<p>I am a sophomore studying chemistry minor biology
will graduate in June 2009</p>
<ul>
<li>International student in the middle east</li>
<li>Public university</li>
<li>it is not reputed as "wowy" one but has a rigorous curriculum</li>
<li>GPA for past two semsters : 3.93</li>
<li>expected GPA time of graduation: 3.7 - 3.8</li>
</ul>
<p>The problem is with the university? I am aiming for schools like John's Hopkins which emphasizes on research in the field of "molecular and cellular biology or Immunology"
I'll start doing research end of this year in a hospital and can get very good recommendations from doctors here.</p>
<p>I dunno if those schools accept intls. students from not well reputed universities ?
How shall I get information about this
Do I have a shot at say not top top schools in usa but highly reputed ones ?</p>
<p>If not is there anyway to do something and be on the standard of usa graduate studnets ? Can I for example take certain courses there ?</p>
<p>Any help with that pleaaaaaase .. because if there is no hope because of my background or where am I coming from, I wont bother and work for it
It's much easier to head to UK or Canada but I dont want to.</p>
<p>thanks in advance to any tip </p>
<ul>
<li>note: 4 users use the same account</li>
</ul>
<p>If you get strong research experience and recommendations, it shouldn't be particularly difficult to overcome GRE score deficiencies. Graduate schools in biology will care about your research experience much more than they will care about your GRE scores.</p>
<p>There's really no way to tell at this point whether you'll have a shot at the top programs, because research experience and recommendations are really the most important component of the application.</p>
<p>My point is about the college am coming from
Its a normal one in the middle east
Do they accept students from low rank colleges ?
What if they have an idea that my current college is bad ??</p>
<p>i'm working in taiwan now. my perspective on graduate admissions has certainly changed in my time here.</p>
<p>it's occured to me how MANY students from around the world make plans and apply to study in the states. virtually every student at the top universities all view graduate school as the end of their education, NOT undergrad.</p>
<p>there are very bright students who score 1500s on the GREs (english isn't their first language!!) here, who apply to schools in the states. i've heard of one, who graduated from the best school here, had >1500, and it took him 4 years to get into a NYU grad program for economics (!).</p>
<p>anyhoos - in the states, people talk about their chances etc given their scores etc. but there are reams upon reams of international students who apply every year. my point is - if ur an international student, it's very competitive. period. i'm not saying that with such and such marks u do or don't qualify for grad school, but many (most?) top students at universities around the world all dream and make plans to eventually go to the US for grad work.</p>
<p>Your undergrad institution, particularly in a hard science, is not very important in terms of US universities. But as 14 says, for internationals coming here, the competition is pretty rough. </p>
<p>As always, your GPA, research experience, recs and SOP will be most important. I wouldn't sweat the GRE unless you are sure you'll do considerable better. Some universities will require the GRE subject test. If that is the case with places you're interested in, I'd suggest preparing for that rather than re-taking the regular test.</p>
<p>Finally - of all the factors that go into admission, the GRE is LEAST important. For US students it can influence university wide fellowship opportunities and I suppose a very bad one might sink a marginal applicant. But for international students who will (likely) be paying their own way, well, its just not that important.</p>