BME PhD Program @ JHU

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I was just wondering if anyone could provide me some advice into my chances of admission into a direct PhD program at JHU. I am interested in medical robotics work. </p>

<p>I'm currently a Canadian student graduating from BME at University of Toronto, through one of the toughest engineering programs in Canada (Engineering Science). Typically, all the students who enter have 95+ averages in high school, and the program is extremely challenging and competitive. </p>

<p>I currently have a cumalative 3.04 GPA, though I am expecting this to change with my last semester at uni. My previous two semesters have been 3.82 and 3.68, which are considerably higher than my marks in first and second year of engineering. Im wondering if anyone knows how ppl look at GPAs at US graduate schools in general, and at JHU specifically. </p>

<p>Currently, I applied to a bunch of masters program here in Canada, but Im wondering whether I should instead wait and apply for the PhD program in BME at JHU instead (this december). I will probably write my GRE's this may or june. </p>

<p>Can anyone tell me what my chances are of getting in, direct PhD after undergrad? I have two first author publications under my name, from JHU (at the lab I mentioned earlier), and I did a full year undergraduate thesis project with a Md/PhD supervisor in the medical robotics field. Im also planning on working at a medical robotics company this summer near Stanford. One of the supervisors at the JHU lab I menitoned earlier also knows me personally and has written me numerous letters of reference for graduate school. I also believe he is part of the admissions committee for the lab I want to work at. </p>

<p>Thanks a lot for the help.</p>

2

<p>I think your chances are very good - but you should apply to tons of programs if you are set on going to the US. You just never know, it is a bit of a lottery. I would apply to at least 5-6 BME programs in the US. I applied to 11 and interviewed with 5 (my field is neuroscience, also directly from undergrad, fellow UofT-er). </p>

<p>Congrats on surviving EngSci, I’m sure your reference letters are stellar.</p>

3

<p>Oh man! You survived quite well, life sci is quite the ***** :slight_smile: Do you think though, that loosing a year in the application process (since I would have to wait b/w Dec 2010 when I apply and Sept 2011 when I start) is worth it, as compared to just doing my masters in Canada starting this Sept 2010?</p>

4

<p>Well, can you work next year instead of doing a Master’s in a laboratory? I’m not sure - I think it would be best if you talk to some faculty members. Extra experience can’t hurt, I’m not sure if it is better to work a year and re-apply, or do a Master’s and obviously be way more competitive. Are you being paid/getting funding for Masters? (not sure how it works in engineering). Really, I would suggest talking to faculty members. </p>

<p>life science is much easier than engineering!</p>

5

<p>Yeah, I will be getting paid.</p>