One of the schools I'm looking at is NYU. They have a general biology PhD program that houses micro, computational, molecular bio, biochem etc. If I applied to that but wrote my SOP as if I wanted to continue my current molecular bio/biochem research, wouldn't my chances of admissions be higher? Once I got in I could either do biochem or just start doing comp bio as they are in the same PhD program. Or if I wanted to do computational chemistry couldn't I write my SOP with a biochemistry emphasis to the chemistry department?
I understand for schools where they are housed in separate programs I should definitely just apply with a focus on the program I want to be in.