2014 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

[Thesbane]

I just submitted all my applications last week! Feeling so relieved now! I would like to hear some feedback on my profile as an international student. I am little worried about my GPA (oh well, not much I can do about it now).

 

Undergrad Institution: West coast liberal arts, strong grade deflation. Has very well known biology program (within top 5 by phd productivity)
Major(s): Biology
Minor(s): None
GPA in Major: 3.55 (meh)
Overall GPA:3.46 (meh)
Position in Class: I think maybe top 25% in school. definitely top 25% in department.
Type of Student: International. Not a very special ethnicity.

GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 167 (95%)
V: 160 (84%)
W: 5.5 (97%)
B: 780 (81%) Didn't submit to most schools unless they said "strongly recommended"


TOEFL Total: Don't need it for all my programs.

Research Experience: I have done research at more than 6 different labs since freshman year. I have consistently worked at the same microbiology lab at my school for 2 years now. One summer project at a cancer research lab in asia (internationally well known school). One summer at MIT bioengineering lab with a pretty famous PI in bioengineering.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: one co-authored publication based on my work in cancer research, published on impactful journal (IF=10.2). A range of miscellaneous research grant and funding. iGEM gold medal award one year. Not eligible to apply to the majority of scholarly awards anyway.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Tutor in biology or chemistry since sophomore year.

Special Bonus Points: One recommender from my school. One recommender from MIT, the PI whom I worked with. One recommender from cancer research lab (PI is reasonably well known in his field, H-index of 48 in his 20 years career). All three letters are believed to be outstanding.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Visited UC Berkeley MCB, made acquaintance with one faculty there who provided advice on app over phone and had kept in touch with me. On SoP, I provided a mini-project proposal based on the area of research I am very interested in. Have brought it up to several researchers in the field and they agreed with its significance and feasibility.

Applying to Where:
UC Berkeley MCB

Stanford Biosciences - Microbiology&Immunity

MIT Molecular Biology

Harvard MCO

Yale BBS

Columbia MCB

Mount Sinai Basic Sciences

UT Southwestern Biomedical Sciences

UCSF Tetrad

U Penn CAMB

 

Good luck to everybody! Hopefully we all get to hear some invites soon =)

[Adenine_Monarch]

Undergrad Institution: Large private university, USA

Major: Biological Sciences

Minor: Psychology

GPA in Major: 3.63
Overall GPA: 3.78

Position in Class: Not sure; must have been near the top. Graduated magna cum laude
Type of Student: Domestic/female/mixed race minority

 

GRE Scores (revised)
Q: 160 (78%) Quant was the annoyance. Fortunately, I did passably. At least I didn't really have to study for verbal or writing much since I'm strong with those.
V: 162 (89%)
W: 5 (93%)

B: 690 (58%) Biology - Would have done better on this, I think, but I took the test badly. Only answered about 100 questions. Was too slow

 

Research Experience:

 

Worked in an invertebrate zoology lab as an undergrad for one year as a part of a directed research course. Turned in final paper.
 

Majority of my biomedical research experience (and research interest) was in a major gene therapy lab at a major hospital and then at a major research university. 8 years experience post-undergrad. One 2nd author pub and 4 middle author pubs. 6 posters/oral abstracts at conferences.

 

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:

Not much. Half scholarship as an undergrad. Dean's List. Magna cum laude. Was featured in a researcher spotlight by a biotechnology company.

 

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:

 

My 8 years of work as a technician and researcher? No other real relevant activities that are recent (I'm old...heh). Have worked in hospitals and Humane Society/animal hospital (good for the lab animal work experience. I used to want to be a veterinarian).

 

Special Bonus Points:

 

My former PI is a former professor at one of the schools I'm applying to. He's pretty big in his field and he's one of my references. I've already worked a long time, so I'm familiar with many of the names in my field (and at least some of them know me, too, due to collaborations and stuff) - now I know what universities they're from! Never paid much attention before.

 

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

 

Have received replies from 4/6 faculty I've contacted. They just invite me to come talk to them if I interview there.

 

Applying to Where:

 

This got kind of out of hand somehow! I didn't really originally mean to apply to this many...hope it's not a bad thing. I just didn't want to sell myself short and not give myself opportunities. There are researchers doing stuff I'm interested in at all of them, some better than others (maybe I can somewhat predict acceptance/rejection on that basis?)

 

UW - Immunology

OHSU - PMCB

UC Davis - BMCDB (faculty invites)
Stanford - Biosciences (faculty invites)
UC Berkeley - MCB
UC Irvine - CMB
USC - PIBBS (already invited for interview in Jan.)

City of Hope

UTSW

U of Arizona - ABBS
Baylor College of Med

Cal Tech - Biology
U of Utah - MB

Scripps

 

Btw, how do people do the little thingy with their signatures that shows where they've applied/been invited/rejected/accepted?

 

Do any of you think that my being a few years older than most other applicants will be a big deal? Obviously I worked for quite a while before deciding to pick up again with my education.

 

Does anyone know if adcomms try to search or lurk on these sites to get info about applicants? Was just curious.

 

 

[rat.girl]

Another long-time lurker here…Second application cycle so hopefully things work out this year!

 

Undergrad Institution: Big Ten Research Powerhouse 
Major(s): Medical Microbiology and Immunology
Minor(s): None
GPA in Major: 3.62
Overall GPA: 3.59
Position in Class: Unknown
Type of Student: Domestic female.  

GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 159 (75%)
V: 159 (81%)
W: 4.0 (54%)



Research Experience: 3 years during undergrad in Cancer Biology lab where my PI was the director of the department. After graduation he hired me as a research specialist (current position).  1 summer at Mayo Clinic. 

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: 2 semesters on Dean's list.  1 SURF.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Currently a research specialist--love my job! 1 semester as a TA for an undergrad lab class during senior year.

Special Bonus Points: All of my recommenders are the chairs/directors of their respective departments…not sure how that happened.  

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Recently presented at my first conference.  We also have several papers in prep where I will be a contributing author, but I doubt they will be ready/accepted by the time interviews come around.

Applying to Where:
UTSW

University of Arizona-ABBS

UC-Denver Cancer Biology

Case Western Reserve-BSTP

Northwestern-DGP

Vanderbilt-IGP

UW-Madison CMB, Molec Tox

Illinois-Urbana Champaign MCB

Edited December 1, 2013 by rat.girl

[anatotitan]

Attempting to get into an EEB program somewhere! This is my second attempt. I was interviewed and rejected by a very top-tier cell and molecular bio program (US News consistently ranks it as one the top 3 unis in the field, if that means anything) last year, but ended up getting round-the-board rejections otherwise. Hopefully, I'll have better luck this time around!

 

I have to be honest, looking at some of the competition here is mildly terrifying. But I do imagine that the average gradcafe poster sits comfortably in the upper quartile of the applicant pool. Or, at least, that's what I tell myself so I can sleep a little easier at night. 

 

Undergrad Institution: Large, reasonably well-reputed public university
Major(s): Cell and Molecular Biology
Minor(s): None
GPA in Major: Not really displayed on my transcripts - I'm guessing around 3.9 as well
Overall GPA: 3.94
Position in Class: Unknown
Type of Student: International, male  

GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 84%
V: 96%
W: 78%

Research Experience: 2.5 years of research in 4 different labs - 3 of them had an evolutionary focus, the fourth was a plant molecular biology lab. 

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Phi beta kappa, On honor roll every sem, got a University undergrad fellowship

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: I was an undergrad TA in a lab class. I was a volunteer docent in a Natural History Museum

Special Bonus Points: I've had positive responses from at least one POI at each of the colleges I'm applying to.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I run a large educational website on evolution that seems to be generally appreciated and admired by the professors I've shown it to.

Applying to Where:

 

U of Arizona

Brown

Uni of Chicago

Michigan State U

Stony Brook

MIT

Harvard

Stanford

 

 

 

[Monochrome Spring]

 

 

What is your research interest/focus going in?

[scienceowl]

 

Does anyone know if adcomms try to search or lurk on these sites to get info about applicants? Was just curious.

 

 

I remember getting linkedin views from adcoms last year, so they probably look you up online to some extent.

[psyched_outt]

Undergrad Institution: Big public university
Major(s): Biology
Minor(s): Psychology
GPA in Major: 3.57
Overall GPA: 3.29 (ouch - but 3.7 over last two years, steep upward trend)
Position in Class: n/a
Type of Student: Domestic female.

GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 155 (57%)
V: 164 (93%) 
W: 4.0 (54%)
B: n/a

Research Experience: 3 years neuroscience research as an undergraduate where I was deeply involved in multiple labs for many years. Summer internship at well known Ivy. Wrote and defended honor's thesis. 

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Graduated cum laude, one semester's Dean's List, defended honor's thesis.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: 2 semesters as a TA.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: 2 second author publications. 1 first author presentation at international conference. Several other first author presentations at local conferences.

Special Bonus Points: Was extremely close with all of my PI's, all of who are well-known nationally. One is Chair of Psychology Department (huge program), one is Chair of Neuroscience department, one is former prof at Emory, and one is professor at top Ivy. 

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I am the first one in my family to get a Bachelor's degree. I have many years of experience with NHP. Was on leadership committee for science department at my university.

Applying to Where:

U Maryland - College Park

UMASS Medical

Wake Forest

U Vermont 

U Wisconsin - Madison

U Colorado (Boulder)

Vanderbilt

UCLA

U Maryland - Baltimore

Emory U

 

It's a dream and a long shot, I wish I knew how bad I wanted this when I first attended school so my GPA would be where it needs to be. Hopefully one of these schools will look past it at my experience and LOR, I want this so badly. (:

 

Good luck to everyone! I'm excited to hear about all your acceptances.

[ion_exchanger]

Ad comms definitely look at your Facebook, so even if your page is completely private, try to have an acceptable picture/cover image. You can also consider making your page unable to be searched.

[anatotitan]

What is your research interest/focus going in?

 

I'm broadly interested in molecular evolution and phylogenetics - primarily among vertebrates. You're interested in plant ecology, I take it? If we're lucky, perhaps we shall meet at the MSU interview, haha.

[njoymusic2]

I finally finished my apps last night! Time to make my first post:

 

Undergrad Institution: Top 15 private university in the midwest
Major(s): Biology, Anthropology
GPA in Major: 3.4ish. It's roughly my overall science GPA, I'm too lazy to do the math
Overall GPA: 3.51
Position in Class: n/a
Type of Student: Domestic female.

GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 162 (89%)
V: 170 (98%) 
W: 4.0 (54%)
B: n/a

Research Experience: currently working as a research tech (< 1 year), 2 years of undergrad research in developmental biology, and 1 year neuroscience research during my senior year of high school (not sure if school will care about that)

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Graduated cum laude with research emphasis (thesis), 3 semesters Dean's List

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: 2 years experience as a TA, private tutor for chemistry

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: 1 second author paper currently accepted/in press

Applying to Where:

Stanford: Molecular and Cellular Physiology

WashU in St. Louis: Molecular Cell Biology

MIT: Biology

UCLA: Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology

UCSF: Biomedical Sciences

UT Southwestern: Integrative Biology

Baylor College of Medicine: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

[colemaj]

Undergrad Institution: Big state
Major(s): Neuroscience
Minor(s): Biology
GPA in Major: 3.3
Overall GPA: 2.6 (Finished strong, A's last 5 semesters)

 

Graduate Institution: Big state
Major(s): Biology
Minor(s): Biology
GPA in Major: 4.0
Overall GPA: 4.0

GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q:750/75%
V:580/78%
W:435/78%

Research Experience: 4 years, 1 First author in JEB, 1 second author in revision, 1 first author about to submit. Many posters (~7) at conferences nationally and internationally

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: 2 semesters of competetive bioinformatics scholarship, 2 summer research fellowships, competitive funding to present findings in germany. 

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Adjunct professor at nearbye community college, president of graduate student organization. 


Special Bonus Points: One EXTREMELY strong letter of recommendation from well known faculty, another very strong one from my advisor and a strong rec from an NSF program officer. I've locked down advisors everywhere I'm applying and have outlined projects with them. 


Applying to Where:

Harvard -OEB - Behavior

Princeton - EEB - Behavior

Oxford - Zoology - Navigation

Johns Hopkins - Brain Science - Behavior

University of Michigan -- EEB - Behavior

Bloomington -- EEB --- Behavior.

 

 

 

I have no idea where I stand. I've made great connections with advisors at each of the schools, but have a rough undergrad GPA to overcome. I've had great grades for four years, so I'm hoping they look past that. 

[elanorci]

I sent my GRE scores to on the 22nd and applied on the 1st, but they claim that they don't have them, even though they have updated my status to indicate that they received my official transcripts. Should I wait longer? The deadline for the program isn't until January, so I'm not too worried - just curious. 

[biotechie]

Elanorci, I don't know that that one is always super well updated. I would wait until close to the deadline. When I applied last year, they switched my documents to all "received" AFTER I got my interview invitation. Some programs have an early deadline of December 1st and they invite students before the January 1 deadline hits (though they still take applications until the 1st and they still review apps for a second weekend). Other than that, everything else was super well organized and on time. I'm going to private message you.

[njoymusic2]

Some schools with Dec 1 deadlines ask you to contact them after Dec 10 or Dec 15 if your materials are incomplete, or at least a couple weeks after you've sent your items. I would look through their emails or websites to see if they say anything explicit, or ask them immediately (sooner rather than waiting) if they don't specify when. Nov 22 wasn't that long ago, and the mailing/processing time could have slowed during the holidays (plus Baylor's deadline is Jan 1) so I wouldn't worry for now.

[elanorci]

Thanks, njoymusic2 and biotechie (: 

[elanorci]

Just realized I haven't actually posted my stats here (I've been lurking + on collegeconfidential... but this place seems nicer ) 

 

Undergrad Institution: Top 5 research (ivy) 

Major(s): Molecular and Cellular Biology
Minor(s): Philosophy
GPA in Major: 3.7
Overall GPA: 3.8
Position in Class: Probably between 10 - 15% 
Type of Student: Domestic female
GRE Scores (revised version):
Q: 91%
V: 98%
W: 99%

Biochem: 92%

Research Experience: ~2 years in an HHMI genetics lab. No publications ?

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Nothing, really. 

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:  Tutored genetics and multivariable calc.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: None, I don't think.

Applying to Where:

Harvard Biophysics
MIT Biology

Berkeley Biophysics

Caltech Biology

WashU Biology

Stanford Genetics

Princeton Quant & Comp Biology (via Biology@Princeton) 

 

I submitted all of my apps like two days ago. Waiting sucks ?

[rexzeppelin]

Just realized I haven't actually posted my stats here (I've been lurking + on collegeconfidential... but this place seems nicer ) 

 

 

agreed. Whenever I've looked at the bioscience application thread on college confidential I get anxious, it seems more competitive than Gradcafe.

[perfectionist]

agreed. Whenever I've looked at the bioscience application thread on college confidential I get anxious, it seems more competitive than Gradcafe.

When invite emails get closer, I'm going to have to stop coming here so I don't freak myself out every time someone else gets an interview invite. 

[Eatin' Biscuits]

It's too late for me Perfectionist.. Seeing someone with a UNC BBSP invite has officially freaked me out..

[username1824]

Invitation to UNC-Chapel Hill BBSP program via email!

[Azia]

I am interested to hear when people start hearing back from schools!

 

Undergrad Institution: Big state school with reputable Bio research
Major(s): Cell and Molecular Biology
Minor(s): Women's Studies
GPA in Major: 3.2
Overall GPA: 3.1 (3.4 last four semesters)
Position in Class: average (I think, but they don't tell us)
Type of Student: Domestic female

GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 151
V: 155
W: 4.0
B: NA

 

Research Experience: One and a half years volunteer research in a molecular virology lab at my school on my own independent projects and helping my mentor. No publications (yet) two poster presentations as first author.

 

I also have one year experience in a marine ecology lab.

 

Grades are not my strong point in my application because I have never been too concerned with classes, I have always put my main focus on research and volunteering. My strong point is my research experience and my letters of rec from my PI and Collaborators.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: None that I can think of

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I have also done a lot of work in campus through the Women's Outreach Association, it's not science but I always hope that admissions committees look at the big picture.

Special Bonus Points: Taken numerous grad level classes, also female in science qualifies as a minority

Applying to Where:

SDSU/ UCSD- Joint Doctoral Program- Cell and Molecular Biology

UC Irvine- Molecular and Cell Biology- micro

UC Santa Cruz- Program in Biomedical Sciences and Engineering- micro/ virology
Stanford- Microbiology & Immunology- micro/ viro

UC Berkeley- Infectious Disease & Immunity- micro/ viro

UCSF- Biomedical Sciences- micro/ viro

UC Davis- Microbiology

Oregon SU- Microbiology

U Washington- Microbiology

[Monochrome Spring]

Just FYI: MSU Plant Sciences departments are sending out invites starting December 16th for anyone who turned in their materials before December 3rd. Official deadline for application materials is December 15th.

[perfectionist]

Invitation to UNC-Chapel Hill BBSP program via email!

When did you submit your application? Weren't they due yesterday?

[username1824]

I submitted my app November 8, but all my letters didn't come in until November 26.

[stizz]

I got an invitation to interview for University of Pittsburgh Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program (IBGP) today. I submitted my app last wednesday and they were due on Sunday. I know they tend to interview a lot of people due to the program's diversity.