<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>I'm not sure what to do at this point...I'm a rising senior, and currently have a cumulative 3.238 GPA. I'm a Biology major at NYU. I had a 3.7 GPA freshmen year, and then it went down sophomore year when I skipped Introductory Biology and took Molecular Cell Bio 1 and 2, my grades in which are C and B-. I was taking organic chemistry (plus lab) at the same time, and received a C and C+. </p>
<p>For junior year, I took a graduate course called Math in Medicine and Biology, and got an A in it. At the same time, I took Genetics and got a C+, and Physics and got a C both semesters. I also took an Independent Study course under the supervision of a plant geneticist and received an A. At NYU, the Biology major courses include all the premed courses, so I was unable to fully concentrate on actual biology classes. For my senior year, I have registered for Biochemistry and Senior Thesis (which I think I'll get an A in).</p>
<p>I have TA'd for one year as a general chemistry lab and recitation instructor. I also presented clinical research at a conference at Harvard Medical School. However, I have been working in a plant developmental genetics lab for 1.5 yrs, and I became interested about the prospect of grad school. I am very interested in the process involved in discovering transcription factors (or essentially genes) that are responsible for root cell development and differentiation. I've been using reverse genetics techniques in the project i'm working on. I will apply to present my current research again at Harvard or Columbia.</p>
<p>I am studying very hard for the GRE and GRE Bio. I am expecting excellent recommendations from the professor I TA'd for, from my plant genetics research professor, and from another professor I've known personally who can relate to my academic potential. My question is, do i have a chance in the Bio/genetics/plant biology programs at Harvard, Columbia, Cornell, or Princeton? I have found professors there who work on the same project as I am, but with a different perspective. Other schools I'm considering for plant biology are University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, Purdue University, University of Maryland, and Tufts University. Would I be wasting application fees for any of these schools?</p>
<p>Grad school depends on your research and recommendations more than grades. I know people who have gotten into top tier grad schools with lower than 3.2 GPAs. Who at princeton is doing plant biology though?</p>
<p>I spoke to my research professor and he said I was aiming too high with some of the schools I listed because of my GPA. He mentioned some safety (but not top-tier) schools that I should apply to. Doesn't this imply that GPA can "make or break" you?</p>
<p>For some programs GPA certainly can "make or break" your application. There are others in top programs where it's not considered nearly as strongly, though.</p>
<p>For example, I've heard kinda rough things about MIT's graduate program in MSE. One of my friends was accepted, and during the visiting weekend, most people she met had never done research before, they just had 4.0 GPAs. A guy my girlfriend knows at UCI got into MIT for MSE and he's never done research. His description of his project is "I want to do something that deals with electrons." However, he did have a 4.0 (or very close to it),</p>
<p>My friend is at the plant bio program at cornell and he seems to agree GPA is important. he had a 3.9 from Maryland undergrad and was rejected at Yale, Wisconsin and some other places.</p>
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he had a 3.9 from Maryland undergrad and was rejected at Yale, Wisconsin and some other places.
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<p>To play devil's advocate, that anecdote would lead me to believe GPA was not the deciding factor of his application. </p>
<p>I would say if you can afford the fees to apply to the schools, aim high but include some "lesser" schools that you can find good research fits at. No one here can tell you if you will or will not get in, and the decision is based on multiple factors, of which GPA is one. Take that for what it is, sure it is a factor but also only one of them.</p>
<p>Good luck with everything!</p>
<p>I would say to apply to at least one or two safeties, just in case. Don't sell yourself too short either because if you don't think you can get in somewhere, then you're absolutely right. Think positively and be optimistic. Research is always way more important than a GPA and GRE scores. It would probably be in your best interest to apply to a program where your current research adviser/mentor knows some of the faculty members. Then your recommendation and research experience will hold a lot more weight.</p>
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I spoke to my research professor and he said I was aiming too high with some of the schools I listed because of my GPA. He mentioned some safety (but not top-tier) schools that I should apply to. Doesn't this imply that GPA can "make or break" you?
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Your research adviser wants what's best for you, which is why he's telling you to cover your bases. He probably doesn't spend much time keeping track of who got into which school with what grades/scores/experience, so don't let his prediction get to you.</p>
<p>Do apply to a few programs from a lower tier, but shop around. You're bound to find departments that are lesser-known in your general area of interest (e.g., molecular and cell biology) but have a lot of good faculty in your specific subfield (say, developmental neuroscience).</p>
<p>What do you actually want to do with a PhD in plant genetics or plant biology? Think about that. </p>
<p>Consider working in a professors lab after you graduate for a year or two. Develop your own project and get published in some capacity. Although publication timing is tricky and often outside undergraduate control (in my case, I finally got published after I left the lab!) having a professor who can vouch for your research and bench abilities would help. Scores are not everything. During this time you can also study for the GREs.</p>