I'm planning to apply to molecular biology/biomedical type Ph.D. programs this upcoming fall. I think I have a solid list of programs to apply to, but I'm worried I don't have a good balance of safety, target, and reach schools. Can someone help me figure this out?
So I'm a domestic student, 3.9 GPA from a well-respected college, several years of research (both in undergrad and in my lab tech job post-college), no publications or conferences (yet; I could feasibly get published this year, maybe, if I'm lucky). I feel confident that I can get 3 strong LORs. I'm not taking the GRE (all these programs are GRE-optional)
Here's my (tentative) list:
Harvard BBS, UPenn CAMB, Johns Hopkins BCMB, Cornell GGD, Temple Lewis Katz Biomed, Rutgers Molecular Bioscience, Albert Einstein Med School, Penn State Biomed, and Pitt IBGP
Does this seem too ambitious? Am I playing it too safe? Is this a well-balanced list?