Dank

My degree is in Biology, we only had to have one year of chemistry and one semester of mathematics. I'm thinking it should be fine, and if any schools want me to take the courses before I attend, I can do that.

I have a quick question about recommended pre-req courses. Many schools recommend having 2 semesters of mathematics, and 2 years of chem (general and organic). I only have one semester of mathematics (stats) and I only took intro chem, orgo I and biochem in college. Since the courses are recommended, do you think it will affect my application much? I could take the courses within the next year, but they're expensive, so if you guys think it won't have a big impact then I might not take them.

Thanks for the honesty, the thing is I am having a hard time identifying which schools could be classified as "lower ranked programs". Any suggestions?

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll go give those a look after work.

@bicsy @biochemgirl67 @immuno91 @HopefulPHD14 Thank you guys so much for these pointers! This is incredibly helpful to get your perspectives on my app. I'm going to dive into my school list now with all this advice. Thanks again!

@Agent Orange Thanks for the response, I'm most interested in studying T-cell biology, but I am also very interested, in general, in molecular/cellular bio and virology. I'll take a closer look at the faculty at the schools I listed, that's great advice. @Ferroportin I thought the program was very interesting because it bridges together different areas of biology and seems incredibly diverse. I'll check out the BMS program though. Thanks for the response. Am I aiming too high with my list of schools? I'm worried that my stats aren't up to the level that these schools are looking for?

@glow_gene Just put the thread up, sorry for derailing.

Here's mine: I am having trouble pinpointing where I should apply and how to figure out which schools may be safe for me to apply to and which ones are completely out of reach. I hope to get some insight from those of you on here who are hearing back from your applications in the 2016 cycle, or from previous cycles. I would greatly appreciate any advice! Undergrad Institution: ~60th ranked private liberal arts college Major(s): Biology Minor(s): none GPA in Major: unsure, but probably around 3.5, definitely higher than overall Overall GPA: 3.35 Position in Class: no ranking Type of Student: Domestic, LGBT white male GRE Scores (revised/old version): Q: 154 V: 158 W: 4.0 B: Not going to take -I am going to retake the GRE, I am a terrible standardized test taker, so hopefully I can do a lot better. Research Experience: Worked in a Biomechanics lab for half junior year and all of senior year at undergrad. I presented a poster of our research at a conference. I'm currently working as a tech in an immunology lab studying HCV infection and HIV/HCV coinfection at a Harvard affiliated hospital and getting experience with flow cytometry, qpcr, allospot and other lab techniques. I hope to have my name on at least one paper by the end of my 2nd year here or slightly thereafter (working here from 2015-2017). Awards/Honors/Recognitions: University Dean's List for 4 semesters Member of beta beta beta biological honors society senior year of college Pertinent Activities or Jobs RA during senior year or college Special Bonus Points: I should be able to get some really strong letters of recommendation from current employer and professor I worked for during undergrad who know me well and want to see me succeed. I should also be able to get a letter from one of the post docs here in the lab who I am working closely with on a project and can attest to my abilities. Applying to Where: BU Biomedical Sciences Rockefeller, either Medical Sciences, Systems Physiology and Human Genetics immunology virology and microbiology NYU Sackler Biomedical sciences Mt Sinai Biomedical sciences Weill Cornell Immunology & Microbiology pathogenesis Einstein UCSF Tetrad UCSD Biomed University of Miami Cancer Bio Scripps (Florida) Baylor college of medicine UVM I'll appreciate any feedback I can get. Thanks!

This may be considered a little early, but I wanted to start the 2017 application profile thread, so here it is! I'm copying the 2016 thread for consistency. Use the following templates to enter your information, before and after you obtain your results, and remember to submit your results at the end of the cycle for posterity and to help the next cohort of applicants HERE. You can find the threads by clicking on the year. 2016: http://forum.thegradcafe.com/topic/67840-2016-applicant-profiles-and-admissions-results/?page=1 Undergrad Institution: (School or type of school, such as big state, lib arts, ivy, technical, foreign (what country?)... Overall Reputation in Biology?) Major(s): Minor(s): GPA in Major: Overall GPA: Position in Class: (No numbers needed, but are you top? near top? average? struggling?) Type of Student: (Domestic/International, male/female, minority?) GRE Scores (revised/old version): Q: V: W: B: TOEFL Total: (if applicable, otherwise delete this) Research Experience: (At your school or elsewhere? What field? How much time? Any publications (Mth author out of N?) or conference talks etc...) Awards/Honors/Recognitions: (Within your school or outside?) Pertinent Activities or Jobs: (Such as tutor, TA, SPS officer etc...) Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Special Bonus Points: (Such as connections, grad classes, famous recommenders, female or minority status etc...) Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Applying to Where: School - Department - Research Interest School - Department - Research Interest School - Department - Research Interest

Hi everyone, sorry if this is out of place, but I'm going to be applying next round for fall 2017. I have read through most of this thread and I am having trouble pinpointing where I should apply and how to figure out which schools may be safe for me to apply to and which ones are completely out of reach. It seems like you all are incredibly knowledgeable about these things at this point, so I would greatly appreciate any advice! Undergrad Institution: ~60th ranked private liberal arts college Major(s): Biology Minor(s): none GPA in Major: unsure, but probably around 3.5, definitely higher than overall Overall GPA: 3.35 Position in Class: no ranking Type of Student: Domestic, LGBT white male GRE Scores (revised/old version): Q: 154 V: 158 W: 4.0 B: Not going to take -I am going to retake the GRE, I am a terrible standardized test taker, so hopefully I can do a lot better. Research Experience: Worked in a Biomechanics lab for half junior year and all of senior year at undergrad. I presented a poster of our research at a conference. I'm currently working as a tech in an immunology lab studying HCV infection and HIV/HCV coinfection at a Harvard affiliated hospital and getting experience with flow cytometry, qpcr, allospot and other lab techniques. I hope to have my name on at least one paper by the end of my 2nd year here or slightly thereafter (working here from 2015-2017). Awards/Honors/Recognitions: University Dean's List for 4 semesters Member of beta beta beta biological honors society senior year of college Pertinent Activities or Jobs RA during senior year or college Special Bonus Points: I should be able to get some really strong letters of recommendation from current employer and professor I worked for during undergrad who know me well and want to see me succeed. I should also be able to get a letter from one of the post docs here in the lab who I am working closely with on a project and can attest to my abilities. Applying to Where: BU Biomedical Sciences Rockefeller, either Medical Sciences, Systems Physiology and Human Genetics immunology virology and microbiology NYU Sackler Biomedical sciences Mt Sinai Biomedical sciences Weill Cornell Immunology & Microbiology pathogenesis Einstein UCSF Tetrad UCSD Biomed University of Miami Cancer Bio Scripps (Florida) Baylor college of medicine UVM I'll appreciate any feedback I can get. Thanks!

I'm planning on applying to graduate programs for immunology, virology or cancer biology (all extremely interesting to me) and am wondering how I can strengthen my application. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Undergrad Institution: ~60th ranked private liberal arts college Major(s): Biology Minor(s): none GPA in Major: unsure, but probably around 3.5, definitely higher than overall Overall GPA: 3.35 Position in Class: no ranking Type of Student: Domestic, white male GRE Scores (revised/old version): Q: 154 V: 158 W: 4.0 B: Not going to take Research Experience: Worked in a Biomechanics lab for half junior year and all of senior year at undergrad. I presented a poster of our research at a conference. I'm currently working as a tech in a immunology lab at a Harvard affiliated hospital and getting experience with flow cytometry, qpcr, allospot and other lab techniques. I should get my name on at least one paper within the next two years. Awards/Honors/Recognitions: University Dean's List for 4 semesters Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Member of beta beta beta biological honors society senior year of college RA during senior year or college Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Special Bonus Points: I should be able to get some really strong letters of recommendation from current employer and professor I worked for during undergrad who know me well and want to see me succeed. Applying to Where: not sure yet, any suggestions?