/mu/tant runner
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Hey fellow grad-cafe-ers!
I know this is an overdone topic, but I could really use some opinions on whether or not I am on the right track w/r/t grad school applications and all that...
I'm finishing my senior year at a large, mid-tier (ranked ~70-80th nationally), state university with a major in Biochemistry & Biophysics and a minor in CS. My overall GPA is 3.74 with 3.65 in my major (I had one really bad term but have been on a roll ever since...I don't know if that helps or hurts). I'm looking to apply to Computational Biology-ish PhD programs and so far have been looking at respective programs at Yale, Harvard , Stanford, Caltech , Berkeley . I have a few other schools in mind but those 5 are my top.
GRE Scores: 161 v (88th), 163 q (84th), 4.5 AW (82nd)
Research Experience: I've been part of a computational lab for almost 3 years now. I have been able to work pretty independently on projects and formulate my own ideas and approaches to the problems that I've encountered. I have a learned a lot of skills/methods for tackling questions in computational bio as well as general ways of scientific thinking. I'll have anywhere from 0-2 publications in the lab which is pretty frightening with deadlines fast approaching
This past summer I had the opportunity to be part of a large, well-known lab at a prominent research hospital for 10 weeks. I was asked to continue working remotely after the internship had ended and am now part of a very cool project that is somewhat related to my overall research interests. As with my other lab I was able to work more-or-less independently on my project and was doing more than just scripting/programming.
LOR - I'll have letters from the 2 labs I mentioned above which I think should serve me well, with a 3rd from an professor/advisor who knows me pretty well.
SOP - It's a work in progress, but I have pretty defined research interests and goals which I think should help.
I also have several potential advisors in mind at all of the schools I mentioned above, some of whom I am planning on contacting as my applications come together.
I'm interested in knowing what you all have to say, thanks in advance!
2018 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results
in Biology
Posted
Might as well post my profile as I constantly check my email
Undergrad Institution: Oregon State University
Major(s): Biochemistry and Biophysics
Minor(s): Computer Science
GPA in Major: 3.68
Overall GPA: 3.75
Position in Class: N/A
Type of Student: Domestic, white male
GRE Scores :
Q: 163 (84%)
V: 161 (88%)
W: 4.5 (93%)
Research Experience:
~3 years in computational biology / biophysics lab in research area very related to what I want to study in grad school. 1 submitted publication, a presentation. Honors thesis in progress
1 summer in a cancer research lab at large research hospital doing genomics type work. Asked to continue working remotely after the program had ended.
Awards / Honors
Departmental scholarships 2/4 years (soph + junior)
Research funding awards from biochem department
University Honors College
Pertinent Activities or Jobs:
Biochemistry club volunteer coordinator - not really pertinent. No TAing
Special Bonus Points:
Professor from 2 schools I applied to seemed enthusiastic when I email-ed them
Research experience (almost) directly in the areas I wish study in grad school
Letters of Rec
From PI in my long-term lab. I was one of the first undergrads in the lab, have made a couple pretty valuable contributions over the years. Thinks I am a good person
PI from summer lab. Pretty well-known and was impressed by me this summer
Academic advisor who knows me pretty well. Did very well in her biochemistry course.
Applying to Where:
Yale - BBS - Biochemistry, Quantitative Bio, Structural Biology, and Biophysics track
Stanford - Biochemistry
Berkeley - Molecular and Cell Bio
UCLA - Bioinformatics
UW - Genome Science
CU Boulder - Biochemistry
Watson School of Biological Science
Johns Hopkins - CMDB
Good luck to everyone!