ScribblyDoodle

Hi, Does anybody know if Baylor College and UTSouthwestern are done sending out invites?

Yes, here. For the PIBBS program.

Wow that's very heartening to hear. Thanks a lot.

Hi, Thanks for your feedback! That's really encouraging. How do you think I should play the lack of LoR from undergrad supervisor? To be fair my experience in her lab was limited - I could downplay or omit it. What do you think?

Undergrad Institution: Integrated Bachelors-Masters degree from VIT University (Top 20 school in India)Major(s): BiotechnologyMinor(s):GPA in Major: Overall GPA: 9.2/10.0, on a 4.0 scale I think it'd be something like 3.7Position in Class: Top 5Type of Student: Domestic (but lived past 15 years in India), female, South AsianGRE Scores (revised/old version):Q: 168 (94th percentile)V: 168 (98th percentile)W: 5.5 (98th percentile)B: just took, waiting for scoresTOEFL Total: 117/120Research Experience: I worked in a lab for several months on anti-tumorigenic properties of novel synthetic compounds, but it didn't lead to any publications, my supervisor left the University a few months later and I am unable to get in touch with her for an LoR, so sticky situation here. :/ I did a two-month summer research fellowship at IIT-Madras (one of the best academic institutes in the country) and followed it up with a year's work in the same lab (ongoing) on microRNAs. The work is leading upto a second/third author paper.Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Merit certificates for 90th percentile performance every year, 21st of just 100 candidates to qualify for a prestigious national-level Junior Research Fellowship (which opens up a majority of PhD opportunities in the life sciences across India).Pertinent Activities or Jobs: My current position in the aforementioned lab is Research Associate. I also had a one-year stint (freelance part time during college) at Cactus Communications (Editage) as a scientific editor, revising manuscripts in molecular biology and pharmacology to make them publication-ready. Special Bonus Points: My PI is very famous in India, and has connections with professors at MD Anderson, which I hope will help.Applying to Where: UPenn - Cancer and Molecular Biology ProgramUMinnesota - Molecular, Immunology and Cancer Biology Program (this is a smaller program than the Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology and Genetics program, but the latter doesn't have many faculty with whom I would be a good fit (microRNAs, cancer, drug resistance, EMT). I've prepared for applying to both but I'm going to go with one of them ultimately and I'd love some advice on how to make the decision.) Baylor College of Medicine - Molecular Biology and Biochemistry University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas - Cancer Biology MD Anderson at UT Health Science Center Houston - Cancer Biology University of Southern California - PIBBS Cancer Biology and Genomics/Keck School I am aware that some papers/conferences from another year of experience would help my profile, and I may have to do that in the end. But there are some important reasons that applying this year matters so I could really use advice on how smart my choice of schools is. Another thing I'd like an opinion on is the lack of LoR from my undergraduate lab supervisor - I've tried everything to get her to respond to me but it just isn't working, since she left our University she has pretty much iced me out. How badly will it affect my application to these schools? My other LoRs are from excellent faculty at my University and my current PI. Finally, my profile in general is a little strange because of my topsy turvy personal life. I am a US citizen who has done all her schooling and UG education in India. What aspects of the above do you think adcomms might require a little explanation for? Thanks a lot everyone! All the answers on here are super insightful.