<p>Everyone,
I think I’ll post up my info and hop on the train.
Here it goes. Hope it will make some of you feel less anxious/nervous.
My numbers/experiences are humble.</p>
<p>[Undergrad. University] Large International Univ. outside US
[Undergrad. Major(s)] Medical Biology
[Undergrad GPA] 3.5
[Grad. Major(s)] Not applicable
[Grad GPA] Not applicable
[Years of Research Experience] 3 yrs (No pubs, 3 posters, 1 oral presentation)
<a href=“Old”>GRE Scores</a> 740-790-3.0
[Prospective Graduate Program] Microbiology/Immunology/Infectious dz.
[Prospective Graduate Schools]
Emory - IMP
JHU - Pathobiology
PSU - Infectious Dz.
UC Davis - GGI
UCSD - BMS
USC - PIBBS
UTSW - DBS
UW - Pathobiology
Yale - BBS</p>
<p>Congratulations on everyone who got an interview offer.
Still waiting for some Christmas present from grad schools…
Good luck everyone!</p>
<p>@SOD7247 I was just talking to one of my prof about this today! it really depends on the school. Some schools (coughcough Harvard) has a pretty dramatic cute from interview (20-50%) but other programs including the some of the ones here at Berkeley almost accept everyone they invite, but also are more selective with who gets their invites, so it really depends on the school.</p>
<p>@biotechstudent I had the same question for my subject score (only the worst part is i did worse is something related to my major) so went and bothered my professors about this too XP Basically it comes down to the reputation of your school. When it’s not required the professors barely look at the score, unless your undergrad institution is less known (like for liberal arts schools). if that is the case I would be a bit hesitant to send it in but otherwise it I wouldn’t worry too much about it</p>
<p>To update…may as well carry along my stats. I still need to submit 2 apps, but recently got an interview @UCHC!!!</p>
<p>[Undergrad. University] Top 15 large school
[Undergrad. Major(s)] Biology
[Undergrad GPA] 3.8
[Years of Research Experience]
1.5 yrs during undergrad (outside of area of interest)
2 years in a hospital lab
2 years biotech</p>
<p>@piano5115 What would define a lesser known school? What about a state school that’s part of the system of a well known flagship school? And I know it’s one of those things where if it’s really good, send it, but if it’s not good, don’t do it.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if this helps any, but I emailed the Biology program at Tufts about the Biology subject score. They said that successful students that submit it (it’s not required, but recommended) score in the 88th percentile on average overall.</p>
<p>@piano5115 I actually attend the University of Florida which is a pretty large research university. So if I sent in my scores it wouldn’t be a big deal? Most of the schools I applied for state that the subject test is “highly recommended”, which makes me think I should send my scores in. On the other hand, there’s this giant gap in my scores which I think would look bad. That’s why I am in this dilemma haha. I guess I am going to have to decide tomorrow … I should really email my scores soon if I decide to.</p>
<p>Hello, everyone. Also have a queation.
Do you think Biology Sub 87% percentile (molecular 70% something… organismal bio 90% something… and eco 60% something) is worth submitting?</p>
<p>wahhh? Yale’s starting to send their’s out?!?! ;_;</p>
<p>@allie87: hahahaha I was thinking the exact same thing! My friend asked me what I wanted for xmas and I said “grad school acceptance letter” to which she laughed and then awkwardly stopped when I deadpanned, " I’m being completely serious." lol</p>
<p>@elocin: I think adcom define a “good school” (and again this is my own opinion, so take it with a grain of salt lol) on the reputation of specific program you majored in as an undergrad . A way to do this is by seeing where your alma mater program rank nationally through lists like US world & news and NRC.</p>
<p>@biotechstudent: I think the scores matter only in relations to your school’s reputation and how extreme it is. If your school has an amazing reputation (Stanford, MIT, etc.) then a low GPA/GRE (sub and general) is going to matter much as more than if you had a low quantitative score and go to lesser known school. However, if you’re score is really low (think below 70s) than it will probably raise a red flag no matter where you go. The flip side is true too, if you have a really good score (I would say 90 or above) it will help you no matter how small the school. I was worried about the label “strongly/highly recommended” too but as long as their not mandatory the test scores can’t hurt your chances, only help.</p>
<p>Also, another general note on subject GRE is that it’s just another metric to grade us again >_< I’ve heard time and time again that recco letters/research experience matter MUCH more than the quantitative stuff especially in the more competitive programs.</p>
<p>@MicroB2012: I don’t think the letters are coming out earlier… altho I could be wrong lol… I think gradcafe has a few years backlog of results so you can check for actual specific dates to the program you applied to if you want. A lot of programs have different waves of email/phone call interview invites so I think the ones being notified now are the uber competitive students but the bulk of the invites probably won’t trickle in until after the holidays.</p>
<p>Well a lot of you are obviously applying to much better schools than me haha. Anyone around here applying to different colleges? My due dates haven’t even passed yet for a lot of them.
Loyola-Chicago-Submitted
Purdue-Submitted
Illinois-Chicago: Jan 1
Illinois-Urbana Champaign: Jan 1
Iowa: Jan 1
Notre Dame: Jan 5
Medical College of Wisconsin: Jan 1</p>
<p>@mathandbrains – Actually, I am not an applicant but a parent (if you look at my public profile you actually might guess this). D is interested in neuro. I will not be putting up her stats as they are not mine to share. If D chooses to post her information, it will be carried out independent from me. On that same note, I find this process very interesting and have many observations. </p>
<p>@piano5115 – I wanted to comment on your post #243 where you state, “Some schools (coughcough Harvard) has a pretty dramatic cute from interview (20-50%) but other programs including the some of the ones here at Berkeley almost accept everyone they invite, but also are more selective with who gets their invites, so it really depends on the school.” I knew I had seen information to the contrary. In last year’s comparable thread, a member XIV21 was very active. He/she identifies him/herself as a then current Harvard BBS student and seemed to also have been active in the admissions process. Anyhow, post #703, states the following, “This year, unlike past years, there will be a nominal interview instead of straight acceptances, a dictum passed down from higher-ups in the university that requires all graduate programs to interview. Despite this change, the number of people invited to interviews will still be in the 125 range, with a projected post-interview acceptance rate over 90%.” So anyhow, I cannot attest for its veracity, but it is clearly different from your professor’s statement.</p>
<p>Anyhow, this is all exciting to watch. Good luck to you all and congrats to those already receiving interviews!</p>
<p>Regarding the Yale BBS interview post on grad cafe, if you look at past year’s for Yale interview offers, there are offers that go out this early. For example, on CC’s 2012 thread, Flutterfly received a Yale Pharm interview on 12/12 and dobetter1 had received on as well at some date prior to 12/18. On grad cafe, the earliest Immunology interview posted last year was 12/18. While Yale neuro posts have been between 1/4 and 1/6 for the past three years.</p>
<p>On a related note, don’t panic that in the next week+ (if history repeats itself) the Harvard Neuro interviews will come out. In contrast, the Harvard BBS is more like the second week of January.</p>
<p>Those are just a couple of easy examples. It is clear that different schools, and different tracks have their own schedules. The unknown is if a school makes a change from the previous years.</p>
<p>I’m also applying to UIllinois Chicago, Purdue, Iowa, and Notre Dame. I’m not sure if we’re looking at the same programs, perse. I currently work at MCW, so I could give you some more information about it if you’re curious. I also interviewed for their IDP program, so if you’re curious what their interviews are like, I can tell you.</p>
<p>So far, I’ve completed my apps for Illinois Chicago and Purdue. I’m still working on Notre Dame and Iowa.</p>
<p>Here’s something I’m considering. My GRE general scores are lower than the averages or in the typical range of accepted students for some of the programs I’m applying to. Some of these recommend the subject test. I scored in the 76% percentile overall, with Cell/Molecular in the 88% (my specialty), Organismal in the 76%, and Eco/Evo in the 50%. I don’t come from a highly ranked Biology program. Maybe we’re looked on favorably as an institution of prolific undergraduate research, but only in the eyes of the larger state school system we are a part of. In my case, would it hurt me to send out my subject test scores? Or are we all in the dark on this one? :|</p>
<p>I’m especially curious now since I figured out it won’t be an extra charge to send them out with my general test scores.</p>