I am very nervous about my application quality, but I got some side-eye from my PI about some of the programs I'm applying to for them not "being good enough" programs. What do y'all think? Am I aiming too high?
Undergrad Institution: Top 5 private universityMajor(s): Biochemistry, ChemistryMinor(s): n/aGPA in Major: 3.3/3.32Overall GPA: 3.5Position in Class: I'm probably above average? It's very hard to tellType of Student: domestic, nonbinary (though I'm applying as female most places), LatinxGRE Scores (revised/old version):Q: 170 (97%)V: 165 (96%)W: 5.0 (93%)B: --Research Experience:
I spent 2-3 combined months over two summers in high school volunteering in a biomedical engineering lab at a well-known state university. I've spent all 3 summers in undergrad working essentially full time in labs. I spent 6 months in a behavioral genetics lab my first year of undergrad. I've been in my current lab a year and a half now, so by the time I graduate, it'll be 2 years and change. I'm second author of 7 on a paper that we're almost ready to submit (I think; I'm not sure it'll be published or even submitted before applications are due), and I've presented my research at two regional conferences (neither of which awarded the best poster, but I got glowing feedback from one). I'm working on an honors thesis in my current lab, but that won't be done before apps are due, either.Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
I've made the Dean's List every year of undergrad so far. And I applied for a diversity supplement on an NIH grant a year and a half ago (and got it).Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
I was a Spanish-language math tutor at the local middle school for a year and a half.Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:
I mean, this is pretty much it...
Special Bonus Points:
I'm currently in a grad biochem class! And of course there's graduating with departmental honors (which given my advisor and department chair's approval so far, seems almost a given). I'm definitely queer/nb/Latinx, but I'm not sure how gender/sexuality/ethnicity could affect me, considering adcoms don't see that... I'm also fluent in Spanish?Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
At least two of my LORs are going to be fantastic (my 2 PIs). My third I'm not sure about---but I'll assess that when I meet with my recommender (soon). I think it'll be good. I'm a bit backed into a corner with that one, considering most of my major classes have been very large, and I have at most interacted with the TAs in most of them. One PI I've tangentially worked with has offered (through the postdoc I work with) to write me a LOR if I need it. I'm applying to pharmacology PhD programs that have a focus on neuropharmacology, particularly those researching psychosis, depression, epilepsy, and chronic pain. I also plan on making it pretty clear that I intend to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry.Applying to Where: (all PhD)
Columbia (Pharmacology and Molecular Signaling)
Yale (BBS)
NYU (Sackler BioMed: Mechanisms of Disease)
UCLA (Bioscience: Molecular Pharmacology)
Rockefeller
Boston U (Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics)
U of Kansas (Pharmacology and Toxicology)
Rosalind Franklin (Biosciences PhD)
Brown (Molecular Pharmacology)
Dartmouth (Experimental and Molecular Medicine)
Vanderbilt (IGP)
UC Irvine (Pharmacological Sciences)