Immunology/Virology/Cancer biology applicant? Where should I apply? Am I aiming too high?

[themurph9252]

Hi all,

 

I am new here, but this seems like a knowledgeable place to ask fellow aspiring PhD students. Let me preface my question with my stats:

GRE:

Q: 159 (75th Percentile)

V: 159 (81st Percentile)

AW: 4.0 (56th Percentile)

Major: Biochemistry      Minor: Chemistry

Undergraduate cumulative GPA: 3.82

Major GPA: 3.87

Research experience: About a year total of research.

1/3 of a year in biochemistry research on Beta Lactamase

2/3 of year in molecular genetics in bioinformatics and functional genomics

 

 

I am considering applying to the following schools:

 

University of Washington (Seattle)

University of Iowa

University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana

University of Florida

Baylor University

Emory University

Vanderbilt University

UC San Diego

Scripps Research Institute

 

My interests are above, but are more specifically geared towards studying HIV/AIDS or Cancer.

 

Does anyone advise against me applying any of these schools? Does anyone have any recommendations of where else I should apply? What are realistic schools I should consider with my statistics? Can anyone speak for the programs at any of these schools?

 

Thanks a bunch guys!

 

-Patrick

 

 

[Focus]

Undergrad Institution: Small, liberal arts school
Major(s):  Biochemistry
Minor(s):  N/A
GPA in Major:  3.51 (I suck at calculus)
Science GPA: 3.75
Overall GPA:  3.61
Position in Class: Unranked
Type of Student: Domestic, male

GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q:  162 (83%)
V:  162 (90%)
W:  4 (56%)
B:  Not taking it.

Research Experience:

 

Two summers at a small pharmacy school in California. General lab duties and procedures; worked primarily with ELISA, cell culture, HPLC, and protocol design/testing. Have been working on a number of projects; have a paper in a small journal.

Awards/Honors/Recognitions:

Dean's List for most of my quarters.
School scholarship for excellence in chemistry and biochemistry.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:

Undergraduate general chemistry and biochemistry lab TA
General chemistry tutor for the school tutoring center
President of an organic chemistry tutoring and test preparation club

Applying to Where: 

Immunology programs:

OHSU (PMCB)

University of Washington 

UC Los Angeles (Biosciences)

UC Irvine (Cell/Molec Bioscience/Immunology)

University Colorado Denver (Anschutz)

Baylor University

University of Iowa 

Hey, I don't know how big of a help I can be, but above is my application profile. We're applying to three of the same programs with kind-of similar stats.
Personally, I think you picked some great schools.

 

[themurph9252]

Thank you for your reply and your stats. I appreciate it for the comparison!

[biochemgirl67]

You have a higher GPA than me, so my profile is below.  I don't think you're aiming too high if you aren't attached to any one school.  If you really REALLY want to go to one (and it's a "dream" school) you might be disappointed.  But I 100% think you are competitive for these schools.  OH and were are interested in the same type of research it seems like... so you can look at my profile and compare.

Undergrad Institution: Iowa State University
Major(s):  Biochemistry
Minor(s):  Microbiology; Genetics
GPA in Major:  3.86
Overall GPA:  3.74
Position in Class: Unknown (top 25%???)
Type of Student: Domestic, white female

GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 162
V:  165
W:  5.0
B:  Not going to take due to graduate coursework

Research Experience:

Iowa State University: January 2014 - present, fruit fly obesity related to heterochromatin organization; I am responsible for the project as if I were a grad student (pilot project for the lab), poster, 5 oral presentations

NSF REU in Microbiology: Summer 2014;  Lactobacillus diversity in murine gut microbiome effect on resistance to malaria; 1 poster, 1 presentation; 1 publication under review

Harvard Amgen Program: Summer 2015;  Effects of TNF-alpha signaling in hematopoietic niche in bone marrow in the context of chemotherapy/adhesive and migratory behaviors of HSPCs after inflammatory stimulation; 1 poster, 1 oral presentation

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: 

National Merit Scholar

NSF REU Fellow

Amgen Scholar

Linder Fellow (research fellowship at my school)

Department of Biochemistry Scholar

Weber Family Scholarship

Marian LeFevre Scholarship

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Scholarship

University Honors Member

Univesity Dean's List (2012-present)

Pertinent Activities or Jobs:

Biochemistry Undergraduate Club

Stupka Symposium Committee (Planning our undergraduate research symposium at ISU)

Academic tutor
Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

Special Bonus Points: 

Female

Recommender from Harvard is a famous pioneer in the HSC niche/immunology, REU recommender is a top researcher in microbial ecology, home recommender is national authority on JIL-1 kinase

Connections due to Amgen Scholar status

Graduate Classes:

• Comprehensive Biochemistry I
• Comprehensive Biochemistry II
• Virology
• Molecular Signaling
• Molecular Genetics
• Immunology
• Advanced Developmental Biology
• Pathogenic Organisms
• Bacterial Molecular Genetics
• Microbial Physiology and Phylogenetics

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:  ???

Applying to Where: 

Harvard University (Immunology)

Rockefeller University (David Rockefeller Graduate Program)

Princeton University (Molecular Biology)

Stanford University (Immunology track of Biosciences)

UCSF (BMS)

University of Washington (Immunology)

Vanderbilt University (IGP)

University of Tennessee (Microbiology)

[pavitraviswanath]

Hey Guys! I am applying to GSBS in UT Hosuton.. My Profile is as follows:

Undergrad Institute: BMS College of Engineering, bangalore, India

GPA: 8.4/10 (upto 6th semester).. will increase to atleast 8.7 in the next two semesters

GRE 307 (V 152 Q155 AWA 4)

TOEFL 107

I have worked on creating a targeted drug delivery system using DNA Origami for Prostate Cancer. We presented this in Biomod 2014, a biomolecular design competition organised by the Wyss Institute at Harvard University and we won silver award for our research. We have filed for a patent and our project is nearly complete.

I am currently working on biomarker identification for different cancers. I have identified more than 10 potential molecules for triple negative breast cancer and lung squamous carcinoma. I will be validating this in patient samples at an mRNA and protein level.

Any chance I have a shot? 

I am also planning to apply to:

Baylor College of Medicine

University of Minnesota Twin Cities

University of Chicago

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

UT Southwestern

Do you'll think I have a shot at Rockefeller or Scripps? Or is it too farfetched an idea?

 

I would be grateful if you guys can let me know what you'll think!