Biohopeful

No problem! Yeah, 24k is kinda meager for NYC. When you talk to your adviser, I'd also see if he/she has any information on external funding sources you could apply to as well.

Here's my 2 cents: 1) Regarding finishing your thesis, I say mention your thesis work in your personal statement and your projected finish timeline (i.e. Summer 2014) and what you expect to get out of it (intellectually and publication/presentation wise, etc). You should be fine if you do that. I wouldn't go into your masters coursework or anything. Although you have a 3.2 undergrad GPA, having a 3.7 masters GPA looks awesome. 2) As far as GRE goes... It is the least important aspect of an application, but sadly, it is a factor. I would definitely retake it again. If you do as poorly, I would seriously look into casting a wider net of schools. UCLA, UC Davis, and UT Austin are still highly selective, and some schools will post their average GRE scores. A good score won't get you into a program, but a bad one could keep you out. Also keep in mind that percentiles hold more weight than the actual number score. Though bear in mind that adcomms do look at the whole application. I will look to myself as an example in this. I got a 301 cumulative (~1100 on the old test) with a 3.5 AW. This is my second try after taking the old exam two years prior. I am a very poor standardized test taker. Although they are not top ranked, or even top 50 schools, I was able to get interviews and waitlists at a few places despite obviously not reaching their cutoffs (i.e. 50% or higher in two areas, 1250 average GRE score, 308 or higher is typical of incoming students, etc). This is because there are faculty at those schools I would be more than happy to work with, and I was very vocal about it in my SOP. Fit is the most important thing. I say study hard, take practice exams, and do the best you can. There isn't a magic GRE score that will get you into UCLA, UC Davis, etc, but I would recommend reaching at least 70th percentile in all areas. In the grand scheme of things, LORs and Experience will pull a lot of weight, along with your SOP. Try contacting people you want to work with and get yourself out there. 3) If a subject test not required, you don't have to send it. This is one test, however, that if you do decide to take it and submit the score, it should be a damn good score. I took the Biology one, scored in the 76% overall with 88% in my subsection of expertise. I don't really consider this a damn good score, though, but I still got an interview at a school. Whether it helped or not, I have no idea. As a tip: When sending GRE general scores for the fee, you can tag on your subject test and send both without an extra charge. 4) At this point, you should be networking, doing awesome research, present at any conferences if you have enough data, publish if it's an option, studying and retaking the GRE. I say this summer start contacting POIs who you share similar interests with. And I don't think you're doomed at all. If you genuinely want a PhD you will find a way to get one.

Wish it was me! Looks like another week has gone by without news... I'm thinking an unofficial waitlist at this point.

Someone got accepted to Notre Dame yesterday. I want to hear my decision too! lol

Yeah, the hard sciences admission process isn't easy at all. Not saying processes for other disciplines are any more or less simpler. When you apply and receive an interview, it's almost like a glimmer of hope, that you are good enough for the school -- I mean, why else would they pay for you to come out and visit the campus, eat free food, meet with the faculty and graduate students? Maybe it's because I truly am an optimist at heart that I feel hopeful going into an interview, or as some places call it, a "recruitment weekend". However, when it takes so long to hear anything following the interview, it's very easy to sit there and self-doubt yourself and your abilities. Why did I say this? Was I too honest? Was I not honest enough? Did I explain my research enough? Is it because they are looking at my application, and the numerical aspects are going to hurt me post-interview after all? Like I mentioned before, the post-interview waiting period is worse than pre-interview. Keep in mind, this is merely my opinion. For all you hopefuls out there, no matter what stage in the process you are at, good luck and keep your chin up as we enter into March! I know I am, with any hope I have left!

I haven't ruled out that possibility. I got an email the week after the interview asking me which labs I'm interested in and what my impression of the program is (ideally within that week), and now it's been silence. Graduate students there said they waited a few weeks for a response, and if one lab really likes you and would take you on, you're in.

I got a couple emails asking me to identify labs I'm especially interested in from them right after the interview weekend. After that, I haven't heard anything, so I have no idea if I'm accepted or not. I want this whole process to be over lol

Congrats! Guys, is it a bad sign that I'm still waiting to hear back from a school I interviewed with on the 7th? Like I'm unofficially waitlisted or something? =\

It's been nearly three weeks since I've last heard from the first school I've interviewed at. I'm starting to get very worried about my status since it appears most schools let prospectives know within 1 or 2 weeks post-interview... This wait is driving me crazy, especially since someone heard immediately regarding an acceptance.

Congrats, everyone! Hopefully I'll be joining you in celebrations by the end of this week. I wouldn't be surprised if the current snowstorm is impeding some adcomm meetings.

I'm done with all mine, thankfully. Major kudos to you all who are able to go to all these interviews--3 was exhausting enough for me as it is. Haha. Now all I have to do is wait for a response... Week 3 for Notre Dame... I'm somewhat nervous.

Some students botch interviews, lied on their application, don't mesh well with the culture of the program, funding issues... the list goes on. =\

Yeah, most acceptance post-interview rates seem to be about 50-75% (assuming applicants will take offers elsewhere). 3 for 10 seems pretty tight, too. Ken: I use android and found a decent GRE vocabulary for that, but not sure about iOS.

No problem! I have no idea why their system is so buggy. Good luck to you! I hope you get everything figured out.

Ruhi: All mine have been verified. I don't know what's up with your guys' apps... I do still get emails indicating that I still need to send required materials, although I've already sent them all in and interviewed. I would contact the department to make sure they have everything. If they do, then great, nothing you need to worry about anymore.

I have my email linked to my phone. My phone just gave off it's typical noise each time I get an email. Freaking out, I open my email only to find a notification from amazon that my new boots have shipped. I just about died from a heart attack.

Congrats, Banksy and mop! I'm still waiting to hear anything from Notre Dame. Some students at the recruitment said 2-3 weeks before they got any acceptance notification...

I think they're used interchangeably. The way I look at it is this: you're not officially admitted unless the program gives you an official letter. So even when I went to a "recruitment weekend" where we were referred to as "recruits", we still weren't admitted into the program. Some places will structure their interviews differently. For instance, one weekend I went to was structured in a way that the faculty were gauging applicant interests and actively recruiting people into their labs. The other weekend was strictly informational and more formal interviews.

I was at their Biological Sciences recruitment weekend a week or two ago. That was just one weekend (~40ish recruits were there) and they had another one set up for those who had scheduling conflicts (~8-10 more). So I think it depends on the department. Normally if there are more than 1 weekend events set up, prospective applicants are usually given a choice as to which weekend they wish to attend.

I interviewed with Biological Sciences, so I don't know how that differs from GEMS. From what I heard, though, only about 2-3 applicants are early acceptances. They're conducting interviews this weekend as well and matriculate 8-10 people into the program, from what I've heard.

I got back from UIC for their interviews. I don't know if GEMS is different, but we had group interviews and only 7 applicants were there. They also had a couple early acceptances there visiting the facilities. I'm definitely more anxious about the outcome of this one over Notre Dame, although I haven't heard anything more from them.

Some lucky person is going to Hogwarts. I think the post-interview wait is killing me more than the pre-interview wait...

Yeah, I bombed the GRE. I'm just hoping that won't factor into the decision post-interview. It's really hard to gauge these things. I hope I'll hear some good news soon! Some current students at the interview weekend said they waited 2-3 weeks for a decision. Good luck to all, and keeping my fingers crossed for good news for everyone.

This post-interview waiting is starting to get to me... especially since someone got accepted right after the Notre Dame interview weekend. I've been pretty patient before this.

Yeah, they gave me the same message, and then went on to say "rejections are determined by many factors... blah blah blah". No hard feelings. I'm glad I've heard back from almost all my schools at this point! I think there were 3 interview weekends with approximately 20-25 applicants each when I was there, but it's possible the 3rd weekend was for those who couldn't make it for the other two.