Mybmuvb

Undergrad: R1 Large State School Major: Biology, concentrating Cell Biology, and Molecular Genetics GPA in major: 3.55 Overall GPA: 3.64 Position in class: unknown Type of Student: Domestic, Male. GRE Scores: Q:166 V:159 W:5 Research Experience: 2+ years in a Drosophila lab studying regulatory network controlling polyploidy by conducting a genome wide RNAi screen, although halfway through the genome we decided to focus on gene candidates that were revealed to us through RNAseq experiments. Receiving a middle authorship in a paper that will be submitted sometime this month. Will likely receive another authorship in a paper sometime next year according to my PI, likely a second. Also took care of the lab's extensive fly stocks during that time. Presented results at lab meetings, but no poster presentations or conferences. Attended numerous seminars/ research group meetings on campus. Awards/Honors: Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society, Deans List 4 semesters, received a full-tuition scholarship (although it was mostly need based, through a program the state I live in runs for poor families). Relevant Jobs: Have worked as a Hospital Lab Assistant for nearly 6 months. Performed mostly phlebotomy and processed samples. Not very sophisticated, although I have gained a pretty good background in medical tests and regularly communicate with physicians, nurses, patients, and lab techs regarding lab collection procedures and results. Also helped recruit blood donors for future genetic research. This job isn't ideal, but I just needed something to pay my bills while I continue to research in Fly lab. LORS: 1 from my PI, 1 from a professor who I got along with quite well and did fantastically in his class. 1 from a professor of medical and scientific history. 1 from my current employer at the hospital. Worried I don't have enough research related LORs, although I think I'll get pretty good letters from my current writers. Miscellanous: First generation college student. Took a statistics course that made me pretty proficient in R (not sure if this is worth mentioning, this is probably pretty common). Decent volunteer record: 100 hours as a hospital volunteer doing odds and ins. Event coordinator for Be the Match on Campus, mostly helped recruit bone marrow donors. Worked in a pizza restaurant throughout undergraduate career. Stuff that might come up: I had a semester where I became pretty depressed. I got a C in Biochemistry, but I retook it and aced it. Not really sure how to discuss this on the application. Applying to where: Biomedical/ biological science programs in the Midwest (Indiana, Illinois, michigan, ohio), largely due to familial issues, although I might apply to a few distant schools. My research so far has focused on cell cycle regulation and cancer, but I am also interested in hematopathology/ immunology. IU School of Medicine- Medical and Molecular Genetics/ Pathology Purdue University- Cell and Molecular Biology IU-Bloomington- Cell and Developmental Biology University of Illinois-Urbana: MCB University of Illinois-Chicago: Biological Sciences Notre Dame-Biomedical Sciences UChicago- Cancer Biology and Cell and Molecular Biology (pretty big reach) MIT- Huge reach, but there is a professor there who's work strongly pertains to my undergraduate research. I have reached out to her, however I have yet to hear a response. Considering the Purdue-Biology M.S. or the IU biotechnology M.S. in case it turns out I don't have enough research experience and don't get into any other programs. I'm not sure which of these schools are realistic for me. I feel like I am a pretty mediocre candidate compared to many of the posters on the forum, so I would appreciate any feedback regarding my applications strengths/weaknesses. Do I have a shot at these schools? Any other places I might have a chance in?