<p>So last year at about this same time, I made a semi-panicked thread about graduate admissions asking how much research experience can offset a mediocre/poor GPA. A lot can change in a year, and I would like any input of advice from the amazing CC community. I will try to provide as much information as I can in hopes of getting a more accurate assessment and advice. A bit about my goals first:</p>
<p>I want to do biological research, anything in the biological/biochemical/biomedical/ bioengineering field would be fantastic. I would be interested in pursuing a biology/microbiology PhD or a combined MD/PhD program. I am not completely enthralled with a straight MD program, as my end-goal is research and I would like the PhD experience for that. The thought of pursuing some sort of biology related business degree has also crossed my mind, as private research institutes are also attractive to me for some reason. I know it sounds rather nebulous, but I suppose I am one of those people that just likes science and is pretty content doing most everything, although I am becoming increasingly more interested in technological applications.</p>
<p>Stats: Sophomore at University of Florida-Honors program
Major: Microbiology/Math minor
GPA: ~3.52 This is what worries me the most. I know it is not spectacular, but I have taken a heavy courseload each semester with many courses that Microbiology majors don't normally take such as Physics for engineers/math thru calc 3 (and DiffEq this summer). The GPA defecit comes as a result of a poor second semester of my freshman year where I got a D+ in Chem 2 and a C in Bio 2. I retook Chem 2 and got an A- in it, but unfortunately UF does not have any sort of grade replacement or averaging policy. I have little legitimate reason for receiving those poor grades other than the courses being terribly managed/taught courses (both have been completely restructured and have different professors since I have taken it), and that I was knee-deep in lab work. My GPA has been around a 3.6 for each of the other semesters.
GRE/MCAT: not taken, although I plan to at least take the MCAT by the end of the year.</p>
<p>Research: 2 Years in the same lab since before Fall of my freshman year, working every semester/summer. This has been an amazing experience for me and has been rather productive.
Publications: 1 First-authored textbook chapter,
2 Second-authored Review articles
Presentations:
-Oral Presentation at an International Conference the summer after my Freshman year-was nominated by another researcher for a presentation award.<br>
-Presented a poster of my work at an undergrad-only research conference at UF of about 130 projects of HHMI/REU students from various universities. This was peer-judged and I ended up winning 1st Place.
-Another poster presentation at an International conference at the end of June</p>
<p>Scholarships/Awards:
-HHMI Science for Life Intramural Award, a 2000$ research stipend that I received during for Spring of my Freshman year.
-HHMI SFL Presentation/Publication award 500$-for presenting at an international conference
-1st Place at the aforementioned undergraduate poster session, this included an awesome 1000$ award.
-University Scholars Program Scholarship-2000$ research stipend for the current (sophomore) summer.
-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences academic scholarship-1000$ based on academic standing and an essay.</p>
<p>I know I am lacking true research papers, and I hope to get a first-authored one finished this summer, with more coming shortly after (hopefully!!!). </p>
<p>Next Summer I am planning to spend 6 months working in a lab at the Curie Institute in Paris, and I hope to win an HHMI scholarship to help fund that. I asked the program director and he implied that I would be a shoo-in as long as I had a clear research proposal, which I will be sure to have. Since I will be there for 6 months, my graduation will be prolonged to Fall 2012, which allows me one more summer before I would apply to any grad schools. I hope to spend that summer working in a lab with a professor I know at Harvard. </p>
<p>Like I said, I am looking at mostly MD/PhD programs (Harvard/MIT or something would be a dream) and biology/microbiology programs at top grad schools (again MIT is my dream). I know that MD/PhD programs are ridiculously competitive, and I know that GPA is a bit of a cancer on my record. How do my chances look for those places and other top programs? I am told that grad schools are more likely to put more emphasis on research vs. GPA than medical schools, and that intimidates me for the MD/PhD programs, since I believe that most of them require you to be accepted into the medical school first. </p>
<p>Any other advice that can be shared? I know that the whole application process is decently far off for me, but I figured that I might as well gather as much information as I can now.</p>
<p>Thanks!!</p>