Hey! I'm applying this cycle and would love any advice or recommendations on different or additional programs. I'm interested in elucidating genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that govern aspects of phenotypic expression through utilization of genomic and molecular techniques including genetic editing tools. I'm also interested in exploiting understanding of genetic and epigenetic function to produce desired phenotypic change. I've selected the particular programs because several PIs within the program has research that has significant overlap with my interests.
Undergrad Institution: Top 20 University in the US
Major: Biology
GPA in Major: 3.3
Overall GPA: 3.24
Type of Student: domestic white male
GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 165
V: 163
W: 5
Research Experience: (At your school or elsewhere? What field? How much time? Any publications (Mth author out of N?) or conference talks etc…)
2 years at an NCI cancer lab (drosophila) molecular genetics - 1 summer fellowship, 1 poster presentation
1 semester at cancer lab (in vitro)- designed and ran project, 1 poster presentation, 1 departmental presentation
REU at Mayo in Genetic Engineering lab- 1 poster presentation at genetic engineering conference
2 years at Genetic Engineering lab at Emory (most current)-1 poster presentation
Awards/Honors/Recognitions: (Within your school or outside?)
honors list (many semesters)
Honor society membership
Research Scholar
Scholars program Exemplary Scholar
Scholars program full ride merit scholar
Keynote Speaker MLK Day of Service
Pertinent Activities or Jobs: (Such as tutor, TA, SPS officer etc…)
Writer for online cancer resource (also develop educational programming for middle school kids for the site)
Educational programming developer for middle school kids in affiliation with a program run by PI at Mayo
Research Mentor for Bio Research course
Middle School Teaching assistant-300 hours
Organized Satellite Event for Genome Writers Guild at Emory
Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:
Wrote a book on how to get into and afford college
Fluent in american sign language
Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
Will have 4 strong letters of rec
Low GPA due to serious health problems two semesters and couldn’t withdraw because scholarship only valid for 8 consecutive semesters.
Emailed many PIs doing work I’m interested in and that overlaps well with my research experience at programs I’m applying to and many said to list them on the apps to get interviews with them and for the committee to reach out to them. Some also suggested to apply to an additional program that they had more pull in for admissions, and a few others said they were on the admissions committee and would keep me in mind.
list on apps: PIs at all below programs
add program for more pull: UPenn biology
on admissions committee: Duke, Cornell, Yale, UAB, OSU
Applying to Where: (percent admitted)
Princeton-MolBio- Genetics and Genomics (???)
Upenn- Genetics and Epigenetics (25%) Biology (???)
Duke- Cell and mol bio (30%)
Duke- Genetics (25%)
UT Austin- Cell and mol bio (22%)
Cornell- genetics, genomics, and development (34%)
Yale- Mol cell bio, genetics and development (34%)
University of Alabama Birmingham- genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics (???)
Ohio State- molgen (???) molecular, cell, and developmental bio (???)
University of Oregon-Biology (???)
UConn-EEB (???)