biotechie

The earliest I've seen students taking qualifying exams in any of the programs I've been exposed to is after 1 year. Often, it occurs at 2-2.5 years. I guess it could happen earlier in some programs, but I feel you really need a chance to settle in. I recently took mine after being in my program for right at a year. I would not have been ready in the first 2-3 months. I feel like one year was the earliest I personally could ave been ready for the exam, so I would definitely wait. Your school may actually not let you do your qual until you've taken a certain amount of classes or have declared a research topic and advisor, so that will be something important to look into.

My qualifying exam is literally in about 10 hours (yikes!). We were given a total of two months to work on it: two weeks for the abstract, one month for the proposal, and two weeks for the presentation. My defense sounds like it will be very similar in style to yours. I have been in lab daily working on my presentation and practicing, but I only stopped doing experiments in the past week or so. I would say a maximum of two weeks halting experiments is acceptable so long as you're still in the laboratory and accessible by the professor to show your progress. I agree with the above posters. We're in graduate school to be researchers. I could accomplish a lot of experiments in two months and it would be a great deal of lost work which would ultimately slow my progress and delay graduation. Two months is far too long. Had I not been in the lab, I would have lost authorship on two papers that I generated data for. You really do just need to manage your time. When I was writing the proposal, I would do lab work in the mornings, then write in the afternoons until I got bored. I'd do a couple of lab chores, and then start up writing, again. Your organization of your time will be key.

I realize this is digressing from the original intent of the post, but I feel the need to respond to Vene's comment, here: As a biomedical science student myself, I am usually able to schedule things so that I can have some resemblance of a life outside of the lab. Yes, I work 10-12 hour days, but I do get most weekends to myself. However, there are going to be times where it WILL make a difference if you do something now or later. This may mean you have to work up data for a paper submission in the middle of your qualifying exam like I did last week. Biomedical research can be a cut-throat field, and depending on what you're working on, not cranking out the data could get you scooped and deny you the publication(s) you need to graduate. This is also one of the convenient things about biomedical research... many of our experiments take 2-3 months, so you can time them around your life events as needed. Once you're done with classes, this is even better. It is one of the things I like about our education versus that of other fields. Also, something to think about: It isn't "just research." You may not save a life, tomorrow, but what you learn in the laboratory could end up saving lives in the future. That's why our intense work ethic is needed. The more we know, the faster we figure out disease progression and how to stop it.

I think you're making a really big deal out of something small. Not being able to get this information isn't going to hurt you; most people are going to procrastinate even once your course starts. As long as you stay on top of things as they're assigned, I don't see why you would need the syllabus ahead of time, particularly when you have the ones from previous years. Just be patient and it will be okay. I don't think I've ever gotten a syllabus prior to the first day of class, and the readings I usually have to do are quite extensive. You may just be annoying the living daylights out of the professor; I would save hounding for something important. In fact, when I was teaching, we were told by the university to not provide our syllabi prior to the first day. That may be the case for you, or your professor just might not have it done (or they may be on vacation before school starts). Just take a breath and wait until the first day.

I did a MS and am now working on a PhD. We don't have an established "support program" for the older students to help the younger ones. We ask them for help, and they are happy to help mentor us. My program is different than yours, but I feel like it would be rare for a junior student to be unable to find a senior student to help guide them.

There will be many who disagree with me, on this, but I would just like to throw this out there for those of you in biomedical sciences: Don't get too hung up on a specific idea or type of project. It is great to have interests in epigenetics, but don't let that define your absolute final choices for labs and programs. Your PI and work environment are going to be the most important things. I'm not saying you shouldn't go for what you're interests are, but give yourself some wiggle room! Make sure you select programs which have several labs you're interested in. If you have rotations, you'll be able to select labs after talking to the PIs (usually), and then can test out 3, maybe even 4 labs. Your choice might surprise you. For example, my interests at application were cancer, autoimmune disorders, and transcriptional regulation, particularly epigenetics, stemming from nearly 6 years of research experience in two fields. I joined a lab which is metabolism-based and I will dabble in some epigenetic mechanisms on the side (as well as some cancer stuff). I selected the lab for the novel project, but mostly because the PI is an incredible mentor, works well with students, and has promised that a priority for me will be grant writing. When I go to postdoc, I'll still have the opportunity to join cancer and epigenetics-related groups based on my PhD project, particularly those that also link to development and metabolism. However, I'll also be able to go a completely different direction if I so choose. Your post-doc is going to determine where you end up if you're planning to stay in academia. As long as you set yourself up with a skill set that will send you to the right places for post-doc, you may very well end up back in the exact field you wanted to start in, but with a broader knowledge base. This can make for better grant writing and larger networking.

FYI, he means Mendeley, which you can find for free at www.mendeley.com I've probably read over 400 papers through since I started here a year ago, and 200 or so have been in the last month for my qualifying exam. Of those, I cited over 75. Add those to the papers I read for my MS thesis, and I've got well over 1000 papers in my library... still at the beginning of my PhD. I would have killed a lot of trees if I had printed all of them. The nice thing about Mendeley is that it also acts like a reference manager like EndNote. If you're trying to cite a paper you read and don't remember the author OR the title, but remember a conclusion, you can search keywords from that the find your paper. In addition, you get some storage space on the cloud for your papers (1 GB, I think). I have it set up so I sync my new papers to the cloud so I can get them on Mendeley on my laptop at home as well as my lab computer. There are other citations managers (like Zotero), but I like Mendeley.

Since your program requires rotations, I would start there. Make sure you rotate in the other professor's laboratory to get a feel for the lab and what your project would be. In addition, make sure you rotate somewhere else as well so you can be sure of what you want. I think your concern about being in the same lab for a long time is shared by many students, but provided you present often (at conferences, etc), generate and publish good data, and in general get good recommendations from your committee, you could make it work in the current lab. The exact dilemma you're facing is why I chose to go to a different institution for my PhD studies.

For the most part, you're only going to see larger programs if you're applying under umbrella programs. Funding is tight, so some programs are taking even less than normal. Just make sure you apply to several programs and give it your best shot.

Might be easier if people post and add the new schools bolded to the list: University of Utah - Molecular Biology Vanderbilt University - All programs Washington University in St. Louis (WashU/WUSTL) - not sure which programs (at least DBBS and immunology)

Baylor College of Medicine is free, as is University of Utah (they have cool epigenetics people).

Does your program have rotations, or do you have to join the laboratory of the PI you've contacted? If you have to do rotations, look at the other PIs. If there are several you like and some of them are taking students, you're probably fine. I ended up joining a lab with a brand new PI who wasn't even on my list of professors I thought I would like to work under.

I use a paper planner and a digital one. I put all of my classes and events into a calendar that syncs on my computer and phone, but these are more to just remind me to go to them because I get the alerts. I also have a paper planner that I use for more specific things. That's where I plan out experiments and put important dates or events. If I want to know what I have coming up the next day, it might be easier to look in my phone, but if I'm trying to plan around experiments, it is easier to look in my paper planner. I just use one of those weekly planners that has about 10 lines per page. It is usually faster for me to write in there than it would be for me to type it into my phone, but usually I only have my phone with me, so I transpose it to paper, later. It is also a ton easier to show my professor my paper planner than it is to show him my computer or my phone. I do send him a PDF of my digital schedule every couple of months, which he keeps on a board in his office. Monthly planners are useless for most of the things I do, but I keep it for recurring things like mouse weanings. I don't think you're doing to have to worry about that, though.

I originally had a huge list, too, and ended up only applying to 6. I ended up picking all of the programs I loved, and then I dug around and decided which places I thought I could be happiest living in. So I selected school/program/poi, first, then narrowed the list by location/cost of living. Maybe that will help you?

I second this. I've been dating my boyfriend almost 4 years. While he never shied away from talking about our relationship and always encouraged me to go for my career, I did need to sit him down and remind him that he also needs to follow his own career. We've been 13 hours from each other for over a year with short visits every 2-3 months. OP, you're definitely getting ahead of yourself. Neither of us ever questioned whether we would continue our relationship; the question was always, "How are we going to make this work?" I know if I asked him to, he would drop his career, take a lower-paying job, and move to be with me. I won't ask him to do that as he values his career as much as I value mine... You might need to take some time to figure out what YOU want. You need to consider if you want to maintain the relationship or if you want to move on. Then you two need to talk it out. You need to figure out if he will be willing to move with you at some point; you're going to be moving again after your PhD, especially if you're headed into academia. You're not talking just the 5-6 years of your PhD, here. You're talking moving possibly the next 10-15 years. Four hours is easily doable; one of you could visit the other on most weekends. Drive down Friday evening, leave late Sunday. As a graduate student in Biology, you're going to be in the lab all the time, so it may be easier for him to come down to see you as you may always not be able to leave your experiments. For me, I may have to go in for a couple hours to passage cells or check in on my mice. My boyfriend understands this about my studies and is willing to drive the 13 hours to see me when he can get vacation time or fly down for a weekend. You just have to make sure he doesn't have to make all of the effort. Pay for half of the gas to come see you. Plan fun things to do together, etc. If my PI knows my boyfriend is coming to visit, he will tell me to cut out of lab early on a Friday. A lot of PIs do understand the long distance thing as most of them had to do it when they were in grad school and post-doc. My boyfriend and I video chat via Google Chat at least 3 times during the workweek, but often more than that. We like Google Chat because we can play games and watch youtube videos together on it. It is much easier than trying to start a movie at the same time and watch together. We also tend to send each other things through snail mail just for fun. Long distance is definitely doable, provided both parties are willing. Again, it is only 4 hours; you're going to be able to see each other often. I think a lot of this is going to come down to you looking at the next few years and figuring out what you want. Please don't hesitate about asking me questions about the distance.

Don't lie about it, but you don't need to mention it in your SoP or intentionally draw attention to it. If somehow they ask you something related to it at interviews, talk about it. If not, it is probably a non-issue unless you've got a condition that requires special treatment. It sounds like you don't need special treatment and that you're doing pretty well, kravity13, so there's no need to mention it.

You're in Marine Bio, which is different than my field, so I don't know as much about your time requirements. I'm normally in lab at school 50-60 hours a week plus readings at home. My boyfriend and I have been long distance for a year and a half, but have dated a total of 4 years; he is a 13 hour drive away from me right now. The short of it is a few things: 1. I work HARD. And by hard, I mean I'm in the lab almost all weekends. I do this because I want my data and I'm impatient, but also so that my PI knows I'm not slacking off. He is more than happy to let me spend a day or two out of lab if my boyfriend comes for an extended visit. Being in lab on weekends isn't uncommon for graduate students, but I don't take many days off. 2. He visits me almost every time. This is because I have lab responsibilities that I can't leave for more than a couple of days. 3. We limit the amount of time I'm out of lab when he visits to 3 whole days. This means I work a half day on Friday, off the weekend, half day on Monday, usually. Last time, I took both days off, though. Usually he will visit for 5 or so days flying in on a Thursday, leaving Monday night, and will work on other things while I'm in lab. Those days I work normal 7.5-8 hour days. 4. He visits at most, every 8-12 weeks, but we Skype at least 3 times per week and text often. We prefer Google Hangouts lately because we can watch YouTube videos together. 5. We constantly send the other things. Sometimes I'll come home, and there will be a package for me to pick up. He almost always sends me one of his t-shirts, but there are always treats as well. Sometimes just candy, occasionally he'll send me tickets to see a show or do something fun. I like to send him little drawings, return clean t-shirts, decorations for his apartment, and I bake treats to send. 6. We plan holidays extremely well, and now he has his own place, so this is easier. My PI wants me to take a full 2 weeks off at Christmas, so I will fly to him for a day or two, drive to my parents for Christmas, and then spend New Year's with him. He also made sure I took the week break at the end of May, and I think he will do that again next year. All in all, I get breaks to spend time with my boyfriend, but I also don't want to be in graduate school forever. You do have to work hard, but you also have to avoid overworking yourself. For me, this means I end up seeing my boyfriend 4-6 times per year rather than once every month like he would like, but I also have to look after my own health. If I could work 20 hours a day, I would do it. Thankfully, we have video chat, so we can at least hang out. You can make it work.

Yes, this is a realistic goal provided that you did decently as an undergrad and have some research experience. If you've got a low GPA, you probably will need to either do a masters or have had some amazing research experience.

Which BCM "umbrella?" There are more than one. I like your list; I applied to a few of those. Your stats look a lot like mine; as long as you do decently on your GRE and really push your research experience, I imagine you'll be fine.

Definitely apply again; besides, the application is free (I think it still is). I would consider applying under IMBS as your primary instead of Neuroscience, or maybe even TBMM if you're interested in the clinical side. The interdepartmental/interdisciplinary programs have access to the faculty from most of the departments, and if they're not listed, it isn't supposed to be hard to get them added.

Which program did you apply to at BCM? Did you consider re-applying under one of the interdisciplinary programs? IMBS students still get access to most of the neuro faculty as well as many neuro people who aren't in that neuro department. I would say lots of departments are having money issues right now, but I don't think Baylor is (at least not the three departments I'm familiar with). Also, you're better off applying to only places you really want to go (but don't apply only to reach schools). Applying to a ton of places is not only risking overwhelming yourself, but also school look at where you've applied. Sometimes that can hurt you, especially when they think a school is higher ranked, even if they have the top PI in your field. I know the idea of having to turn down interviews feels unlikely for you guys, but don't apply to like 20 places. Limit yourself to a max of 10 with about 2 reach schools, 6 schools you absolutely want to go to, and a couple schools that are safeties that you'll know you'll be happy attending. You'll be able to put more effort in to personalize the application and you'll be less stressed in the end. I only applied to 6 places, myself, and at that time I had no in-field publications, but I did have my MS thesis drafted. What matters more than anything for your application is your research track record, a GPA that shows you can handle your coursework (doesn't have to be 3.8+), letters of rec, and a strong SoP and research statement. Think of your adcomm as a bunch of monkeys. If you don't pull them in with the first few sentences of your SoP, you application isn't going to be thoroughly reviewed. You really want to throw yourself out there.

I also did not spend any money on GRE prep. I reviewed some of my old math notes the night before. In the couple of months before I took it, I read a lot of Jane Austen and used a free GRE verbal prep app made by students at MIT. The app just gave me words and I had to pick the right definition... it was pretty boring. I don't think the app was helpful, but reading works with highly variable vocabulary does. I never did any "real" studying. I was able to score decently well and I got into my top two programs.

Very few schools actually require the subject test. Most say the recommend it, and I would take it if your previous studies hadn't been in molecular biology. I got into my top choice program with 75% on the general GRE, a 3.6 MS GPA, and no subject GRE. I would look into the schools you want to go to. If it says the exam is required, you probably need to take it.

This is an attractive periodic table I found the other day: http://www.redbubble.com/people/compoundchem/works/11859974-periodic-table-of-data-group-names-version?p=poster It comes from this blog: http://www.compoundchem.com which is super interesting and fun on its own, and you can buy prints of most of the things, as well as download smaller versions of the image. He ALSO has spice labels with the compounds drawn on them that are attributed with the flavor or essence of the spice. https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CompoundChem/ I have a set of erlenmeyer flasks and beakers in my kitchen (surprisingly useful) which you can purchase on Amazon. I also have a lab-coat that has "Welcome to my LABORATORY KITCHEN" on the back. I also extremely highly recommend this cookbook, aptly named, "The Science of Good Cooking" as a great launching point for broadening your cooking horizons. A better understanding of why we do certain things when we cook allows you to apply it to other recipes. I very rarely even use a real recipe anymore: http://www.amazon.com/Science-Cooking-Cooks-Illustrated-Cookbooks/dp/1933615982/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404442170&sr=1-1&keywords=science+of+good+cooking