cgerry14

Just got the e-mail from Sweden: non-select (NS in subject line). I really wasn't prepared for this...it feels like I just got hit by a train. Congratulations to everyone who was selected! I'm sure that the experience will be life-changing.

Hi rhrhrhrh, I also applied to Sweden and would be doing medicinal chemistry research at Uppsala University. Hopefully we'll be hearing back this week...I'm ready to stop checking my e-mail every 12 seconds.

Thanks for checking, Sel386. Hopefully that means that we'll find out soon...this waiting game is killing me. I'm sorry to hear about your father and I certainly hope that I can help in some way. Regardless of whether I get a Fulbright or not, I know that there is some great stuff for HCV in the pipeline.

Thanks Mozartgirl53! Yes...Sweden still has not sent out notifications, but they should come any day now (I've been saying that for 3 weeks...but who's counting). Wow, that's so cool that your brother works at the National Lab! I'm interested in organic chemistry/chemical biology. If I get to go to Sweden, I would work in an academic group at Uppsala University that is developing small molecule therapies (i.e. drugs) for hepatitis C. Hopefully the Swedish Fulbright Commission is as excited about this project as I am!

tspier2, I also decided to accept my graduate school offer before hearing back from Fulbright (PhD in Chemistry to Harvard). I wasn't thrilled about doing it because I am really excited my proposed Fulbright project in Sweden, but several people at Harvard (both administrators and students) have told me that I should be able to defer admission until Fall 2015 if I'm awarded the grant. Have you talked to anybody at Tulane about deferring for a year? All of the schools that I looked at seemed flexible about it, so I would be surprised if Tulane wasn't similarly accommodating (at least in rhetoric...action is another story).

I faced a similar decision a few weeks ago when I was deciding between Harvard and Scripps (also for a PhD in chemistry). This may not sound incredibly insightful or helpful, but when it comes to two great programs such as these, you have to go with your gut. What that means is that it's best to ignore all of the "fringe" stuff, such as weather, institutional fellowships, differences in pedigree etc. Pete Schultz gave me some great advice about making these types of decisions. He told me that the only two things that matter are "the science and the people: what research will you be doing and who will you be working with and for?" That may be too simplistic of a philosophy for most cases, but the general idea is that the best fit for you is exactly that...a place for you and your personal preferences. Don't let things like rankings or ill-informed family members influence your decision because you will be the one living and working wherever you choose for the next 6 years. Therefore, I think the best person to ask about making this decision is yourself. If you really feel that you're 50:50, you can always try the trick where you literally flip a coin and gauge your emotions (whether they be excited, apprehensive, or whatever) upon learning the "coin's choice." Personally, I didn't have to resort to that because I grew more and more excited about Harvard every day to the point where I could confidently make a final decision. Regardless of where you choose, know that you'll end up at a phenomenal school with one of the best programs in the world for the research in which you're interested. It's a decision without a "wrong" choice, so don't stress and go with your gut.

I'm in the exact same situation, actually. You can't go wrong with either program with regard to the science, so it mostly comes down to personal preferences. Being interested in many different labs is great, but If there is a particular PI that you really want to work for, then go to that school; you only pick 1 PI, after all. The weather and the university vs. research institute atmosphere are probably the biggest differences (Harvard does have the Broad), so if you feel strongly either way on those two issues, then those could also be a deciding factor. I'm probably leaning towards Harvard because I'm really excited about several Harvard labs and only 1 or 2 labs at Scripps, I enjoy teaching and like being in an environment where teaching is seen as more than a nuisance/distraction, and I don't want to have to need a car in grad school. These are all, obviously, personal preferences and not objective value judgments, so the most important person to listen to when you're making this decision is you!

I just found this thread (I'm brand new to the gradcafe forums) and it's oddly comforting to know that I'm not the only one who is anxiously waiting to hear back about Fulbright. I probably won't hear back for a few more weeks because I applied to Sweden, but that hasn't stopped me from feverishly checking my e-mail. Good luck everyone!!