<p>sanf- I agree that you're in good shape. Maybe check out Baylor and Vandy too if you haven't already. They both have solid Human/Medical Genetics programs. And oh the joys of PCR problems. Good luck working out the kinks, I know that can be a pain.</p>
<p>bloomingtulip,
A common misperception international students have when applying to graduate school in the USA is that their scores/grades need to be at a certain high level to get in. Scores/grades can help, but they are really just a minimum standard to weed out those students that can't compete, and they aren't what the admission committee pays much attention to when reading applications. Your main independent research experience, how you are able to write about it, what your Prof/advisor writes about how you did with the project, and whether or not you can get some kind of distinction (conferences/publications) with your work is the most important part of the application.</p>
<p>Well as far as research goes-
I'll be doing 2 Study Oriented Projects-1 of which I've already completed (A study of how specific mutations in proto-oncogenes and p53 genes cause cancer including the stem cell hypothesis .)
1 Lab based project (still pending)
I've done a 50-days training at Orchid Biomedicals -where I studied the principle on which modern-day diagnostic procedures are based and carried out experiments to supplement my study
Then I would be doing a month of training in a reputed University here the next summer
and finally I would have a 6 month training period in a good univ/company</p>
<p>Is this much research experience enough or do i need to do more?</p>
<p>And as far as LORs are concerned I'm my department's favorite student so that wouldn't be a problem at all.</p>
<p>Also, as of now I don't have any conf/papers to my name and that is something I cant guarantee in near future-it may or may not happen.</p>
<p>But moreover, I would need scholarship to pursue my PhD and I don't think that Universities like stanford, harvard etc would be very enthusiastic about this.</p>
<p>So I took my GREs and I did not do nearly as well as I would have liked to do on the verbal section. I am applying to neuroscience graduate programs, so hopefully quantitative will be more important. Anyway, here are my stats with the GRE included: </p>
<p>I am currently attending Barnard College at Columbia University
Neuroscience major with a concentration in both cellular/molecular neuroscience and behavioral neuroscience
My GPA is 3.79
Major GPA: about 3.89
GRE: 1330
Quant: 760
Verbal: 570
Analytical: have not gotten these back yet
Research experience includes one summer with the Amgen Scholars Program
and what will be a year working on my senior thesis.
I think I will be able to get good recommendations because I have taken a good number of lab courses and small classes that really let your professor get to know your abilities, plus my PI should write a great one. </p>
<p>So is that GRE score really going to hurt my chances? I imagine it will to some upper upper level schools (like Yale?) but my first choice is Emory. According to the website the average GRE for last year's incoming class was 1290, so I am above that, but my scores are so uneven it worries me...bah! I hate standardized tests! Any feedback would really be appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>Of course zxzz74, bravo ! And now someone dares to say that GRE test is a good measure of someone's intelligence :-))</p>
<p>Hey guys, </p>
<p>did anybody know that Cedars Sinai does accept international students but they do not have the ability to grant student visas ! I wonder how is this possible ?</p>
<p>Hi guys.. i posted here before but dint get any replies.. guess it wasnt detailed enough.. so here's a 2nd try..</p>
<p>I'm an international student looking to apply for PhD programs in MCB or dev bio.. My stats:</p>
<br>
<p>BSc Biochem 1st division (we dont hv GPA) Summer Intership program Research Masters (1 yr intensive course with 2 lab rotations n a loooong summer project) from a top5 UK univ. includes acknowledment in 1 pub, cuz it wsnt lab policy to hv rotation students as authors, as well as a Pilot project. GRE Gen & Biochem- will be giving in Oct</p>
<br>
<p>However, I took a gap year after my masters cuz i was sick of working and hadnt had a break in forever. so i went travelling n all sorts of things. Will that go against me? I'm quite worried abt that.</p>
<p>I'm interested in working on Stem cells. I know the specific area and hv begun looking up profs who r doing that sort of work.</p>
<p>I want to know which schools are renowned for stem cell biology and which of those could i get into with my stats. I expect to do decently well on my GRE. I shud be able to get decent LORs as well. Plz do suggest schools which have a greater acceptane rate for international students. </p>
<p>I'd really be grateful for any specific lab suggestions as well!! </p>
<p>Thanks alot everyone!!</p>
<p>Hi neurostudent, </p>
<p>I think your GRE general scores are just fine, but I would advise you to take GRE Biochemistry and Molecular Biology test, and get the score above 80 %. In that case, with your research experience, there's no doubt left that you'll get into some of the top neuroscience programs.</p>
<p>Good luck to all those applying for the 2008/9 year!</p>
<p>Hi everyone,this is my first post in college discussion.
After reading your hot dicussions above,I wish I can get your help of advice,since I'm an international student who is applying for Ph.D in 2009.</p>
<p>My GPA is about 3.6 ,my major GPA can be a little more higher.
My GRE:1350 V:560 Q:790 AW:3.5
TOEFL:be taken this month, I guess it can 90-100(since I have had a TOEFL last year, and my score is 90, I want to take a re-test to make some improvement)
Research experience:I do not have so much scientific background
3 months research work in my advisor's lab who is the Dean of my department,
a summer internship programme in a reputable univ in my country
I'll spend about 6 months for my graduate thesis after finishing my application.</p>
<p>What's more, I have a third-author paper,but the paper is not so high-level</p>
<p>I want to apply for the field of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology etc.</p>
<p>I'm afraid that I'm not qualified for apply for TOP20 schools.
So my first group of choice include
UIUC
UNC
IOWA
UC-Davis
UC-Ivrin
Connecticut
Stony Brook of SUNY
By the way, I want to add Duke for a try~</p>
<p>Do you have any advice of my choice conerning my background?
Thanks a lot!</p>
<p>Hello all. I'm trying to get a feel for what my chances are going to be at some of the schools I'm thinking about applying to. I recently graduated from the University of Nebraska in Biological Sciences in Dec 07 and have been working in the technology transfer office since then. I'd like to go back to school and get an advanced degree in microbiology (preferably PhD) now that the girlfriend is finishing up her nursing degree. Here are my stats:</p>
<p>GPA: 3.1 overall / 3.311 major / 3.25 last ~60 hours
GRE: Q680 V620 A4.0</p>
<p>I worked close to a year in a research lab on campus, and my recommendation letters should hopefully be relatively good.</p>
<p>Schools that I'm thinking about applying to:</p>
<p>Tufts
Boston U
Virginia Commonwealth
Univ. of Colorado-Denver
Colorado State
UNC
George Mason (Biodefense program)</p>
<p>I realize that some of these are reaches...what do you think of my chances overall? If you have any suggestions for schools that I may have a better shot at please let me know. Thanks!</p>
<p>Hello all,
I have an interesting backround, would like to get feed back:
-Language major at top 5 liberal arts school, very little coursework in biology
-GRE 710Q/600V/6.0
GPA 3.5</p>
<p>Research exp: 6 months after college volunteering in neuroscience lab, going on second year in well-known immunology lab, with a second author (out of two) publication in major journal. </p>
<p>Will my experience out-weigh academic backround?</p>
<p>Ivy, </p>
<p>As an international applicant myself, I would be hesitant about applying to UC Davis and UC Irvine. Federal funding for research has been slashed severely in recent years, and all the University of California schools are taking in a lot less international sudents than they used to. </p>
<p>Berkeley only took in 4 internationals last year, if memory serves me well.</p>
<p>sideserver, thanks for the input - great to consider that</p>
<p>can you please list like 15 schools "not ivies or top" that are less competitive with better funds that internationals are advised to apply to .. </p>
<p>please !</p>
<p>sideserver, thank you so much for reminding me!
I know that the finacial situation in the USA has posed a severe influence on the funding of the universities, but how can I tell ,in other words, how did you get to know which ones have suffered the most ?</p>
<p>especially for us internationals~</p>
<p>Are research internships such as NSF or NIH viewed highly in the eyes of the adcoms?</p>
<p>Hi I am a student of medicine and surgery in India. I ll be finishing my course by April 2009 and then intend to do a PhD in either immunology or molecular biology.</p>
<p>My general GRE is 1390 V640 Q750. I have a modest research experience of about 8 months in a microbiology lab, 1 month in a biochemistry lab and a months training in cytogenetics and electron microscopy. My GPA must be more than 3.9(i haven checked it with WES but my friend has. And we have similar scores). LORs are fairly good.
Honors: Second-author in a paper published in a national journal; received a fellowship for 4 years from the Govt of India.</p>
<p>Can someone suggest the universities that fit my profile and come with full funding? I feel my research experience is very meagre compared to others here. Should I improve or can I try applying for 2009?</p>
<p>Has anyone heard of the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD? I looked at their program in Emerging Infectious Disease. They said they offer a unique opportunity that students can have training in bench studies and field studies. But I don't know anyone studying at this university before. Any input?</p>
<p>Yeah, my cousin is in the Uniformed service university of health sciences in Bethesda MD. He is in the psychology/neurology department. He loves it. He says that the funding problems that exist at other traditional universities don't seem so bad there. He loves his advisor, though that would be specific to his situation. The describes the resource cores as being great. On the other hand, the rent in the area around there is pricey and the commutes suck.</p>
<p>Thanks belevitt. Have you done finalized the schools you will apply? As for me, I haven't done yet...maybe in a couple weeks.</p>