, I would find some schools that are not as competitive but still offer research in your desired area. </p>
<p>homarus-- You have been working outside of research and in academia for the past few years, therefore, you really can’t/shouldn’t have any publications since you graduated. Your lack of publications certainly won’t help you, however, you do have research experience, which is a lot better than nothing. I wouldn’t worry about your no-name university for all schools, because you have (had) such a high GPA. I’d be worried if you had a low GPA. The GRE isn’t everything, but if you have the resources, you should think about retaking it. I’ve heard that some schools won’t even look at you if you have less than a 700Q.</p>
<p>Hello all! Very excited to join this forum.</p>
<p>I have a couple of concerns that I’m hoping to get clarified by some of the vets on here.</p>
<p>I recently completed my M.Sc. in Clinical Biochemistry with a thesis - International
Area of expertise/interest - Cell Biology (Insulin signaling, particularly the connection between obesity and insulin resistance)
GPA - I have an international gpa (out of 100), should I get that converted for the application?
GRE - 460V 700Q ?W (waiting)
4 years reasearch experience as M.Sc researcher and as undergrad assistant.
International poster and oral presenter, and named third on publication.</p>
<p>Unfortunately my school selections are limited to Chicago area for personal reasons. With that said, Northwestern’s Ibis program is at the top of that short list and I’m wrapping up my application to that school at the moment. Any tips on important points to hit in my statement of purpose. Keeping in mind that I’m an Intl’ applicant, I would appreciate any feedback/reality checks you could provide.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Does anyone know if there are any advantages to applying a few weeks before deadlines?</p>
<p>Just finished my applications and my last recommendation was turned in today! I am applying to computational biology programs and would like to do some bio-mathematics and RNA modeling.</p>
<p>I am finishing my MS and will graduate in May. </p>
<p>MS in Biomedical Sciences (Molecular Pharmacology) GPA: 4.0
BS in Molecular Biology
GRE 560V / 770Q
Thesis Topic: Molecular Mechanisms Conferring Fluoroquinolone Resistance in Escherichia coli.
Letters of Rec:
One is from a renowned RNA modeler who is very involved with tmRNA.
One is from my thesis advisor who is very big in the clinical pharmacology world.
Last one is from my undergrad research advisor who I had published some with. </p>
<p>1 first author research paper just accepted.
1 3rd of 6 author paper published.
2 more first author papers in the works from my thesis.
Poster presentation at ICAAC this year in Boston.
Multiple posters presented at regional conferences.
Able to shell/Perl Script. Also comfortable with MatLab.</p>
<p>Schools Applied to:
Harvard BBS
Yale Computational Biology
Brown MCB
Dartmouth
UAB
Emory
Georgia Tech
UGA
Tulane
Boston College</p>
<p>I would be happy at any of these places but I would like Brown the best.</p>
<p>Anyone want to evaluate my profile or chance me? I’m seriously worried about my undergrad GPA which is the only weak spot I think. Immunology is my field of interest.</p>
<p>Undergrad GPA: 2.8 from a state school
Masters GPA: 4.0
GRE: 750Q 630V 5.5 AW (retest, first set isn’t worth mentioning)
Research Exp: Totally unrelated research in undergrad, 1 year in immunology lab at my Master’s program but not published, lab tech for 2 years, 2 papers published but buried in as a middle author, 1 paper to be reviewed first co-author
LoRs: I’ll get 2 great ones and one good one. Another maybe red flag is my old PI who oversaw my project while I was getting my Master’s might not come through for me on the LoR. He’s stressed out over funding and in the middle of writing several grants and he told me straight up he might not have time to write my letter but will try. So I got an undergrad prof of mine to write one as a backup. Is it really bad not to have your research supervisor/advisor write a letter? </p>
<p>What do you guys think? Is my undergrad GPA going to haunt me forever? My dream school is U of Chicago and I think that maybe way out of reach. I’ve been searching for “safety schools” but it’s hard because the faculty research doesn’t gel with what I’m interested in.</p>
<p>
There are no advantages, except that you now have time to worry about other things.</p>
<p>^Well, and if you’re missing pieces of the application (e.g., ETS forgot to send your GRE scores to a program, or your third recommender neglected to send your letter to another program), there’s more time for you to find out and get them there before interview invitations start being made, and/or before you and your recommenders are away from email over the holidays. </p>
<p>But mostly it’s just about your peace of mind.</p>
<p>As somebody who stressed out WAY too much about grad school apps and then ended up at a very good place (MIT). Trust me when I say:</p>
<p>IF YOU ARE ON THIS THREAD, YOU ARE WORRYING WAY TOOO MUCH.</p>
<p>With that said, I know its hard not to. </p>
<p>Good luck everybody!</p>
<p>Can you guys chance my friend?</p>
<p>BA in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from USNEWS Top 20 school
GPA: 3.9
GRE 700V / 790Q
Research:
Has worked for three semesters during the school year, and during one summer. Selected for Honors Lab (competitive) by school’s department. Most of the research has been on one topic, and hopefully, will be published early 2011.</p>
<p>Ideally, he wants his research focused on immunology (specifically for third-world applications), even though his undergad research is more in the cell bio field.</p>
<p>Here are the schools:
Stanford
Yale
Johns Hopkins
WashU
Rice
UT-Austin
UT-Southwestern
Baylor College of Medicine</p>
<p>Is this shooting too high?</p>
<p>If he can secure good LORs, not at all.</p>
<p>Having a very hard time gauging my chances. I guess I’ll know soon…</p>
<p>BA Biochemistry, MS Chemistry (4 years) from Ivy
GPA: 3.6
GRE: 650 V, 800 Q, 5.5 AW
Subject: Took chemistry, will probably stink, but who knows
Research: Started freshman year, worked in lab full time for 3 summers, part time during school year. PI says I’m the best undergrad she’s had.
Publications: 1 published 5th author, 1st author abstract submitted for FASEB 2011</p>
<p>Applying to Neuroscience programs:</p>
<p>Harvard
Yale
MIT (Biology)
Caltech (Biology)
UPenn
Columbia
Rockefeller
JHU
UCSD
UCSF
Stanford
UC Berkeley</p>
<p>Too many! Should be a fun Thanksgiving…</p>
<p>Hi Arthur07, you have received pre-app from UCSD already? It seems like deadline is 1st Dec for pre-app and actual deadline is Dec 5, how could one manage to apply just after knowing pre-app results?</p>
<p>Less than a week til the first apps are due for me. O boy.</p>
<p>Stats:
Current senior at a top private university. Not Ivy, but comparable
Double major in Biology (Neurobio concentration); Psychology
GPA: 3.44 overall, 3.51 major, 3.72 jr./sr year
GRE: 680V 800Q 5.5W
1.5 years in a neurobio lab at my school. Working on a senior thesis right now on spinal motor control. Received 2 small grants from my school’s fellowship dept. for this.
No publications tho
LORs- One from my PI, which he tells me will be awesome. 2 more from profs- one should be pretty good, the other probably nothing special. </p>
<p>Applying to neuroscience programs at:
UCLA
UC Berkeley
UCI
U Chicago
Northwestern
Brown
Stanford
UCSF
UCSD
Hopkins
Weill Cornell
Michigan
Duke</p>
<p>Shooting pretty high, but hopefully I have a long enough list that I’ll get in somewhere. </p>
<p>Some questions for all you out there-
Is it going to reflect poorly on me if I keep sending emails to profs so close to the deadline? I’m pretty embarrassingly behind on this front, probably still have 10-15 left on my list. On a similar note, is it worth it to keep writing them after I submit?</p>
<p>I took a bio subject test on the 13th of this month. ETS says scores will be available Dec 13th at the earliest- do you think programs are even going to look at them if I send reports that late?</p>
<p>
This is a fruitless activity. Stop.</p>