blueyonder

I know schools may prefer that applicants have a very narrow focus of what type of program they would like to pursue, but will it look bad if I apply to similar programs at the same school? I'm looking at Cell/molecular/micro/genetics programs which are all quite interrelated. One would think your chances would be higher if you were applying to a few programs at each school, but maybe professors would see that you applied to other programs and not like that -- I really don't know. Any thoughts? Will I make my self look unfocused by applying to several programs at the same school, or do they not care?

Thank you for all of your feedback! Is it a good idea to contact professors now? I don't want to bother them, but I feel like a personal contact will help bring my application "to life" in a sea of anonymous applications. Maybe a quick email perhaps? Another thing -- I would assume its better to apply early. Most schools don't even look at apps until January. Is this pretty much a general rule, or do some do rolling admission? I ask because I'm stuck in the game of, "do I wait and study more for the GRE, or apply earlier but risk a lower score?" Or maybe its good to have a score on hand when talking to professors? What do you guys think?

I will be a senior at a small (fairly challenging) liberal arts college this fall. I've been studying for the GRE and am beginning to compile a list of schools and programs to research with the intention of slowly honing in on the few places I would apply to. Sounds simple right? Well, I feel like I'm in the middle of the Pacific right now. I really just don't know where to look, what to look for, etc. My school, though very well respected, is very small -- our pre-professional committee consists of one person who has spread herself way too thin and is impossible to contact and really get any guidance. I don't want to waste time or money applying to programs that are not at my caliber -- I want to get in somewhere, but not just anywhere. Is there an easy way to determine what sort of 'stats' certain programs admit? I have a 3.2 - 3.3 overall, ~3.5 science, my own 2 year funded research project under an advisor, worked as a lab tech at school, should have 3 good recs from 3 professors that I'm close with. I've yet to take the GRE, I'm not a good standardized test taker, and even though I've been studying, I'm unsure of how well I'll do. I'm interested in Cell/Molecular/Genetics. It sounds like these programs are more competitive than most. I would love to go into that area, but if I'm not going to be able to make it in then thats life and I'm fine with that. I've become surprisingly in love with biology/science, and would honestly love about any area of study (I literally got 100% in conservation biology last semester and would love to go into that). I'm in MI, and would prefer to stay in the midwest (as sad as that may sound), but would leave if necessary. I'm looking at schools like MSU (molecular and forensics biology), Wayne (molecular), CMU (conservation). I just really don't have a clue where to look. There are so many schools, with so many programs, and none of them are capable of constructing a well organized website which just makes life more difficult. Do I have even a prayer getting into a decent molecular (or similar) program? I know its good for you to be set on what particular program you want to go into, but I could honestly flip a coin between conservation and molecular areas of study -- I'm kind of a dork and just love it all, and I've had significant course work in both areas. Should I even bother looking at PhD programs? I feel so in over my head right now! I would really, really appreciate any advice or insight. Thank you!!