Winteriscoming

Wow, congrats!! I am dying to hear from MIT microbiology too!

Yep, the microbiology program. It's my dream school for so many reasons, but my dream researcher is at Princeton, so both schools are pretty tight as far as dream school is concerned. Both are ginormous reaches for me, but I had to try! I applied last year to MIT and they nomally start sending out invites after January 6th... an invite would be the best christmas present ever!! Luck to everyone!

The thing is I wanted to apply to the Microbiology and Immunology program, but most of the professors I contacted either told me they wouldn't accept new students this year or that I should contact them in january again because they didn't know if they could accept someone. The deadline was december 15th, so I ended up not applying. Surprisingly, two days after the deadline one of the professors contacted me again asking me to send him my transcripts and my recs e-mail if I was still interested. After doing my happy dance, I send him what he needed and then... silence. I know that he contacted my recs, but I don't know if this is going to go through the Microbiology program or what... I think I'm going to wait til monday, and if I haven't heard from him by then, I'll ask him if I have to apply to the program. Next deadline is April 15, so I'll have plenty of time if this is the case.

Yessss, me!! First time hearing something from USA: U Rochester! Happy new year everyone!

Same here! You could choose other areas of interest, but I also applied directly to the mol bio program.

Yep, Jenn Sun. I guess we'll have to wait until past winter break to hear from them...

Yep, agreed. I'll be 27 if I get into grad school and I've heard of plenty of people that are 30+ that are in grad school. If that's what you want to do, you're never too old. Plus maybe adcoms think that more mature applicants know better what they want to do because they have more experience (although that doesn't have to be true).

It seems someone else heard from Princeton (MCB)! Congrats if you're reading this. They're beginning early this year...

I have been applying to grad schools and fellowships since last year, but didn't get anything (except an interview) and it wasn't easy asking my recommenders to send 6 more letters for this application round. They have been supportive and are super friendly, but I still felt a bit ashamed. I hope to be successful this time... because it'll probably be the last time I try. If this goes wrong, I'll focus on finding another job. The one I have now seems perfect from the outside, but really? it's all crap! It's time for me to move on. Only thing is: what a time for looking for other research jobs! About 70% of my Biology peers are either not working or working in something totally unrelated! :/ I rewrote my SOP (my reaction when I read the one I send last year is perfectly described as **facepalm** ), my CV, retook GRE, changed 2 of my recommenders... I learned a lot from last time, so hopefully I'll get admitted somewhere! Good luck to everyone!!

Congrats everyone!! I'm still waiting for the miracle...

Undergrad Institution: Undergrad at a big spanish state university, well known and good rep in Microbiology. Masters at #1 U in Spain. Major(s): Biology - Microbiology Minor(s): GPA in Undergrad: 3.08 GPA in Grad School: 3.78 (directly related to what I want to do) Position in Class: Top 30% as undergrad Type of Student: Female, international GRE Scores (revised/old version): Q: 151 V: 157 W: 3.5 B: - IELTS Total: 8.5 of 9 Research Experience: 2 summer internships with own projects as an undergrad in a big biotech company in Germany; 5 months as grad student with independent project in a well known HIV research group in a state U in Germany; 5 months as a TA in my undergrad university (microbiology course), 3 years as a research technician and lately as project leader in the R&D dep of a pharmaceutical company. No publications... just a couple of posters with a lot of people. Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Erasmus Internship grant Pertinent Activities or Jobs: R&D Tech/ Project Leader Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: mmh... I don't know if it helps, but I'm fluent in 4 languages? Special Bonus Points: I don't think so, no... Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Applying to Where: Princeton (Molecular Biology), MIT (Microbiology), Indiana Bloomington (Microbiology), U Washington (Microbiology), U Rochester (Microbiology) 2nd year applying to grad school. I think I learned a lot of my application last year, but my scores aren't very high... never was a great student (a fish has more memory than me), but I hope my international research experience helps.

Hi! I have submitted 5 applications, but they are not complete: pending GRE scores and one letter of recommendation plus sending out materials for three of the schools. I'm planning to submit two more applications in the next two weeks and then... wait wait wait! I was advised to submit my applications early because I'm an international student but there's still plenty of time!

Hi! I'm an international student planning on applying to PhD Micro programs and I have no idea whatsoever of my chances. My applicant profile is as follows: Undergraduate School: Top 10 University in Spain Major: Microbiology Overall GPA: 3.08 after degree conversion to U.S. GPA Position in Class: 76 of 243 Graduate School: #1 University in Spain MS in Advanced Microbiology Overall GPA: 3.78 after degree conversion to U.S. GPA Type of student: international, female GRE scores: Q: 149 V: 155 A: 3.0 (retaking the GRE; I think I can certainly do better than that =) IELTS: 8.5 of 9 Research Experience: 1 summer of research and 1 undergraduate thesis in a biotech industry in Germany, 4 months of academic research in a Top 20 University in Germany with a european mobility grant, 6 months TA of undergraduate lab classes at my alma mater in Spain, +1 year as lab analyst/ master thesis at a pharma industry (Spain) with one central project and some minor projects, and currently 2 years working as R&D Technician/ Project Leader at a pharma industry (Spain) in collaboration with both academic and medical groups on a variety of "hot topics" not related to microbiology, but molecular and cell biology. 1 oral communication at a national congress and 1 poster at an international conference in the U.S. (both as mid author) Awards: the European Mobility Grant Special Bonuses: (maybe) a patent in a related field to biomedicine/ bioengineering Any other Info that might help: I speak 4 languages fluently (Spanish, Catalan, German and English) Applying to: all PhD programs Indiana University Bloomington, University of Rochester, University of Pittsburgh, Princeton University, University of British Columbia (Canada), University of Washington, MIT. Do you think I'm hopelessly aiming too high or is there a fair chance to be competitive? Thanks for your help!!!