Does a heavy programming background help a Biology Grad App?

College Majors Science Majors
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<p>Just curious, if you're a molecular biology major, but you have a heavy and extremely proficient background in C, C++, Python, FORTRAN, Haskell, and Perl, and maybe some other software like MATLAB, Mathematica, and Maple, and assuming your GPA/qualifications are of approximate standards relative to the general population of biology majors applying for graduate admission at a certain admission..</p>

<p>Does the reviewing committee like that sort of thing, or are they indifferent to it? </p>

<p>Isn't there a lot of use in programming and computing in biology?</p>

<p>If you're a genetics person, there is a lot of Perl and scripting in genomics analysis. There's a bunch of Haskell in data mining of proteins and genomes.</p>

<p>If you're a molecular cell biology person, you can run simulations with Java, etc.</p>

<p>If you're doing evolutionary biology or mathematical biology, Mathematica and Matlab can be used to help you solve differential equations relating growth of populations of interest..</p>

<p>Do you think it's a good punch to pack on a grad application or does it seem irrelevant?</p>

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<p>Programming is an essential skill for research now. Exactly how much and what types/languages depends on the field, but I can’t speak for molecular biology in particular. You seem to have pointed out quite a few relevant examples yourself, though. If you don’t know any programming, you would probably have to learn it in grad school (which is one more level of stress). Having that on your application for grad schools I think would show that you have one of many skills required for your discipline. If I were part of an admissions committee, I would see it as a plus. I don’t think it would be make or break, but it’s one more factor bumping you up. I definitely don’t think it’s irrelevant, though.</p>