suurkate

I applied for PhD programs in bioinformatics/computational biology last application cycle but didn't get in anywhere. I had great letters of recommendation, solid research experience, but a low gpa (2.9). I'm aware that the gpa was my major stumbling block, but since that's the only thing I can't change anymore, I'm trying to improve my application in other ways. I scored a perfect 170 on both verbal and quant, but my analytical writing score was a bit lower - 4.5. Do grad programs in hard sciences care about the AW score? If I can raise it to a 5.5 or 6, would that give me any sort of advantage?

community theater

I keep getting recruitment emails from NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering. I am not, nor have I ever indicated interest in becoming, an engineer. LEAVE ME ALONE.

Computational Bioscience.

Were you at the recruitment this past weekend? I was too, for a different program. I know my program director is in Europe this week so I shouldn't be expecting a decision so soon, but I'm anxious, damnit!

I think the biggest hurdle you will run into is answering the question of how you decided on your field. Without much background, it's going to hard to sell to admissions committees that you are really set in your research interests. If you're set on applying this fall, you'll want to spend a lot of time crafting a good answer to that question, and definitely address it in your SOP. Otherwise, I think it would be a good idea to try to take a course (for credit) in population genetics or try to get involved in similar research.

I applied to CU Boulder Biochem - there was a supplemental Biochem form, but I completed it on my computer and uploaded it with the application. I never printed and faxed anything, and they confirmed my application was complete.

I did apply to one masters program at a low-ranked school as a backup in case I don't get in anywhere else. Obviously I would prefer to go straight to PhD for many reasons, not the least of which is financial (I'd rather get paid to get a doctorate than pay to get a masters). However, at this point I am already being flown out to interview with at least one really great PhD program, so I'd rather address the issue of "what should I say in the interview" than lower my sights and assume I can't get in. Outside of the grades, I actually have a pretty stellar application package. Thanks to everyone for your helpful responses! It's looking like I'll go with the line of a persistent, nonspecific medical issue. It has now been 3 years since I graduated from college, which is a reasonable and believable amount of time to have overcome a medical issue. I am, of course, hoping they ask more questions about my research than my grades.

I wish I could say that. But there is no upward trend, and the fact that it's up and down over 6 years (I took a year and a half off in the middle) makes the "medical problem" line pretty hard to believe.

My undergrad transcript is... confusing, to say the least. My overall GPA is 2.9/4.0, which is technically below the cutoff for most programs I applied to. It consists of several semesters of straight As, several semesters of all Fs, and a lot all over the place in between. I have lots of other reasons I am a good candidate (170/170/4.5 on the GRE, several years of research experience, really solid letters of rec), and have already gotten at least one interview (waiting to hear back from all other schools to which I have applied). This last summer, when I was several years out of college, I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, which made everything about my undergraduate difficulties finally make sense. I've been told repeatedly not to mention mental illness in the SOP or what have you, so I didn't, but what happens if someone asks me point blank in the interview what the heck was going on with my grades? I honestly believe that now that I'm managing it, anxiety will no longer be as much of an issue in grad school, but how do I tell interviewers "I'm confident this won't happen again" without coming out and copping to mental illness? There was no improvement toward the end, so I don't even have that to point to.