sgaw10

Thank you for the reminder. It certainly is tough when you have no support in your personal background. I find that my opinion changes often, but over the past few months I have found that I enjoy academia, even if I feel like I was "thrown" into my situation. And the funny thing is that I did not think that much of this my first two years or so, but then the differences between my peers and me hit hard. If I get into just one school I love for a PhD, I will be overjoyed. Best of luck to you, too. I think the waiting is worse than working on the apps. I will admit that studying for the GRE and talking to professors about letters of recommendation were not my idea of fun, but it was sort of neat and scary (in a good way) when writing personal statements to start "imagining" myself at different institutions. But after submission? The self-doubt is even worse. It keeps me up at night sometimes, as pathetic as that sounds.

Some of my final grades from this quarter are in, and I'm inching closer to a 3.3! Waiting on one more to send out the rest of my apps due on the 15th, and then will send out updated transcripts in a week with another grade to all of my schools. It might not make a big difference, but every little bit counts.

Worries: My GPA is so ugly that I don't think any place I love will take me. This is the biggest issue. I am applying straight out of undergrad from a prestigious institution, but I don't think that's going to help my case that much. I only have a few poster presentations -- no publications. My GRE scores are fine but not excellent. My parents did not attend college and know nothing about higher education, so it's been tough to navigate how this all works and approach professors during this long process. I'm dumb and didn't apply for NSF. My mom always tells me that everything will work out and I will get in, and the fact that she belittles how competitive these programs are worries me even more. Another big fear of mine, even though it is entirely out of my control at this point, is that my letters of recommendation are mediocre at best. And finally, not getting any interviews at my dream schools while I think about all of the time and money I wasted... Excitements: My undergraduate research was not in my field of interest. But I have taken several classes in the area, so I am thrilled to potentially finally work on a project I adore. I am proud of myself for asking advice from my professors. I had a professor who is famous in my field help me out a lot and offer to write me a letter of recommendation without me asking, and that was one of the happiest moments of my year. I adore my undergraduate institution, but I have lived in the same region of the country nearly my entire life, so the chance to move elsewhere is also exciting. I think I have articulated my research interests in my SOP well. /endrant

Yeah, I will spend some time working before I go home as a way to distract me. But then I will be stuck in my boring hometown with nothing to do for 1.5 weeks... Might just start working on stuff for next quarter to occupy my time. It's weird how misgrooved everything feels when schoolwork isn't there to stress you out!

Just finished autumn quarter. Waiting for some final grades before I send out the rest of my apps due on the 15th. I'm so anxious about everything, and without schoolwork to distract me, it is not fun. My overthinking is going to keep me up at night for the next month. This is definitely worse than undergraduate admissions.

I am a fourth year undergrad applying for biomedical engineering PhD programs. I'm incredibly nervous. I'm also a first generation college student, so it's been a journey to learn how everything works. I'm very grateful for professors at my school who have helped me out, but my imposter syndrome makes me doubt I will get anywhere. Just hoping something works out...

So you're probably already aware of this too, but biodegradable electronics are also something to consider. I think Northwestern does stuff in this area if I'm not mistaken

Exact same situation as you, lacking experience, but I am always happy to chat. I love the field. I have taken a lot of classes on the topic, so I might be able to suggest some alternative things. One route might be using biomaterials for cleaner water.

Some schools will allow you to update your application with updated awards, grades from the most recent term that finished after the deadline, etc. Just email the graduate coordinator for the program. Not all of them allow changes after the deadline though, unfortunately.

As of today, all of my letters of rec have been submitted. Just gotta finish a few statements of purpose, and apps will be done. Positive, but now I am terrified for the waiting

I am actually not applying to UCLA, but most of my schools did not provide a length limit. All of my statements are exactly one page. I think the general consensus is two page limit, but I spoke with someone quite knowledgeable who says that they typically aren't read past the first page anyway. I honestly don't think I could have written more than a page, but I wouldn't sweat it too much. Just quality over quantity.

Thankful for my favorite professor being the first to submit his letters of rec over a week before my first deadline, and on Thanksgiving evening at that! ?

Presented at ABRCMS and had a really great time!

I feel like I am just wasting my time applying. My GPA is horrendous, and I don't think that a top undergraduate institution, great LORS and SOP, and average GRE scores will be enough for me to get into a school I really like.

Submitted my first application today, sent all of the requests to my recommended, and have written about half of my SOPs... this sounds overly emotional, but it's really starting to hit me now. I'm not feeling very confident yet I still have some weird sort of faith.

im not too familiar with spring admissions timelines, but these interactions all sound very positive and that professor k wants to check with professor w that you are who you say you are. i would be excited in your position. but nothing is official, so no relief until you get that acceptance. hope it works out for you!

It sounds like you have solid research experience. My research isn't in my field of interest either (which is the same as yours) but is rather more systems biology based. From what I have read, showing that you can actually do research is more important than the project itself. I am not able to comment on gap year student stuff, but I, like you, am hoping that other parts of my application can offset the rest of it. Terrible GPA and average GRE holding me back, personally. /: Awesome that we have similar research interests and a couple of schools in common though!

I think you might be okay applying for bioengineering given that your research interests are more biology-based. Some programs do list prerequisites on their websites though, which may or may not differ by specific area. If you have the time and money, it can't hurt to retake the GRE imho. These probably aren't quite the locations you want, but I would check out University of Virginia, University of Florida, and University of Pittsburgh. Maybe Tufts, too.

Anyone? Would also appreciate a non-STEM person's eyes glancing at it...

Oh, I love the structure of the German language. Learning it came surprisingly quite naturally to me. I still have not been over there yet, unfortunately. GRE won't really make a huge difference unless your score is terrible, to be honest. I personally don't think your score will make or break you. I feel you on the urban environment. I grew up in the suburbs but have fortunately been attending undergraduate in one of the biggest cities in the US. I love it. So, I could never apply for a program in a rural area. My "safer" schools right now include University of Virginia with University of Utah and University of Colorado at Boulder probably added. UT Austin is probably more middle-of-the-road, too. One of my professors who is well-established in the biomedical engineering community quite likes the work being done at University of Florida and Ohio State, so those might be good to check out as well. Everyone here is super impressive, so I will probably be the one who hears the stories of you all meeting up at interviews. That's fine ?

Hoping to get some reviews on my SOP for biomedical engineering PhD programs. Let me know!

I'm actually a Germanic studies minor. Have taken German since junior high! If I were you I wouldn't retake the GRE. I have a similar quantitative score (and a much lower GPA!), but I really can't justify wasting more time reviewing and slimming my wallet even further just to maybe snag a point or two back. Have you taken any engineering courses or just biology stuff? I think this also depends a lot on what area you really end up choosing. Biomedical engineering encompasses a breadth of topics, some more engineering-esque than others. But a lot of biology-focused undergraduates do pursue a graduate degree in biomedical engineering, if that makes you feel any better. Not every applicant has a million and one publications and conference presentations. Realize that you are getting a taste of a very select few by logging onto GradCafe. I think you have a shot at the schools you've listed, especially since you are applying for master's programs only. But if you are dead set on coming to the United States for the master's immediately, then it would not be a bad idea to add a school or two as a somewhat "safer" option.

Updated with my mediocre GRE scores and finalized list of schools. I know I will probably be rejected everywhere, but I am hoping just a single school offers an interview. And I am hoping that turns out to be Columbia or Penn ?

Taking the GRE on Monday. Feeling pretty nervous and desperately hoping I won't have to retake...

Nope, I have actually never been to New York in my life. I have been told that I should go 100% for whatever option I want, but I really think I might end up with no graduate school options AND no job if I give this my all. Which is what I'm doing. Oh well :b That's actually a topic I would really like to pursue! Have you checked out Columbia?