How much does a low GPA (but a high rank) matter for admission to the US for a PhD in Biochemistry ?

Question

I did my M.Sc. in Biotechnology from the University of Pune (India) and my GPA according to the US system is 2.85. I, however, had the second position in a batch of 14 and the topper was a few decimal points ahead of me in GPA. My GRE score is 1340 (Quant.=760, Verbal=580, Analytical Writing=5.0) and my TOEFL-CBT score is 297 out of 300. Does my low GPA affect my chances of being selected for a PhD in Biochemistry in the US ? Will my second rank be taken into account ? Thanks.

Answer 1

Your second rank should be taken into account. Most universities recommend or require that your international grades be submitted to a translation agency such as the World Education Service - http://www.wes.org/
Check with the admissions director for your PhD program for further information.

Answer 2

Does my low GPA affect my chances of being selected for a PhD in Biochemistry in the US ?
The answer is yes

Will my second rank be taken into account ?
The answer again is yes

Admission will be based on the total package and not just your GPA and rank.

Answer 3

Your G.P.A should be at least 3.0, but should be over 3.5 for good schools. This is requirement applied for U.S citizens. For sure, you should contact the school you would like to do your Ph.D