Biomedical sciences Fall 2010 applicant -please review

[takshila]

Hello everyone,

I have found the 'what are my chances' kind of posts extremely helpful in attempting to gauge my own options. However, as much I have tried, I have not been able to come up with a complete list of universities, as at this point I am lacking any ounce of self esteem whatsoever, and being international is not helping either. so I am looking for help, suggestions, advice, anything.

My profile:

Undergrad: Transferred from an Indian university to a state university in the u.s., in Biotechnology

GPA: 4.0 throughout

Aiming for programs in: Biomedical sciences, genetics and molecular biology

GRE general : Verbal-740, Quant-760, AWA- 4.5

Research experience: 1.5 years in a plant molecular biology lab with a possible pending publication, working on genetic mapping of wheat chromosomes, 8 months including a summer undergraduate fellowship (and another 6 months after graduation as lab technician) in a molecular biology plant lab performing gene transformations and genotyping plant populations. 4 months in an Animal sciences lab performing Western blots and protein analysis.

Recommendations: 2 from research advisors one of them with a publication in science magazine, expecting at least one to very good, 1 from a professor with whom I have had only minimum research experience, but she will certainly have a very good recommendation for me, she is well known in her field too.

Universities applying to:

Dartmouth -MCB

U of Wisconsin

Northwestern

U of Pittsburgh

Penn state

U of Chicago

U of Texas, southwestern medical unit

I am still debating applying to hopkins, even as a dream school as I see the chances to be pretty slim

Purdue

Wake forest

I am still looking for safe schools, but the problem is I don't know how low i need to look into the rankings to find a school that is safe for me, or ones that I should even have a chance of getting into.

I am also looking for Masters programs, but I need funding, so I having a hard time finding masters programs that are ready to fund me.

It would be of immense help at this point if any of you could help me make a decision.

[gremot]

Hi Takshila!

I think your profile looks good! you just need a smiling photo to go along

[takshila]

Lol, thanks, I am not too sure what you mean though.

[gremot]

Lol, thanks, I am not too sure what you mean though.

well, who can say NO to a nice smiling face it's againts our nature...

[AlexM451]

With your GPA, GRE scores, and research experience, you have a substantial shot at getting into any of these schools, in my opinion. I wouldn't skimp on the SoP though, just to be sure.

[takshila]

With your GPA, GRE scores, and research experience, you have a substantial shot at getting into any of these schools, in my opinion. I wouldn't skimp on the SoP though, just to be sure.

Thanks. But I am just worried, being international and all, and the lack of publications will probably hurt my chances more than I would like.

[takshila]

well, who can say NO to a nice smiling face it's againts our nature...

Yeah, only if the adcoms felt that way, right?

[spectralScatter]

Masters programs. You can get into any as long as you bring the money with you.

Now trying to get money to pay for a Masters education is going to difficult, just keep that in mind.