c-guzman

Interestingly I actually work as a computational biologist at UT Southwestern right now. I'll probably drop the majority of the top tier schools from my applications and stick to lower tier ones then.

All around excellent advice! Thank you! Looks like I have a complete re-write coming up :). I'll put up the new SoP once I get these manuscript edits out of the way! Thank you!

I posted a topic prior to realizing that this existed. So I'll post appropriately here and delete my old topic. Undergrad Institution: Public, small university, Not relatively well known. I live in the southern tip of Texas near Mexico.Major(s): BiologyMinor(s): EnglishGPA in Major: 3.6Overall GPA: 3.28Position in Class: Not sureType of Student: Male / Hispanic Masters Institution: Public, small university, Not relatively well known. I live in the southern tip of Texas near Mexico.Major(s): BiologyGPA in Major: 3.58Overall GPA: 3.58GRE Scores (revised/old version): Have not taken, but expecting:Q: 160V: 160W: 5Research Experience: 3 years total. 2 years as a graduate assistant as part of my masters thesis. 1 year (2 years before programs start) at a R1 Top 20 University where I will be working until programs start. 4 publications (all first or co-first author), 1 published, 3 submitted.Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Bioinformatics Fellow at R1 Top 20 UniversityPertinent Activities or Jobs: Research Assistant IIAny Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Not reallySpecial Bonus Points: (Such as connections, grad classes, famous recommenders, female or minority status etc...) My current PI is a relatively new but well connected and known player in his field.Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Have a decent GitLab filled with programming projects, 1 of which is potentially publishable. 2 really strong letters of recommendation. Working on a third. A really good idea of what I want to study and with who within each university.Applying to Where:MIT - Computational Biology - Enhancer Biology University of Washington - Genome Sciences - Enhancer BiologyUniversity of Michigan - Computational Biology / Bioinformatics - Enhancer Biology

My current SoP is up in the applications forum under 'statement of purpose' subsection if you'd like to take a look at it and help me out! I'd appreciate it! Thanks for the help!

A waste in a sense that I just assumed that my package wouldn't result in too many interviews from these schools that only really accept the best and brightest. I've had several of my most qualfieid friends apply to programs in these schools and get rejected, so my assumptions are based on that. Undergrad GPA wasn't great, 3.3. I completely agree with the letter, but I really only have two solid letters of reference with research experience. My undergrad professors might be able to write something up about my grades and performance in specific classes, but that's pretty much it.

This type of post may be frowned upon, but i've exhausted myself doing the research and searching the programs FAQ's and contacting various professors from each institution. I'm a recent master's graduate that's looking to apply to a couple Ph.D programs in computational biology, bioinformatics, and molecular / genetics programs. I don't know what 'tier' (I hate this word) of schools I should realistically be applying to. My main focus is a good mentor. Program prestige matters, but lets be real ... I won't likely be getting a professorship. My qualifications: Master's in Biology - ~3.5 GPA GRE - Haven't taken, but with 3 months of studying I am hoping for a 160/160. I have 3 years of research experience. 2 years of experience as a graduate research assistant, and another year as a research assistant II at a Top 20 R1 institute where I am the sole computational biologist with a really great mentor. I will have 1 co-first author publication published, 2 submitted, and 1 in preparation by December 1st deadlines. So I guess that's ... 4? I'm not sure if submitted / in prep count, but i'm assuming not. I am also involved in several other projects that may or may not be submitted or published before my deadlines, I am likely to be second or third author on these. I have a decent knowledge of Python and R with various programming projects in my GitLab - one of which is likely to be published. I have two really strong letters of recommendation from my master's PI, and my current PI. I can potentially get 1 mediocre letter from a professor from my undergrad institute. I'm currently trying to get a collaboration going with another professor at my current university so that I can have 3 really strong letters. If one of my submitted publications to eLife works out, the editor of the journal is willing to write letters of recommendation for the 1st author ... so this could potentially be something I suppose. I have 2 and a half years of teaching experience as a teacher and teaching assistant. High and low level biology, and chemistry, some ecology. I have very strong grasp of the field that I want to pursue. I've contacted at least two professors from each institute i'm interested in and about half have replied saying they would be willing to take me on as a rotational / Ph.D student if I get accepted into the program. I think the fact that I have a pretty solid idea of what I want to pursue and what I can contribute to a program will show in my statement of purpose. That's pretty much it. I might try to fit in some volunteer opportunities from now until the deadline, but I don't really know if that should be included in my application since it's not directly relevant. I can also send out an actual copy of my CV to anyone that's really interested in giving me a detailed analysis of what tier schools I would have a decent shot at. My main problems seems to be that most of the research i'm interested in (Enhancer Biology) is being done at schools like MIT, Stanford, John Hopkins, University of Washington, University of Michigan ... schools that i'd maybe apply for if there wasn't a $100 dollar fee that would almost certainly be a waste. Anyways, I appreciate the insight and help!

Was hoping someone could give my first statement of purpose draft a quick look over. I'll comb for poorly used grammar and spelling at a later date, but I could really use some help with flow and whether this is heading in the right direction. I am willing to exchange SoP reviews as well.

I'm currently a Research Assistant at UTSW, and I'm hoping to apply to a couple of computational biology and bioinformatics programs this coming Fall. I was hoping to get as many eyes to look over my SoP as I can, and a couple people on reddit suggested checking out GradeCafe. If you could post here or send me a PM I'll send you a copy of my current SoP, and eventually post the final edited version here along with the comments and names of people who helped shape it so others can use it to structure their own. I'm also willing to correct / review your statement of purpose in return. Thanks in advance! - Carlos