Chances of Admission at top Molecular/Cellular Biology PhD Programs?

Graduate School
1

Hi All,

I am currently a senior at Northeastern University in Boston majoring in Bioengineering (Conc. Cell and Tissue Engineering) with a minor in Political Science. I am currently in the process of putting together my applications for graduate school and was curious about how I stack up in people’s experiences.

GPA: 3.51 (Major GPA 3.45)
GRE: 600V, 600Q, 6 Writing (Taking again in October as I didn’t have ample time to study on my first take)

Academic Experience:

  • Advanced Biomaterials for NeuroEngineering Laboratory (3 years on and off working on two different projects relating to stem cell development)
  • Atherosclerosis Laboratory (1 year, researching development of atherosclerosis and how ECM components are involved)

Work Experience:

  • Sanofi Genzyme: Rare Disease Pharmacology (6 months doing small molecule discovery, assay development)
  • KSQ Therapeutics: Immuno-Oncology and Cancer Biology (12 Months - Present, Engineering Primary Immune Cells, CRISPR Screens, Assay Development, Small Molecule Discovery)

Schools of Interest:

  1. University of Washington - MCB Program
  2. UCSF - BMS Program
  3. UCLA - MBIDP
  4. University of Southern California - MCB Program

I am concerned primarily about my lack of publications. The large portion of my research experience has been in industry where publishing is not common unfortunately. I’m hoping to convey my knowledge and interest in research through my personal statement and my CV.

I was wondering if any current graduate school students, admission specialists, or other applicants could maybe provide insight on if I should look further down the “totem” pole in regards to my schools of interest or if I should pursue these top programs confidently?

2

What do your own professors tell you about your application list? They know where students with profiles similar to yours have been accepted from their program in recent years.

3

@willUT - Welcome to the forum. When did you take the GRE? The scoring system you cite hasn’t been used for a number of years. In any case, your quantitative score needs to get much better to really be considered for the schools you list. Your GPA is also not going to be as strong as the top applicants at these schools. As for research experience, not having a publication is OK as long as you have a significant research experience and strong letters.

I would echo the suggestion that you speak to your research mentors for their suggestions as to schools you should be applying to. I am not in your field but I think you are aiming a bit high without a safety net.

4

@xraymancs I completely mistyped and meant 160V 160Q 6W (taken in Jan 2018). Thank you both @happymomof1. My professors are the one’s suggesting the schools I’ve listed due to connections between labs I’ve been in and collaborators associated with those programs.

5

Your professors know their colleagues, and are likely to have a very good notion of which groups will admit you. If you do think any of those groups are good matches for your interests, then keep them on your list. If you don’t like the research those groups are doing and/or if you want some “safer” options, then hit the literature and figure out who is doing the work you like and apply to those groups as well.