Gram Neutral

Hey Mabester, When did you get your Pitt IBGP interview? They extended their deadline, but I submitted it right when it was due originally, and my letters probably got all submitted a few days later. Did you apply early?

Oh boy. Starting to get a little nervous. Most of my programs have Jan 1 or Jan 15 due dates, but three were Dec 1-10, so far nothing. This is my second year going through this. I just want to get in somewhere haha.

Well, seems I've settled on applying to UIUC MCB, Loyola-Chicago, Notre Dame, Iowa, Pittsburg IBGP, Florida IDP, Medical College of Wisconsin. Still considering maybe adding a Jan 15 deadline program, but not sure. Already submitted Pitt, Florida, Loyola, and going to submit Notre Dame soon. The rest I just have Statements of Purpose to do. A guy at MCW told me if I had taken the earliest interview date last year, I would have had the best opportunity to get into the program. By the time I interviewed, 14 of the 17 spots were already taken. So I'm gonna submit that one earlier. Second times the charm I hope. I've been spending my time working or volunteering in two labs back at my undergrad. Hopefully that pays off.

So I applied last year, got interviews at Loyola and Medical College of Wisconsin. I'm considering switching out some of my schools and adding some, probably Notre Dame and Florida. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Undergrad Institution: Big Ten Major(s): Molecular and Cellular Biology Minor(s): Political Science Overall GPA: 3.06 (3.60 last 4 semesters) Type of Student: White male, Domestic. GRE Scores (revised/old version): Q:158 V:160 W:4.0 Research Experience: 2 years as undergrad doing western blots and measuring photosynthesis rates. 3 months doing HIV research in the summer, and for the next year I'll be working 20 hours in a vet pathogen diagnostics lab, and then 20 hours doing DNA marker work with plants. Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Deans list Fall senior year. Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Secretary of fraternity, Knights of Columbus officer, board member for a group dedicated to promoting community on campus, director and coordinator for a weekend retreat for up to 45 college students. Led a team of 23 peers. Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: May get published this upcoming year, may have internship in Italy right before school. Special Bonus Points: one recommendation is from former Dean at my school, one is from professor on board of admissions at one of the schools. Applying to Where: University of Illinois-Urbana University of Illinois-Chicago Loyola Chicago Medical College of Wisconsin Iowa? Purdue? Florida Notre Dame All will be for Microbiology programs if possible.

So I'm starting to gear up and I'm considering retaking the GRE. I got a 160 in V and 158 in Q with a writing of 3.5 which was terrible and I don't know why. Thoughts on retaking it? My GPA is not the best, but above a 3.0

I'm sure I'll repost my stats later. I just got my last rejection letter a month ago so I'm not too keen on revving up and getting ready for another application period. I need to find a job first to boost my resume.

I'm still waiting to hear from a school, and it's my last chance. I sent an e-mail asking two questions, one of them being about when we might hear from them. They answered the first question but not the second one. At this point I've already pretty much decided to take a year off and work in a lab, work on my resume, retake the GRE, etc. If they offered me a position in like July, I'm not sure what I would do.

I know that University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is very friendly to International students( I go there). Actually, they have like the 2nd most international students out of any University in the US.

UIC is being really...weird this year. Not a fan. Sorry to hear about that though.

I haven't hear dfrom them either, which is why I'm running out of hope. I'm basically over it and looking for a technician job. So if any of your labs are hiring...hahaha.

They told us at the interview that we would hear from them Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday at the latest. I haven't heard anything from them, so I assume I did not get in. Things aren't looking too good for me. I have started looking into getting a lab tech job.

Here I am, waiting. My interview at MCW went great I thought, and they said they would be in contact with us on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday at the latest, and I got nothing. The pessimist in my asked at the question and answer if we could expect to hear from them even if we didn't get accepted/waitlisted. They said unless something terrible went wrong in our interviews, that shouldn't happen. In my opinion nothing terrible happened, but who knows...I'm gonna give them a call Monday. Grad school isn't looking too good right now.

My interview went well this weekend. It was the make-up interview so there were only a few of us. They told us that they will let us know by Wednesday/Thursday, so fingers crossed. I would like to get accepted somewhere haha.

Btw Biohopeful, have you heard anything from Notre Dame yet? I was looking at their website, and I just realized I totally could have straightened out my problems and finished my application to them, but I was stressed and didn't think I could get my LoR to write three new letters in 3 weeks with Christmas and New Years in between. Oh well. Seems like a cool school to go to grad school at.

That it is. I got 1 of my 3 requested interviewers. Should be interesting. At least they specified that we should wear a suit. One less thing to worry about. Do you know if they have a low acceptance rate post interview?

Congrats on your acceptance to clown school! I have my last interview this weekend. My itinerary just went out and two of the Professors I'm meeting with have research that just doesn't interest me, Biophysics, even though I requested microbiology/immunology. That will make it more challenging.

You kids and your acceptances and commitments. haven't heard from my first interview yet, but they still have some weekends left. My second interview isnt for another week! Haha.

Miami's campus is also much nicer than SIU in my opinion. You will enjoy it. Congrats on your decision.

Usually if you go along far enough in your PhD program and then quit(around your 2nd-3rd year) the University will give you a masters and say you graduated with it instead of dropping out.

For anyone going on the interview at UIUC MCB this weekend, have fun. Unofficial is this weekend, I'll be the one walking around in green http://www.uofiwiki.org/wiki/Unofficial_Saint_Patrick's_Day 20,000 extra people usually come down in addition to the 40,000 here, but don't let it deter you. I don't know why they planned one of their interviews for this weekend, but just know this is about as crazy as our campus gets.

My interview this weekend went great. One side note: A girl I was talking to there said that she went on the UIC-GEMS interview last weekend, so for all of us waiting for that, I think we should probably give up. I already had, but yah.

Yup, mine says that too, and then under Decision it says Referred to College for Review. I only have a check mark next to transcripts saying verified-correct. I didn't notice the check mark until like 2 weeks ago I want to say?

Oh and to whoever else got the weird sounding Purdue "rejection" letter, my online application was updated to rejected, so that settles that. Not that I was thinking any differently.

Same for me. They had an error on my application indicating that I had graduated, and they were waiting 2 months for my "final transcript", which didn't exist. The first two times I called they said not to worry about it, the 3rd time I called they said that was weird and they fixed it a day later, and my application finally was listed as complete.

Congrats! I have my first interview at Loyola with a dinner tomorrow night and the interviews Friday. Just debating myself on what I should wear or not for both days. Hopefully the snow storm holds off till I get into Chicago. I have no idea what to expect.