Biosciences chances with lowish GPA, two body problem.

Graduate School
1

<p>It's been quite a while since I've been here, and I'm back in a different area of the forums, haha. So, to put it simply, I'm looking at getting into a biosciences graduate school, specifically in molecular biology or biochemistry. First, my current stats.</p>

<p>Undergrad: JHU Cellular/Molecular Bio BS.
GPA: 3.27, trending upwards with the last two semesters at 3.65 both.
GRE: 770Q/720V/4.0AW (Yeah, one of those weird ones, I know.)
Experience: One and a half years in one lab characterizing a plasmid, REU and a semester in another studying extremophiles of the Atacama desert. Might get a poster from it, but probably not until next semester...
LoRs should be all right, though nothing spectacular - two from the PIs and one from a biology lecturer whom I've had for four classes and interact with frequently.</p>

<p>Programs I'm interested in: Harvard CMB, MIT Bio, Duke Biochem, UNC BBSP, UVA BIM, Stanford Bio, UWash Genome Sciences/Biochem, UMaryland At Baltimore, and a few others TBD.</p>

<p>Planning on taking the GRE subject test this October. Doing the practice, seeming to get around a 650 at least.</p>

<p>Questions:
1) Am I aiming too high? The faculty and grad students I've asked keep telling me that I'm fine for those schools, but I know my GPA isn't the best. I'm currently looking into programs that aren't as prestigious but still interest me. Suggestions would be welcome.
2) Should I do anything about the low AW score? I'm pretty competent in writing, so the score is more reflective of not really getting the GRE AW style down before taking the exam. I've had As in every writing class I've taken at JHU, and I'm pretty sure I can manage a good SoP.
3) Anyone else had the two-body problem? I have a boyfriend that I'd like to stay with, so any advice/experiences with that kind of thing would be appreciated.</p>

2

<p>I’m in the midst of working on applications right now, and I got a 4 on the AW and high scores on the verbal and quant too. I asked my PI about GRE scores, and she said no one even looks at the AW score. Besides, you can show that you know how write well with a good SoP.</p>

3

<p>Q2: ^seconded funnybounce. AW usually have a very small effect.</p>

<p>Q1 GPA is on the low side, but Q+V GRE is excellent should mitigate GPA. Upward GPA trend definitely also helps. Your school reputation also helps (e.g. JHU 3.3 might translate to 3.6ish < but I don’t know the exact number). I don’t think you’re aiming too high, those are reach, but I think your SoP is kind of deciding factor (e.g. explain what happened during previous semesters that you get a B/B- GPA?)</p>

4

<p>Hmm, I guess I’ll go to work on my SOP, then. :slight_smile: It’s just that seeing some of the credentials of people around me intimidates me a lil’. I’m a reasonably hard worker, but man, some people are just amazing… Papers published and everything. @@ It makes me anxious, haha.</p>

5

<p>A strong showing on the subject test will also help overcome the somewhat lower GPA. But as was already stated, your school is top notch and adcoms take that into consideration. For the subject tests it’s the percentile of your score that counts most, not the raw score. What subject test are you taking and what does the 650 come in at percentile wise?</p>

6

<p>I’m planning on taking the Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology subject GRE. A 650 is around the 80-85th percentile, based on what ETS says.</p>

<p>In addition, I’m going to try and present a poster during spring semester (we don’t have undergraduate poster presentation sessions until then). I don’t think that bears mentioning right now, though, does it?</p>