I’m in the process of applying to Masters and PhD programs for Biomedical Sciences. I’m feeling confident about the Masters programs but I’m trying to see if I stand a chance for the PhD programs.
About me - GPA: 3.36, GRE: tbd, a 1 year Genetics research experience (presented at 2 symposiums at my university)
If you’ve got into Science M.S. or PhD programs, please share your GPA, GRE and Research experience.
@sandrapel - Welcome to the forum. It is not likely that you will get an answer to this kind of question in this forum. You will do better starting a discussion by asking some specific questions, and providing some additional information such as where you are looking to apply. A 3.36 GPA will not be very competitive for highly selective programs.
Without the GRE that’s not much to go on.
You might go to the Grad Cafe website. They have a function there where people post their admissions result, so you can search by school. Some people put their stats in. I think you could find programs to accept you and fund you (for PhD), but they won’t be top programs. Which might be fine, depending on your goals.
Duke is one of the few schools that makes public its admission stats for PhD programs. (I would guess that Duke is considered a “top” program in most disciplines.)
If you are aiming for a top program like Duke, best bet it to focus on the MS, ace it, get more research & recs, and then apply.
But whether you need to go to a “top program” depends on your career goals. A masters is expensive, so the OP shouldn’t just assume they should take that path without careful consideration.
Agreed, I think that there are a number of quite reputable programs which will admit with that GPA. They are likely smaller programs that take a look at all applications carefully because they aren’t swamped with large numbers. Someone who really wants to get a PhD. needs to do their homework in looking for programs where there are faculty who are doing the work they are interested in. By identifying the moderately selective ones and applying there, the chance of getting admitted can be improved.
The one student I know who just graduated and got into the Phd program had a 3.99 gpa in bme.
He was a Goldwater scholar recipient.
One year of research experience in the biomedical sciences is kind of thin, especially with a 3.36 GPA, at top programs. I’d think you’d need more research experience (2-4 years) to be really competitive at the best programs. An MS program or 2-3 years “off” after college to get some paid research experience would be the best way to improve your portfolio.
But yes, there are probably some moderately selective programs that would take you. The question is really what do you want to do with the PhD, and will a moderately selective/mid-ranked PhD program be sufficient for those career goals? (Academic careers benefit greatly from more selective programs, but if industry is your goal, that’s less of a concern.)
^^The question I have is, how often are ‘moderately selective’ programs fully funded? I’ve read on other blogs that what I consider a decent Unis does not fully fund its PhD students in all departments.
Depends on the field. In fields like biomedical sciences, funding is a bit more prevalent and so there may be more mid-ranked programs that have decent levels of funding for doctoral students. (In humanities and social sciences fields, many mid-ranked programs are indeed underfunded. I knew some friends applying for clinical psychology programs who were effectively shut out because while they were accepted to a few programs, those programs did not offer funding, or only covered tuition, or didn’t offer a livable stipend).
Any PhD worth doing is funded. An offer of unfunded admission is usually considered a polite rejection.
STEM subjects are likely to be funded at moderately selective schools. Non-STEM are more hit and miss.