After very carefully scrutinizing through the datapoints in 2017,2018,and 2019, I am very well aware that I am not at all competitive to the candidate pools of the schools I am applying to. And I really wonder if I am applying to too many reach schools. The good news is despite I am an international student I truly don't see having a biology PhD as the sole path to my career so I'll see how things work out...Will appreciate any advice! Thanks in advance.
Undergrad Institution: Private, ~50 R1Major(s): Biology BS+ International Affairs BAMinor(s): Global HealthGPA in Major: I started biology degree rather later and yes both of my orgo is C, biochem A+ thoughOverall GPA:3.67Type of Student: (Domestic/International, male/female, minority?)
Int'l, AsianGRE Scores (revised/old version):Q: 160V: 168W:B:TOEFL Total: 114Research Experience:
School Cancer Center lab, 2 and a half years, 4th author in a 25 people list, ~10IF, heard would be online very soon. Signalling. Currently working on a new project, not expecting publication until next year
(And somewhat irrelavent: Social Science side, 1st author on a big-scale project focusing on a novel topic, poster session early next year, should ultimately lead to a good publication)
Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
3/7 Dean's list, won uni-wide research award (5 people), school-wide , uni-wide research grantPertinent Activities or Jobs: TA, biology for non-major Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: R and SPSS
Special Bonus Points: strong LOR, PI+PI from a reknowned governmental research institution+Dept Chair+1 stellar social science recommenderAny Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Started 1st year really roughly due to health issues, then except for orgo(DAMN) straight A in next 80 credits, (these two Cs successfully dragged me to 3.7 range last three years...Oof...) completed 60 credits in one calendar year (sorry but I can't help myself to mention here lol) Applying to Where:
PhDs:
UTSW (Cancer Bio)
MD Anderson (Cancer Bio)
WUSTL(DBBS Molecular Genetics)
UW (Genomics)
Northwestern (DGP)
Weill Cornell
Johns Hopkins (Bloomberg MCB/MMI)
Masters:
UIUC, Harvard MMS in immunology, Berkeley Microbiology and Vaccination (under public health school), U of Copenhagen, LSHTM
And a bunch of schools in public health realms, mostly epidemeology, really my last choices but thought the chances would be better and if enrolled will find lab
Also hope that someone could kindly review my fiancee's case too---who is also applying this cycle for a biology PhD. We are seperated for too many years and it's time to end it:)
Undergrad Institution: China, Top3Major(s): Biology, track is animal scienceMinor(s): GPA in Major: 4.00/4.00Overall GPA: WES conversion 3.87Type of Student: (Domestic/International, male/female, minority?)
Int'l, Asian, FemaleGRE Scores (revised/old version):Q: 160V: 170W:3.5B:TOEFL Total: 106Research Experience:
Gut microbiology lab for 3 years, senior thesis, PI famous, 3rd author paper submitted, coauthor review article (about neuroscience, though)
Awards/Honors/Recognitions:
Ranking 1/70, Provincial and National Scholarship all semesters,Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Hardly anything--Could be a problemAny Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Research Grant for senior thesis
Special Bonus Points: strong LOR: 1 from dean (also the PI), 1 from faculty (who did postdoc at Harvard for a long time and sorta have some connections) Summer research in US (actually in my lab but no papers)
Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:
Schools: Pretty much where I apply to, but mostly in microbiology and/or animal science.
