<p>I'm a little confused about the actual undergraduate courses requirements for grad school admissions. For example, if I want to go to grad school in Microbiology and Immunology, what classes would I need to take as an undergrad? Would I get automatically rejected by schools because I am majoring in an unrelated field and will have only about 20 credits in Biology (intro Bio I and II, intensive lab, immunology, cell bio of disease) and 3 years of research experience in Immunology (regular undergrad assistant position, 10ish hours a week) by the time I graduate. I will also not have any coursework in chemistry, calculus, physics even though I have AP credit for these. I go to a top 5 research uni (Ivy). Do I have shot at grad school or must I change my major now?</p>
<p>Different fields and programs have different expectations for undergraduate preparation. You need to look at each program’s Web site and/or contact the director of graduate studies at each school to find out the answers.</p>
<p>If I have a microbiology professor who wants me in his lab as a graduate student, can that alone get me into the grad school, given that I have good GRE scores and a GPA >3.7, despite a lack of college coursework in chemistry, physics and math ? For example if the professor I’m doing research with right now is wants to keep me for PhD, can that make me get into grad school (at my school)?
Thanks a lot for your answer polarscribe.</p>
<p>Bio tends to have the least stringent course requirements. That said, having o-Chem and basic genetics does help understand more advanced biology content.</p>
<p>What <em>is</em> your major, if you don’t mind me asking? A lot of the advances in biology today are being driven by people from physics and chemistry, so if it’s that, I’m sure the micro dept would be glad to have you.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that as a PhD student, you’ll have to take advanced courses in the field. In many programs, you’ll have to take a core curriculum, plus pass general/comprehensive exams to prove that you have not only depth in your research subfield but also breadth in the area as a whole.</p>
<p>Generally, biology programs require calculus (usually two semesters), statistics, general chemistry, organic chemistry (1 and 2), introduction to biology, and cell biology. Courses in molecular biology, biochemistry and/or genetics will strengthen your application and prepare you better for advanced study. Some of the top programs also require physics, although that’s usually not a hard-and-fast requirement. If your official transcript shows AP credit for calculus, general chemistry, and physics, I’d recommend adding statistics and organic chemistry. Your lab work will go a long way toward acceptance, especially since you’ve been learning techniques in the lab that will serve you well as a researcher.</p>
<p>Many biology programs state that you should have a degree in biology or a related field. Some will be forgiving if they see that you have the preparation otherwise.</p>
<p>If this professor wants you to continue as a PhD student and if you want to stay at the same university, you’ve tackled the most difficult part of getting an acceptance: a professor who is willing to fund you. I suggest scheduling a meeting with the professor to discuss what you must do to get accepted into the PhD program. Although his colleagues can overrule him, chances are that they will not unless they believe you are completely unqualified.</p>
<p>As a side note, my daughter is in a neuroscience program despite taking nothing but humanities courses her first year and taking one or two more every semester after that. Despite an eventual major in neuroscience, she probably took as many humanities courses as she did science ones. It can be done.</p>