Hi all!
Just having a little trouble deciding where to apply. Mostly, I'm concerned my top pick is out of my reach.
Undergrad GPA is 3.5 from a large competitive state school.
Currently in a graduate program. GPA at this time is also a 3.5.
Graduate program is at a small school but has a great reputation. I don't have much research experience from undergrad but my current program requires a thesis and I am doing a lot of independant work in the lab. I received a competitive teaching assistantship and am up for a competitive research fellowship as well.
I have a pretty specific field of interest and would like to focus my future graduate work on developmental biology, germline development and maternal factors affecting development.
My GRE scores as of right now: (planning a retake)
Q: 156
V: 157
Written: 4.5
I feel that I will be able to obtain great recommendations but how will my somewhat low GPA affect my application?
I am very interested in two of the labs at Brown University and two labs at the University of Pennsylvania. These would be my absolute top choices for a Ph.D. Do I have a shot? Should I attempt the subject GRE? Other schools in the mid Atlantic/New England area that may have a program related to my interests? Also my PI currently has some connections with faculty in my area of interest at UPenn. Does this help?
Any advice would be awesome!!