Another evaluate my profile thread!

[alleycat393]

Hello,

So I've already sent off my applications but would love to know what you guys think.

I am an international student studying in the UK: BSc (Hons) Biochemistry 2:1 by British standards (roughly 3.5 on the GPA scale but I haven't converted my mark on my appplications)

Year in industry: GlaxoSmithKline doing research very relevant to the subfield of Immunology I would like to specialise in

Final year project: again very relevant to the subfield of Immunology

1 review article joint with my supervisor at GSK in a low profile journal

Two very strong LORs from people at GSK based on my research potential and their first hand experience of it. These people are very well known in the field and subfield and have collaborators at some of the schools I'm applying to or have done a post-doc there. One more general LOR from my academic advisor who holds a PhD but in a different field of Biology.

GRE scores: 640Q, 590V, 4.0AW

Fit: all the schools I've applied to have at least 3 people working on the subfield with very similar research interests to mine.

Schools:

Harvard

UPenn

UCSF

Yale

Rockefeller

MIT

Erm that's all I can think of to say...would love to know what people think.

Thanks!

Ps: please don't be shy to be brutally honest with me-I see so many views of this thread but no replies

Edited November 6, 2010 by alleycat393

[eklavya]

Aren't all these schools highly ranked in your field, and in general? Your GRE is prolly alright, but you don't seem to have much research experience except that one at GSK. And no conferences/posters/papers either. You might have a decent shot at these schools... or perhaps better shots, but it usually is a good idea to have 'backup' schools in the list. And us being international students, the situation is more gray and shady.

Just to give you an idea, my credentials are almost the same as yours, except that I have couple papers out and lots of research experience that include two internships at internationally well-known PIs/companies. I have applied to 4 schools that are within the top 5 of my program, 2 mediocre schools and 1 as a complete backup.

I think the way the applications are handled is different for different programs, but it is not a terrible idea to try out schools at all levels. At least it will give you some mental comfort.. I think!

ETA: saw your one article after posting this.

Edited December 6, 2010 by bhikhaari

[alleycat393]

Aren't all these schools highly ranked in your field, and in general? Your GRE is prolly alright, but you don't seem to have much research experience except that one at GSK. And no conferences/posters/papers either. You might have a decent shot at these schools... or perhaps better shots, but it usually is a good idea to have 'backup' schools in the list. And us being international students, the situation is more gray and shady.

Just to give you an idea, my credentials are almost the same as yours, except that I have couple papers out and lots of research experience that include two internships at internationally well-known PIs/companies. I have applied to 4 schools that are within the top 5 of my program, 2 mediocre schools and 1 as a complete backup.

I think the way the applications are handled is different for different programs, but it is not a terrible idea to try out schools at all levels. At least it will give you some mental comfort.. I think!

ETA: saw your one article after posting this.

Thanks for that.

I chose schools purely on the basis of where there were people I wanted to work with. Most of the smaller programs don't have people working on the sub-field of immunology I'm interested in-it's not 'popular' if that makes sense.

My research experience amounts for 1.5 years which is what most people have straight out of undergrad and my degree is equivalent of a masters in the UK. I couldn't publish any of my work at GSK because it was so confidential so they gave me a research excellence award instead! I probably won't get a paper out of the half a year's worth of research in my final year because I'm laying ground for a post-doc that's coming into the lab soon but I'm not too worried because established scientists do know that all research is not publishable but that doesn't mean it's not of good quality.

Besides, the US is not the only place I've applied to so my 'backups', though not really, are elsewhere. I kinda have a priority list based on research interests which people who worry about rankings would probably laugh at

Edited December 7, 2010 by alleycat393

[Alyanumbers]

Not in your field, but your credentials look quite competitive, except for the GRE. With your research experience, though, schools will probably ignore your scores.

Good luck!

Hello,

So I've already sent off my applications but would love to know what you guys think.

I am an international student studying in the UK: BSc (Hons) Biochemistry 2:1 by British standards (roughly 3.5 on the GPA scale but I haven't converted my mark on my appplications)

Year in industry: GlaxoSmithKline doing research very relevant to the subfield of Immunology I would like to specialise in

Final year project: again very relevant to the subfield of Immunology

1 review article joint with my supervisor at GSK in a low profile journal

Two very strong LORs from people at GSK based on my research potential and their first hand experience of it. These people are very well known in the field and subfield and have collaborators at some of the schools I'm applying to or have done a post-doc there. One more general LOR from my academic advisor who holds a PhD but in a different field of Biology.

GRE scores: 640Q, 590V, 4.0AW

Fit: all the schools I've applied to have at least 3 people working on the subfield with very similar research interests to mine.

Schools:

Harvard

UPenn

UCSF

Yale

Rockefeller

MIT

Erm that's all I can think of to say...would love to know what people think.

Thanks!

Ps: please don't be shy to be brutally honest with me-I see so many views of this thread but no replies

[alleycat393]

Yeah I am a bit worried about the GRE score...have heard so many mixed views on how important it is compared to the other parts of the application but I thought I would give the application cycle a shot without re-taking it to see if my SOP, research experience and LORs will carry me past the GRE block!