When applying to PhD. programs (already competitive in nature), how much MORE difficult is it to qualify for fellowships, either through the university or an outside source like NSF? How might qualifications change, such as emphasis on GRE or GPA??
Getting in to a decent program might not be enough if I don’t qualify for funding. I’ll be applying for a Biomedical Engineering or Bioengineering PhD. program with a GPA around 3.65 and a GRE around 163V 164Q. Will funding go to students with perfect GPAs and GRE scores?
You should not attend unless you get full funding for your Ph.D. If you are admitted to a Ph.D. program without funding, that means that they really don’t want you to attend, particularly in a STEM discipline. NSF Graduate Research Traineeships are not offered by the schools themselves but you have to apply yourself to the NSF for them.
Whether you get into a specific program depends on a lot of things. Your GPA and GRE scores are part of the equation but your letters of reference are extremely important as is your research experience. For the most selective programs, your GPA is probably a bit on the low side competitively speaking as they often make a first cut based on GPA and test scores before thoroughly reading all the remaining applications. They will have many, many applicants who have outstanding GPAs and GRE scores and tons of research experience. Less selective programs might be more likely to admit you with funding. Just make sure you apply to a range or programs any of which you would be willing to attend.
Most schools I’ve looked at applying to are good schools–UC San Diego, UC Irvine–but they list their “cut-off” GPA as 3.0 or 3.4, which I have. Will they read my application?
What would be a reasonable goal for my GPA, given that I have 2 years left to graduate?
GPA and GRE can break an application, but they can’t make it. A 3.65 is enough that your application will likely get a read. Then you have the chance to keep their attention with research experience, letters of recommendation, and your statement of purpose.
This is really going to vary on the kind of fellowship.
I have heard, anecdotally, that university fellowships do have a little more emphasis on GRE scores and perhaps GPA than regular admissions. That’s likely because the university is comparing across several fields, and there are fewer things that are universal to students from - say - philosophy and biomedical engineering. If you were admitted to a prestigious university with many top programs, you will be competing with top PhD students from across the world for those university fellowships, so they can be very competitive.
External fellowships like NSF are also much more competitive than admissions to PhD programs. Think about it this way: the funding rate for the NSF is about 20%, and those are largely from students who are already in doctoral programs, so the NSF is picking the top of the top - the best students who are already admissible to very good PhD programs. While your GPA is considered for NSF (and it can break you), the focus is much more on your research experience and your perceived potential to become a scientist and make contributions to the field. GRE is no longer considered for NSF fellowships, although it may be for other ones like NDSEG and Hertz.
I would imagine that most college seniors who are serious candidates for the NSF would already be highly admissible to several top doctoral programs.