unbrokenthread

PhD, though I'm happy to do masters if I can find one that's funded. I do have some connections at another university, which I've inquired about; just don't want to make any undue assumptions about how far that'll get me! Thank you.

Thanks for your feedback! And nope, feelings not hurt. I do have a small counterargument though... It's a stretch, to be sure. I'm certainly not disagreeing with you that publications help...but out of all the graduate students at these schools that I looked up, only a handful had publications at all. I'll be a coauthor on an international astrobiology paper, but it won't be out for a while; that project won't even be launching until well into next year. I'm currently doing my second astrobio research project at the moment as well (this one with a microbio emphasis). My recommendations will be strong. I have teaching experience. I've taken (and aced) graduate-level classes, though granted they weren't in the sciences. These schools comprise probably 80% of the astrobiology programs in the US period. I'm not applying for the school's name/reputation, I'm applying for program fit. I'm just a little bit confused about the contradictory advice I'm reading across the site. Some people say that students with research fellowships like McNair are the exception and not the norm; others don't seem to weight this kind of experience heavily at all (like yourself, I assume). But I do appreciate the input! I'll look for some more safety schools, just in case.

Hey all, I'm a Zoology and English Lang/Lit double major. Here are my stats: Zoology major undergrad GPA: 3.0 English major undergrad GPA: 3.8 Overall undergrad: 3.19 (this includes LOTS of community college courses that are now irrelevant, though) Last 90 units: 3.38 GRE: 154Q, 166V, 4.5W (prev score was 155Q, 163V, 4.0W) Research: McNair, CCRAA, CAMPARE, and one other One publication (in one of the big journals!), but it wasn't a scientific paper--it was a short commentary. Several talks/poster sessions on my record. One more coming up next month. I'm interested in astrobiology programs--unfortunately they are only at a few schools. I'm applying to Harvard, MIT, WashU, UPenn, and looking at Arizona and Stanford. I've already been turned down from one lab because of my GPA and GRE scores, and it was a school that's not very highly ranked. I'm confident...but I'm also second guessing a bit now. I'm wondering if these big-name schools are overshoots; am I kidding myself? My GPA is easily, easily explained away because I have had serious family trouble (like, we're talking life-threatening); I'm only briefly mentioning this in my SOP, but it does bear mentioning, because it seriously disrupted my ability to succeed academically in the past, particularly last year. (I did rally back, though, and was on Dean's List by spring. Wahoo!) (I'm also a bit concerned because of the govt shutdown; my main letter of rec is a government employee and cannot access his email, and thus my recommendation request, until they're allowed back to work. If the shutdown continues, can I note this to the committee or something? I have other recs, but he's the most recent and he's seen the most of my work ethic and quality.) Thanks in advance.