benzaldehyde212

Thanks so much! I'm looking forward to starting, but there seems to be so much to do, and it's a little stressful. Hopefully it'll be easier than it seems!

Coincidentally, like doubledyno and EpiGirl2016, I am also going to UNC. I'll find out exactly what I need to do about residency when I arrive, but as for changing insurance, I have younger siblings that are just starting to drive. It would help my family out financially if I get my own insurance, so I'll probably do that no matter what I have to do for residency/tuition purposes. Thanks for the advice!

I'm getting ready to move out of state to go to grad school. Because I will have to apply for residency in that state for tuition purposes, I'm assuming that means I am moving there "for real." My question is, what exactly does that mean? Does this mean I will no longer be considered a dependent of my parents? And if I am not a dependent, am I required to have my own insurance (health insurance will be provided by my program, but I don't know about car insurance)? If I get my own car insurance, I guess that means I have to register my car in my new state? How do I make the change official--do I just start listing my "permanent address" as the place I will now be living? If I register to vote in my new state, does that mean I have to un-register (?) in my home state? Do I have to inform someone I'm leaving so I'm not contacted for jury duty back home? And how long do I have after I arrive to get all of this done? Any and all moving advice is welcome!

I personally had a kind of disappointing senior spring, which left me kind of burnt out. I decided to turn down my summer research offers, and instead, have been going to the beach, working out, swimming, weekly trivia nights, and LOTS of Settlers of Catan. I've also been tutoring a bit for pocket money, and packing for the big move to grad school. I've also been rereading all of my undergraduate chemistry textbooks and recopying my notes to prepare for proficiency exams, but most of my summer has been fun and relaxing. I definitely needed it, but I'm ready to start using my brain again and am finally looking forward to grad school!

I'm not in biochem, but that looks like an entirely reasonable range of schools based on the stats you've listed. Research experience is a strong point, not only for a CV, but also because it will allow you to write about your research goals in a knowledgeable manner when you write your statements of purpose/research statements/personal statements/etc. Good luck!

Inconveniencing my recommenders was one of my concerns when I was choosing the number of programs to apply to. The advice I was given (by one of my recommenders, as a matter of fact) was to not worry about troubling them--it's part of their job, and if they've agreed to write a recommendation, it's because they are eager to see you succeed and want to help you as best as they can. If you feel ready, go for it, and if it doesn't work out and you have to try again next year, then go for it again next year. Your recommenders will support you along the way, and if they feel they can't write you a strong letter for whatever reason, they will usually tell you to ask someone else.

I'm also still waiting. At least now I know it's not just me!

I'm fairly certain Vanderbilt notifies on a rolling basis, depending on when the apps were submitted. I know people who heard back several weeks before I did, and I submitted my app about 3 weeks before the deadline (I just heard back a week or two ago). Good luck!

Anxiously waiting on Yale... with the anxiety increasing every day