PhD in Sciences - OK Grades/GRE...good research, help?

Graduate School
1

<p>Sorry to put another thread, but I'm in a somewhat desperate situation for advice.</p>

<p>Right now my GPA is hovering at a 3.4 and I'm about to be a Senior at UCLA.</p>

<p>I took the GRE's after studying for about 4 weeks this summer, while also taking a summer physics class. I did fairly ok in the Quantitive reasoning but I could have done better, I got a 650 in that. I also got a mediocre 520 in the verbal.</p>

<p>My goal is to get into a Neuroscience PhD program. I've been comparing programs and to be honest I've been trying my best to stay here at UCLA because the research opportunities are great. I've been in a Neuroscience Research LAB for about a year and a half, will be there for another year or so by the time I graduate.</p>

<p>I have a lot of extracurricular experience, including President and Vice President of a club on campus (2nd largest club on campus with ~450 students and ~100 active members). I have a lot of extracurriculars from that, but I also realize Graduate Schools don't care much about that? I'm also co-published in a small (not vanity press) A+ rated publishing company for a piece of literature...but it's not science related so maybe not too much of a help here?</p>

<p>I can say that my Letters of Recc will be solid (at least the Research ones for sure - My PI wrote me a separate letter just for UCLA and asked that they keep me here at UCLA). My personal statement I'm working on but I have always been a person who can convey myself well so I'm not worried about that. Given that, and a 3.4 and 650/520 GRE, what chances do I have at these Neuroscience PhD programs? (Mainly applying to UC's).</p>

<p>I want to re-take the GRE but right now it's not an option because I'm taking 2 classes this coming summer session and with the new test format I'd have to start practicing for a new test anyways. </p>

<p>Will I be safe with my GRE?</p>

<p>I've been meeting with the Director of the program I want to apply to at UCLA and what she said about my scores:</p>

<p>"We look at all aspects of a student's application, and without seeing your research experience, letters of rec, and grades it is difficult to really assess how much impact those GRE scores (which are on the low end) would have. Sometimes if applicants are very strong in other categories this can balance out lower scores."</p>

<p>So...thoughts?</p>

2

<p>The fact that you want to stay at UCLA, your PI indicated he believes you would be a good fit at UCLA, AND you have opened a dialogue with someone on the admissions committee bodes well for you. If your recommendations are really good and your research continues to go well, you might score an interview at UCLA. However, I am not sure how competitive you will be at other schools at a similar ranking. My gut instinct is to say that with the profile you have now, if you do not get an offer at UCLA you will have to go down in the rankings. </p>

<p>Since your grades will probably not change drastically, your options would be to wait a few years and get technician experience or try for the GRE (and maybe the subject test?) to boost your application right away. I don’t know how your science GPA is, but scoring high on the subject test might be beneficial if your science GPA isn’t stellar. However, I don’t know if scoring significantly higher on the GRE would be enough to overcome the GPA issue for really highly ranked schools. As has been pointed out, they really weigh a lot of different things about your application. Have you tried asking your PI about it? He/she might have some insight about the type of people applying/getting in to UCLA (if he’s on the committee or knows someone who is).</p>

3

<p>You should study for the new GRE. Your GPA is actually good. Consider this, University of Michigan’s PIBS average GPA for the students admitted was ~3.5. With a 3.4 you are probably just outside of 1 SD of the average, which still gives you a significant shot. Don’t for a second believe that if the average GPA for admitted students is a 3.5, then you are disqualified from applying with a 3.4. I know the GRE is just another piece of garbage that goes into the system that proves nothing, but we have to take it. I think the new GRE will be a little more predictable, and a little more balanced in its approach in how it assesses, basically, can you do 10th grade math and can you read in context.</p>

4

<p>scaleupchem:</p>

<p>I think the issue is that the OP wants to focus on the UCs, and many of them have high ranking neuroscience programs. I don’t think it’s a matter of getting in versus not, but how high OP wants to aim and what is attainable. The fact that he/she will have over two years research experience and great recommendations will be a huge benefit, for sure. And as you pointed out, a 3.4 isn’t a bad GPA at all and is definitely within the range for most schools.</p>

5

<p>Interesting! I looked up the U of Mich PIBS program…seems really good. And I’m within the range for GPA and slightly under for the GRE but it seems ok. I think I’ll definitely be trying to apply there as well. I’d rather not go out of state, but of course if I have no choice and it’s a good opportunity I’ll definitely consider it!</p>

6

<p>The neuro program will not care about your ECs or any non-science publishing you’ve done.</p>

<p>I dunno. In my field (which is closely related - psychology) a 1200 is considered the standard. In my program, you won’t get admitted if you have under a 1200 (or that’s what the DGS says. I’m pretty sure if a fantastic, really strong student with pubs and great research came along with an 1170, they’d be admitted.) I’ve heard that’s generally the norm in PhD programs across the board. You have an 1170, which is pretty darn close. But the caveat is also that your GPA is a bit mediocre. (Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s solid. I got into my top 20 PhD program with a 3.4. It’s just not on the higher end of what PhD programs expect.)</p>

<p>Since you want to stay at UCLA and you are already there, why don’t you ask your PI? But with your DGS’s response, I would retake it and honestly aim for a 1300+ given that your grades are going to be on the low end of expected students.</p>

7

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<p>Probably not going to happen given the GRE ends TODAY! :P</p>

<p>I definitely suggest waiting an extra year before applying. It’ll leave you time to get your numbers raised and everything under your belt and squared away. You’re on the young end, so don’t worry. What’s with all these eager and spry undergrads?</p>

8

<p>I actually was considering waiting a year…but I think I’m going to do my best now and apply, and if nothing works then I’ll probably try to get another year of research under my belt and work on improving my numbers. But for now, there’s no harm in trying right?</p>