bsharpe269

I dont think anyone is judging you at all! They are saying that the sentence doesnt mix well and could come off like you havent done your research. I think that everyone on here is incredibly supportive of you chasing after your passion for the field. I find that a very honorable endeavor. My opinion on the personal statement is a bit different. If I were you then I would not start my personal statement out that way. I think that information can definitely be included but I feel like the first paragraph should come with a bang research wise instead of involving personal life. For example, my first paragraph introduces something that was a known paradox in my research area for a while. My next sentance basically says that my research interests lie in the solution to the paradox and then the rest of my intro talks about the details of it that I find amazing and I emphasize the particular details that have been discovered by the particular faculty members at each university. I have tons of difficult personal history that I could include instead but I dont necesarily think that is what I want someone to know about me after reading my intro. I want them to know that I know my subfield and love the research, not that I have struggled personally. I think your research interests should maybe be moved up in your SOP and then the personal stuff could maybe be included in the conclusion. That is just my opinion! SOPs vary so incredibly much and everyone seems to have very different opinions on whats best. Good luck!

I would definitely consider U Washington a reach instead of possible (though the reaches are of course possible too). I think your lists are realistic. I think you might have a wildcard sort of application with your GPA that would go either way. You have solid research experience though and a decent GRE so I think you have a shot. If you are willing to get a masters first then I would consider throwing a few masters programs into the list too as a back up plan.

If I remember correctly, I think I got a mix of questions. I think it only draws questions from those you havent answered so if you have been answering the easy and medium ones to start with then maybe that is why? Or maybe it was just a weird coincidence!

Are you applying for masters or PhD programs?

Magoosh was a GREAT study tool for me and definitely helped improve my score but did not predict my actual scores well. The hard questions on magoosh, especially for math, seem to be more difficult than the actual test so if you arent happy with that practice score then I wouldnt stress. I used powerprep for score prediction and magoosh to study. powerprep was only 1 point away from my actual scores on both sections so I recommend using that.

Have you been able to find averages for the programs youre interested in? My guess is that your scores are right around the averages for the top programs which is great palce to be. Once you pass a certain point, the GRE really doesnt seem to matter much and research experience and fit are the deciding factors. I think you have hit that point and should move your focus to perfecting your SOP and other application materials.

So why are you in grad school? If your goal is to learn as much as you can related to your interest and to contribute to research that you are passionate about then it sounds like you are in best possible place to do that... yet you are trying to leave? This suggests that you are in grad school simply to show off, not because you are passionate about research. If this is true then I strongly recommend taking time off after your masters to figure out what you are poassionate about. If you actually really do care about your research then I would take some time to reflect on these feelings that you are having. Many people do care what others think of them at some level but the level that you seem to care is way outside of the normal, healthy range. Why is it important to you that a random person on the street is impressed with you after a small conversation? For this to be your main goal in life (and if you are willing to leave the top research school for you to impress people then it is), is verrrry superficial. Based on your acheivements, you can shoot so much higher than this. Why not set goals to make a difference in your field or someones life instead of impressing someone random? Based on this outlook, you are setting goals way too low in my opinion. The fact that you desperately seek approval from others could stem from feeling inadequate in other areas of life or feeling unappreciated by people close to you. I would encourage you to reflect on why you feel this way and make a list of what is truely important to YOU. Take other people out if completely. If you rankings didnt exist and the average joe viewed all schools equally then where would you want to study? It sounds like you are already where which is way way more than most people can say.

Are you looking at masters programs? I think that you would at least need to do the prereqs which could even be done at your local community college probably. If you can take diffyq and multivariable calc and possibly a couple more math or comp sci courses then I think you could probably handle the work.

I dont think you should apply to safeties but it sounds like you may have not gone about this process quite the right way. For example, one of your last steps says "Looked into faculty research interests and got it further down to 5 programs." I think that this should be step 1. Here is how I narrowed down schools, in case another perspective helps. I started with my research interests and looked up the few biggest conferences in my field. You see the same few names repeated over and over every year in those. From that, I had 5-10 big shot professors in my field. I looked at the schools they are at to see whether there are other professors at those same schools who I could also be interested in. I read publications of the big professors to see who they cite and who they publish with. I looked for their students who are now professors. From this method, I came up with 13 schools that seem to be the hot spots for my research and took 2 off based on location. That leaves me with 11. I might take a couple more off as I am reading publications in more detail. I also had my PI go through my list and give advice. At least half of the schools on my list are not schools that I would have ever found otherwise, based on rankings of just places I have heard much about. They are all top schools in my subfield though due to the strong PIs there. How did you get that initial list of 18? I think that you should get that list based on research but it sounds like that step came in much later. It sounds like you know which of those 18 schools you would be interested in but I bet there are schools that were never on that top 18 list that might be amaazing research fits.

I currently have 8 that I will definitely apply for and 3 maybes. I need to read more papers from those 3 before making a decision.

You have a great profile so if you can get at or over 150V, 160Q then I think you will be fine. I dont think you need a top score but you also dont want your score to move your application to an automatic rejection pile.

I highly recommend that you retake it. For BME, you really should try to get better than 160Q. Even though adcoms dont care all that much about english but they still do at least want to see greater than 150 and probably even greater than 155. The rest of your application is great so I would try to study some more. I used magoosh to study which really helped me. Since your practice tests were higher then I suspect you also got some test anxiety. I experienced this on my first try at the GRE too and when I focused on retaking it and staying calmer, my score instantly went up alot.

So your hangup seems to be completely in that she is 19 instead of 20? You keep saying that a 20something year old dating a teenager is horrible but once youre in youre 20s, its completely ok to date 30+ year old men. What is so special about turning 20 that completely matures someone?

Wow biotechie, your reasons for staying in a small lab match exactly with my thoughts and concerns! Thanks for that input, it is really helpful. You're right that I still have some time but this is one of the things that has been in the back of my mind as I am applying so it is great to get some different perspectives. A couple of the small labs that I am looking at are brand new PIs that come from the top few labs. I think this option might be a great way to network with some of the more well known professors while getting a small lab environment.

Alright well in that case I would ask 1,2 and 4. I definitely wouldnt ask 3. I understand where you are since I was in a similar situation before my masters since as an undergrad, I did not put the effort into building relationships with professors that I should have. I think that as an undergrad, I didnt really get how to do this and I didnt really feel passionate about my major which was obvious to professors. I basically did what you are doing and tried to dig up people that I knew well enough to write generic letters at least. That got me into my masters program so it can work for you too. Now that I have made a lot more effort as a masters student, I have found that asking for letters is actually the easiest part of my PhD applications. I recommend you put a lot of effort into this during your masters for networking, advice, and encouragement from people in your field. I have found it a bit impossible to produce enough research to completely impress my PI AND be a stand out best student in every of my classes so I have found it more useful to indetify a few professors who my personality or research interests really click with and show them my best work. For these professors, I make sure I get A+s on all assignments, read their research and discuss it with them, participate heavily in class, etc. Doing this has drastically changed my academic experience since I feel that I could go ask one of many different professors for advice at any time and feel completely supported. Creating this support system is NOT at all something that comes naturally to me due to my shyness and tendency to worry that I am annoying or inconveniencing professors (which is something I think you also experience). Professors are actually also extremely interested in you, just like you are in them so try not to think like that. Anyway, if you have any questions about this, feel free to ask since this isnt something that comes easily to everyone but is a really important part of grad school.

if the second compliments your research interests really well and you are only a couple classes away from completing it then sure, I see no reason to add it. If adding it will require significantly extra work though that like others have said, that time would be much better spent on research.

You are a great candidate and will be an even better one if you get that GRE up. I think that most people applying feel exactly what you do. I know that I personally keep having moments where I realize 'wow, I am really going through this doing this.' I feel scared that I will go through all of this and will not get any offers. We all do and its normal! You know that you are doing something important to you when you are scared though. You want something bad enough that you are this nervous that you will not get it! Thats how you know that you are on the right path. Keep studying for the GRE and apply! Some of us will definitely get rejections across the board but it is a risk worth taking and you can always apply again next year. Goodluck!

Did you study for the GRE? I wouldnt be suprised if it is below the cutoff. I was able to increase my score quite a bit with magoosh. If you are looking for a study tool then I highly recommend giving that a try.

I totally understand that there are a range of instituitions. My point was that I want to work wherever I can do my research. I want to work at whatever school seems to have ideal resources for my work. I dont really care if that is Harvard or Michigan or Western Michigan State. I am open to any of the above. From this discussion, I am realizing that there is also a large difference in the definition of large lab between fields. 5-6 grad students is small in my field. May of the large labs have 10-15 grad students + postdocs, undergrads, etc.

Yes you are right.. those arent the things that you should be discussing though. Of course you are curious and and enjoy an intellectual challenge. That is not what makes you unique. Your specific interests do. What topics in chemistry fascinate you? What things do you want to consider doing your dissertation on. If you cant answer these questions then you should consider working as a researcher in a lab for a couple years before applying.

I'm in the second year of my masters program and am just now getting close enough to people that I would start considering them friends. If you have a couple people that you like studying with in your classes, I suggest asking one of them to meet up and study at a coffee shop on Saturday or Sunday. I agree that it can be hard to have time for a social life and research and you say that most people in the program are too absorbed in research to want to hangout. I definitely feel the same in my program but one great solution I've found is to meet up with someone to study together. It solves the loneliness issue while also giving you the chance to get some work done. Also, if you can identify some people in your program who typically go to lunch together, try to join occasionally. I used to turn down offers like this because 1) I was always in the middle of research and 2) I felt like I'd intrude. I started accepting the offers a couple times a week which has brought me closer to an entire group of people.

Why do you want to do a phd in chemistry? If your friend were to ask you what you are passionate about related to chemsitry then what would your answer be? That answer is what makes you unique. You will have specific motivations and passions that are completely unique to you and then you have great grades and lab work that will support your qualifiations to pursue the passion. I would try to focus on that passion to get ideas flowing and write about that. It is perfectly acceptable to spend some of the SOP discussing a topic that has always fascinated you that you want to explore more or a specific class that you loved. You dont need something huge to set you apart. These are things that make you different.

I do think that you will have to do something about the GPA so I dont think that a research position will be enough. A masters is a great way to go or you could simply take a class a semseter (grad would be great or retake some of your bad grade classes) while working in a research position. This would help you fund the additional classes without needing loans. If you are worried about financing a mastesr then this could be a great compromise between the two plans.

It sounds like you did ruin things with that professor. You definitely should have kept her up to date with your independent study situation. There is no reason to beat yourself up for not doing so now but just use it as a lesson learned for the future. I would focus on getting to know other professors right now and then maybe repair things with her in the future. Alot of people in academia have a difficult time with social interactions. I think that you are thinking about this the wrong way completely. You should not be getting to know professors for the purpose of getting LORs. If you are passionate about your field then you should want to learn from them, impress them, turn in your absolute best work to them. If you are possionate about your field then in my opinon, the letters flow naturally out of that. If you are struggling this much with interacting with coworkers then I would consider going to the counsling center... not because you have some huge issue but because it would give you someone to talk to and someone to help you through this. This is not the only time that you will need to get close with coworkers. You will have to do this in your phd program and postdoc and beyond if you want to be successful. Use this masters degree as an opportunity to learn how to do that so that you have an easier time in your phd program with the stakes are higher. It is definitely not too late to turn this around and interact with your professors more. Start at an easy spot: why not try to go office hours of some of the professors who you have classes with for the next few weeks. Come with some genuine question from the class and then maybe ask a question or two about their research if it interests you. If you can get comfortable doing that then you are off to a great start. Dont be upset with your current situation and just use it as a learning opportunity. You can plan where to go from here. With a year left in the program still, you have tons of time to connect with people in your department.

Thanks TakeruK! I hadn't considered being him the list and asking which professors would know him well. Thats a great idea!