ExplodingYeti

Greetings!! I'm going for the Molecular Engineering PhD program in Fall, super excited. Planning on looking into housing/apartments soon.

I think you're being a bit paranoid (which I understand, the process is stressful to say the least). But I'd think if you put what you said together into a personal statement, you'll be good to go tbh. I think you have a good chance at getting into a top tier school with your experience, especially you still have a year to really boost your GPA. As for the PI's response, I think she's genuinely interested. For most application processes it is not up to the professors to decide who to let in, and so you can't really expect her to say a definitive "YES." All in all, your experiences should make up for the GPA, but definitely try to improve on it now that you recognize it as an issue. You're good.

According to the Anthro Department: " The graduate application Checklist is updated by the Department staff from mid-December through mid-January. Keeping in mind that the University is structured on the Quarter system and that there is a University Winter Closure from the third week of December through the first day of classes in January, the checklists may not be completed by staff until mid-January. If the checklist status is ‘incomplete’, it may be that the applicant materials have been received, or not, and the staff have not yet had the opportunity to enter the updated information. Alternately, if certain application materials have not yet been received (i.e. official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test scores), there should be sufficient time for the applicant to provide these materials during the first part of January. " TL;DR: if you have everything sent and received, you're good, you'll just have to wait. PS man waiting sucks.