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Do I have a chance at getting into a top program?


blankens

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Hi, I'm wondering what my chances are for getting into a top tier university this coming application cycle. I'm interested in natural products, mostly discovery, structural elucidation, and investigating biosynthetic pathways, not so much organic synthesis of them. This is not a giant field, however, it seems that most schools have one or two people working in it which makes things a little tricky. Here are my stats.

School:Top 5 U.S Public University

Major: Chemical Engineering

Minor:Biochemistry 

GPA:3.63

No GRE yet.

Research Experience: First two years in a tissue engineering lab with completely new PI. One summer fellowship in this lab the other summer was full time funded by PI. Year three switched to a natural products lab doing structural elucidation with very well known PI. Working in this lab over this summer as well as a ChemE lab working on biocrude production from algae. Continuing to work in Natural product lab next school year, possible senior thesis.

Pubs: One literature review co-author for tissue engineering. Hopefully one more from tissue engineering lab with my work in it but the person who was supposed to write it is leaving soon and I haven't heard anything about it lately. Doubtful anything will be more than just submitted for review by December from other labs. 

LoRs: Anticipating two very strong letters from tissue engineering and natural products PIs. One good one from Orgo/Biochemistry lecturer. 

Extras: Not sure if it matters but I have been a chemistry and math tutor for the past two years.

 

My Questions:

Do I have a shot at schools like Harvard, Columbia, CalTech, and UCSF? I'd be applying to their Chemical Biology programs or whatever they offer that is similar. Are there any huge flaws in my app that you can see from what I've posted? When talking about publications will admissions really care about a literature review? Of course I will still mention it as it is my only publication, but if they don't care I will not give it much attention. I probably have more questions but that is all I can think of at this moment. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

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