Hi,
I graduated from a top 20 college in the US last year and am currently working in a neuroscience lab this year prior to applying to a PhD program.
My stats:
cum gpa: 3.63
neuroscience gpa: 3.96
No GRE yet
I have 4 years of research experience with specific experience in biochemistry techniques and animal models. I have done independent research without a publication and am now about to have my first paper published where I will be a second author and participated in the thought process behind the project as well.
I will have 3 letters from PIs I have worked with and believe they will all be strong.
I want to apply to BU, Tufts, John Hopkins, Brandies and Brown University. What does everyone think of my chances?
We can’t weigh your chances. PhD programs have so many more factors involved in admissions besides just the stats and years of experience. The reputation of your advisors, how qualitatively good your letters are, your statement of purpose, your research interests and your fit with the departments all play a role. There are also departmental factors that play a role that you may or may not know about - like Professor X at Brandeis just got a new grant in your area and needs graduate RAs, or Professor Y at Tufts is leaving in 3 years and doesn’t want to start any new graduate students, or the department over admitted last year and needs to reduce yield, or they under-admitted, or whatever.
Basically, there are too many factors to assess “chances.”
What we can say is that usually a 3.63 GPA and 4 years of research experience, plus a second-author publication, is usually the kind of thing that makes students competitive for top PhD programs in the sciences. So those are good things. You’re on track to be competitive for the programs you’re applying for as long as your interests match those of your department’s and the professors you want to work with.