Undergrad Institution: Medium sized state schoolMajor(s): B.S. Biology, B.S. ChemistryGPA in Major: 3.1Overall GPA: 3.21 M.S. Institution: small state school M.S. Biology GPA: 3.7 Type of Student: Domestic White FemaleGRE Scores (revised/old version): Took it 2 years ago, but not submitting scores to schools that don't require itQ: 161V:150W: 4.5B: N/AResearch Experience: (At your school or elsewhere? What field? How much time? Any publications (Mth author out of N?) or conference talks etc...) 2 semesters undergrad experience in plant biology resulting in 0 publications but 1 local poster presentation 3 years M.S. research (full time, >50hrs/week) in molecular bio lab resulting in 2 national conference poster presentations, 1 first author paper that has been accepted, 1 co-first author paper that is currently in review, 1 mid author paper currently in review, and hoping that 1-2 mid authorships might be submitted in the next month or two in high impact journalsAwards/Honors/Recognitions: Deans list for only one semester in undergrad
small grants from undergrad and grad institutionsPertinent Activities or Jobs: (Such as tutor, TA, SPS officer etc...)
T.A. for general biology labs for 3 years during M.S.Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: expecting one very strong letter from my current P.I. and two mediocre letters from current professors that I have only had classes withSpecial Bonus Points: Hoping to be on a paper with a PI that has published seminal papers in the field my MS research is inApplying to Where:
Duke- CMB and PCB
Johns Hopkins- BCMBUNC Chapel Hill- BBSP
Univ of Pittsburgh- IBGP
UC Davis- BMCD
UT Southwestern- BBS
U Virginia- BIMS
Vanderbilt- IGP
Iowa- BSP
Indiana University- IBMG
I am expecting some rejections, but I am wondering if I might be aiming too high because unfortunately my undergrad performance is not very strong, so any input is helpful! I am also wondering whether I should be contacting P.I.s whose labs I would like to do rotations in or whether this is frowned upon in umbrella programs, as it might look like I am contacting them to increase my chances of getting into a program.
Thanks!