Hello guys.
Here's my brief stats
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B.S in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology from UCLA
GPA: 3.87, Magna Cum Laude
GRE: 720 in Verbal, 770 in Math, 4 in Writing
Leadership, Work, & Teaching Experience: Worked as a Physics & math tutor for two years in the school tutoring program. Worked as a supervisor in the physics department for 1 year. Worked as a TA for a math course during summer
Volunteer Experience: 1 year of hospital volunteer experience
Research Experience: 1 year of Ecology research experience, one publication, 2nd author
1 year of Bioengineering research experience
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Applied to: PhD programs in Bioinformatics at UCLA, UCSD, UCSF, UCBerkeley, Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Columbia, and Stanford
Rejected: all except for Harvard and UCSD (still waiting. But I gave up my hope)
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My Story:
I think the biggest reason I got rejected by all these schools was that I did not have extensive experience related to bioinformatics. Throughout my college, I was confused as to what to do with my life. For a while, I was a pre-med, but during my last year, I realized my love for teaching that I wanted to become a professor. Meanwhile, I took a computer scinece course during my junior year just for the heck of it, and it was extremely fun. I wanted to switch my major to CS, but I felt it was too late. So I decided that I should go to grad school and study bioinformatics. This way I could still use what I learend (molecular biology) and combine it with my newfound passion(computer science).
So I applied, only to find that I am not qualified yet. It was kind of stupid on my part to apply to PhD programs without extensive experience. But what's done is done. I paid for my lack of focus and learned my lesson. And I am ready to move on.
Advice Needed!
I need an advice. As I mentioned above, the biggest reason I think for my rejection is due to the lack of experience in computer science. But I am kind of lost and not sure what to go about gaining such experience.
1) Should I apply for master programs in computer science? is that possible without BS in CS?
2) Should I volunteer in bioinformatics lab?
3) Should I work in a company where I could gain this experience (what kind of companies or jobs? Most of computer related jobs require an applicant to be a C.S Major)
4) Take some courses in community college?
5) Forget about my graduate school plan,study MCAT, and apply to medical schools? (which I am seriously considering)
I am seriously lost and need help. What would you do if you were in my shoes?