Biosciences: Application information (old results thread) - Page 5

yaygrady · 09-01-2009, 01:01 PM

Does this mean I should retake my GREs again? I am not in the 1400 range. I got 1340. I am freaking out about this. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

MasterMoe · 09-01-2009, 01:14 PM

No. 1400+ is ideal but lower scores are just fine.

No way are the adcoms goin to trash your app during prelim screening cause you got that score.

Those scores are fine. Rewriting would be a waste of time and money IMO.

Your list looks solid. You have a few average schools, strong schools, and a few reaches. I'm sure you'll do fine assuming your LORs are good.

gerrybio · 09-02-2009, 06:45 AM

my first post...

gerrybio · 09-02-2009, 07:36 AM

Here is my background, as an international student, I really feel nervous and uncertain.

One of top biological science programs in China. (However not Peking U or Tsinghua U, those two are huge giants)
overall GPA 3.7/4, major 3.8/4, undergraduate average score 90/100
GRE 510(64%)+800(94%)+4(37%)
iBT 108/120
Research: project on miRNA(actually the target identification thing~). No publication. ('cause the project is huge, and we've met lots of difficulties.) Though not completely done by myself, I take a large part and have a deep understanding of the project.

And unique good TA leader experience~

My research involves high-throughput tech and genomics thing. However, due to various limits, what I've done is low-thoughput thing, thus I show strong interest in high-throughput genome-scale analysis which will produce an ocean of data that need quantitative biology tool. (For example, Use ChIP-seq to identify all the targets of a transcription factor on the whole genome) Of course, the ultimate goal is biological issue, such as cancer, or other diseases. I still prefer medicine-related project. The pure basic research seems not that attractive to me. In a line, my interest is:genome-wide research related to cancer, neuron or sth. like that, which would be a lot of fun.

Based on my research, the programs I would apply are:
molecular biology/genetics/human genetics/genomics/epigenetics/quantitative biology

Some of my top dream schools:
Hopkins human genetics
Princeton molecular biology(quantitative training seems their strength, but seems not that "medical", Princeton's got no Med School)
Penn CAMB-genetics track
Umich PIBS (there's a great professor on cancerous genomics research)
Weill Cornell-BCMB (in combination with Sloan!!!)
Wash U-molecular genetics&genomics (genetics leader)
BCM(same with Wash U)
UCLA (the only UC I'd apply. UC is just too difficult for international students)
Yale (no specific reason..)
Columbia (NYC!!!)

Actually I've got a lot of problems and hope you guys can give me some suggestions:

1.Have I chosen too many top school? (In fact, as international students, I directly give up the most prodigious institutes such as Harvard/MIT/UCSF/UCSD/Stanford/Caltech/Rockefeller/Berkeley, for Hopkins, I just like it a lot.)
But I still think I've chosen too many tops.

2.My biggest weakness is my GRE...But I really don't wanna retake it. I'm just wondering, will they DIRECTLY reject me just because of my verbal in the first-round selection??? I've been told many school screen out low-GRE international students in the first round-selection.

3.Is my choice of GENETICS as my major appropriate? Actually I show interests to many things, however, only disciplines related to my background can make me more competitive...

Really expect to listen to you guys and learn from you guys. I really hope to get enrolled into a top institute. My future plan is being a professor, which I think is the most suitable career for me, because I love both research and teaching...

But just look at the economy, and I'm really nervous. Princeton mol bio offers 3 Chinese mainland students and the chance is so low...

safetypin00 · 09-02-2009, 09:05 AM

I wouldn't bother applying to UCLA - I wouldn't bother applying to public schools unless there's something particular about their program you just love so you might as well give it a shot of course. As an international student, I think it is easier to get into a prestigious private school than a really good/prestigious(?) public school, tbh. BUT I DON"T KNOW.. so that's just my impression. Anyone can say otherwise and feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

I don't know if it is your research interests or your background that make you more competitive - apply to a program that's most related to what you WANT to study and most fitted for your research interests. My background is neuro that, for my interests, is way too psych based (even though it is not really that much, it is too much for me).. I'm prob going to apply to cell&mol physio, physio, molec. biology programs because those are more inline with what I want to do in grad school.

I would suggest applying to more schools too.

aldo003b · 09-02-2009, 09:19 AM

I'm not so sure that your future field has to be related to your past work. My undergraduate degree is in Sociology, and my previous research experience was largely cancer/stem cells, but I was admitted to several Neuroscience programs. I think it's more important to apply to programs with professors who are doing something you're passionate about than to stick with what you've been doing.

MolSysBio · 09-02-2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

My research involves high-throughput tech and genomics thing. However, due to various limits, what I've done is low-thoughput thing, thus I show strong interest in high-throughput genome-scale analysis which will produce an ocean of data that need quantitative biology tool. (For example, Use ChIP-seq to identify all the targets of a transcription factor on the whole genome) Of course, the ultimate goal is biological issue, such as cancer, or other diseases. I still prefer medicine-related project. The pure basic research seems not that attractive to me. In a line, my interest is:genome-wide research related to cancer, neuron or sth. like that, which would be a lot of fun.

just so you know, your interests are in basic science research. you might want to work on a specific disease but that doesn't count as "medical research." you don't need to apply to schools with a medical school to do basic science research.

kryptonsa36 · 09-03-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterMoe

Nothing lower than 580V

I honestly do not know what to think about having a 540 and applications only to top PhD programs. Egads.

belevitt · 09-05-2009, 12:52 AM

Relevant to the GRE Subject test biology vs biochem test argument: I took the biochem version and it was tough because it covered cell bio, molecular bio/genetics and biochemistry. Those were pretty spread out and I didn't have specific courses for each, whereas I had a specific biology class. I would recommend the biology version if you are going to do it.

Also, this board was amazing for me when I was applying for grad schools last cycle and would like to offer my services to anyone this year. I ended up at Duke so if anybody has specific questions about Duke, I would be more than happy to help. Also, I want to let everyone who is stressing out about GPAs in the 3.0 to 3.3 range know, that there is hope- grades only make up a small part of the application. In my experience, the grades were only used as negative criteria for eliminating people before the interview and not for anything beyond that.

MolSysBio · 09-05-2009, 04:33 PM

hm, i just took the gre today and got an 800Q but a 580V. retake?

sarbruis · 09-05-2009, 05:19 PM

^^ I'd keep it, unless your verbal is significantly lower (like 60+ points) than your practice tests.

nutmeg1284 · 09-05-2009, 06:04 PM

I'm taking the Biology GRE in about a month, seeing as some of the grad schools I'm interesting in require the subject test. What kind of score should I be aiming for?

EvoViro · 09-05-2009, 08:05 PM

After Belevitt...

I also applied last cycle and am starting up BMS at UCSF right now. Anyone with questions, feel free to contact me.

sarbruis · 09-05-2009, 08:26 PM

nutmeg: I think the consensus is that 80-85+ percentile is pretty good and worth submitting.

GCN2 · 09-07-2009, 02:55 AM

So I am filling out some preliminary stuff for some of the schools and I had a question regarding the GPA for the last 60 credit hours.

UCLA ACCESS defines this as Junior and Senior year, and your last 60 credits in attendance. Do most schools mean for this to be my most recent 60 credits (i.e. sophomore+junior year) or jr/sr. year?

I ask because if I can report my Junior/Senior year (which is ultimately just my junior year), i can list 3.9. But if I have to include sophomore year it drops to a 3.5

I figure it won't matter in the long run, as the transcript will show all. But I was curious what you all thought. Thanks.