So I am a little bit concerned that I am being overly ambitious about my choice in schools. Ideally I would like to attend Caltech, MIT or Northwestern. However, I have heard from some people that being from a school outside of the top 25 universities (i.e. non ivy league level schools) can be a disadvantage. Is this true? Should I change my expectations? Also if I bomb the subject GRE (below 50%) am I screwed? Thanks for your help.
American from a state university in the top 40 chemistry programs.
BS in Chemistry Graduated in the Spring of 2015
Applying to Chemistry PhD programs
I am interested in nanotechnology and chemical biology
GRE: Will be taking in the summer
Subject GRE: Will be taking in April
GPA - 3.8
Research - 2 years of undergraduate research in organic chemistry where I published 3 second author papers in JACS. One of the papers was spotlighted in JACS. I am currently doing a 2 year fellowship at the NIH doing translational molecular biology research (I don't like it as much as my undergraduate research but it is still interesting). I have one small publication (4th author in a small journal) so far and will hopefully have at least 1 more publication from the NIH before I apply.
Presentations - 1 poster at a regional conference where I won first place in my division and 1 poster at my undergraduate institution. 1 published presentation at a national conference (third author).
Awards- NIH fellowship, ACS award for outstanding undergraduate research. Graduated with honors (completed honors thesis)
LOR- I should have 1 outstanding letter, 1 Very very good letter, and 1 Good letter
Dream Schools
MIT
Harvard
Northwestern
Berkley
Cal Tech
Schools I would love to attend
UCLA
UT Austin
Wisconsin
Illinois
Schools That I would also like
UC Irvine
UNC
UC Boulder
Yale
Hopkins
U Chicago