<p>
I’m willing to bet good money that none of those programs will send any interview invitations before New Year’s. I was invited to interview by all of those programs in mid- to late January the year I applied.</p>
<p>After lurking for so long…here it goes!</p>
<p>Undergrad. University: small liberal arts schoool
Undergrad. Major(s): biology, molecular cell
Undergrad GPA: 3.93
Years of Research Experience: ~2 years in immunology lab. 1 pub on GenBank, 2 conferences attended, 4 abstracts
GRE Scores: 157 Verb. (77th) 158 Quant. (79th) 4.5 Writing (72%)
Prospective Graduate Program: Molecular Bio/Pharmacology
Prospective Graduate Schools:</p>
<p>Sackler
Mt. Sinai
Einstein
Weill Cornell
Sloan-Kettering
Columbia
Princeton
Rutgers
Jefferson</p>
<p>Going against me: small unknown liberal arts school, GREs
Going for me: LORs, GPA, research experience (thesis, applied for grant, won awards at conferences, etc.), lab tech exp.</p>
<p>I just hope I get in SOMEWHERE! 
any advice?</p>
<p>Inagaki-- Your son has great stats, and it sounds like great recommendations/research… That is really all you can ask for, I would be highly surprised if he doesn’t receive interview offers in the next couple weeks.</p>
<p>Also! I just got a call back from the prof! Interview in late Jan.–overlapping with Berkeley’s only weekend for my program…Tough decision, but I can NOT wait!</p>
<p>Archer–I am interviewing with UNC, too! I am super excited!</p>
<p>neurogirl85, thank you very much for your kind words. My son is not here but I come here every day recently. I’m so scared because he has only applied for 5 graduate programs. Also, he has a withdrawal on his transcript. I don’t know in general how much it affects admissions. :(</p>
<p>I have a ‘no credit’ on mine and I am still getting interviews. Experience and strong references make up for a lot.</p>
<p>Inagaki: I also have one “W” on my transcript. While GPA is one of the major factors to consider for admission, I think your son’s research experience and LORs will definitely make up for the “W”. I would be worried if there are multiple "W"s. Not only that, but I am sure there was a good reason for dropping a class in the first place. For me, it was to make time for an internship. I wish you and your son luck.</p>
<p>Hi greenertea, molliebatmit, SocraticIrony, and archer310, </p>
<p>Thank you for all your help and support, and all the time you put in to help me!</p>
<p>I also have one W on my transcript and have received an interview invite. I don’t think one thing like that will (or at least should) break an application. I wouldn’t worry about that.</p>
<p>I have Fs on my transcripts, it is not a big deal</p>
<p>@davexuke: Fs on your transcripts? Really? You must be kidding me.</p>
<p>I am not joking, I have not only Fs but also Ws. One important thing to know about getting into PHD program is that this is not a number game. people having perfect 4.0 GPA get rejected very often. People with lower GPA but strong research exp, strong LOR and PS will actually have better chance than just having high GPA. Publication is not important at this time, b/c the adcomt have no idea how much the student contribute. one of my friend was the second author of a “Cell” paper and the only thing she did was one simple western blotting.</p>
<p>@davexuke: Thank you very much for telling me about what grad school admissions really care about! I really appreciate your help.</p>
<p>
That’s not necessarily true – professor recommendations will often discuss the contributions students made to research and to publications.</p>
<p>Publications aren’t necessary, but they certainly help, especially first-author publications and/or publications in high impact factor journals. Your friend may have only done one simple Western for second authorship on a Cell paper, but you can bet your bottom dollar it helped her get into graduate school.</p>
<p>Yo D-dog, what are your stats, you previously said you got an interview from Columbia (albeit you go there), with Fs and Ws on your transcript? You must be a STUD.</p>
<p>Yo AliG89, my GPA 3.6 undergrad and 3.8 master (Columbia). GRE 620 + 780. I got 3 Fs in my freshman year, because I had too much fun. I think the first year GPA really is nothing, the adcomt dont even bother to have a look. I have 3 Ws during my last 3-year college. But all these W courses are irrelevant to my major. (Inorganic chem, nuclear physics, polymer reaction eng). But my other core courses (biochem/bio/BME/CHEM) are perfect. Also I have a lot of research exp both in academic and industrial setting.</p>
<p>3 Fs and still being able to pull 3.6 is pretty impressive. </p>
<p>I also applied to Columbia, GPA is a 3.5, 3 years research experience including a summer internship at Genentech. 84% quant, 64% verb. No publications. Graduating from a top state university. I’m hoping my internship at Genentech will set me apart from the pack. What do you think my chances are with those stats?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry too much about particular grades (unless they are directly related to your subfield). I spoke with a very highly rated professor at a top 10 program who said that he got something like 5 Fs early in undergrad. The important thing is that you convey your interests, enthusiasm and ability. Obviously Fs show either a lack of ability and/or work ethic, however they are not always a kiss of death and can be compensated for. </p>
<p>It really depends on who is reading your app and how you manage/present the negative parts of your application. The committee is not so much looking for perfection as it is looking for a successful researcher. Yes, there is probably a correlation between the two, but no one is naive enough to think that some poor grades can preclude great research. Of all people, wouldn’t you expect scientists to be the LEAST dogmatic in their assessments?</p>
<p>EDIT: I should note I have not been through the application process before and this is just what I have learned from speaking with several professors.</p>
<p>evobio: true say.
AliG89: Your GRE may be your drawback, but once you pass the initial screen, GPA and GRE is nothing. I will say your chance will depend on how strong your LOR and PS are, and how well you performed on your research. Did you get any significant results from your past research?</p>
<p>Yeah I found the cure to cancer. Nope, nothing too significant but I have mastered a TON of laboratory techniques. IHC, all aspects of aseptic tissue culture, site-directed mutagenesis, p/c extractions, restriction enzymes, gel electrophoresis, PCR, MSP-ISH, primer design, constructing plasmids, various cell characterization assays (proliferation, migration, invasion), FACS, colony PCR, bisulfite treatment, counterstaining to check for nuclear integrity, AND in vivo work.</p>
<p>And my essay (and im sure my LOR) stressed my passion and enthusiasm for research.</p>
<p>EDIT: I don’t think an 84% and 64% should hurt my app that much.</p>
<p>The more I think about it, and the more I realize how little GPA and GRE matter, I wonder why we list those stats at all.</p>
<p>We’re just beginning to reach that point where it matters more who you know than how hard you work. By sheer luck, many of us landed in labs with well-known PI’s. By sheer luck, many of us undergrads were able to be listed on a paper or two. That’s how I feel, at least. When I started research, I simply felt lucky enough to have been given the opportunity to do research as an undergrad. I did not consider “who’s-who” in the department. And now it’s suddenly a factor. </p>
<p>Instead of listing my GPA, perhaps I should list which professors are writing my letters. Maybe then we could accurately asses each others’ chances.</p>