<p>Hi, I am very nervous about applying to graduate schools this year. I know the research programs I like, but I don't know what level of programs I will be accepted to, so I don't know where to apply. Do I have a shot at Stanford, Berkeley, MIT, Cornell etc or should I mostly apply to schools with higher admission rates? Also any advice would be great!</p>
<p>I am currently a junior at Caltech applying to Materials Science Programs. My research interests are in thin film photovoltaics and related fields.
-3.8 gpa and have taken several unrequired extra classes in my field
-no publications
-full ride scholarship award
-two summers at Caltech doing research and one summer at an REU. But the first summer was on a project in an unrelated field (astro) and only the REU's research is directly related to my current research interests.
-two terms research during junior year
-will do a senior thesis next year
-recs are probably okay, but I really don't know what the professors I worked with thought of me.
-I haven't taken the GRE yet, but my scores will probably be pretty good (except for the verbal part.) </p>
<p>Sigh. I'm worrying a lot about this and I have to start writing my applications soon. Any comments would be great! Thanks!</p>