Hi All,
I’m new to this website so I’m not really sure if this thread belongs here or in the “Graduate School” section.
I’ll be graduating in December from Armstrong State University. I know it’s not a big school, but I didn’t want to rack up debt in undergrad so I went to a small state school where my entire tuition would be paid by the Hope scholarship and Pell Grant and I could live at home.
I’m looking into biology graduate programs - I haven’t really decided which program specifically. I’m most attracted to genetics/genomics, molecular biology, and stem cell/regenerative medicine.
I’m a cell/molecular biology major with a minor in music
3.7 GPA
GRE’s not taken yet, about to start studying. Still haven’t decided if I should take a subject test.
3 and half years research experience
-All 3 years under the same mentor.
First project: Studied aldo-keto reductase stereoselectivity with mutagenesis
Second project: Looking at local strains of Wolbachia
-I MAY have a publication in the works by fall this year.
Undergraduate Research Grant recipient
Member of Phi Kappa Phi and Tri Beta
I’ve been to one conference (Association of Southeastern Biologists) and presented in poster form.
Graduating from the Honors program
GA Power Scholar
Jobs:
Receptionist/Filing for car dealership
Private piano lessons
Pianist for a baptist church
I want to apply to Chapel Hill, Emory, and Duke. I think I could get into Emory and Chapel Hill, but I was wondering if I even have a chance with Duke? I also wanted to apply to the stem cell programs to one of the California universities but they’re all highly selective. I’m especially interested in UCSF.
Questions: Should I choose more safety schools?
Is it even worth applying to Duke or UCSF?
Thank you!
Is there a reason why you’re focusing on NC school? Applying to 7-8 is typically enough. Though I think that 3 years is plenty of experience, if you only have one LOR from a professor you did research with, your app might not look as good. Nevertheless, the fact that you have had multiple projects will most likely be very beneficial when writing your SOP. It is difficult to gauge people’s chances to get into graduate school given that the admissions process is more holistic. It is also useful to note that applicants tend to be more qualified in general, especially at higher ranked schools. If you do well on the GRE, I’d say that it’s worth a shot to apply to top ranked schools. Heck, even if you don’t do as hot, you never know! However, be advised that there will be lots of people with very high numbers, multiple years of experience, and great rec letters from professors they conducted research with. Also, make sure you write a SOP that conveys your interest in the schools program SPECIFICALLY (generic SOPs are really easy to spot) and effectively summarizes your research experience and why you think you’re a good match. Avoid being overly redundant or too specific about your work, it just comes off as fluff after some point.
Thank you for the reply! I’m interested in NC schools because I’ve lived in the southeast my entire life and I’ll be close to my family. Also I thought Chapel Hill and Emory were within my reach but as it comes closer I’m becoming more and more afraid I won’t be accepted to any of these schools! I don’t know if I’m overreacting or not but it’s been causing me so much stress.
I’m aware I need to narrow down on my research interests. I’m interested in neurodegenerative disorders and possible stem cell treatment. Should I be more specific in my SOP than that? I’m afraid if it’s too specific they might say “we don’t have anything like that going on here” and think I’m a bad fit.
Yes I’m worried about my LOR as well. I do know professors that are aware of how long I’ve been doing my research and goals but don’t really know about my research skills. Do you have any advice? Should I talk to more professors about my goals? Take up a project with another professor for my last semester?
Also I just found out my mentor wants to work on the publication this summer and it will be at least submitted for pub. by the time I apply. I’ll be first author since it was my own personal project.
I mainly meant not writing sentences like " X university really appeals to me because of the breadth of their research and the amount of professors conducting research that resonate with my research interests". If you can replace a school’s name for another, you’re being generic. In terms of research interests, I’d avoid being TOO specific because you don’t want to make yourself dead set on one thing at such an early stage of your career, this is not good, and because you would significantly decrease the pool of professors you can work for. As a general rule, in my opinion, don’t apply to schools that don’t have at least 5 professors you could see yourself working with. Preferably, choose programs with more than 10 people you are interested in. I don’t know what to tell you about your LORs, talking to professors about your goals doesn’t really make them know you much better as a person. They just know something more about you. At best, it would tell them you are interested in research, but they won’t really be able to vouche for your potential as a scientist very well.
A one semester project won’t really help you much either. Solid relationships take time to establish, and it’s hard to do so in a short amount of time without working full-time and interacting with your PI extensively.
I think that your credentials can get you into, at least, UNC and/or Emory; however, when looking at schools, I’d try to look for programs that you ACTUALLY have a fit in rather than looking for it, even if it means stepping out of your comfort zone. Trust me, it’s not easy to interview someplace you don’t have an interest in, especially if your interviewers are out of your field.
Thank you so much for all your help!
I do intend on looking into labs and mentioning specifics about the university that interest me. For example, I thought in my SOP for Duke I could mention that their RegenerationNext Initiative attracts me because I think it’s important to encourage more stem cell research/funding nationwide (outside of California or select prestigious schools).