[BME/ME PhD vs Top MS Programs]

I don't have the experience necessary to say how likely it is to convert MS to PhD at those schools, but maybe I can stir some other thoughts.

 

The MS programs seem to offer you more flexibility down the road, they are unfunded, which is tough, but it at least gives you a chance to get grad coursework out of the way, get solid experience in academic research, and leaves you in a place where you can be flexible about applying to PhD programs or going into industry.

 

However, if you feel a good connection to the Delaware professors, especially if there is funding, and if you know what you want to do, then it might be nice to settle down at one school. If you are worried about job prospects, it might not be a bad idea to ask the professors you are interested in working with what their students have gone on to do.

[Penn BE vs. BU BME vs. Cornell BME]

I'm also a BME applicant this year, went to Cornell for undergrad, and will probably accept an offer from Boston University for the fall.

 

As far as my experience with Cornell goes, I can agree that its very different from a city environment which has a billion things to do, but there is something to be said for the community-based stuff that goes on here (which may have led to the camaraderie you observed between grad students) between the festivals in downtown Ithaca, the sports (read: hockey) following, wine tours, farmers markets, and outdoorsy stuff.

 

Academically, you need to decide based on flexibility. If you want flexibility from the program as in rotations and ability to switch professors, you have to be willing to be flexible about where you end up as well. If that doesn't sound appealing, then I'd say Penn for sure, where you can nail it down from the start. Also, the guaranteed funding sounds like a sweet deal.

Good luck!

[Keep A Word Drop A Word]

c-c-c-combo breaker

[Keep A Word Drop A Word]

forest fire

[getting accepted over the phone?]

I recieved a call form a POI shortly (minutes, frighteningly) after recieving an email acceptance letter, he basically wanted to brag about the program and how well I would fit, as well as gauge my interest, though the call was quite brief, and I felt like a doofus because I was stuck in a campus dining hall trying to hear and be heard.

 

Someone apparently received a phone call from my top choice, and I have not yet heard back from them in any capacity. Also, I know it's their second round of the meeting/accepting students... I guess I should give up now

 

As far as not having heard back yet, or expecting a call from a POI, every person is different. From my understanding, the decision process is very busy early on, as the early rounds of acceptances and rejections go out and towards the end, when they try to balance their class based on the yield from the early round acceptances. There usually is no department-wide ranking, and since PI's can usually only afford one student a year, it would be tougher emotionally to get an accpetance but know there's not going to be funding for you. However, should the person who has heard decline, you seem like a shoe in for the spot...

 

Just be patient, its not over till its over, thats what I keep telling myself. Being waitlisted is better than being rejected imho...

[Keep A Word Drop A Word]

fruit loops

[That awkward moment when...]

...you've been corresponding by email with a POI for a few weeks but when you finally meet at recruitment weekend you mispronounce their name really badly, setting the tone for the rest of the interview...

[Keep A Word Drop A Word]

Whiskey Sour

[Withdrawing an Application]

In my humble opinion, never burn a bridge you may need to cross over later...

Even if you end up doing something else, there's no harm in holding on to an option for as long as you can. 

[Keep A Word Drop A Word]

Professor Oak

[Keep A Word Drop A Word]

Maser beam!

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maser

[Bioengineering for Fall 2013?]

Is there someone who also did not get a reply by MIT bioengineering? I wrote them twice, and did not get an answer. It is a bit annoying since they have already sent invites + rejections

 

If you haven't heard back yet I think its a cautious good sign. Even if they eventually reject you, it at least means they are seriously considering you (staggered decisions, and they've already rejected people) which bodes well for your applications to other schools.

[Keep A Word Drop A Word]

go away

[Keep A Word Drop A Word]

first date

[Need advice on situation-willing to give advice in return]

In my humble opinion, there's no good reason not to go to the other interviews. Even if you end up at UVA, you'd be passing up networking opportunities in the field and there's always the small chance you'll end up wanting to transfer. Information is your friend, the more you know about your options, the better!

[Keep A Word Drop A Word]

Peanuts selection

[Who all are waiting for BME PhD Decisions?]

Did any of you contact the professors? I emailed some of them but never heard anything back from them.

 

I contacted most of the professors I wanted to work for, with varying degrees of success. 20% had really helpful comments that sparked (short) discussions, 60% were brief but kind (essentially: I look forward to reading your application), and 20% were non responsive.

Sample size: n=20ish

 

BU and UPenn were particularly good about responding, MIT was one of the less helpful. But I also just got rejected from MIT so take that with a grain of salt.