Bioenchilada

Unless admission at the school is not committee based, contacting professors really doesn't increase your chances, at all. It's still a nice excercise, but I don't think it gives you an advantage.

Your verbal scores are a bit low, but the quantitative is what really matters. The averages for my shool are more or less 156V/158Q/4AW. It's also important to know that the GRE is not the most important part of your app, at all. As long as you don't completely fail it, you'll be fine.

Overall, I think you have a pretty good application number and research-wise, in terms of length of involvement in research. My main concern about people that have only had one long research experience is that I feel that rec letters will hurt your application if only one person has been actually your PI, or someone that can attest for your research capabilities. Who is writing your rec letters? Also, I only think you should aim lower if you will honestly be happy at the "lower-tier" school you're applying to. No point in going to a school where you'll be miserable at, and it is probably to your best interest to get your PhD from a reputable institution if you plan to stay within research/academia.

If you get rejected from the schools you applied to, it would most certainly not be because of your numbers. I think you have a competitive application and encourage you to maybe apply to 2 more schools (?) it just feels like your list is rather short and entirely top tier. Also, don't ask the post-doc nor the senior scientist for the letter if you're already asking the PI, get another person.

Wait, what's your question?

I would also add that you should avoid writing generic sentences in the personalized section of your essay, or things that make it sound like you're idolizing the school. My rule was if I could replace the name of the school with another and the sentence/paragraph would still make sense, I wouldn't write it. Overhyping a school just feels weird, in my opinion. Using this approach, I feel like a wise applicant will narrow down their list to schools they are legitimately interested in.

There must be a reason why you like about the school that's making you apply. Like, what about the program do you like? Is there something about the area or the school that you like? What faculty do you want to work with and why? (This specific part shouldn't be more than two sentences long. Mine was one at least)

What schools did you apply to previously? Who wrote your rec letters?

I feel that though your numbers are great, you are lacking ample research experience, particularly for the caliber of schools you are applying to. I feel that maybe you should try to get more before aiming so high, but I still think that you should give it a shot.

I don't think the program's denomination actually matters. I'm in the Cancer Biology division on paper but I can rotate and work with anyone within the Cell and Molecular Biology program, which has a lot of specialties here.

Is he still taking students? A lot of older faculty tend to just hire post docs or don't take new students at all.

I think you have a chance of getting into some of the grad schools you posted, the most uncertainty being on the reach school. Your research experience, LORs, and SOP are far more important than your GPA/GRE, though I won't say they don't matter. Nail your GRE, and your chances will be a bit better. Also, make sure that your statement of purpose is superb, it will make a difference.

What about your SOP? Did you have people look at it and tell you their most honest criticism? Do you think that it was an accurate and honest reflection of yourself and your research? Were you close enough to your recommenders for them to tell you how much of a good letter they could write?

First, I think you're applying to too many schools. You should apply to 8 at most since interviewing will be a hassle and I don't think you can write a convincing SOP when you're trying to cover all of your bases. Also, why 5 rec letters? That seems excessive.

I'm taking a look at it!

I guess there's nothing to be done about your letter then. Just focus on your SOP and make it as strong as you can, it is one of the most important pieces. You have great research experience and pubs, which will benefit you a lot

Why would it be a waste? You have a competitive application for any of those schools. EDIT: What was your undergrad GPA? And a mediocre letter is something you should try to avoid lol

Why do you think you didn't get in? Was it your GPA? SOP? LORs? And 22 is a lot, I don't think you can possibly be interested in THAT many schools to the extent that you can write a strong SOP. Also, interviewing would be a hassle. Was your Master's course based, or did it have a thesis component? Why is your Master's GPA also low? And, by wide net I mean apply to different kinds of program (umbrella and specific) or even schools across different calibers. However, I don't think you should apply to more than 8.

Most schools will not really care about your senior year grades since they review apps before even the fall grades are available. Take the classes that you think will make you grow the most personally and/or academically.

The Biochemistry GRE is not actually required unless you have a low GPA, or maybe if your school is not very well known. However, even under these circumstances, it is just recommended at most.

In my experience, e-mailing professors doesn't really give you an advantage at all when it comes to admission to the university. If you're a good candidate and interviewed well, you'll get in. If you insist on emailing though, I'd refrain from attaching a resume or any form of documentation, I'd just inquire about their research more.

How are they being racist??

There's is no doubt that you will get in, the question is more when and where. I think that if you want to aim for schools with more resources and prestige, you should consider taking a gap year to increase your amount of research exposure and potentially acquire a recommendation letter from another PI. It would be ideal if your three letters came from people that have supervised you in a research setting since your professors cannot fully assess your capacity to conduct research. With your current credentials, I'd advise to get apply to a wide range of schools to increase the likelihood of getting in, though I wouldn't apply to placed that you'd be unsatisfied being at.

Your numbers are good overall, I'd say that your actual weakness is your research experience. Is there a reason why you started doing research so late?

I believe UChicago has an event like this. In my opinion, you have to put in too much work applying to these events for what they offer since the apps tend to be complex. Also, interview weekends are almost identical to these since they are structured rather similarly.