<p>I'm trying to get into a Master's or PhD program (depending on whomever accepts me) for cell biology/stem cell biology but I have no prior experience in research. I'm currently working for a company that synthesizes oligonucleotides as a lab assistant, and what I do can't really be listed on a resume as lab skills (for example, knowing how to use an oligonucleotide synthesis machine, or rarely processing the oligonucleotides). Am I wasting my time with the company if I want to better my chances at getting into graduate school or should I stick with them? I'm going to be applying in three months so I'm unsure on where to go from here. </p>
<p>You really need to provide more information. have you taken the GREs? What kind of B.S. degree do you have? What graduate programs are you considering? What are your ultimate career goals?</p>
<p>I haven’t taken my GREs yet but I’m studying for them to be taken in two months. I’m considering taking the GRE subject test in three or four months as well although I’m not sure how important they are? My recommendation letters are from two professors and one lab teaching assistant (not sure if I should get more from professors as I don’t have many options, but please suggest it if you think so). I’ve got a B.S. in Biology and the graduate programs I’m applying to are listed below:</p>
<p>University of California - Irvine
PHD program in Cell Biology department of Development & Cell Biology</p>
<p>Dartmouth College
PHD program in Molecular & Cellular Biology</p>
<p>University of California—Santa Barbara
MA in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology</p>
<p>Brandeis University
MS in Molecular & Cell Biology</p>
<p>Stony Brook University—SUNY
MS in Biochemistry & Cell Biology</p>
<p>University of California—Santa Cruz
Masters in Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology</p>
<p>University of Southern California
MS of Science in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine</p>
<p>University of California—Riverside
MS in Cell, Molecular & Devolpmental Biology</p>
<p>Syracuse University
MS in Cell/Molecular Biology</p>
<p>University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee
MS Cell Biology</p>
<p>University of Denver
MS Cell & Molecular Biology</p>
<p>Fordham University
MS in Cell & Molecular Biology</p>
<p>University of Michigan—Ann Arbor
MS in Molecular/Cellular/Developmental Biology</p>
<p>University of California - San Francisco
PHD - Developmental and Stem Cell Biology</p>
<p>University of Minnesota
MS in Stem Cell Biology</p>
<p>University of Pennsylvania
PHD in Developmental, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology</p>
<p>University of Wisconsin
PHD in Developmental and Regenerative Biology</p>
<p>McMaster University
MS in Biology
-stem cell research faculty in school</p>
<p>Rutgers University - Cell and Developmental Biology M.S.</p>
<p>University of Connecticut
Cell and Development Biology - M.S</p>
<p>University of Miami - Miller School of Medicine - Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology</p>
<p>My ultimate career goal is to be involved in research for stem cell biology, which is what I tried to base most of my list off of. Around 1/3 of them are long-shots for me, 1/3 safeties and 1/3 are good fits. I should also mention that this lab job is the first one I’ve ever worked. </p>
<p>I’d greatly appreciate anyone’s help!</p>
<p>Wow, that is a big list. You have both Ph.D. and Masters programs. Do you have a preference? Let me try to answer your explicit questions first.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>back to your original question. I don’t think that work experience will hurt you particularly but the fact that you did not have much research experience will be a challenge. You have not mentioned your GPA and since you have yet to take the GREs then it is hard to say where you might be accepted. As a general rule, in departments which offer both a Masters and a Ph.D. unless they require you to have a Masters before starting a Ph.D., then the Masters are usually self funded and the admission standards are below those for a Ph.D. In this case, staying in your job will help you build up a reserve to fund your studies.</p></li>
<li><p>Letters of reference are always best from a professor or possibly a supervisor at work who has an advanced degree and know what it takes. Letters from TAs are not as useful so go for another professor or your supervisor.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>If your ultimate goal is a Ph.D. then you need to focus your applications on Ph.D. programs or those masters programs which will provide you with the research experience that will allow you to apply to a Ph.D. program after finishing. I would recommend applying to no more than 10 programs and only 2 long-shots and 2 safeties. Focus on the good fits most.</p>
<p>I knew that, as far as McMaster is concerned, even if you did accelerated/direct PhD one still has to apply for the MSc… and it is the only one I know for a fact that the MSc is funded. However, since funding packages for internationals usually cover the supplemental tuition it will make McMaster that much harder.</p>
<p>What is your GPA?
BTW 20 schools is just too much… the question is … would you “TRULY” be “HAPPY” in any of them if accepted or are you just trying to go to Grad school?
Just trying to go to grad school is definitely a BAD choice especially if you are not in a program or school that you are happy in, let alone definitive on what your future career is going to be.
The application fees and in some cases on-campus interviews are not CHEAP… SO RESEARCH THE SCHOOL QUALIFICATIONS and re-asses your plans for a more strategic application.</p>
<p>And even me, as an international student, I thought that it was hard to build a balanced list with 11 schools (five are Ivies but I am confident one, and maybe two if these visits in August go well, and if I publish before apps are due, are non-reaches)… as far as I’m concerned, here’s my list in its current condition (my stats are in another thread)</p>
<p>The reaches:</p>
<p>Harvard
Princeton
Cornell
UPenn (visit pending; may put it as a high match if visits go well and if I publish before apps are due)</p>
<p>The matches (from high to low):</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon
Penn State
Ohio State
Minnesota
Tufts</p>
<p>The low matches (there is no such thing as a safety in my subfield)</p>
<p>Vanderbilt
Dartmouth</p>
<p>But 10-12 is a good-sized list.</p>
<p>^ Seems like a perfect blend of school list. I also agree that 10 to 12 is a good number for any one. Anything past that is just toot much.</p>