What are my chances for Ecology/Ev Bio Ph.D. programs

Graduate School
1

<p>I just found this site and am curious as to how my stats are for the programs I want to enter.</p>

<p>I just took the GREs so my unofficial scores are V: 680 Q:710 AW: unknown… I feel confident I will get 5-6</p>

<p>I went to a tier 1 undergraduate (Hamilton College / Lafayette College) and had a 3.81 cumulative GPA and 3.8 major GPA for Biology and graduated Summa Cum Laude</p>

<p>I was awarded a grant to do Biology research at Hamilton culminating in a poster session and did a semester of independent research at Lafayette paired with an internship at a zoo. While still in school I started working at a genetics lab and have been there full time since graduating. I was also a Biology TA at Hamilton.</p>

<p>I want to apply for my Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology </p>

<p>Schools I’m applying to:
Columbia (biggest reach… due to funding constraints)
Princeton
Duke
U. Notre Dame</p>

<p>Possibly:
U. Pennsylvania
Penn State</p>

<p>I also applied for the NSF GRFP which I understand more commonly is awarded to first and second year grad students. </p>

<p>Anyway, good luck to this years applicants :)</p>

2

<p>You don’t have any glaring weaknesses so I think you have a good shot everywhere…with that said there are so many variables that it’s difficult to put a number on your chances. Your personal statement and letters of rec. will likely play a large part. If you do end up getting the NSF GRFP you can pretty much pick where you want to go.</p>

<p>You probably already know this, but Duke is one of the two universities that I know post grad admissions stats. Stats don’t mean everything, but I’d guess all of the programs you’re applying to receive apps from similarly qualified applicants…</p>

<p><a href=“http://gradschool.duke.edu/about/statistics/admitbio.htm[/url]”>http://gradschool.duke.edu/about/statistics/admitbio.htm&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://gradschool.duke.edu/about/statistics/admitecol.htm[/url]”>http://gradschool.duke.edu/about/statistics/admitecol.htm&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://gradschool.duke.edu/about/statistics/admitbaa.htm[/url]”>http://gradschool.duke.edu/about/statistics/admitbaa.htm&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://gradschool.duke.edu/about/statistics/admitmgm.htm[/url]”>http://gradschool.duke.edu/about/statistics/admitmgm.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>RE NSF: The year in your studies is not a factor. In the past they awarded fellowship to 10% of applicants within each age group (pre-grad, 1st, and 2nd yrs). You are judged with the others in your group.</p>

<p>I PMed you about Duke as asked. It is an excellent program for evolutionary biology, as you probably know. Half of Duke’s NSF awardees seem to be in evolutionary biology each year, so it is definately viewed as a top program in that field.</p>

<p>In general your stats are good but not great. Duke (at least my type of programs) is not a stats happy program. They want well-rounded students that are very happy and will add something to the student body.</p>