NCspawn

Rice SSPB sent out more interview invites today. Sad that I'm not one of them

Rejected to UCSF Chemistry and Chemical Biology via website and email. Interview invite to the University of Georgia Department of Microbiology. Was notified by potential PI via phone. Their recruitment weekends are Feb 1-4. Still waiting on the other 9 schools for their decision but 3 of them have later deadlines so I won't expect much soon.

Looks like UT Austin CMB and Northwestern IbiS have sent out interviews. I, unfortunately, have not received either. I emailed University of Georgia Microbiology and they will send out interviews at the end of this week.

Undergrad Institution: State SchoolMajor(s): MicrobiologyMinor(s): ChemistryGPA in Major: Overall GPA: 3.1ishPosition in Class: AverageType of Student: Domestic MaleGRE Scores (revised/old version):Q: 159V:159W: 4.5B:Research Experience: 8 months in a microbiology lab undergraduate universityAwards/Honors/Recognitions: 2X Deans listPertinent Activities or Jobs: 1 Semester TA position in lower biology class Full time lab technician at startup biotech company for 3 months of summer Currently a Research associate at medium sized biotech company (2months now) Special Bonus Points: 1 great letter from former PI, 1 great letter from previous micro prof, 1 great letter with current boss with PhD, have 4th letter available Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Applying to Where: All PhD UNLV - Biological Sciences UNReno - CMB Colorodo State - CMB UConn - CMB UCRiverside - CMB/Bioengineering Oregon State - CMB UCSanta Cruz - CMB UCBerkeley - CMB (But I mean....cmon :P) Lets be real. I know my stats are not great at all but at least I will try to get into a relative lower tier PhD program. I am excluding masters because my former PI has stated that they would take me back for a masters at my undergrad university (I didn't even need to take GRE for this :D). I will probably stay at my current RA job for the time being, I know grad schools like the 40hr/week commitment doing research. Do I even have a remote chance at an interview this cycle? I am now in my gap year working full time so I will theoretically have 8 months undergrad and about a year of work in industry before I start a program (theoretically in F17).

Thank you so much! @blc073 and @Bioenchilada! I know this question may have already been factored into your answers, but what if I get decent scores on the GRE like approximately 80% for both M/V? Also, for my letters I can always get the CEO of the biotech company I worked with as we were quite fond of each other during my times there and I know he would be a great reference. I will definitely add masters programs to my list of applications though!

Hi everyone, I joined this forum because I am properly worried about my chances at PhD. I initially wanted to pursue clinical lab science and I took all those classes only to realized that I did not have any ounce of passion towards it and got mediocre grades which obviously lowered my GPA. I am quite certain my passion is in molecular biology/environmental microbiology. My question is would I even have any chance at some PhD programs in microbiology? I know I won't be getting into high tier universities, which I realize, but what about some of the relatively less "renowned" universities? My stats: Good State school 3.1 uGrad GPA in Microbiology 2x Deans List 6 Months undergrad research in a microbiology lab 1 semester TA for undergrad biology course 3 months as intern in biotech company GRE - will take at end of summer LOR - 1 from my PI, 1 from the chair of microbiology at my school, and 1 from the professor I worked for as a TA. I know my PI and the chair will write great letters at the very least. Note : I will be taking a gap year and will be volunteering in my current research lab so I will have approximately 1 year and 6-8 months before theoretically getting into a PhD program next Fall. I will also add 2 semesters as a volunteer TA in micro classes. As stated before, I won't be applying to universities such as UCSF, Stanford, Harvard, etc etc... but what about UNLV, UCRiverside, UCSanta Cruz, UNC-Chapel Hill, Oregon State, University of Oregon and so on....? Please help a confused recent graduate out! Thank you in advance.