Posting again as I got no responses - have since taken the GRE and narrowed down a list of schools.
Undergrad Institution: Top 10 UK university for BiologyMajor(s): Molecular and Cellular BiologyMinor(s): N/AGPA in Major: N/AOverall GPA: ~3.8 (UK grade: currently First class (Hons))Position in Class: N/A, we're not told. Type of Student: International, white, femaleGRE Scores (revised/old version): Q: 154V: 161W: (Waiting, but should be good)Research Experience:
One year full-time at a US univeristy, molecular genetics lab.
Half an academic year, part-time in a developmental genetics lab (dissertation project) at home university.
Spent a short time in a scanning electron microscope lab as volunteer work experience, pre-university.
Awards/Honors/Recognitions: N/A - No awards are given out until graduation, we don't have any system of academic recognition.Pertinent Activities or Jobs: N/A, except year at US institution as an undergraduate research assistant.Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: All I can think is 'Image of the month' at an SEM lab I did work experience at - pretty insignificant. Special Bonus Points:
Paper in review at Nature Communications (3rd author).
Data persented at a Cold Spring Harbor conference.
LOR from my PI in US, quite established in his area - his previous PI (still very much in contact) is one of the most well-reknowned and is still at Harvard.
LOR from home university; he is an editor for multiple good genetics journals (not sure how much weight that carries?), has previously written me very strong LORs.
Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: LGBT, international?? A UK degree in MCB is more specialised than a US "major", so I will be playing this up in my SOP.
Applying to Where: Having spoken to my advisor at home university and grad students at US university, they've advised me to apply to top-tier - but I'm not sure how competitive I am (especially being international). Any input would be greatly appreciated!!
Harvard BBS
MIT Biology
Scripps
CalTech Biology and Biomedical sciences
UCSD Biological sciences (maybe, low international intake)
UIC
I realise this is a top heavy list; UIC is my safety. My GRE quant score isn't great, but I'm hoping my decent overall GRE score (315), high GPA and research experience (esp. high impact publication) will negate this!