enzyme93

Virology. What about you?

You should have received an email with an attachment explaining everything!

I was recently invited to interview for Mayo's graduate program, and I was wondering if anyone here could give me more information on how the interview weekend went. Any tips, advice?? Thank you guys in advance!!

I wanted to go into some kind of virology program. In all honesty, it's pretty disappointing you say that because Rockefeller is my dream school haha is it appropriate to just straight up e-mail the admissions office with my cv and ask if my gpa is too low for them?

Hey eteshoe, Thanks for the advice! Why those two programs? I hadn't really considered them until now. In the SOP, do you think I should address my poor sophomore year? Also, I've read a little bit about this, but I'm not sure. Is it appropriate to contact faculty now via e-mail and express interest in their research? I've also seen posts where people discuss specifically mentioning faculty they'd like to work with in the SOP.

I'm entering into my senior year studying biochemistry and molecular biology. I need help evaluating my chances for any kind of top program and figuring out where it's best to apply. Here are some stats: GPA: 3.05 (took nothing but science courses, senior year will be all gen. eds) GRE: 162-166 (projected scores based on practice tests) Research Experience: (keep in mind that some of these time frames overlap) ~9 months volunteer assistant in an NIH funded HIV lab ~1 year biochemistry research at home institution ~5 months cell biology research at home institution ~I started this past May and will continue working in an NIH funded neurology lab at a major med school into the school year Presentations: Nothing huge, but a few through my home institution and small conferences Teaching experience: ~2 years and continuing as a private tutor ~TA'ed 21 classes and/or labs thus far varying in mathematics, physics, and chemistry at my home institution Miscellaneous: ~a few summers of clinical volunteering ~one summer as a lab technician for a private hearing aid company ~speak 7 languages, including English, to varying degrees of fluency (English is my second language) ~came as a kid to america from war and genocide ~should have at least 5 excellent letters of rec ~first paper as a co-author is currently being reviewed ~low gpa due to poor sophomore year because of family emergencies that took precedence over school I live in the midwest. I'm open to going anywhere, but I'd really like a quality education. So far my main schools are: UChicago Northwestern UIC Michigan Case Western Rockefeller Harvard Mit UMass Are these schools realistic? Does anyone have any recommendations? Advice? I will be entering in fall of 2016.