iloveyourneighborhood

I'm also wondering the same thing! NSF results were announced just before the easter weekend. I guess NDSEG will notify some time in April, like their website says vaguely.

Very nice and very true. Thank you!!

Thanks! I never thought about it that way, that maybe I will not even end up working for those 1 or 2 profs. It's clear now that I should approach the interview with a more open mind. I appreciate your response.

When I applied to PhD programs, I applied with a fairly specific research interest in mind (which I mentioned in my SOP) and at each school, I had 1 or 2 faculty whose research really interest me, and in whose lab I could visualize myself doing my PhD. Since then, I've been invited to a few interviews, which is great, but all of these schools require me to request 5-10 faculty members that I would like to meet. This puts me at a bit of an awkward situation because aside from the 1 or 2 faculty members, I really can't find any others whose research interests are even a little related to mine. I could randomly choose faculty members according to their broad research interests (for example, microbiology or genetics), but when I sit down with them at the interview, I'm not sure how I can approach the conversation so that I don't seem disinterested (which I'm not). Any advice on what I could talk about, if their research aren't really related to my interests?

Hahaha, me too... Thanks so much! that was so helpful.

I usually send at least 2 emails to PIs who don't respond. First one explaining my interests, then a short follow-up email 3-7 days later, along the lines of "I was wondering if you have received my email (attached below for your reference) etc." It has worked for me every time. After the second email, they either respond right away, or a few days later apologizing for their late reply, that they were away, your email was found in the junk box etc. Just remember that they're busy, but if your email is sincere, I doubt that they would take offence from your interest!

I applied to Bioengineering at Caltech and MIT, and got interviews there. I tried Chemical Engineering at University of Texas at Austin, but I got a rejection from there. I'm waiting for Stanford Chemical Engineering, but I'm not expecting to get an interview. I guess it wasn't the right program for me (my undergrad is in immunology)!

When you are talking about UC Berkeley, are you talking about the UC Berkeley-UCSF program in Bioengineering? I've heard from all other schools that I care about, except for this program

Travel all summer, and maybe into the winter, then maybe into next spring. Live out of a backpack and live like a bum. Why not?

For bioengineering, I applied to MIT, Berkeley/UCSF, and Caltech. I got invites to MIT and Caltech interviews so far, and nothing from Berkeley/UCSF yet. I know how you feel about going crazy thinking about the consequences of not getting in, but remember that 1 day can change your attitude completely. I was going crazy and losing hope, but then one day, I got 2 invitations, just like that! I don't know what kind of situation you are in, but getting a job (whatever you might enjoy... for me it's been working at a coffee shop for a few months), volunteering (for local festivals or charities), and investing time in extracurricular activities (sports, choir... whatever you like) could take your mind off of the whole process! Keep yourself busy, think about exciting alternative plans that you could pursue IF you're not admitted. For me, I have a plan to go to France for 9 months to be an English teacher's assistant (there is a program like that for Canadians). This alternative plan gets me excited whenever I think about it, so that the thought of not getting accepted anywhere isn't such a big deal anymore. Don't lose hope! Best wishes.

I'm working at Starbucks while I wait for grad school decisions. It was easy to get a job there, and it's a decent job (even though you secretly know that you are over-qualified). They don't expect people to stay especially for minimum-wage jobs, so as long as if you give your 2 weeks' notice, you're fine.

It's not an acceptance yet. The recruitment weekend will most likely be like a two-way interview: they interview you and assess your fitness for the program, and you interview them to see if you like the program, the campus... etc. Getting invited is definitely a good sign but you can still get rejected after the interview. Good luck!

"What's a PhD?"

Ya, it sounds like an interview! Last year, I applied to Harvard Neuroscience PhD. I got my interview invitation on 13 December (it was surprisingly fast). I didn't get in in the end though.