Applying as a Non-Bio Major

[Pony]

I'm currently in my first year out of undergrad. Been pre-med track since sophomore year, took my gap year to apply, then decided I didn't want to me an MD. Now I'm looking at PhD programs in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. There are a couple issues that I'd like to ask you guys about to assess my chances of actually getting into a decent program.

 

1. I'm an Exercise Science major. I was pre-med, so I've done all the big science courses: intro chem/bio, orgo, biochem, micro, genetics. I had two semesters of anatomy and physiology, but it was in the health sciences college, not bio. So big ones that I'm missing as far as I can tell are molecular, ecology, and possibly a biology-specific physiology. Do I need to take these courses to have a decent chance (I'm guessing ecology might be important)? If I took these classes, how big of an issue would it be that I'm not actually a biology major? I would qualify for a minor.

 

2. I currently have no laboratory research experience. I am doing research about 16 hours a week this year, but it's more sociology/healthcare policy type research in a hospital, I'm not in a lab. I would like to try to get some experience working in a bio lab before I apply, but I'm not sure how feasible that is seeing as I'm not a student anymore. Would it be acceptable to contact professors from my alma mater and see if they have a spot for me anywhere in there lab? And if I can't get any research experience, do I have any chance of getting into school?

 

Those are my two main concerns right now. My GPA is 3.85, science is around 3.82. A's in all bio classes except for a B+ from intro freshman year and an A- in genetics senior year, same for chem except for a B freshman year. 33 on the MCAT with a 12/15 on the biological sciences section, not sure if that counts for anything at this point.

 

Sorry for all the text/if I come off as an idiot, still in the early stages of figuring this out. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[darwingirl]

You would definitely need some kind of previous research experience that pertains to the field of EEB you want to study in graduate school. Having courses in EEB is also important, but not nearly as important as research experience. From my own experience with 2 cycles of interviews (masters and PhD), you have to have a PI that wants you in their lab. That is the most important thing. Most PIs are going to take someone that can show that they have knowledge and skills suitable for the type of research they want to do. You don't have to go in as an expert, but you should have some background that shows you're capable. 

 

You may be able to find a job in a lab, people do it all the time. You could also consider volunteering first.

 

Another way to get the experience you need is to do a masters first. You won't need as much research experience. You will still need to be able to articulate what your research interests are and that you have some knowledge of how to carry out a project. You'll have to convince them you're a good applicant basically. Good luck. 

[Sarochan]

I think it partially depends on the program/s you apply to. A lot of them have information on the kinds of people they consider competitive, including undergraduate degrees, etc. The following blurb is from the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) and is on the page giving info about their Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Ph.D. program, and is an example of the kind of thing you might find:

"Courses in inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, general physics, one year of college calculus, animal biology, genetics, physiology, and plant biology are strongly recommended and provide an important background to pursue graduate work in EEB. Proficiency in a foreign language is not required but is strongly recommended for students who expect to pursue field work in a country where English is not the native language. Deficiencies must be made up early in the graduate program."

You might also consider contacting either the program coordinator or someone similar and asking them directly.

Just as anecdotal evidence, I have very little research experience and was accepted at two programs so far, one of them an ecology/evolution program.

I hope this helps, and that others can help if I didn't! I'm actually in a similar situation, in that I suddenly decided that being an MD was not right for me.

[Pony]

Just as anecdotal evidence, I have very little research experience and was accepted at two programs so far, one of them an ecology/evolution program.

 

Can I ask what you mean by very little research experience, just out of curiousity? Like even if I managed to start at a research position next week, I still couldn't get a full year's experience by the time I'd apply. I see some applicants on this forum with 4 full years of experience.

 

Thanks for the replies!

[Sarochan]

I have roughly one semester's worth of research involving transcriptome analysis.

[berba9]

I don't know how relevant this is for you:

 

I'm a chemistry major applying to genetics/genomics/systems biology type labs. If i was applying to biochemistry I would say my major overlaps with my PhD research but the kind of stuff I've learnt in my undergrad and what I'm interested in is quite different. I do have decent research experience but it's in computational chemistry and a little wet lab work in bio labs. Again, different from what I'm planning.

 

For me during my interviews the fact that I was a chem major was brought up a few times but not a lot and definitely not as a big problem. Far more important I think was the fact that I had some research experience at all- and I think that's the part of your app that could hurt you, not your major. A's in relevant courses should be good for most programs, I think. Again, I'm not really sure about most of this.

[kinkajou]

Hey! I'm applying to EEB programs and have had a really successful application season: here's my advice.

 

You probably do need to get some relavant courswork as in, something that focuses on ecology and/or evolution. You have to have at least one, because a basic knowledge will be assumed in a graduate program. Also, what if you take an ecology course and you're like oh my, this is as boring as hell, why did I ever think I wanted to do this? Do you know what in particular things in evo/eco you want to research?

 

I have basically no "relevant" experience. I did, however, participate in summer research programs in immunology labs. I'd say it's critical to get research experience, more for yourself than to get in the program. (I mean obvi it is important for the program...in my interviews that's all the professors want to talk about). But for your own interest, get in a lab or in the field (if that's the kind of eco/evo you like). Lab work is usually highly monotonous AND often fails for reasons you can't figure out. You have to find out if you can handle that kind of work. Field work is even worse. What happens if a major storm destroys your plant experiment? Well, your project is on hold for a whole year. Lame. You have to really love it. And you have to be able to prove to grad admissions that you love it. I should note that eco/evo research is generally more frustrating than molecular etc. because it takes a lot longer to get anything exciting...or get nothing exciting.

 

Your GPA is absolutely fine. MCAT scores irrelavent. They don't ask for them. Might need to take a GRE subject test as well as the GRE? But I have no idea about that really.