Non genius applicants

Serric
Sun, 05 Jul 2009 04:56:12 +0000

I’ve got a cumulative GPA of 3.3 (last couple quarters have been 3.7-3.8, three more to go), with a major GPA of 3.5; GRE of 770Q/640V; and I’ll have three strong LORs/been drafting my SoP for the past few weeks now. I’ve put a lot of thought into it, know the specific field I’m interested in (neural stem cell differentiation, with viral vector-mediated transfection), am only applying to schools with 2-4 PIs who match my research interests (and I’ve stated as much in the SoP), and know what I want to get out of my PhD.

I guess the thing with the research experience is shaking me up a bit, since I’ve only got about 6 months in each of two labs (one’s cancer stem cell biology/virology, the other’s a C. elegans lab where we’re screening for neuron development genes), and I’ll have about ten by the time my apps are finished. I didn’t know about research opportunities at my school until late last year, and I’ll be applying to neuroscience programs with no specific neuro background (although I have learned stem cell culture techniques, have had to learn to do a LOT of troubleshooting since the cells we obtained weren’t the highest quality, and have self-researched a lot of current publications on viral vectors). I’d apply to blanket bio programs, but I don’t want to run the risk of not being able to work with the PI’s I’m applying for.

I was looking through the biomedical acceptance thread, and it seems like high research experience seems to be a necessity, since I didn’t hear of anybody with less than two years of research being accepted. Can anyone confirm or deny this, and/or does anybody have experience with admissions at UMinnesota–Twin Cities? (Currently my #1 choice of school)