whybanana

Should I implement a narrative structure in my personal statement or is that too risky? Would it be safer to follow a more traditional format, talking about my motivations, experience etc.? Oh, and while you're here, would you happen to have any essential tips on writing a personal statement in biology, in general? I'm finding it incredibly difficult to avoid cliches.

Thanks! The UK institution I'm applying to is kinda vague with their US grade requirements (3.00 - 3.25 or more for selective US institutions, and above 3.3 from other universities). My current institution is considered selective, so I think I'm safe, but I guess I'll know for sure in a few weeks.

Thank you all! Just a quick add-on - I got to meet with the director of a research program (grad degree route) at a top program in the UK. He looked over my CV, research experience and personal statement (though not my grades) and was very impressed, but I'm afraid that once he sees my grades he'll back away. Is this likely? I know that it's nearly impossible to tell, but if he liked everything else about me, would that be enough to gain admission?

I'm graduating soon and I feel like I'm constantly on the brink of a meltdown. I want to pursue a PhD more than anything, but my GPA is really holding me back. Though I go to a top institution, and have taken Honors courses in almost every STEM course, my GPA is stuck at approximately 3.25, which might go up to a 3.3 by the time I graduate. I have a very high GRE, but it seems like most people do anyway. I know that I am capable of much more. My story is not unique, and I don't like excuses, but I lost someone very dear to me during my first semester of college, and continued to suffer the loss (and other personal issues) for the next two years. By the end of junior year, I had gotten a handle on some of these issues and managed to boost my grades. I'm currently running my own research project, and have amazing recommendations from professors I have done research with. I am extremely close to being first author on a high impact journal publication (of a project I conceived and designed; to be published later this year), and am a very well respected member of the research community at my university. I did not apply to PhD programs because I felt that they were too much of a reach, considering my GPA. I have a few remaining options: 1. I was offered a research position at the lab I currently work at, but I'm not sure if I want to take it. 2. I'm applying to top UK one-year research programs, but I'm not sure if they will take me because of my grades. 3. I might apply to a Masters program in the US to boost my grades in preparation for a PhD application. What should I do? I'm terrified that I'll be left with no chance at a PhD in the next two years.

Thanks and congrats on your acceptance! Yeah, I am worried about funding as well, but I didn't think it'd be worth worrying about if I didn't stand much of a chance in the first place. I wasn't really aware that UK masters programs were less selective.

What makes UK grad schools (namely Imperial, Kings, Cambridge, Oxford, Edinburgh) so selective? I know the uGPA cutoff at these schools generally lies between a 3.3 and 3.5, but what can one do to improve their chances beyond just stats? I'd hate to turn this into a chance post, but I'm stuck with a 3.5-3.6 uGPA and I'm worried that this might throw me out of the competition. I have tons of research experience and publications (4 currently, expecting more in the next year or so). I've also interned and worked for labs in several countries and have built quite an extensive network. I'm hoping that this will be enough to make up for my average/slightly below average(?) GPA, but I'm still very unsure of myself, especially since I'm applying as an American. Any advice/insight? NOTE: apologies for the previous confusion regarding the content of this post.