Hello,
I’m currently an undergraduate student at Vanderbilt University, with a 3.54 GPA in Biomedical Engineering (3.62 in BME). I’ve had strong semesters recently in my Junior year (which consisted primarily of BME and Computer Science classes), with an overall GPA > 3.8.
I haven’t taken a GRE yet, but based on practice ones that I have taken, I expect to be scoring around the average level of the top tier BME universities such as Duke and Georgia Tech.
In terms of research, I currently have one first author publication at a small conference. In addition, I am expecting another first author publication in a relatively small-medium peer-reviewed journal, and another 1st author publication in the same small conference described earlier. It is also possible that I get a 2nd/3rd author publication at the same small conference described earlier. Based on this, I believe that I have a reasonable research background (though none of the research is in a wet lab, it is all primarily Computer Science).
I want to apply to both Master’s and PhD programs at several top tier universities (which I define as Top 15 according to US News and World Report). I understand my GPA is a bit on the low end for many of these PhD programs, and OK for masters programs, but I believe Vandy is a little bit tougher in general with regards to grades.
With my resume the way it is, do you believe that it is reasonable for me to be applying to these Top 15 BME universities for masters or PhD programs, or should I focus more of my attention on less competitive programs? I entirely understand that there are many components to admissions at these BME programs, and I don’t expect anyone to tell me that I can definitively get in to a particular program. I just want to know whether it is even reasonable for me to apply to these programs, or if they are out of my league.