bamafan

I'm sorry you didn't get in, but it is presumptuous and dismissive of the other applicants to say it's "your spot". There are any number of reasons you might not have gotten in, and age certainly and unfortunately, is a factor, as unfair as that may be. I know your post is hyperbolic because of your frustration, but there are always things you can improve in your app or even your choice of schools. Qualifications do matter, but so do things like the statement, which really does make or break applications.

Neutral party here, so here is my interpretation of things. It's fine to offer your opinion, but it is really is just that. The problem people have with your posts is that you aren't acting like it's an opinion, but rather fact. While in reality, your opinions are on equal footing with everyone else's, your attitude and behavior, perhaps due to the inability to convey inflection online, imply that what you say is fact and that which others say is fiction, when in reality, both you and everyone else's responses are equally fictitious.

I'm actually a slot receiver in the mold of Wes Welker/Edelman except with the hops and size of Megatron/BMarsh who can also place kick as well as play shutdown corner and safety. And that whole quarterbacking thing too. Which means I'll be drafted by the Browns.

I hate to be a jerk, but you dug up an old thread that's only marginally related to your question. And also, "what are my chances" is a question no one can conclusively answer ever, further complicated by the fact that you haven't actually posted anything that could even let us give you an educated guess (GRE, GPA, research, etc). It's really as answerable as if I had just asked, "what are the chances for me to get drafted by the New England Patriots or the SF Niners?"

I haven't asked, but I think most places will tell you the truth. As for annoying them, you're annoying the secretaries, not the ad com so it shouldn't be an issue.

Wrong subforum, but I'd assume either you're on an internal informal waitlist or it's a rejection.

Just wanted to also throw out Michigan, BU, USC, and UCSD. Some of the oldest and longest-running programs there, and they are home to some serious superstars in the field like Waterman.

It's generally 50-90%, but lately, it's been lower due to funding cuts. But you can usually figure either from the faculty saying what it is or by looking at the previous years' admits/matriculation rate and how many people are interviewing with you.

I'm not familiar with CU at all, but RPI is very well regarded in many engineering disciplines.

Seems more likely to be a prelude to an interview, so they can build you a customized interview itinerary. That said, it's unusual for it not to be explicit.

I hate to be the one debbie downer here, but depending on the due date of the application, it may be too late. I kind of disagree with the sentiment that most grad programs are understanding, they really aren't. Many may be willing to overlook up to a week of lateness for LORs but longer than that, especially if the adcoms have met or are meeting soon, it's unlikely they'll get to your app. Hopefully, though, it will work out for the best!

I agree. Even if you think you know what you want to do, that may change, and honestly, a single visit will not necessarily expose you to the grad experience. Maybe #1 is a perfect research fit but all the PIs are dicks or you dont get along with them. Likewise, I am positive that there is somebody at almost any renowned, good school you could work with. Given your family's financial situation alone and ignoring all other factors, #1 seems a bad choice. But again, don't waste any time thinking about this unless you know you got in to #2. It's bad to be presumptuous. That's how you get disappointed.

Um, I think this issue is overblown unless you have horrible money management / shopping addiction. Regardless of what you make, be it 50k or 100k, I can't imagine anyone actually spending close to their entire salary. The biggest things are probably rent and food (both of which you will have to downsize a bit, but it shouldn't be something that dramatically changes your lifestyle unless again, you spend way too much as it is). Most grad salaries are around 30k, some as high as 32-35 depending on cost of living.

How would they know unless you tell them? And also, even if you did, why is that a problem? Just make sure you stress the part of how it influenced you to go away form med school to research.

It's never too early. In fact, it shows initiative and interest. You are way more proactive and on top of things than I was when I first applied, and I think it will show to the POIs/adcoms. I really think the unspoken gear in the cog though is the SOP. It can vault a candidate that's less impressive on paper above others, and sink an incredibly well qualified applicant if it's written poorly.

It won't hurt to have them for now. The grad adcoms don't care about this honestly, unless it's something super prestigious anyway. I second the comment that you're in an inherent disadvantage if only because you haven't had the time to do a lot of research, but I don't think it will be a problem necessarily. I don't have all that much research either, but I'm interviewing now at a ton of places. If you can get published, that's like a knockout punch for your app. Do well on the GRE, write a kick ass SOP, and you should be just as competitive as anyone else. I do think though that you should consider applying to other schools as well. Three is a relatively small # (I did over 10), and you're choosing very, very, very selective programs where even the best get rejected because it's just such a crapshoot. The number of qualified applicants >>> spots available. I know it sucks to leave the sunny paradise that is California, but you should consider some Midwest and East Coast schools as well.

Only its in California and the answer is everyone.

You can leave the classes online, just don't have it on your CV when you submit your apps. It's totally fine to have class professor recommendations, in fact, it's sometimes advised that you have at least one. You don't need 4, often schools will ignore the 4th and some frown on sending more than 3. Two research and one class rec is fine. Just make sure ALL of your recs come from PIs. Small etiquette thing, you should write Dr. in front of your advisors' names.

Why do you have to commit to a professor during the interview? I think that's an interesting scenario that I've not heard about. Do you interview with just him or more than one?

I second this.

Under no circumstances should you ever wear jeans. The rule if you're not sure is business casual, but you can always wear nicer (ie suit), just never underdress. I wore a suit to my first because it was cold, and will probably wear a nice shirt and tie (maybe sweater) for the rest. Except UCSD. Which will be on a freaking beach.

I want to say she misheard you as some schools start sending out admission offers late Feb.

Having a REU or similar helps more because it adds to your research experience credentials more than anything else. Certainly, it helps you in real life because you got this experience and maybe published (or certainly, a letter of rec). Depending on the prestige (this lends to higher applicant #s), REUs can be quite competitive, but like PhDs, they span a range from low to very, very high accepts. I would say on the whole though that PhDs are way more difficult to get into than an REU. It's really not close in my opinion. For a qualified applicant, even if the applicant pool is higher for some REUs, on a %-basis, there are fewer qualified individuals applying to any given REU than to a PhD, hence competition for PhDs is much more difficult.

Pretty much this. Remember that in biology, there is a generally 50% or better acceptance rate to most programs post-interview, therefore, people who are cross-interviewed are likely to have cross-admits and will necessarily have to turn down offers. In fact, cross-interviewers will probably decline some interviews altogether, opening up more spots. I'm at a point where I'm declining anything else because it's just too tiring to travel more than a month.

You're right, I misread the above poster.