<p>I graduated in December 2008 from WashU in Biomedical Engineering (BME), and I'd like to study gene and drug delivery for a PhD. My career goal is to do product development in industry, and possibility start a biotech firm if I come up with a particularly compelling idea.</p>
<p>However, my academic background isn't stellar. I've done research with three labs, but have never published. I have a 3.27/4.0 gpa. My GRE scores are 770 math/ 660 verbal/ 5.0 analytical writing.</p>
<p>I applied for a PhD to the following BME programs, but was not admitted to any of them.</p>
<p>Rejected:
MIT
UPenn
GA Tech
Cornell
UTexas
Rice
Northwestern</p>
<p>Waitlisted (but realistically, these schools rarely move people from waitlist):
Minnesota
Wisconsin-Madison</p>
<p>Currently, I'm doing temp work in R&D for a pharmaceutical company, but it's awful. The job is just not stimulating at all. I feel like I'm doing testing rather than research. But the working conditions are nice, low-stress, and I get paid $25/hour.</p>
<p>I think for my career goals, I really need to get a PhD or a PhD/MBA. Few people in industry will respect my scientific opinion without it, plus I could use some more time specializing into a niche. However, I was wondering if maybe a pharmaceutics/pharmaceutical science PhD might me more appropriate than a BME. Also, in the meantime, until I can reapply to grad school, what should I do with myself? Would it be better for getting into grad school to do something where I can get published, like be a research assistant for a laboratory? Or should I try to get an entry level job in industry?
Or does it not really matter?</p>
<p>How can I ensure that I get into grad school with my second attempt at applications?</p>