Rejected from Bioengineering, should I reapply?

[programmer777]

I was rejected from the only program I applied to, a doctoral program in Bioengineering with the following response:

"We cannot accept your application at this time primarily because of your undergraduate record. However, because you show promise with respect to your other factors that constitute acceptance, we would like to recommend that you continue to take graduate core courses through the extension service and apply at a later date. For the record, <specific course number>, is a core course that you may consider for the spring."

Why would they ask me to take a (self funded) graduate course in their program if they don't want to accept me?

I am surprised, because I was pretty confident I would get accepted. I don't really want to do a PhD anywhere else! I've been working for the professor in the program whom I want as my advisor for two years, and he personally asked me to apply and recommended me.

I have a low undergraduate GPA (2.73) but I have the following going for me:

• 2 peer reviewed publications in high impact journals, one as first author
• GRE: 590v 790q 5.0w
• I've taken one of the hardest courses in their doctorate program and got an A
• have an associates degree in mathematics, with a 3.73 gpa
• Generally considered on campus as "the expert" in certain areas of computational biology, I teach workshops attended by professors and graduate students from all over campus, and from other universities.
• Great recommendations including one professor in their program whom wants me to work in their lab, and my past mentor- a relatively famous engineer whom invented things everyone uses.
• My undergrad degree is from a particularly difficult theoretical physics program, which covers more advanced material than most masters degrees in physics. I don't personally think a given GPA in this program compares directly with the life sciences programs completed by most bioengineering applicants.
• I had to work full time to put myself through undergrad.

Would getting another "A" in a graduate course in their program and reapplying be worthwhile?

By that time I will probably have *another* first author publication in a high impact journal, which is currently pending review.

Before I applied I met with their graduate advisor, whom said I would probably get in if I got an A in one of their courses and a good GRE, which is exactly what I did. This seems like the same story again, would another A really make much difference?

The doctoral program is primarily research based only requires 3 core courses, so by the time I reapply I would have completed 2/3rds of the coursework for the program! I'm also pretty far along with (and already publishing) work that would be suitable for a thesis.

Edited March 15, 2011 by programmer777

[chaospaladin]

What school rejected you? Well here's the thing. In order for you to get accepted to the program, you must receive approval from:

1. the Bioengineering Department

2. the dean of the Graduate Division

Here is what I speculate might have happened:

The Bioengineering Department could have approved your application because you had recommendation from the professor within the program and had a lot publications and research, but the dean of the Graduate Division rejected the application since the Graduate Division probably has a minimum GPA threshold of 3.00.

What you could do is retake some classes or take more classes to zero out your GPA to a 3.00 and then reapply.

[programmer777]

An update that I thought might be inspiring to others: I reapplied just 3 months later, and I am now a PhD student in my first choice program not long after being rejected! They even gave me a substantial fellowship, despite applying after the fellowship consideration deadline.

I never applied to other schools, I put all of my effort into this single application so I could work with a particular professor.

During those 3 months I was insanely busy: I got an A in the class they recommended I take, published an additional first author paper in a good journal, wrote a much better statement of purpose, and got an additional letter of recommendation from a well respected professor. I really recommend the book "Graduate Admissions Essays: Write Your Way into the Graduate School of Your Choice" by Donald Asher, his advice radically improved the quality of my essays.

It turns out a low undergraduate GPA wasn't a death sentence for my academic career, but making up for it required considerable work.

I'd rather not say which school, since I'd like to remain anonymous.

Edited September 29, 2011 by programmer777

[ktel]

That's good news. Sounds like they really wanted to accept you but had to make you jump through a few hoops first

[starmaker]

Why did people mark chaospaladin's comment down? It looked fine to me.

Anyway, when I started reading this, I was going to suggest applying elsewhere because the school in question apparently has a Graduate School full of tools (oh noez, you have real scientific accomplishments but your hoop-jumping skills grades were low, in the presence of mitigating factors, so clearly you need to be rejected, because why should we prioritize real accomplishment in the field?). I am glad that you managed to overcome this silliness and ended up in an excellent situation.