Mrs. Bio

Don't quote me, but I think it depends on where the funding comes from. For example, I think MSTP are exclusively funded by the NIH and MD/PhD are not. You could probably google it in case I'm wrong. On the other hand I think you're a great MS candidate. As the other people have said to you a 3.4 is not a low GPA. Also, you have a lot of research experience and posters/pubs which are concrete evidence of your success in research. I'd say apply and don't let anything hold you back. I'm sure you'll do fine on the GRE.

To perform independent research at a high level you will need a PhD. Usually the route people go if they want both clinical and laboratory aspects in their career is MD/PhD or MSTP programs (someone correct me if I'm wrong) though I've heard of just straight MD's doing a bit of research. Also, a post-bac is an EXCELLENT thing you can so before pursuing a graduate degree (like a PhD) if you want to boost your chances of getting into a top program.

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You don't have to take classes as a post bac. It's basically an internship after you finish undergrad. Also, you mention it being a waste of time for someone not wanting a graduate degree..so why get a Masters? You'll probably have to pay for it and it'd end up being pointless if you just went for MD/DO. Also, there is one more thing you should be thinking about: the MCAT. Lastly, how much are you parents pushing you down this path? Make sure it's something YOU enjoy!

You can find my stats on the "ALL Life sciences applicants" thread for all applicants this past season. I was rejected from Harvard BBS and MIT Bioengineering if that helps. Didn't apply to Yale.

If you don't have a lot of research experience you can pretty much assume that you will not get in to a competitive program. Best thing you can do is probably stop worrying so much about the GRE and get in the lab! Good luck!

Based on my experience and what I've heard 80% is pretty dang good. Of course for someone wanting to apply to bio programs without a bio background it becomes much more important to excel on the subject test than if you had grades from undergrad to show the same thing

I'll reiterate that I was accepted to two top 10 schools (one #1 USNWR in biological sciences) with a 67th percentile score. If you do "OK" I think it's fine to send it if you're confident about your LOR's, research experience, and GPA.

I took the biochem one and sent it to 4 schools. Two required it and two "strongly encouraged" it. I was rejected from one that required it and accepted to the other (which is a top 10 program). I was also accepted to both that encouraged it (one of which is a top 10 as well). I thought my score sucked because, overall, it was in the 67th percentile. However, hopefully this well help you decide whether or not to take it if your stills on the fence about it. From my experience, you don't need a 90% to get into great schools that even require it. Also, remember that it's just one part of your app, and as was said before, if you don't like your score you can choose not to send it.

Just know about your research and don't be an idiot and you'll be fine.

Did you even visit your school before going? It's unfortunate but it seems that after choosing a school you shouldn't be so blindsided by "hard work" and TA requirements. There are plenty of ways to get out of TAing. Schools with no undergrad student body (Scripps etc.) have no requirements.

That is exactly the feel I got when I visited. I'm also by no mean's a hardcore partier, but do enjoy late nights at bars drinking with good people. They actually have a graduate student bar on campus in the basement of the Graduate College (grad student "dorm") where drink prices are compensated for by the university (that's a private ivy school for you ). What is normally an 8-10 shot there is ~4 bucks....and to add to the "non-pretentiousness" I also saw that they sold 40's of Mickey's in the fridge behind the bar. I was told grad students hang out there quite a bit, but there are also some other bars on the main street on the north of campus (one a brewery I believe, and another where locals go and a grad student can "have a beer and read a paper"). One thing that I also liked about Princeton is that they have lots of grad student specific housing surrounding the campus so if you choose to live there you will be living in a building with only other grad students (and not just grad students who do what you do...you could be a science person rooming with/neighboring someone studying literature). I'll make it clear I only visited for an interview/recruitment weekend, but they did actually take us around to all the living options associated with the university (grad student housing). Check out the housing options on the website. If you choose Princeton-specific graduate student housing (and choose not to live way far away from campus) I really got the feeling it'd be hard NOT to meet other grad students besides the one's you'll be in classes with. Princeton seemed like a college town to me...but it is only a train ride away to either NYC or Philadelphia. Hope that helps. The way you described yourself socially is how I would also describe myself and I really felt like I could be satisfied with the "non-school" part of my life there.

I'm very seriously considering accepting an offer for a PhD program in the life sciences at Princeton. I had the same worry about you, but when I went to visit all of the students I met were very down to earth, nice, and seemed happy. I didn't meet a single person who I thought was a snob. I even expressed this to the grad students and they said it is mainly with the undergrads (who can get in if their parent is an alum/big donor etc. apparently). Of course I'm sure there are indeed people like that it wasn't full to the brim of them as far as I could tell from the people in the department I visited.

If you prefer Scripps go to Scripps. Scripps I feel has a very different environment from your typical univerisity (I applied this year and prefer several other places over Scripps because I personally find the "community" feeling a university can provide to be very supportive - but that's just who I am). If you know you'll be happy there than why not go there? The science at Scripps is top-notch!