PhD-Computational Biology in Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Berkeley (chances and advices)

<p>Dear all,</p>

<p>I am majoring in Computer and Electrical Engineering from National University of Singapore. I will graduate May 2014. </p>

<p>I am applying to the following programs which focus on computational biology:
MIT CSBi
Harvard Bio-statistics or System Biology
Stanford Comp-bio
Berkeley Comp-bio
Princeton Comp-bio</p>

<p>*My GPA is above 3.6 (actually in my institution's scale, it is 4.6/5). I know that it is not a very competitive GPA, but I do have the reason for this: I am taking part in two enhance programs that literally triple the normal workloads. Being sick for one semester.</p>

<p>*GRE: Verbal 160, Maths 168 , Writing 5.0 (I am retaking it soon)</p>

<p>*Publications: Some poster presentations, 1 IEEE conference paper indexed in IEEE library, 1 Journal paper (not very top one). Two top journal papers are on their ways, but not sure can make it before Decembers.</p>

<p>*Research experiences:
1 long term research project (>3.5 years) in bio-signal processing. Achievements: some national and international awards. On its way to a start-up. Going to the Intel Global Challenge (IGC) in Berkeley this October :)
2 semesters project in neuroscience (unpublished due to prof's request)
2 semesters project in bioinformatics (unpublished, but going to open source the project)
1 semester project in robotics and machine learning (1 publication as main author, 1 pattern pending)
1 semester really awesome attachment with MIT-Singapore Alliance Research Center in bio-instrumentation (1 publication as main author, 1 as co-author but to top journal and on its way)</p>

<p>*Can seek really strong LORs, as built up good relationship with profs.</p>

<p>Would you please telling me about my chances to the above programs? Also, I would love to receive suggestions to improve my application. It's quite a long period until December and I am willing to fight :) !</p>

<p>Also I need to seek advices. Due to heavy workload, I cant schedule to take formal courses in biology, chemistry , biochemistry, etc...I am desperate to seek a way to show the admission departments that my bio and chemistry are enough to join these graduate courses. Of course, I have asked my professors to state in the LORs that although I didn't take formal courses in these fields, I did study myself and compensate for that. </p>

<p>Do you think I should take GRE subject test in Cell, Biochemistry and Genetics to cover my weakness?</p>

<p>Thanks for the help!</p>