Jump to content

soporific

Members
  • Posts

    17
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Profile Information

  • Gender
    Not Telling
  • Location
    Canada
  • Application Season
    Not Applicable
  • Program
    Immunology

Recent Profile Visitors

1,998 profile views

soporific's Achievements

Decaf

Decaf (2/10)

-12

Reputation

  1. BPC, thank you for your insight. I hadn't thought of it that way before, since on this forum, everyone talks about research experience in terms of years. Probably it's just easier to quantify. I'll try to arrange a volunteer position throughout the year, even if it's in a different field. If I can do well, then a reference letter from another PI would probably be stronger than someone I took a class with. As well, doing research in a different field can expand my horizons; exposure to a different lab group probably wouldn't be a bad thing either. Thanks again. You've really helped
  2. TL;DR: Is 20 months + a 4th year thesis enough research experience for a top PhD program, or should I volunteer a few hours per week over this next year?
  3. Hi all, I just finished my first year of undergrad and am currently working in a research lab for this summer. At first when I entered university, I thought I would apply to medical school. However, as I have been exposed more to what doctors actually do, I'm not so sure I'd like it. While keeping the option open for med school, I'd like to get enough research experience to present a competitive application for a top graduate school in Immunology. I would be an international applicant so a bit of a disadvantage there, but my institution is very well known for the field I'm working on right now, my GPA is 4.00 through the first year (though may drop slightly), and I already took the GRE, scoring 170/170/5.5. (I just want to say here I'm not a troll and really appreciate whatever advice you can give me.) Unfortunately the lab I'm working in now, though they have offered me a part time job through the year, is located about 20 minutes away and it wouldn't be possible to slot it in with my classes and the times the samples come. I do love this lab though, so I'm planning to come back in the future summers. I'm also planning to take a research course/thesis through third and fourth years. In the meantime, 20 months of experience (+ 4th year thesis) probably wouldn't be enough experience to apply for a top PhD program straight out of undergrad. Thus, I'm thinking about volunteering in a different lab on the main campus for a few hours each week through my 2nd year, just so I can present enough years on my eventual grad school application. Probably it won't completely be on immunology since all that stuff is done at the medical campus 20 minutes away, but maybe something like microbiology or genetics. However, my focus will still be on my classes in case I do apply to medical school... What do you think about this? Do you think I should try to get in a few hours (I'm thinking like 3 or so per week...) in order to have more experience on my application? Thanks in advance for all your help.
  4. Should be fine given it was in first year and your retake grade. Would suggest not even mentioning it in your SoP.
  5. A 3.0 is very low and will negatively impact your application. I would suggest retaking it.
  6. I had to chuckle at this. I do realize that I am fortunate to have won any summer research award. Thanks for your advice.
  7. Yes, that is exactly it! I was thinking that it is like a game show, haha... I think my chances at winning the best award are about 60%, so will have to think about it You are probably right though that the prestige won't matter much, so I am leaning towards taking the university award. If I do win the more prestigious award I can always list it on my CV as declined!
  8. How much does the prestige/perceived difficulty of a certain undergraduate summer research award matter? I can choose between accepting an award from my university, or declining it. If I decline it, best case scenario I'll get an award that's quite a bit more prestigious and $500 more; worst case scenario, I'll get a slightly more prestigious award (than the university one) but $800 less. More money is always nice but it isn't a deal breaker.... What do you think? Should award prestige even be a factor, considering that what comes out of the research project is much more important? What would you do?
  9. 2-3 You need to start with some kind of introduction instead of jumping straight into a hypothetical example. You need a thesis to tell the reader your MAIN point - i.e. which side of the argument are you on? Unqualified support? Qualified? Try to have more logical arguments. Sometimes you jump from one point to the next without linking the two logically, like one of the analysis prompts where you are supposed to point out the unwarranted assumptions. For example, "For example, we could come with large number of artisans all over the country and their products could be exported which means contribution to economic development and also with exports cultural exchanges increases which is also a good sign of building healthy relation with different country of world. It is all possible because the common curriculum being followed is not only effective but it gives large number of students a broader scope of opportunities available to them." What do artisans' exports have to do with a common curriculum? "With introduction of ineffective common curriculum we are zeroing the slight chances of coming up with outstanding students which could be possible if every school following their own curriculum and some of them could have more effective then others." Why would a bad curriculum automatically prevent students from excelling? Nevertheless, if I were forced to write an examination in a different language, I'm sure my essay would be much worse than yours. So don't be discouraged! All the best.
  10. Hmm... try to think of the most direct route to solving a problem first, then do whatever calculations are necessary. For example, imagine a question: how many numbers are there between and including -15 and 10? This could hypothetically be one step of a question. The slow way would be to count on your fingers. The faster way would be 10 - (-15) = 25 +1 = 26.
  11. Probably it would be a good idea to add an extra ref letter. Don't mention the reason, as the adcom might find it offsetting that you saw the rec letter at all. However, if the website says a maximum of 3 ref letters is allowed, then your hands are tied.
  12. If you do decide to send it I think you should send both scores. Maybe try phoning the admissions office and asking them whether it would help. You can ask for median/75th percentile GRE scores of those who submitted their GRE scores and got admitted.... if they can give it to you that would help you decide.
  13. I was lucky - I'd enrolled in Stats 2.1x on edx to upgrade my statistics literacy before doing research this summer. I took the GRE today without much preparation, and the 3 lectures (the online course just started) helped me tremendously with means, medians, etc.!
  14. POWERPREP II: Math 169/Reading 170/Didn't do writing Actual: Math 170/Reading 170/Writing score not out yet. Time studied: ~5 hours? I had a really strong preparation from my high school English courses and high school math contests.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use