<p>I’m hoping biology programs may take your writing sample into some sort of consideration…I got a 5.0 (81%ile), while my other scores were much lower, 560V (77%ile) and 670Q (64%ile). I’m pretty upset about the Q score, but nothing I can do now because I don’t have another $150 to drop on a retake haha.</p>
<p>Upenn’s cell and molecular biology graduate group’s average GRE scores are: 589V, 731Q and 4.8AW. Their other graduate groups’ like Neurosciences and Immunology groups have ridiculously high average GRE scores–they are lot more competitive. </p>
<p>[Cell</a> and Molecular Biology graduate group, UPenn School of Medicine](<a href=“http://www.med.upenn.edu/camb/admiss.html]Cell”>http://www.med.upenn.edu/camb/admiss.html)</p>
<p>I barely make the cut. Gosh…I just don’t have the time to take GREs again…I am just hoping for the best!! </p>
<p>Lets see what happens! </p>
<p>Jenlam, I hope admissions committees look past beyond GREs, and I would assume if you write a killer SOP, with every other aspect being strong–you should be considered for top schools!</p>
<p>I was under the impression GRE’s were more of a “pass the threshold” sort of thing. I doubt they will be the “make or break” factor for anyone’s applications.</p>
<p>I think this may be the case with some programs. One that I’m applying to (OHSU) just comes out and says that below a 600 in either section will just make them look at other parts of the application more closely, but it’s not a “deal-breaker”. I’m hoping that’s the case because they’re my top choice haha.</p>
<p>For UC Irvine CMB:</p>
<p>Domestic Applicant: “Only average scores in the 70% range or higher will be considered”
International Applicant: “Only average scores in the 80-90% range or higher will be considered”</p>
<p>So they are not gonna consider people whose scores are less that that? But I guess nobody is applying to UCI here.</p>
<p>Anyhow, nobody can give me any advices regarding my previous question about LOR? =(</p>
<p>selpunca, get the letter from the first option. you want to get the letter from a person who knows you well.</p>
<p>so caltech has several upload pages for work experience, publications, academic honors…can i just upload a resume containing all this information instead of making a separate document for each of these?</p>
<p>^ I’d follow instructions. This seems to be the trend in a lot of apps. Just do what they tell you because they are not going to want to have to do extra work you know what I mean?</p>
<p>selpunca, I agree with labgod. I think since your other 2 refs are from research people, you have that covered, and it would be better to get the best rec that you can.</p>
<p>DONE! and it feels GREAT!</p>
<p>Thanks labgod and jenlam. Yeah, that’s what I initially thought too. It’s just that I keep hearing that the admission people only care about you as a researcher and thus, you need people who can talk about you as a researcher as well in every LOR.</p>
<p>I think I will go for the first one then.</p>
<p>MolSysBio, is that “DONE!” for all your apps? I’m hoping to celebrate with you in the next week or so. I am going over the final details of each of the SOP’s. Then I’m going to pass it around for a week to most of my professors haha.</p>
<p>wow you people are early.</p>
<p>wowza. i’m just starting to think about what to write on my SOP. but i would rather watch youtube!!</p>
<p>yep, that’s for all my apps. just need my LOR writers to turn their statements (by next week). i actually wrote my SOP over the summer because i knew it would be a pain to write during the semester. </p>
<p>what are the chances that my apps are reviewed soon?</p>
<p>Calm down there champ! No need to make the rest of us look bad.</p>
<p>hah! it’s not like that. i’m just pumped that i can get to enjoying senior year.</p>
<p>My program has already begun reviewing applications, though I don’t believe it was one of the ones you were applying to. I wouldn’t REALLY expect to get notified about an interview until December though, as most programs wait until they have assessed a good number of applicants before extending offers.</p>
<p>hello everyone i am new to this thread and i wish to apply to a graduate program in pharmacology or cancer biology. my GRE scores are somewhat on the low end 670Q and 530V. No word on the AW yet since I just took them. I am majoring in biology at a UC with a cum. GPA of 3.94 and science GPA of 3.96 and I am a member 2 honors societies one is phi beta kappa (im not sure if having an affiliation with these would be in my favor). I have 4 years of research experience beginning my freshman year. I was an Amgen scholar and I am a co-author of 2 abstracts and 1 publication (manuscript). I have written and won grants one from my campus and one from an honors society. The schools that I am applying to are:</p>
<p>Yale
Columbia
Cornell
U Mass Medical Worcester
Duke
UNC
UCSF
UCLA
Mount Sinai
Memorial Sloan</p>
<p>I am really sad about my GRE but nevertheless I remain hopeful and optimistic. I think that the GRE weakest part of my application.
What do you guys think about my chances of applying in these schools?</p>
<p>You come from a UC so your program should be fairly well known and rigorous. Your GPA is fantastic. Your research experience sounds top notch. You seem like a stellar candidate.</p>
<p>BUT… that GRE score is disgusting for someone of your caliber. When did you write the GRE? Hopefully it was in September because if it was in October, you will have to wait until November to write it. If you can write it within the next few weeks, I would do that. ETS’s own BigBook tests for Verbal and Nova Prep Course book for Quantitative (although you will want to focus more on the Quantitative).</p>
<p>As far as I am concerned, not rewriting that GRE is a case of self-sabotage.</p>
<p>If you do well the next time, your stats will be ace. </p>
<p>Go get em tiger!</p>