Please evaluate my stats: Genetics Master/PhD

[exacerbated]

Hello!

First and foremost I'm international student. First learned real English when I went to US at 18. My native language use non-alphabetic symbols.

- Graduated at top 10-30 university, biochemistry. Master/PhD intended major: Genetics

- cGPA 3.15. Science GPA 3.08. I know that this is well under the required GPA. Explanation:

Freshman+soph in well known feeder communnity college was mostly As+some Bs+one C (GPA 3.4).

Transfer-> screwed up junior year (B/Cs with 3 Ds) due to language problem. I seriously had trouble with English..was significantly harder at univ than CC, e.g. on my essay part of exams, sometimes I got the answer correct but due to my horrible english, got 0. "is incomprehensible" is what the grader wrote (cGPA at this time 2.7).

Late junior-early senior year I gradually overcame English problem by practicing writing at least one 500 word English essay/day, got all B+/A/A+ with upward trends, except one NP (from Pass/NotPass) due to family/home country disaster problem (GPA 3.6). All of the senior hardest/upper div genetic classes are A/A+. Took one biochem grad course and passed it (should have gotten A if it's not P/NP). These are all mentioned in SOP. Had maximum credit hours permitted.

- GRE 510V/800Q/4.5AWA. This is..I believe average?

- two flaming hot LOR and one good, all prof have 5-15 publications at distinguished journals (cell, nature, etc). 30+ citations average per paper. I think this is above average?

- 1.5-2 years genetics research in two labs, one independent. Two co-authors pending publication (written, 99% data ready, not submitted). Average as well.

- Have my own funding (Let's just say I have $500k in bank, enough to fund 5 years). From what I've heard (from some advisors), US universities are reluctant to accept internationals to grad schools due to funding, but I am willing to pay. I will mention this in SOP/interviews.

Personally known some professors and mentioned them in applications. Two of them told me they'll take me (become my advisor) if I get in.

If not PhD, I'm aiming for at least Master's program. Do I have poor chance or good chance at Master and/or PhD at UCs?

I applied to basically all UCs:

UCB

UCSF

UCLA

UCSD

UCSB

UCD

UCI

UCSC

UCMerced

UCRiverside

From my own approximation, I know UCB/UCSF/UCLA would be VERY hard to get into to the point of 0% chance, UCSD will be difficult ~20%, UCD/UCI/UCSB/UCSC will be ok/somewhat difficult, UCM/UCR would be ok/better chance?

Thanks!

Edited November 6, 2010 by exacerbated

[exacerbated]

Since there are no response yet, maybe I'll narrow down the choices: I'll just ask about UCSB/UCI/UCD/UCSC (for UCLA/UCB/UCSD..lets just say 0 chance).

At those schools, stats are:

Average GPA accepted: PhD 3.3-3.5. Master 3-3.3

- my GPA isn't THAT far off, but will raise some flag and even more flags due to 3Ds 1F. But I got A/A+ on three tier 2 (harder) upper division courses relevant to PhD/Master major I want to apply to. However, 1 D is in totally different field, 2 Ds are in biochemistry and one of them are tier 1 (easier) and the other one is tier 2 (harder). Shouldn't these kind of "cancel out"? I also took the A/A+ at final year and the failed classes at junior year.

Average GRE: Verbal 480-500 (Master), 500-550 (PhD). Quantitative: 720-750 (Master), 740-760 (PhD), 4.5 writing.

- my Verbal is slightly above for master, slightly below for PhD

- my Quant is slightly above for both

- my AWA is at average

LOR, I said glowing because: 1) these are from well known professors in their field, 2) both the professor and me personally know each other for 1+ year and they know I work hard 99% of the time, 3) they told me they will write "spectacular LORs, so you shouldn't worry about getting in anymore".

Experience: I guess 1.5 years in genetics, two co-authors in genetics, although haven't been submitted, will be quite strong? I have another one that I will co-author, but the data is not complete.

Funding: I don't need funding, will show bank account with at least $100k, this should open more opportunities right?

I thought grad schools weigh GPA+GRE 50%, experience and LORs 25%, and based on these they make a cutoff at the average % score for acceptance into interview (for the last 20% score)? If they accept those with average stats, and I'm slightly below average GPA with slightly above average GRE (esp. quant, since I'm in a science field that requires math), shouldn't I at least 90% get into Master's interview part or 50% chance to get PhD interview especially since all my LORs, good grades, experiences, co authors are in genetics?

I'm so depressed right now, every prof/PhD candidate that personally know me and I've talked to told me that I'm grad school material, "at least master", but with horrible GPA, I have this bad feeling of not getting in at all. Please help me point out if any of my logic above is incorrect, because I need to tell my funding sources about what is my chances getting in at least interview.

Edited November 7, 2010 by exacerbated

[waddle]

Your profile looks pretty sound. But if I were you, I wouldn't bank on pushing your ability to fund your graduate study. Save your money--you'll no doubt need it later, and blowing it off on tuition probably isn't the best way to go. Schools should pay for your graduate study--after all, you'll be their slave for ~5 years; would you really want to pay a school to allow you to work 60-80 hours a week in the lab? I sure wouldn't.

That said, your choice of institutions seems very geographically limited. Is there a particular reason you don't want to apply outside of California? Many great Midwest schools are hurting for good applicants (e.g. Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska), and with your profile, you'd probably stand a good chance of being admitted. (In my opinion, but I'm just an undergrad.) And why not apply to UCLA's ACCESS program (<puts in a plug for ACCESS>)? Can't hurt to toss in your application, and from what I've heard, your GPA & GRE are almost irrelevant (especially since you can explain some deficiencies away). Besides, your professors even told you not to worry. You've nothing to worry about--many applicants are in worse shape than you are.

You should also consider what you can (or cannot) do with a M.S. in genetics. I'm not too well versed here, but a lot of jobs (even in industry) tend to require a Ph.D. as the entry-level qualification.

Good luck!

waddle