pyrocide

yeah, the offsite chat. directions in Monochrome Spring's signature

Staying up for the grfp is like waiting for christmas morning, but you're old enough to realize that the shiny box waiting for you underneath that sparkly tree is most likely gonna be a 6pack of itchy beige crew socks.

Fastlane is downnnn. Is it really happening?!?!?!!!

If the list is posted online beforehand, how long does it take the emails to go out after that initial reveal? Also, thanks to the vets for answering the calls of our anxiety and inexperience. You make our wait at least a bit more tolerable.

According to this list, I was the nerdiest kid in school. *the math team --> President *Chess team --> President *band geek --> Jazz, marching, Pit and Pep Band. I was like, the queen of band. *took all AP/IB classes --> Quite a few, couldn't take as many since they interfered with my arty things (AP art/Jazz band). Also, UG wouldn't take any of them *did research --> no *tutored --> no *spent summers interning --> no *involved in academic extracurriculars --> Hah, there was an NHS club thing, but I was not interested. *competed in a Spelling Bee --> ..in grade school? *spent years studying for the SAT/ACT --> Nope. Coasted it. *dreamed about getting into college --> Yes *dreamed about getting into grad school --> Yes *took college classes --> kinda, took summer classes designed for HS students at a Top 5 *took classes for college credit --> same as above, but they didn't transfer to my UG. *studied a few hours every day --> No, Coasted *studied on weekends --> nope *anything else I haven't though of --> Helped found the Art club. 4 years of cross country and track. Iunno, I never really identified with the nerd/geek label. There were things the cool kids did and then there were things I liked to do, and I chose to do the things I liked. Worked out well in the end.

Linkin Park and Korn. JUDGE AWAY I REGRET NOTHING

I second on calling. I had to call a few times but once I got a hold of the program coordinator she was very nice and extraordinarily helpful. PM me if you need help finding her contact info.

Haaa. Relevant: http://www.whatwouldmymitgrade.be/ (and so is this: http://www.whatwouldmyharvardgrade.be/ ) Those 4 years are rough. Average MIT GPA is 4.2/5 (~3.1/4). My GPA was lower end (3.9/5 or 2.9/4), and an MIT stamp isn't a free ticket into grad school. I got in during my first app season but I also had 2.5 years of full-time research as a tech (flipped the rat in 2011). I assume that a UG's reputation can pull a lot of weight, but a recent MIT grad with a burnt out GPA is still a burnt out grad. I wouldn't doubt it in the slightest if adcomms favored someone with high honors and a stellar GPA from a lesser-known program over an MIT kid with a tanked GPA and few/no recognized academic achievements.

This thread has made me bring out my ratty grey converse flats from the closet. I forgot how comfy they are.

I'm going to BU for MCBB, which is the interdisciplinary program that has bioinformatics as a sect. I'm lean more towards the molec bio side of things, but it's still cool to see people I might be taking classes with. Sup dood!

'salright dood. I was out there for my undergraduate years, so I'm aware of the craziness that is Boston's housing market. Going to be living with my boyfriend who's already out there. We're on it.

Just committed to the MCBB PhD Program! Anyone else headed to Boston University next fall?

I'm guessing early August, but I'm not 100% sure yet--don't know how early they want us to be out there.

Boston University: Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology and Biochemistry Program So terribly excited to be done with grad apps!

They didn't say my position on the wait-list, but they did say there were a lot of people on it. Overall, the tone of the email wasn't overtly optimistic. :/ That's okay though, pretty stoked about my other option! Happy to see the end of the tunnel for all these grad app shenanigans.

First wait-list today. Don't know how to feel. :/

Got antsy, contacted my last program. Wait-listed. Can't tell yet if this makes my decision easier or harder. -.-

I'm probably all sorts of biased by nostalgia and institutional rivalry, but MIT is kind of a really special place. Yeah, it's hell, but you're all in it together, so both people and professors are just wonderfully supportive. I wouldn't trade that experience for the world. I can't speak much for a graduate student's perspective, but if any of you new MIT admits want to know more about the Institvte, send me a PM and I'd be glad to help out.

For me, running is the greatest stress reliever there is and it has gotten me through a whole mess of troubles. However, I've been trying to get myself to run to help with grad app stress for the last 2 months and have just been utterly failing. I know the cold has a lot to do with it, but the treadmill is just downstairs in the gym at work and I've got my running clothes on me pretty much at all times, but I just can't get the motivation together. Do you have any recommendations to help me get things back into gear?

"Your decision will be found here when it is available." Ughhhh just tell me anything so I can make a decision and not feel bad about making one too early and just be done already jeeeeeeez

Thanks dude! I did not apply for programs straight out of UG: at the time I was pretty burnt out, I felt like I could have used more independent research experience, and I had some family things going on the last couple years that have made applying to school a bit out of reach (geeeez applying is expensive!) The wait was killer but it's done now and I'm pretty much counting down the days til next fall!