Chai_latte

It depends on what you're calling top-notch. On the positive side, who cares that your successes are recent? You got a first author publication as an undergrad (and maybe a second on the way). Pat yourself on the back. Plus, your scores are solid. What hinders you with tip-top programs is the GPA, BUT talk to your research advisor(s). Maybe they can recommend specific POIs you should contact at the schools you applied to. That might make all the difference for you. With that said, I don't think a place like Harvard would come through. But, a solid, top 20-30 definitely might. See if you can squeeze in a poster presentation (maybe at a regional/local chapter of your professional organization) and update your schools. But, honestly, that would be gravy. As things stand now, I do think you have a shot. Good luck.

I've seen folks move from science to engineering. I have one friend who got a fully-funded ChemE PhD at a top 25 after a BS in chemistry (higher ranked schools offered him the MS program instead). So, it's definitely possible. My main advice is to push yourself with math. Rightly or wrongly, people think of biology majors as being weak in the subject, so take (and do well in) linear algebra and diff eq. If there's a computer class w/ MatLab, take that too. Get familiar w/ AutoCAD/CAD. I'm a fan of getting the science BS and complementing that with an engineering grad degree. It adds diversity/versatility in the long run. It will set you apart. Another thing to note is that NSPE has changed the requirements for the PE license. You do NOT need an engr. BS to be a licensed engineer anymore. You need the engineering MS. So, in ~3 years after your degree, you can be a P.E. with a biology background. Sounds like a win-win to me!

This happened to me. I don't know when your deadline is, but you need to get more aggressive. I gave all of my recommenders 8 weeks. I sent three friendly reminders between 4 weeks and 4 days prior to the deadline. One prof. was neither responding to my reminders nor submitting recommendations. With a week to go, I got another recommendation from someone else (he was a lifesaver...gave me peace of mind). I also visited the professor three days prior to the deadline. I felt that a face-to-face was the only thing that would get her to follow through. I sat in front of her office for three hours before she came in. We talked for about 2 minutes, and the recommendation was submitted that evening. Problem solved! Are programs flexible with recommendation deadlines? It depends. Call each school and ask. But, lay on your professors. They agreed to write for you. You gave them an ample amount of time. They need to follow through in a timely fashion.

Have you considered retaking the GRE? With that said, you might want to check out some places like RPI, SUNY Buffalo, Va Tech or Iowa State. But, if you're going for location (SW or west coast), your list looks okay to me. Good luck.

Look, if chem is your passion, stick with it! To be safe, definitely apply to your current program (that will probably be your only acceptance if you're PhD) AND you should re-take/get tutored for the failed classes. You don't want to enter school with a poor foundation. Graduate courses (and cumulative exams) build upon your undergrad background.

P.S. As a dual degree candidate with strong stats, the GRE will be fine.

I think you have a shot. As a non-trad., a lot will hinge on your essays. Tell a story. Make sure you explain what the companies/think tanks did, since they're lesser known. And, of course, discuss your role. Perhaps, write about a particular work experience that made you want the MBA. Explain your path, future goals and why you need the degree from School X. Your stats look good, so there's nothing to worry about there. I think they'll like the Sci./Hum. combo and the mentoring...nice! If you're applying Round 2, good luck!

It depends. On an "annoying" day, I'll go shopping after lab or treat myself to a nice dinner. The "horrible" days get prayer, re-runs of Frasier and copious amounts of house cleaning until I regroup.

I had maintained my normal weight for 10 years with minimal effort until I decided to overburden myself with a side project, extra lab work and another application process/test prep (in addition to my normal stuff) this spring. I gained 20 lbs in 5 months...mindlessly eating away. A doughnut here, Chipotle there and flub distributed on my body everywhere. I didn't realize the weight gain until I tried to put on one of my favorite dresses. That was a sad, sad day. I was wishing for the elastic waist band pants that old ladies wear. Since then, I've gotten serious about eating healthily and not snacking. Next, I'll hit the gym w/ my roommate. I'm hoping to get back to my regular size by 1/1/15.

That depends entirely upon your field and your goals. For example, if you're in the physical sciences and want to become a tenured professor at an "R1", attending the #95 school would NOT be good. If your goal is industry, that same school might be a smart move (depending on location, alumni network etc). It really does depend. No matter what field you're in/goals you have, the further you move from the top, the more you have to distinguish yourself (e.g awards, grants, publications, conferences). For most people, a top 100 school can deliver if the student is committed and takes advantage of every opportunity.

You kind of remind me of myself. As an undergrad, I liked the fact that science classes emphasized lecture as opposed to discussion. I found my social science courses to be a profound waste of time (with the never-ending classroom babbling). With that said, I think you're experiencing culture shock. Most social science fields are all about discussion. This is true no matter where you go. Unless you return to the hard sciences, I'm not sure leaving your current program will accomplish much. Ultimately, you have to ask yourself if this degree is a necessity for your long-term goals. If it is, grin-and-bear-it. If not, you may want to consider returning to your undergraduate field. May I ask what field you're in?

YES!! I did this last year and built a FANTASTIC science library. I've gotten so many great books this way...some of these gems were even out of print!

I ALWAYS keep good textbooks if they're STEM (math, physics etc.). I still have my old, AP Euro text (which was awesome), a couple of grammar/writing books and my old Latin texts. Aside from those, I re-sell or give away. I purchased all of these crates from K-mart (or was it Burlington Coat Factory?) for book storage. My apartment is too small and I'm too poor for a bookshelf.

How long have you been working at the start-up? Maybe you can ask about switching roles in the company. This might get you closer to organic. I like your new plan. Stick with the same orgo prof, the requisite CHF internship and look into a more organic-related role at the start-up. Since they like you, they might be pretty flexible.

Even though I haven't studied Latin (formally) since my high school, Vergil/Catullus days, here are my two cents: Go for the funded MA. You don't want to be saddled with an insane amount of debt (especially in a humanities field). Columbia, in particular, costs a king's ransom.

Graduate student. Very few ask if I'm MS or PhD. However, some people ask what field.

For those last two questions, I would contact the programs and ask them directly. They might not want to review the extra material OR the online math course might really differentiate you.

Yep...no open toed shoes/dresses/skirts/shorts here. Basically, everyone wears jeans and sneakers/Uggs/boots. Now, above-the-waist fashion varies. Some are "smart casual" (as described in previous posts). Others rock the roll-out-of-bed, "college style" (i.e. sweatshirts). I think it depends on the tenor of your department/region of the country and what you're comfortable with. Go with smart casual until you get a feel for your school/dept. Also, you probably don't want to wear sweatshirts on TA days.

So, what school did you wind up choosing? I realize this is late, but I hope you picked UCB (provided it's a good fit). Remember, you can always get the engineering management degree later.

Yes, I've also heard that acceptance rates are higher for master's programs. It makes sense, since PhD candidates will usually have full funding (not the case with MS students). Unfortunately, I've never seen admissions data for masters programs posted.

@TakerUK- I have to disagree with portions of your last paragraph. *I have no desire for academia, so I definitely don't believe that nontraditional careers are inferior or a person pursuing one is a failure*. I don't think Quantum's attitude implies "automatic failure". In the case of the 5yr. post-doc, we know that she had "had enough". Typically, someone with 2-3 post-docs under his/her belt, had an eye towards R&D in industry or a tenure-track job. I think it's unfortunate that someone who is smart/driven (having devoted ~10yrs to science after college) has to bolt before getting the chance to reach his/her goals. Failure? No. But, it's not an enviable position to be in.

I'm a little shocked about moolriaz's experience. I always thought that Penn's comp. sci. dept. was well-regarded (more than Chicago's). I did not attend the program, but I did consider it. The general consensus is that the MCIT, like most degrees, is what you make of it. For those without a CS background, it pulls them up to speed. But, the price is quite high (particularly for a field that isn't super-stringent about degrees) and it is not as rigorous as a standard CS MS (obviously). I decided against it, but it will probably open more doors than a sociology degree does.

Really? Hmm, I'm kind of shocked. Even at top programs, like Cornell?

This is homework you'll probably have to do yourself. First, compile a list of schools that meet your academic/research needs. These are your (ostensible) "good fits". Then, visit or find some way to talk to current students in the department of interest (minority and majority). Get a feel for each school. Do you/current students feel comfortable? Find out if the department has a history of producing scientists of your background. Frequently, programs with quality advisors and tightly-knit grad communities also are the ones graduating minority scientists. I think this is what Biotechie may have been alluding to. It seems like he/she is in the type department you might want to look for. To my knowledge, grad schools don't really have the "support system" that one might find in college or HS. So, you're really just looking for a positive environment. But, that task should not be taken lightly. Without a quality advisor and supportive peers, one's grad experience (regardless of race/gender) can be cut short or fall short of expectations. Oh, you can also contact alumni/ae from the programs you're considering. And as a bio person, you should also ask yourself if you'd prefer a department that's part of a university or one that's a strict research/med school (Scripps, MSSM etc.). Hope that helps.

Contacting professors certainly can't hurt. Even if it doesn't augment your chances of admission, it allows you to learn more about the projects that interest you. It also gives you a first impression of potential PIs/advisors. I always think it's better to put your best foot forward and to submit the strongest app that you can. With that said, find out if the schools *strongly prefer* the subject GRE or if they're more on-the-fence. That will tell you a lot. So, start contacting profs, dept. secretaries and doing your homework for each school/program.