<p>biophysics generally implies that you’re quantitatively inclined (it’s not all protein biochemistry)…i would assume the average GRE Q scores would be higher than regular bio programs.</p>
<p>Added a few schools to my list. This should be the final list.</p>
<p>My pathetic profile:</p>
<p>Interest: Genetics PhD programs</p>
<p>School: University of Toronto</p>
<p>Major: Molecular Genetics and Microbiology</p>
<p>GPA: Cumulative: 3.31 Major: 3.37</p>
<p>GRE: Wrote it twice—1st time: 720Q/640V 2nd time: 800Q/670V
NO subject GRE</p>
<p>Research: Currently 1.5yrs. If you count my current senior thesis project, 2.5yrs.</p>
<p>1st lab: Proteins lab as a summer student during my 2nd yr as an undergrad. Just purifying a whole bunch of proteins for further functional enzyme assays. Left the lab prior to running any of the assays. It was an okay experience.</p>
<p>2nd lab: Volunteered during my 3rd yr as well as a summer project after my 3rdyr. HIV genetics lab. Literally spent an entire summer trying desperately to clone a few inserts into different expression vectors. Was mind-numbingly boring. Didn’t care much for my P.I. either. Something fishy about the whole experience. </p>
<p>3rd lab (current): Just started my thesis. A whole lot of cell signaling/growth/differentiation work. LOVE it so far.</p>
<p>LORs: My 1st P.I. and my current P.I. I’m not going to get a reference from the P.I. from that HIV genetics lab. Our relationship was a bit sour. </p>
<p>3rd LOR: Probably a PostDoc from my current lab or an immunology emeritus professor who is currently teaching a cell migration course I’m taking.</p>
<p>PUBLICATIONS: NONE.</p>
<p>Schools:</p>
<p>Cornell Weill
Rockefeller
Columbia
UPenn
Yale
MIT
Princeton
UChicago
Harvard
Caltech
Memorial Sloan Kettering</p>
<p>I know I don’t have any safety schools. I just don’t believe in them. If I get rejected from every school, I will simply stay at UofT for an extra year and get more research, another LOR, and maybe a publication.</p>
<p>I have this sneaking suspicion that I’m going to get rejections across the board.</p>
<p>I am taking the biochem subGRE on saturday and I am very nervous…has anyone taken it and can give me suggestions on what topics to focus on in these last few days!
thanks!</p>
<p>Jenlam,
I am also taking the subject test Saturday, good luck! I know I am focusing on enzyme kinetics. It seems to show up alot, and it’s not my strongest area. Also, I am going to review the basics of photosynthesis, carbon fixation, pentose phosphate pathway, and a few other pathways involving glucose metabolism and usage.</p>
<p>MasterMoe,
We are applying to ALOT of the same programs, hopefully I’ll be seeing you at alot of those interviews. Good luck. I share a similar sentiment on safety schools. It’s more important to me to go to the program I want to go to, as opposed to going to grad school right away. (un)fortunately, my situation is a bit more complicated since my girlfriend is applying to medical school. Coordinating grad admissions with that has been… a pain.</p>
<p>Anyway, I’m hoping to get my apps in in the next two weeks. My SOP has been reviewed by a few profs so far, and they seemed to like it alot, so that’s reassuring. LOR requests are out, transcripts are sent, GRE scores are out. I just need to make sure the SOP is set and it’s time to start submitting!</p>
<p>Does anyone from prior years have any experience with Cornell or Sloan Kettering? Thoughts impressions, etc. I am falling in love with the programs, but I don’t want to get my hopes up too much haha.</p>
<p>I was hoping some of you could provide me with some useful feedback. I am aware of the low quantitative, but I got 740 in the ETS powerprep software, and I know I could do better, but the real question is whether I stand a chance or not. That’s what really irks me.</p>
<p>You will want to redo that GRE and score higher on both the Quantitative and Verbal sections. The 710Q would have been mediocre at best for a biology grad but you are pursuing biophysics. I would assume they expect a more impressive quantitative score.</p>
<p>No point in sabotaging your application with poor GRE scores.</p>
<p>I suggest you register for a sitting in late October or early November and go full-force with the studying.</p>
<p>Ideally, try and go for 550+ V and as close to 800Q as possible.</p>
<p>You need to realize admissions are supremely competitive and small things like this can make the difference between acceptance and rejection.</p>
<p>@MasterMoe – I think you are focusing way too much on the GRE-- they are by far the least important part of your application. As long as you have >700 on the quantitative, you should be okay. The GRE doesn’t measure the quantitative skills you need for biophysics anyway. As long as you have done well in your actual college classes then it’s fine. Its better to put the effort into your current research project rather than studying more for the GRE, when the score is already okay.</p>
<p>Well, it seems there is some disagreement as to what it is expected for the GRE. I do want to retake it but I fear that I may do just as well or worse, which would be a huge killer. I also have little time to prepare and apply for this semester at the same time. What do you guys recommend for the verbal?</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for your input mastermoe and ec2134.</p>
<p>Anomalous, both mastermoe and ec1234 are correct. Your general gre score doesn’t mean much in the application process. However, scores that low may trip some graduate school threshold wherein the department doesn’t ever see the application. Retake it and do better, best of luck.</p>
<p>Note to those who have posted on this thread: I will be renaming and de-stickifying it around December 1. I will then create another “Official Results” thread. You can copy and paste your stats from this thread into the other as you get notified of interviews, acceptances, and denials.</p>
<p>I started this thread early by request, but it has become more of a general information thread than a results one. Look for it to be renamed something like “Biomedical Sciences Pre-Application Information.”</p>
<hr>
<p>Im so screwd lol</p>
<p>I forgot to add the test date for the GRE and the only avalible date is…</p>
<p>next week…</p>
<p>lol!!!</p>
<p>Iam so unprepared!!! sigh…</p>
<p>oh well I hope my research activities can make up for the crappy scores Im gonna get…</p>
<p>Quick question-- for some applications–it says to list any faculty you have had contact with. My question is what if I did not make any specific contact with faculty because I have varied research interests–does that put me at a disadvantage since I did not initiate any contact? Do I have to reply to this question, can I leave it blank? I am planning to email professors at some schools but not all, but then again I am not sure if they would ever reply back to generate conversation.</p>
<p>This is probably a stupid question but what do you put as your graduation date? I’m thinking the last day of your last semester? not convocation day or last exam day or something right?</p>
<p>I’m putting down commencement as graduation date.</p>
<p>Also, Biochem subject test tomorrow. Hopefully that goes well.</p>
<p>But for me commencement is almost 2.5 month after my last day of class, so it seems weird to put that. Good luck on the subject test!</p>
<p>
You can definitely leave it blank. I did not contact any professors, as my undergraduate advisor told me not to do it unless I had a concrete reason to email them (i.e., not just sucking up to get into the program).</p>
<p>Safetypin,</p>
<p>Yeah that does seem pretty odd. I suppose you should go with the last final date. That would be the day your degree would become valid anyway right?</p>
<p>Anyway, biochem GRE went pretty well! Time wasn’t really an issue. I told myself I needed to review three more things before I took the test. I didn’t have enough time to brush up on them; luckily though, there was only 6-8 questions total on the topics, and I could reason through over half of them.</p>
<p>Good luck to anyone who is still planning on taking it, or took it today.</p>
<p>I think I’ll just ask someone at the registrar’s office or something. I have more questions. </p>
<p>For applications when it says “other name” can I put a name that I usually go by, but it is not on any legal documents? </p>
<p>I’ve also contacted faculty but not for any admissions related things, more like what their current research interests are/are they accepting rotations students/any specific recent projects in what my particular interests are, etc… I was going to NOT put that on the apps that say specifically if you have contacted fac members about admissions… right? </p>
<p>AND also, when it says “native language”, I should put the language I am most proficient at, correct, even if it differs from the language I first learned?</p>
<p>I go by a name different than my given name, so I’ve put that down as I’m sure it has popped up on some documents some where (probably my LOR’s as well). As for language, i would list the native language as the one you speak at home, or most commonly throughout the day. I WOULD however mention that you have contacted faculty, but that’s just me.</p>
<p>I was just wondering if there are any people still reading this from last years thread who could comment on how selective, and what the interview weekends were like at some of these places…Baylor, Mayo, UNC Chapel Hill, U IL @ Urbana, Carnegie Mellon. I have currently completed my applications to these schools (they are my top choices). </p>
<p>I am interested in Molecular/Cellular biology programs and Immunology programs…what are some additional safe schools that I should apply to? Geographic location is not an issue. I have applied to Marshall University as well, which is in my home state and a sure bet, but I really dont know how pleased I would be if it was the only place I got an interview. </p>
<p>Will the fact that I have received a BS in Biology and a BA in Chemistry from a small college in West Virginia have a positive or negative impact upon admissions? GRE scores are on the lower side, GPA 3.3 (low, but very high junior and senior years), two years of summer internships, senior chemistry research, teaching experience, presented summer research at an international immunology meeting in Rio, strong personal statement, LoR’s from biology advisor/prof, chemistry advisor/prof/research mentor, summer research mentor…all very positive. Also, I am 27, do you think that matters at all?</p>
<p>So, do I have any chance at all, or am I vastly reaching into a realm of disappointment? I am so confused at this point and wish there was less secrecy about what admissions committees actually desire of candidates!</p>
<p>Please I need guidance!</p>