Chances for BioE/Medical Engineering PhD at Top 20

[Midi]

I am targeting applying to PhD programs in BioE/medical engineering either in the Fall of 2015 or 2016. I am considering applying to schools in the top 20 and HST MEMP is my top choice. However, I have no publications yet and I think my research experience is pretty light with a good portion of my research in industry (biotech). I am also worried because I have taken a few gap years and am concerned about the strength of my recommendation letters. I am hoping to use my writing skills, which have been recognized as a strength by my professors, to my advantage on the personal statement to try to help mitigate these shortcomings. Any suggestions on how to improve my profile/application would be helpful. For example, would it be useful to go for a MS somewhere first to get more academic research experience before applying to a PhD? Thank you for your help and any suggestions.

 

Undergrad: MIT (Engineering, not BioE though)

GPA: >3.6

GRE: September 2014

Research: 5 months synthetic bio research (project won best in medicine track in an international competition), 5 months research in genetic engineering, 2+ years of biotech industry research in drug delivery, cell culture, protein purification

EC: STEM mentor & tutor, multisport varsity athlete, multiple leadership roles in undergrad groups, leadership program graduate in industry

Other: Experience with biomedical startup dynamics, have successfully taken HST and premed courses as an undergrad, won department awards in engineering and humanities

Programs I am interested in: HST MEMP, MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Cal/UCSF, JHU, Duke, UCSD, Northwestern, Rice, UPenn, Yale, Michigan, GT

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jeffleung1992]

Dear Midi,

I honestly think that your profile/chances are really good. Applying to the Top schools (JHU/Stanford/MIT/etc) is always a crapshoot; even the outstanding candidates have a small chance of acceptance simply due to the sheer number of outstanding students.

My strategy would be as follows:

I think you should figure out if there are professors at and non "super-top" (Stanford, etc.) schools (like GT, Northwestern, Michigan, etc.) who are doing research you are really passionate and interested in. If so, you should apply directly to PhD for those. I think you have sufficient credentials to make it in if you write a good SOP/have good letters of rec. If there aren't professors at these schools you would ideally want to do a PhD with, then you should apply to MS programs to all the schools that offer them in your list (or mix and match and apply some MS and some PhD). For example, JHU has a funded MS program in BME. So does Stanford, but I'm not sure about funding for that actually. During your MS focus HEAVILY on research in an area that aligns with a prof you want to work with, and try to get a first-author paper. That will strongly stack the odds in your favor. I think at those "super-top" schools it helps to have a faculty who aligns with you; someone who can see that you have demonstrated experience in an area they work in.

You can also try emailing some faculty and test out the waters and see if you can get traction with someone.

These are just my 2 cents. I wish you the best of luck, and please let me know if I can help answer any more questions!