BioChallenger12

Just got accepted to TCU MS Biology and UNT Health Science Center MS Microbiology, Immunology, & Cell Biology program! Really big thanks to all programs I am considering, but I am declining their offers. I decided to commit to The University of Texas at Dallas MS Molecular Cell Biology! After MS, on to Ph.D. Can't wait to start grad school in the fall! Best of luck to everyone waiting for decisions and making their decisions!

Thanks for your reply! I have an update. I have decided to accept the offer! I was at 60-40 (if not 70-30) between this school and the another school, but after thinking through about 6 hours last night between the two schools, I decided to accept the offer! I thought about this school the whole month. I am really excited about my graduate program!

Hi. I got accepted to a very excellent competitive graduate program, but their deadline for me to respond to their offer is March 15th. I am waiting on another program's decision on my application, but they personally mentioned in an email that they won't release a decision on my application until late March. I am strongly considering both of these programs equally. I would like to ask the graduate program that I got accepted to for an extension on responding to their offer to early April, so I can wait on the other graduate program's response and make the best most informed decision. If I ask for an extension, can that graduate school rescind their offer? I highly doubt so, but I am paranoid because at the moment this is the only competitive program I got accepted to. I won't hear back from other grad schools until late March.

Oh wow! Just got accepted to UT Dallas MS Molecular Cell Biology program! Awesome program! So excited!

Thanks for your input! I just looked into these PREP programs. I didn't know that they exist. I found some PREP programs at my top choice schools where I am considering doing my Ph.D two years from now. This is definitely something I will strongly look into especially since I want to enhance my credentials and research before applying to Ph.D. programs. These are the types of programs that I am looking for. Right timing too since many of these deadlines are in March - April. Thanks again!

Just curious. If a person doesn't get into any graduate schools, what would that person typically do in preparation for reapplying the following year? I am applying to master's programs in biology. Two years from now I will apply to Ph.D programs in microbio/immunology at various medical schools. My application is definitely not competitive for Ph.D. programs at the moment since I have only been in research for 8 months as a undergrad senior. I will have a paper at the end of this semester for one of my research projects. I really need more research experience and crossing fingers to get into a good masters program. I definitely felt uneasy after getting my first rejection, but I had to remind myself that I still have 6 other grad programs to hear back from. It won't be until April that I know exactly where I end up since all grad schools are busy interviewing Ph.D. applicants this month.

Finally got a rejection letter from ND. Not surprised & wasn't my first choice anyways. Maybe I'll give ND another crack when I apply for Ph.D. 2 years from now. Btw is anyone here also applying to UMich Molecular Biology Masters Pathway Program? My app was submitted like 3 months ahead of the March 15th deadline. I think UMich is busy conducting interviews with PIBS & Ph.D. applicants. So I am guessing it won't be until April that I hear back from UMich.

It is looking like a rejection from Notre Dame. It would have to take literally take a miracle to get an interview invite this late in the game. I'll have another crack two years from now after my masters when I apply for Ph.D. At least I am glad that for the first time ND opened applications for MS applicants this app cycle. I didn't think that I was able to apply to ND. I got very lucky that I was able to!

Congrats! I reacted the same way when I got my first graduate school acceptance to University of the Incarnate Word MS Biology two weeks ago! Really exciting to go to the next phase in life!

Congrats on the interview invite! I guess I just have to wait and see. Looks like there's still hope in the air for ND for at least one more week. Even if I don't get in, I am keeping an eye on UMich, but I am really curious about ND though. But if I do get an invite from ND, I get a chance to tour the school and see the program in person. If it is not meant to be for ND, it is not meant to be. I got other great grad schools too! Have fun!

Did anyone hear back from University of Notre Dame recently or know when they will notify applicants? I know that the interview/recruitment weekend is on February 11-14. I am losing hope on ND since it is getting close to recruitment weekend. If I don't hear back from them by the end of next week, it is most likely a rejection. Crossing fingers!

That's what I'll do. I'll contact each school and see what their policy on multiple GRE scores. Most people told me that I should go ahead and send the second scores in since there is tremendous improvement in Q & AW. It was just a bad test day with V. Thanks! Btw I just received my first grad school acceptance to a MS Biology program! Really excited! Hopefully more acceptances to come!

Hi! I am applying to Notre Dame (MS Biology), Michigan (MS Molecular Bio), Virginia Tech (MS), UT Dallas, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, and several other programs that should be able to go into. Hope this helps! I probably should contact grad schools to see if they super score. That would be nice. Yes, my apps did ask if I know other languages. I already indicated that Spanish was my first language.

Hi! I am applying to masters programs in biology. My applications to grad schools are already submitted with my first GRE score. I retook the GRE again and am debating if I should send in my second GRE score. I don't know if grad school admissions superscore from different test dates. Here are the scores. 1st GRE score - Verbal: 149 (41st percentile), Quantitative: 152 (48th percentile), & AW: 3.5 (38th percentile) 2nd GRE score - Verbal: 146 (29th percentile) Bummer! , Quantitative: 155 (60th percentile) , & AW: 4.5 (80th percentile) Quick background: Spanish is my first language, so my verbal scores are always going to be low. Happened on both SAT and ACT readings sections. It is almost impossible for me to improve on my verbal section. I do have a very strong research experience, strong personal statement & resume, excellent LORs including one from my PI, and a GPA of ~3.4 from a highly regarded public university (top 20 research university by NSF). Most bio profs told me that GRE is definitely among the least important factors in the applications for bio programs. A lot of people told me that I still have a shot at top grad school programs that I applied to despite my GRE score. Anyways, should I send in the 2nd GRE score? My fear is that admissions will see my verbal score fall significantly on the second test. Thanks!