Do I stand a chance to get a stipend as a TA at any of these places with these stats

[alkaline262]

I am looking to be competitive for getting a TA stipend for grad school in biology or biochemisty. Biology is my undergrad major, and I am a senior. I will graduate with $10,000 in scholarships($8000 from national science foundation), one year of research experience in two separate labs, and 3.8 GPA(I might be able to bring it back up to 3.9), and a 490 verbal 710 quant GRE. Is that going to be enough? I am most worried about the GRE. Here are some of the schools I am looking at for biology/biochemistry graduate programs:

oregon state

university of kansas

portland state

university of oregon

uw-madison

purdue

uc davis

university of miami

washington university in st. louis

california state university

I am worried about getting a stipend, I dont think I would go without one.

[lyonessrampant]

Are you applying to Master's or Ph.D. programs or both? Most all Ph.D. offers will come with funding support, but a Master's is another story. Can you retake the GRE? Those scores are pretty low. . .I wouldn't think you need to worry too much about the verbal, though maybe trying to get to 500 isn't a bad idea, but the quantitative might be important. The place where GRE scores often matter is in competition for fellowships and university-wide scholarships, so having a little higher score would help you in that regard.

[alkaline262]

Are you applying to Master's or Ph.D. programs or both? Most all Ph.D. offers will come with funding support, but a Master's is another story. Can you retake the GRE? Those scores are pretty low. . .I wouldn't think you need to worry too much about the verbal, though maybe trying to get to 500 isn't a bad idea, but the quantitative might be important. The place where GRE scores often matter is in competition for fellowships and university-wide scholarships, so having a little higher score would help you in that regard.

I am applying for masters for now, but hope to get into a Ph.D program after that. I could retake the GRE, is that score for my quantitative really that bad? I was more worried about the verbal, I thought I did well in quant. , but i guess not. So what should I shoot for in each?

Edited May 20, 2011 by alkaline262

[lyonessrampant]

You're quant score isn't bad at all! I thought it said 610 when I was responding before! My bad! Anyway, yeah, if you can boost your verbal a bit, it would make you more competitive for fellowships and stuff, but your quant is great. Sorry for misreading I think you'll be pretty competitive! Good luck!!!

[alkaline262]

You're quant score isn't bad at all! I thought it said 610 when I was responding before! My bad! Anyway, yeah, if you can boost your verbal a bit, it would make you more competitive for fellowships and stuff, but your quant is great. Sorry for misreading I think you'll be pretty competitive! Good luck!!!

oh thanks, I was feeling pretty down for a few moments there, whew.

[ryanmor]

What are your research interests? You should have an idea about those now and look in to potential PIs/labs that fit those interests. This will, in turn, help dictate what schools/programs you apply to.

I'm not sure about your school's biology major, but mine did not include a significant number of biochem courses to provide enough of a background to pursue a graduate degree in it. I had to take general biochem 1 and 2. Those pursuing biochem graduate degrees are have taken those courses, plus physical chem and other related courses (think chemistry major). I'm sure there may be some exceptions in particular research groups.

[Mrs. Grad]

I think you'll be fine. My husband was accepted to BMCDB at UC Davis and they offer a decent stipend.

Edited May 24, 2011 by Mrs. Grad