drglasner

I was sitting in the break room at work eating lunch with my labmates when I got the phone call notifying me of my acceptance. I was in such shock I didn't even tell my friends when I walked back in...they were pretty peeved that I didn't tell them right away! but c'mon, how could I interrupt a dad telling a story about his adorable 6 year old daughter twirling around the kitchen?

accepted the offer to the School of Public Health for Fall 2013 today. PhD in Infectious Diseases and Immunity!

thanks! I got the acceptance today, completely and totally unexpected. but life works in really weird ways, and I'm nothing but grateful and excited! there's still a slight chance I choose to go another direction, but this feels right.

so I got a bit of a surprise this morning...Berkeley (Infectious Disease and Immunity) called and said they're still making decisions, and they're still pretty interested in me. there's going to be a phone interview sometime in the near future. that was the last thing I was expecting, considering I thought I struck out on all my schools and was already planning for the future (applying to other jobs in the public health field, working on extending my contract in my lab, etc.). I'm so thankful for the opportunity, but I have no idea how the funding situation will shake out even if I do get accepted. my parents were pretty upset that I wasn't going to go to school in the Fall, but now they're pretty upset that it may be to California (we're east coasters through-and-through). I had also come to terms with the fact that I'd be staying in the DC area for a while longer, and I wasn't hating that idea. this is the first place since going off to College that has really, actually felt like home. whenever the time comes, it's going to be so difficult to leave. but there are still hurdles in front of me anyways. still have to get past the interview, still have to get in, etc. I really just needed to type this out somewhere and dump the thoughts swimming around in my mind. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for those of you still waiting to hear! and congrats to everyone who has been accepted/made their final decisions!

username = first initial + middle initial + last name. boring and simple. avatar = me climbing things. cause that what I *really* want to do with my life (mostly, I also like infectious diseases)

got a rejection from Columbia last night. bummer, I was holding out hope. I think I've been waitlisted by Berkeley, but my POI wouldn't really give me any sort of straight answer. I know a handful of people have been accepted and rejected already. since neither has happened to me, I'm going ahead and assuming I'm "waitlisted". regardless, I'm starting to contemplate what's next. I most likely will attempt to find a job that I qualify for with my MS, and the early results look alright on that front. anyways - GOOD LUCK to everyone who is still waiting, hang tough! it'll work out in the end. and CONGRATS to everyone who has been accepted!

did anybody apply to Berkeley's Infectious Disease and Immunity program? has anyone heard anything?

I'm 24, turning 25 this summer. went from undergrad straight to a Master's program. finished that and started a research fellowship, have been doing that for 1.5 years now. I applied for PhD programs, but not so sure that's gonna happen. may go back in the fall for an MPH to help my credentials.

awesome! I know there's got to be at least a handful of people around here who climb/love outdoor adventure. and just loving what you do is what it's all about - they say the best kayaker/surfer/climber/etc. is the one having the most fun, right? I've never ice climbed before, but I have a lot of friends who trek up to New York and New England for the ice. it's something I'd like to try at some point, but to be honest, it scares me a little bit! the bouldering out in Tahoe is fantastic...and, well, the climbing in general out in Northern California is just magnificant. I was out there visiting Berkeley in November, and I really just used it as an excuse to go climb with friends. I hope you do start climbing! I think it's the best sport out there, but I may be just a liiiiittle bit biased...and if you don't mind my asking, what gym would you be checking out? there are some awesome ones in the Bay area!

I'm curious - any other climbers hanging around here? what's your story? and did climbing impact your list of grad schools? I've been climbing for about two years now, and it's a huge part of my life. I compete regularly and try to get outside when work allows. I'm an ambassador for Skratch Labs, and I work at one of the biggest gyms in the country. I absolutely love climbing! it definitely impacted where I applied this year...I tried to pick schools that were close to great crags or boulders or had a strong community and good gyms. maybe not the best way to do it haha anybody else?

indeed, fingers crossed for UCLA's MPH program - better than nothing, and most likely exactly what I need (both personally and professionally). so it may be a blessing in disguise. I'm still waiting to hear from Columbia and Berkeley's Infectious Disease and Immunity program (my top choice), but considering the other outcomes so far, I'm not thinking too much about them!

I'm in the same position. all I've heard are rejections thus far, still waiting for two more, but not getting my hopes up. I currently work a good job that looks fantastic on the resume, and I've gotten a great recommendation out of it, but it's not what I want to do for my career - and I'm not sure I want to be doing it for a third year. I'm thinking about applying for a different job, applying for masters programs (despite already having an MS...), or maybe taking a gap year and doing some traveling. I really am not sure what the next step is for me, but I know that I need to take some time and seriously consider this decision and my options. we'll see what happens. I'm trying to keep an open mind and just see where life takes me. tough to do, for sure. good luck and I hope it all works out!

I got a rejection the other day (Friday), can't help you out much beyond that!

I applied to Columbia for Epi PhD, didn't get an interview. despite the fact they sent out an email regarding a financial aid survey, I'm guessing that was just a mass email. I'm not getting my hopes up and assuming the worst. rejections from 4 of my other schools, but still waiting to hear from my top choice (long shot most likely). and if all else fails, the adcomm at UCLA recommended me for the MPH program (not the PhD), so that's always a possibily to boost my credentials and resume (since I have an MS and extensive wet lab research, but no real epi experience). anyways. needed to brain dump a bit there - sorry! congrats to everyone who has received acceptances already - that's totally rad! and for all of us still waiting, hang tough!

I know we're all probably feeling a little like this... and it seems that grad school is just out to get us and we're really just being dragged through this as some sort of sick joke but at the end of the day, things could be worse and things will work out just fine smile, everybody!