<p>Hello! I am a future US graduate school applicant in the biological sciences. After reading some of the threads in this forum, I noticed that many applicants to top schools have 2-3 years of research experience. Coming from the UK, I have two summer research experiences (both about 10 weeks, between first and second year and between second and final year) and my final year research project (one semester). This is the absolute maximum one can get, as you cannot do research during the academic year and most people will only have one summer research experience, as it is practically impossible to get it between the first and second years (and it is never funded, unless your supervisor pays you from his/her own pocket). My question is this: do adcoms take these circumstances into consideration when they evaluate the applications, or will one be put in a disadvantage over a domestic applicant with years of research experience? </p>
<p>Unfortunately, UK students are disadvantaged compared to US students in admissions to top schools and the reason you suggested is only one of many. The economy has led to an increase in applicants with more than just 2-3 years of research and multiple papers to their name, so you’re not just fighting with US students just out of school. </p>
<p>Besides research experience, you will be disadvantaged by:
The different grading systems. I suppose they use the WES to sort this out but you can get a first class honours equivalent to a 3.6, which is alright but not spectacular.
Limited funding for internationals
Limted knowledge of UK professors unless they are really famous.
UK professors tend to be less effusive than their US counterparts in their recommendations for students which might make the student look less impressive. The LOR is apparently one of the most important parts of the application.</p>
<p>This shouldn’t deter you from applying if you want to but you might also consider taking a gap year to do research full time in order to get more experience. Consider doing it with a relatively famous professor who is also happy to write your recommendation for you. You might also try to work with a professor who has spent part of his career in the US, and therefore has friends amongst the professors there who know his work.</p>
<p>Don’t worry and just apply. I did undergraduate in Australia which I assume has the same grading system as in the UK (1st class honors etc.). I only got 1 summer research, final year project, a mediocre GPA (1st class honors though), bad GRE, no papers and only 2 LoR’s (the final year’s advisor wouldn’t write me one due to some personal reason though I asked him for it and he agreed). Yet I still got in UCSD with full funding. I’m extremely lucky I reckon and these LoR’s may just be really strong. Be confident and go ahead if that’s what you really wish for.</p>
<p>If you know what you would like to do, ask your research project supervisors which places they’d recommend, or, for the matter, check if they have any collaborators in the US. A letter from somebody the Americans know well can do wonders. </p>
<p>Alternatively, you might think about doing a (research based) Masters first.</p>