Applying for Biology PhD programs, have some questions!

[mutantmanifesto]

I'm new here, so sorry if this is rambling/difficult.

 

I'm in my second semester of an MA program and Queens College (CUNY), a research thesis route. I'm part of an amazing lab and I'm doing a research project on swamp sparrow song development, which will [hopefully] be published we me as the first author. Spring 2014 will be my last semester, if I play my cards right. I'm hoping to apply for fall 2014 PhD programs in Biology, with an Ecology/Evolution/Behavior focus, which means apps out by the end of this year. 

 

Here's what I got going for me:

 

My adviser will give me a stellar reference, and if this research gets a publication, it will be my 2nd (second author of a paper from undergrad). I also have two references from undergrad, as well as one from my boss who is a PhD in I believe genetics. My undergrad references are above and beyond, and have gotten me a great paying job and also admission into grad school. One of the professors who will be writing a recommendation for me just asked me to present/lecture to her undergraduate animal behavior class this month. Currently I have a 3.7, and I'm anticipating at least getting A-'s in the two classes I'm in now, so it will stay at 3.7 or go up. I don't plan on ever going below a B+ in any class I take. Maybe a lofty goal, but I think it's reasonable. I also have a conference presenatation under my belt from my undergrad research.

I have a BA in biology, and I finished with I think an iffy 3.2. And now the bad part: I took the GREs in 2009 twice. I really sincerely suck at standardized tests. My scores were: 450/580/4.0 and 430/560/4.0. I think that's quant/verbal/writing. That's the old scoring, right? Anyway, abysmal. I will be taking the test again this summer after taking a prep course, I am anticipating doing a lot better. I should note that during the time I was prepping for the two tests, I had just met my boyfriend (now of 4 years, goddamn) and I was in ~~~love~~~ so yeah, I'm planning on focusing a lot more this time around.
 

I am looking to apply to: UCLA, UC Davis, UT Austin, and a couple of higher tiers like Columbia and Cornell. I'm not banking on getting into the last two. Right now, there is a lab at UCLA that is studying what I'm interested it (canine evolution). I contact the head of the lab, laying out my interests and talking about some of his research. His email back was short, but said, "I am going to be taking students in Fall 2014, and I encourage you to apply." Verbatim. I'm taking that as a positive response. A couple of labs at Columbia have gotten back to me saying I don't fit, so I know what negative responses look like.

 

A couple of questions:

 

-If I'm applying for Fall 2014, and I'm not technically done with my degree until Spring/summer 2014, what do I say? I forget how this worked when I was applying to graduate schools last time. Do I explain how the rest of the schooling will play out (ie how many credits I have left/when I anticipate finishing?). How my next year plays out is: summer 2013 6 credits, fall 2013 6 credits, winter 2013 3 credits. Apply by the winter. After the application goes in, Spring 2014: 6 credits (3 being research, 3 being class credits). I'm hoping to also finish up my thesis in Spring 2014, but it may extend to Summer 2014. Either way, I will be done by the Fall 2014 semester. That all sounds sort of confusing, sorry.

 

-If I have my sights set on schools like UCLA and UC Davis, for example, what GRE scores should I be looking at? Obviously I'm going to try to up my scores significantly, but I'm terribly afraid of bombing again.

 

-If schools say a subject bio gre is "recommended" by not required, in my situation, would it really hurt me not to take them? I want to focus on the general test and get my scores up, however long that may take me. I have a feeling that by December of this year I won't be able to master the material for both the general and the subject, and I know the general is much more important.

 

-What else should I be doing, if anything? I feel like I'm doing everything I can, but I'd really appreciate any other tips on how to beef up what will be my application.

 

-How doomed am I?!

 

Thanks guys

Edited March 2, 2013 by mutantmanifesto

[Biohopeful]

Here's my 2 cents:

 

1)  Regarding finishing your thesis, I say mention your thesis work in your personal statement and your projected finish timeline (i.e. Summer 2014) and what you expect to get out of it (intellectually and publication/presentation wise, etc).  You should be fine if you do that.  I wouldn't go into your masters coursework or anything.  Although you have a 3.2 undergrad GPA, having a 3.7 masters GPA looks awesome.

 

2)  As far as GRE goes... It is the least important aspect of an application, but sadly, it is a factor.  I would definitely retake it again.  If you do as poorly, I would seriously look into casting a wider net of schools.  UCLA, UC Davis, and UT Austin are still highly selective, and some schools will post their average GRE scores.  A good score won't get you into a program, but a bad one could keep you out.  Also keep in mind that percentiles hold more weight than the actual number score.

 

Though bear in mind that adcomms do look at the whole application.  I will look to myself as an example in this.  I got a 301 cumulative (~1100 on the old test) with a 3.5 AW.  This is my second try after taking the old exam two years prior.  I am a very poor standardized test taker.  Although they are not top ranked, or even top 50 schools, I was able to get interviews and waitlists at a few places despite obviously not reaching their cutoffs (i.e. 50% or higher in two areas, 1250 average GRE score, 308 or higher is typical of incoming students, etc).  This is because there are faculty at those schools I would be more than happy to work with, and I was very vocal about it in my SOP.  Fit is the most important thing.

 

I say study hard, take practice exams, and do the best you can.  There isn't a magic GRE score that will get you into UCLA, UC Davis, etc, but I would recommend reaching at least 70th percentile in all areas.

 

In the grand scheme of things, LORs and Experience will pull a lot of weight, along with your SOP.  Try contacting people you want to work with and get yourself out there.

 

3)  If a subject test not required, you don't have to send it.  This is one test, however, that if you do decide to take it and submit the score, it should be a damn good score.  I took the Biology one, scored in the 76% overall with 88% in my subsection of expertise.  I don't really consider this a damn good score, though, but I still got an interview at a school.  Whether it helped or not, I have no idea.

 

As a tip:  When sending GRE general scores for the fee, you can tag on your subject test and send both without an extra charge.

 

4)  At this point, you should be networking, doing awesome research, present at any conferences if you have enough data, publish if it's an option, studying and retaking the GRE.  I say this summer start contacting POIs who you share similar interests with.

 

And I don't think you're doomed at all.  If you genuinely want a PhD you will find a way to get one.

Edited March 4, 2013 by Biohopeful

[mutantmanifesto]

Thanks! That was really helpful, I appreciate it! I'm going to really, really try to pull my score up significantly. Regardless, I am definitely going to cast my net wider than I thought I would.

 

I definitely have to start compiling schools and finding POIs in the lower ranked schools. I actually have been told by my current adviser that I can probably stay with my lab and do my own thing at CUNY. The only issue is they pay their students something around $24,000. While at most schools this wouldn't be that big of a deal, in NYC it's a dealbreaker. I just cannot live on that at all. However, it's something to fall back on. I have to chat with my adviser about it.

 

I appreciate your feedback, it helped a lot

[Biohopeful]

No problem!  Yeah, 24k is kinda meager for NYC.  When you talk to your adviser, I'd also see if he/she has any information on external funding sources you could apply to as well.

[selecttext]

you can live on 24 000 in nyc 

[iowaguy]

You have great stats (minus the GRE) and should be a strong candidate at a UC Davis/Cornell/Columbia-type programs if you have a good fit with a POI there.  With your current GRE's you might not make the minimum cut-off at those highly competitive programs.  You will need to bump your V/Q GRE score into the 80th percentile or so to be competitive there, IMHO.  Your advantage is that you have many months ahead of you to prepare for the GRE...  Best of luck!

[mutantmanifesto]

you can live on 24 000 in nyc 

 

If I didn't have $500 a month in student loans, I'd be set. My rent right now is only $1,100, and I split it with my boyfriend so it's really not bad. It's definitely a fallback option, but I'd be living REALLY tight. Same really goes for UCLA, rent is quite similar, they'd just pay me a couple thousand more.

 

If I'm not mistaken, one person in my lab got their funding up to $30k, so it's something that might be a possibility for me. The downside of staying in my lab, is that my adviser doesn't specialize in the topic I'm looking to study. HOWEVER (and a BIG however), he's an incredibly smart guy who is VERY well rounded in all areas of animal behavior and evolution, so advising me in whatever project I so choose will not be difficult for him. He has already told me that if I stay on, that I can do whatever project I so choose.

Edited March 4, 2013 by mutantmanifesto

[mutantmanifesto]

You have great stats (minus the GRE) and should be a strong candidate at a UC Davis/Cornell/Columbia-type programs if you have a good fit with a POI there.  With your current GRE's you might not make the minimum cut-off at those highly competitive programs.  You will need to bump your V/Q GRE score into the 80th percentile or so to be competitive there, IMHO.  Your advantage is that you have many months ahead of you to prepare for the GRE...  Best of luck!

 

Hey this is super encouraging, thanks! I'm going to hustle on the GRE, really focus and get it done. This summer I'm only taking research credits, and I asked my adviser what that would mean. He said, and I quote, "I will just kick your royal arse about your work, not that I don't do that already." So yay, no extra work load over the summer. Plenty of time to get those scores up.

Edited March 4, 2013 by mutantmanifesto