yorkies

I don't believe so!

Man July, that's absolutely brutal! Let's hope it doesn't come to that! I'll definitely post here if I hear anything.

Yep, beside my recommendations and transcript I have a green tick, and beside my CV and statement of purpose it's like a document symbol. If you contact them let us know what they say! Although judging by previous year's results on the results search we won't hear back until early to mid-May.

I have as well. What is taking so long??? coollsy I noticed you're in Toronto! So am I!

For me, I had no professional background or had any job related to biotech in any way. I did have quite a bit of research experience from doing various undergraduate research projects, and had one publication at the time of applying. However I wouldn't say that the research was really directly related to biotech - I majored in Evolutionary Biology, so I was doing stuff like population genetics studies and greenhouse experiments, but I did have some molecular laboratory experience under my belt. All three of my references were from profs that I did undergrad research with. I really made sure to emphasize my interests in biotechnology in my personal statement, and explain my future goals in the industry. My GPA was 3.86, and for GRE I had 163 V, 166 Q, and 4.0 AW. I wasn't thrilled about the AW mark (it's like 49%) but I didn't want to write the GRE again since I was afraid that my V and Q marks would go down, and anyhow I find that AW is probably the least important part of your application. Overall, grades don't matter too much - I would definitely focus on the personal statement and getting good references. Good luck!

Congratulations to you too! Yes, those are definitely the most prestigious schools and if you're looking to get a job right after it'll probably be best to choose one of those two. I know, but Columbia's deadline was April 1st so I suppose that's why. I've had another offer that wanted me to reply by the 15th of this month so I know how you feel - applying for masters is very annoying because everyone seems to have different deadlines. I'll post here when I hear back from Columbia and make my decision! Good luck to you!!

Hey, I applied to biotech at UPenn and Columbia as well! I'm also waiting for Columbia, but I'm very close to accepting UPenn's offer... if you're deciding between the two I think you should keep in mind the differences: for Columbia, I'm pretty sure a thesis component is mandatory. At UPenn you can work in a laboratory on campus or do an off-campus internship, so you have that option. UPenn's degree is within the school of applied science & engineering so you have the opportunity to not only take courses like molecular biology, but also cell and tissue engineering and the curriculum has a strong emphasis on pharmaceuticals (there's quite a few pharma companies in the Philly area). Columbia's is mainly on the science side of things, like genetics, cell bio, immunology, etc. They both seem very flexible. Also, I think a nice bonus at UPenn is the ability to take a course at the Wharton school, which is an incredible opportunity. Overall I think where you go depends on what you want to do afterwards - from what I've seen, Columbia's MA in Biotech seems a little more geared towards people who are seriously considering a PhD in biotechnology. UPenn seems more for people who want to go into industry right after. So, it really depends on which one fits you better, because I think the two are quite different. I can't comment on your other schools as I haven't applied to them, sorry about that! But I would definitely read the curriculum and see which one is the best fit for you and your interests. Edit: don't worry about the deadline. If you log in to your Grad Connect account, you will see this: Q: What is the deadline for returning the enrollment decision form? A: For master's applicants, you must submit your decision form by June 1, although we would greatly appreciate a response within 30 days - our priority deadline - of when the decision is viewed. So you have until June 1st. They're not going to kill you for not replying by the priority deadline. Columbia will definitely release decisions by then. Don't worry about it!!

Another +1 for getting what you came for, it's a bit old but it's a great read.

$40 is pretty good - I applied to 4 programs and spent an average of $100 in app fees each, then $25 each to send the GRE score, and my uni charges $10 for each transcript that's printed. All in all I spent about $550 ish for this whole process just to apply to 4 schools... With some research I think you can easily calculate exactly how much you need and save up for it.

Try this: http://quizlet.com/51933/top-100-gre-words-flash-cards/ And here's an android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.notworks.flashcards&hl=en Try using that on the go, when you're waiting for something. And then work on making your own flashcards, writing them down I find really helps. Even though memorizing a huge list only won't get you very far I still recommend it because you need to know what the words mean. Then read, read, read as suggested above and look up all the words you don't know.

I would definitely suggest trying to memorize the top 100-200 words in the GRE. It's hard to get it all in your head but you just need the right techniques and enough time. I used a flashcard app by Kaplan on my iPad to do this, and it helped a lot. You can also purchase flashcards, write the word on one side and the definition in the other, and go through them at least once a day. Once you feel like you know certain words really well, remove them from your pile and focus on the ones you don't know. Try writing sentences with the really difficult words.

So I applied to the PSM Biotechnology at Penn State, and I did a phone interview with them. I took the opportunity to ask the interviewer about what the graduate students do, and she told me that pretty much all of the 130-something graduates they've had so far have found positions, most of them in research & development in various companies. That particular program guarantees a 6-month paid internship, so I imagine many of them find a job through connections at the internship. Ultimately I think it depends on the program you attend, the opportunities you find through that program, and exactly what part of biotechnology you're interested in (i.e. pharma, agriculture, etc.)

This post prompted me to join the site so I can thank you for this post. Waiting is so agonizing... I am sorry to hear you were rejected but you seem to have a great outlook on life. I admire you for what you said and I hope everything works out for you in the end!