[UT Southwestern Second Application Result]

On 1/13/2019 at 8:26 AM, Alex Sun said:

Hmm...I never received any email after turning in the secondary application.

You need to check the box "send me a confirmation via email" (or sth like that) when you submit your secondary application otherwise you won't receive it.

And someone asked the admissions committee and they said they were running 2 weeks behind schedule. So lets keep our fingers crossed ?

[UCSD BMS pre-application]

Hey guys,

I still haven't received their decision regarding my pre-app (required by UCSD BMS for all international students)... I emailed them and they said they expected to have decisions out by the end of October... I guess I might be rejected?  Has anyone heard from them?

[UCSD BMS pre-application]

Hello guys,

I still haven't received their decision regarding my pre-app (required by UCSD BMS for all international students)... I emailed them earlier this month and they said they expected to have decisions out by the end of October... I guess I might be rejected?  Has anyone heard from them?

[2019 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results]

On 9/2/2018 at 12:40 AM, StemCellFan said:

I would go ahead and send the the second set of scores.  Percentile-wise, there isn't too huge of a difference between your two verbal scores, but your AW jumps from a 17% to a 41%.  AW is the score they care least about.  Either way, your verbal scores are still pretty decent and are above the 70th percentile.

I agree... Thanks so much!

[2019 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results]

Hello guys, I got two very similar GRE scores: V157 Q170 AW3 and V156 Q170 AW3.5  I probably won't take it again although they are still not that good. Now I have trouble deciding which one to send to schools. Do you have a suggestion?

[2019 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results]

6 hours ago, FailedScientist said:

You have a great profile! One thing about applying as an international is that there are significantly less spots (if I were to guess probably <5%) due especially in state/public schools. I had a lot more success my second round of applications when I applied to more privately funded schools which don't have these restrictions (e.g. BCM  where I go takes in closer to 50% of internationals). I would take that into account when finalizing your lists. 

Thanks so much! That's really helpful information.

[2019 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results]

On 8/3/2018 at 11:00 PM, BabyScientist said:

Your list is fairly well spread, although it's still a bit top heavy and you really don't have anything "safe" on there.

Thank you for your advice!  Yeah I think you are right I would probably substitute some of them with like CMU, BU, Penn State, etc. (Do you have any suggestion for "safe" schools?) Meanwhile I will apply to some Master programs, hopefully that would be less competitive?

[2019 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results]

Hello guys! Could you please give me some advice on my list?

Undergrad Institution: Top University in China
Major(s): Biomedical Engineering
Minor(s): 
GPA in Major: ~3.6 (not sure)
Overall GPA: 3.60 (upward trend, last 60 credits: 3.87 using WES calculator)
Position in Class: top 20%

Type of Student: International/Asian, Male

GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 170 (97%)
V: 157 (76%)
W: 3.0 (18%)
B: To take on Sep.15 

Going to retake on Aug. 23, hopefully may get my Writing higher

TOEFL Total: 105 (R29 L29 S22 W25)  To retake on Sep.8 mainly to improve the speaking part

 

Research Experience:

• 1 summer research (~3 months) in neurobiology at Harvard Medical School (should get a good LOR)
• 6 months undergraduate research related to neuroscience at my home institute
• 1 year undergrad research in mitochondria in the same lab at home institute

Have 2 review articles (one 3rd/6 author published, one 4th/6 accepted) although the journal is not so good.

If lucky enough, may be on a Science paper (surely not first author lol) prior to application submission.

 

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: 

• 3 university-level awards
• 2 university-level scholarships
• Biomedical Engineering Capstone Design 3rd prize

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: 

• Physics tutor
• Research assistant

Courses:

• Undergrad biology (neurobiology, molecular cell biology, biophysics, etc.), chemistry, psychology
• a LOT of math & physics

Applying to Where: Neuroscience programs, maybe also some cell biology and cancer programs

• UCSD
• UCLA
• UPenn
• Columbia
• Duke
• U of Washington
• Weill Cornell
• NYU Sackler
• UChicago
• UMich
• Brown
• UTsouthwestern

I know the competition in neuroscience could be very intense, especially for international students. I just skip the top schools like Harvard. Do you guys think I am still aiming too high?  Any advice as to where to apply would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!