<p>Hello,
I graduated from university with my Bachelor's Degree in Biomolecular Science andChemistry. My GPA was a 3.377, and my gre's were both over 70 percent (my quantitative was 88%). I have been published, have great recommendations, and have completed a lot of research. Here is the thing, I applied to a 4 phd programs last year, only interviewed at one, and was not given a spot at any of them. Which leads me to the next question, what did I do wrong? I am currently reapplying working on stronger recommendations, some graduate classes I am taking in the mean time, and a stronger personal statement. Is this enough or should I just stop applying and apply for my masters first? I don't want to disappoint anyone again with another round of rejections. </p>
That is hard to say, let’s look at the specifics:</p>
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The GPA is probably good enough for most top-25 programs in a typical year, but probably NOT good enough for top-5 programs. Your GRE is adequate, not exceptional for this range - given the number of retakes and unsuccessful grad applicants, percentages can be misleading!</p>
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Where have you been published, what is “great” about your recommendations, and what was the duration, complexity, and relevance of your research? All of these play into admissions. Getting published in Science or Nature is unbelievably huge, getting published in an in-school research mashup is barely even honest. A recommendation may be “great” but it has to come from the right person to be useful. That research has to inform those recommendations in solid ways to help, otherwise it is unknowable.</p>
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Which programs, and why? You may have been applying to schools where you were simply not competitive, or where you were TOO good, or where they just did not see you as a solid match. Remember that grad admissions is very individual, 4 misses is not uncommon.</p>
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Hard to say - what “stronger” recommendations do you hope to get? The graduate courses will help, but why do you need to change your personal statement? I mean, your statement should differ for each applications (remember the individual comment above?), why do you think yours was weak?</p>
<p>Whether or not your should get a masters depends largely on whether or not you can realistically get into a program in which you would be happy - if you can only get into a top-50 program, and you need top-10, for example. Otherwise, in the sciences, it is probably best to go straight into a PhD program if at all possible. Because if you can get into ANY PhD program, you can get into SOME masters programs, so it all just comes down to whether or not you like those PhD programs…</p>
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Masters are generally easier to get into, some schools will shorten the PhD program (by varying amounts) if you come in with a masters, but neither route is necessarily “preferred” per se. Schools will take you for either, eventual employers in academia or industry won’t care. It is all about what is best for you - just be aware that doing the degrees seperately can be more time consuming AND expensive… so choose carefully whether or not that extra school is worth it!</p>
<p>I applied to UNC biomedical phd, wakeforest program, penn state molecular medicine (which they told me they loved me but they only had one spot), and Washington University St. Louis. </p>
<p>Where have you been published, what is “great” about your recommendations</p>
<p>I have been published in two separate ACS books (two chapters from each). Is that considered good? My recommendations were decent last time, but this time I got one from a Harvard Professor who I helped write the freshman curriculum at my university with, and studied with. She also knows the genetics field really well, so pushed my research. </p>
<p>The graduate courses will help, but why do you need to change your personal statement? I mean, your statement should differ for each applications (remember the individual comment above?), why do you think yours was weak?
My personal statement was really weak, I’ll be the first to admit that. I wrote it last thing, and put the applications in the day they were due. I wasn’t proud of it, I just was dealing with a lot right then. This one I (hope) is stronger, and the last paragraph is different per application so I am hoping that makes it better?</p>
<p>You said realistically get into a TOP-50 school…I am really unsure if I can do that? I am really confused about that particular part-how will I know? </p>
<p>Thank you so much for your help, words cannot express how much this means to me.</p>
<p>I think you answered your own question: your personal statement was really weak. Combine that with the fact that you only applied to 4 programs and it’s understandable why you didn’t get in anywhere. Your stats are admissible to many programs; just spend more time on your statement clearly articulating why you are a good fit for the programs you selected and why you should be admitted. Your plan sounds like a good one.</p>
<p>If you are still in contact with undergraduate professors, ask them for their honest advice. Do they think you are competitive for the top programs in your field? Next tier? Ask them whether they think you’re competitive for the schools for which you applied.</p>
<p>Thank you Do you have any pointers on a personal statement? I have written one that seems stronger (and a few of my profs agree), however I am concerned about the one paragraph about my community service-is that really needed when the important parts are on my cv?</p>
Do you have any pointers on a personal statement? I have written one that seems stronger (and a few of my profs agree), however I am concerned about the one paragraph about my community service-is that really needed when the important parts are on my cv?</p>