16777216

Yeah, I live in Boston and I've been checking my mail every day like, "this is the day I'll get the Harvard rejection" and it hasn't come. I didn't think there was a waitlist b/c it doesn't seem like anyone ever gets in after January. Maybe there is one but they just almost never let anyone in off it? Who knows. I know at least one person has gotten a rejection letter.

Wondering the same thing myself. If we call them there's a chance they might tell us.

Thanks for your advice, it's solid. It just sucks knowing that pretty much the only reason to start early is because it benefits my PI and not me, and yet, I'm still probably going to do it. This whole process is just so grim, you know. Oh, also, industry contacts can absolutely help you get a job, even if your contacts are scientists. A lot of companies have a way that scientists can recommend people they know, and that can be the only way your resume even gets looked at, or at least this is what my manager at my last internship told me. It's pretty much irrelevant anyway--which PI you work with is obviously more important--but never underestimate the importance of networking! Also, my name's Chloe! Although if you wanted to keep calling me 16 I wouldn't be overly opposed, haha.

Okay, so, here's what he said: "Starting over the summer is definitely a plus. I'd estimate that among the organic students, 50% begin in July, 25% begin in August, and 25% begin in September ("on time"). It is definitely possible to start in September and work for whichever PI you want, but you certainly want to clear it with them within a couple of months after you visit (i.e. I would not expect to show up in Sept. not having talked to a popular PI and get into their lab). PI's definitely prefer for their students to start over the summer. It gives you an opportunity to get the hang of lab work before classes start to drain your time in September. My fellow third-year in the Doyle lab and myself both started in July and I'm really glad I did. I got to hit the ground running with research and get the feel for the lab. I would highly recommend starting early if possible. The process is not nearly as harrowing as it likely sounds in this email. The bottom line is you want to contact your PI of choice once you've finished your visiting weekends. You won't be at much of a competitive disadvantage (if at all) by starting late, you just want to contact the professors before others do." What are you guys going to do? I'm so worried about this, because I honestly think it would be better for me to get some more internship experience, but on the other hand, my top priority is getting into the lab(s) I want to get into. I wish I could talk to the professors at the visit and then make this decision but I'm fairly sure that news about internships will come back before my visit. What do you guys think? Like it's great to get settled in the lab beforehand and stuff but that's not worth missing a chance to puff up my industry contacts. Sigh.

Oh, I'm visiting on the 27th of March. Bummer.

Thanks, haha. And thanks for posting his responses, fretting! I just asked the graduate student who contacted me about the benefits/downsides to starting in the summer (vs. an industry internship) and how much it affects which PI you can work with. So I'll post his responses to that here, I'm sure someone else is making some similar decisions.

Yeah ): I'm really strongly considering learning to drive at this point.

Are we twins? I'm also thinking really hard about UW Madison, they're probably my second choice and visits could definitely sway me. When are you visiting UW Madison? Ah this is awesome information re: cost of living! Yeah I'm just going off the internet and my Dad, and since he owned a house & stuff it's totally different. $340 for rent is almost literally impossible in Boston as you can imagine. The only real wrinkle here is that I can't drive, so I can't live too far away (although I might learn over the summer).

I'm not super worried about this, but it might be useful: anyone have a cost of living site they've seen to be accurate? There are a lot of contradictory options.

Unless I get in somewhere else (pretty unlikely at this point, I'm also considering app season basically over) or I really end up hating it when I visit, I'm almost certainly going to Princeton. I'm planning on doing organic as well, I really like Macmillian and Doyle. I like pretty much everything about the program, actually. The only real con is the location. It's not totally in the middle of nowhere but it's pretty bad. I'm living in Boston right now and it's not comparable. My Dad actually lived there for quite a while before I was born. I asked him what he thought of it and he basically said: it's beautiful but cost of living is high (I think it's about the same as Boston, but with none of the perks) and there's not much going on. If you wanted to see a concert you'd probably have to take the train into New York. I'm visiting on the weekend of February 27th! If anyone's visiting on the same date say hi.

I know, I'm in the exact same position. Other people are breathing down my neck about visits and I'm just waiting on them. I'm really worried that the snow will push it back, but hopefully not.

I really like the program! I'm visiting on Feb 19th. Pros: I really like several of the profs there (I think Christina White is soooo cool honestly) and the work they're doing is really up my alley. I like big schools a lot and they're pretty large. I've tabulated some data on their alums and where they've ended up and it all looks pretty good. Cons: Yes, it is in the middle of nowhere. I can't drive and I don't really want to learn, and I'm worried I might have to if I go there. Anyone heard anything about any of the organic chem professors? (Specifically Christina White, Kami Hull and Martin Burke)

It's already five, if we haven't heard already we probably won't hear today. And I'm sorry to say, but I wouldn't hold my hopes up for tomorrow, as Harvard (and probably everything else in Boston, like my school!) is closed: http://www.harvard.edu/emergency I feel you though, I am soooo impatient. It has to be this week, right?

MIT is the weekend of March 26th. http://chemistry.mit.edu/prospective-graduate-student-visiting-weekend-2

I am seriously considering calling MIT but I have a feeling what they'll tell me is: "you'll hear by February 1st!" which I know already. Also I'm terrible on the phone.