I don't know what are my chances into biological sciences program and I'm low key freaking out. If anybody can give me advice? Or help on my SOP that'll be great.
Type of student: International, female, Vietnamese
Academic:
GPA: 3.7 Major: 3.6 Biochemistry from UCLA
Research:
3 and 1/2 years at a virology lab in UCLA- my PI is a well known professor in the field I'm pretty close to him so finger cross this rec should be good
- I presented at 2 conferences local ones
- No publications yet
- Part of 3 research projects one is NIH funded for COVID-19 research
3 months at Massachusetts general Hospital part of the Harvard stem cell institute internship program - Young PI but I'm also pretty close to him hoping this rec should be good too. I'm hoping I can come back to work for him in Ph.D but I need to get into Harvard BBS first.
1 letter of rec from a professor in my grad class (I'm an undergrad but I took a grad class for fun and I got really close to her)
GRE: Honestly biology program have made it all optional. I'm in a shitty living situation right now so I don't have the "at home" conditions to take it. I don't think I will
Awards:
- Harvard Stem cell institute fellowship
- UCLA chem and biochem award for outstanding achievement in research
-Dean's Honors list? Idk if this count
- Graduating with honors
Other things:
- Leadership in UCLA ACS chapter for like 3 1/2 years
- Undergrad TA
-I’ve emailed a few prof I’m interested in. Mostly kinda thank you for emailing replies. One was really nice and offered to zoom with me and talked about his research (idk if that’ll do anything). Another one knew my current PI and she also offered to talk with me over zoom next week.
I'm looking into applying to:
Stanford
NYU
UC Irvine
UCLA
UCSB
Harvard BBS
Columbia
University of Washington
Scripps
Boston University
UCSD
Caltech
UCSF
UMass amherst
MIT
USC
Tufts
Am I aiming too high? Any suggestions for maybe less competitive schools