bsharpe269

I agree. I really just meant research as an example of what I might talk about. I am absorbed in science constantly so that is often what is on my mind and therefore what I talk about. I also find conversations about politics, religion, etc interesting though. I don't come across people who want to talk about these things any more than science though. This might also depend on where people live... I am in the bible belt and I dont come across many people who want to talk about religion. Where I am from, talking about religion means asking someone where they go to church. Most of the other women I meet want to talk about their hair, where they went shopping, what they learned at their bible study, or gossip about the other woman in their workout class. It isnt even common to ask a woman what her career is since she probably is a stay at home wife and might feel akward by the question. To be clear, I am not trying to judge people like this! I am just commenting that I have a hard time making friends with them. I guess because of this, I either find myself talking to other academics (usually about science) or taking about someone's cute new shoes...

It is interesting that there seems to be 2 different kinds of people here: those who like having intellectual conversations during social time and those who would rather goof off and take a break. The people who want to have intelletual conversations seem to have difficulty making non academic friends but it seems to come very easy to those who see social time as an intellectual break. I definitely fall into the first category. I do take some time away from school for things like family dinner or date night with my SO or to do other things that I enjoy like excercise. I probably take about 3 evenings a week off of intellectual pursuits. Of course, I may spend dinner talking about school or research. You never see me at home, just sitting around watching TV. Lately, whenever I have free time from school I study physical chemistry since I never took it during undergrad. I usually have a topic that I love reading about and I consider that my free time. I definitely have a hard time relating to other people. My ideal "hang out" would either be having intellectual conversations, doing something worthwhile like running together, or my all time favorite hangout is just having study groups since I get to be social while doing what I love.

What area do you want to do your graduate studies in?

No I really doubt it. I think those scores fall in the 'wont hurt you or help you range'. Unless youre trying to overcome for a low GPA or something then you should be in good shape.

I agree that you should be fine. I RA around 20-30 hours a week and stay busy but its definitely manageable.

Do you feel that through studying you could get verbal up to at least like 162? if not, then Id say its not worth your time... those sores arent bad.

I unfortunately dont keep in touch with my undergrad advisor at all. I had a bit of an unfortunate falling out with her... she really wanted to me to stay at that school at do the phd program but I wasnt completely passionate about the research and wanted to take a break and figure out exactly what I wanted to study. I actually received a big research award at graduation and she didnt even show up. We havent spoken since I graduated. Anyway, that being said, I cannot imagine falling out of touch with my current PI for my MS and a couple other professors. My PI is so amazing and sits down to give my advice about grad school applications and teaches me random subjects that im interested in. I want to stay in similar reserach so my greatest hope is that we can stay in touch and collaborate in the future!

Can you post the list of courses that you will take your 1st year of the program or message me the link to the program website? I think that I can offer some advice since I am currently an MS bioinformatics student. My adivce is going to depened on whether the program seems more bioinformatics related or biology related though. Also, are you applying for MS or PhD?

Do you think that quitting with an excuse like a family emergency that you need to go home for or something could let you out without pissing him off? It sucks to lie but you don't have too many options here.

Im working on my bioinformatics MS and I probably do 60. I plan on applying for phd programs though so I am more focussed on research productivity and grades than I might be otherwise.

Mexican food and coffee

I actually doubt that you need a BS in physics to get into a grad program. You do probably need to take some more physics courses which could be done as a non degree seeking student at your local state school. Since you currently have math through linear algebra, then you probably have enough classes in math. I would focus on taking some more physics classes though from your state school and also get involved with physics research at that school if possible. If you focus for a year and take some upper level phsyics, do research, and get to know the faculty well for recommendation letters then you could definitely apply to physics graduate programs.

I think most people are probably as excited as you! No one would find that annoying!

I agree with TakeruK and I also want to recommend keeping an open mind for grad school. There is no reason to go in with the attitude that all leisure activities are leaving and no relationship welcome etc. I would try to go in more with the attitude of "I have no idea how much time grad school will take or should take so I will give it as much time as I need to and then enjoy myself when I can." It is easy to think that you will never get burnt out but the truth is that you will if you dont take breaks. I often times do work from the time I wake until I go to bed but I still do have a date night with my finance once a week which is wonderful and relaxing. I also make time to workout, even if that means that I can only get a 15 youtube video workout in. You dont need to completely give up video games if that is a good relaxation tool. I would instead focus on making rules for yourself like that you won't play them until all of work is done + reading a journal article or something along those lines. Sometimes you might get lucky and be able to play for an hour before bed. Other nights, you may have to skip it or keep it down to 15 mins. At this point, you have no idea what your schedule will be like so giving up activities that you enjoy is silly. I also recommend finding a couple friends to study with so you dont get lonely. When you study nonstop and dont interact, its easy to get loney. Im lucky that my SO is working on his MBA so we often spend evenings studying together. It is really great to have someone sitting there studying with you, even if there isnt time to socialize with them. You say pets are a distraction but I actually think they help keep me on track. They allow me to spend 12 hours straight studying without feeling as lonely. Try to keep an open mind about these things. You might see a relationship as a distraction but I see it as a buddy to study with in the evenings and same with my dogs. I actually recommend finding a few close friends to sit in the library with a few nights a week or a dog or something. You need to be able to combine study and socialization since its hard to do adequate amounts of both seperately.

I can relate and I get what you mean about feeling like a dick because of it. For example, I have realized that I have NOTHING to talk to my sister in law about. She is a sweet person and has a masters in education and is a teacher. She is a great person but put us in a room and I don't know what to say to her. I am not like this with everyone but definitely some people. The people that I still get along with are the ones that even though they arent in academia, are interested in learning and like to debate or travel or just gain interesting knowedge. My old college roommate is like this. She works in publishing but is intelligent and we have fun conversations. She explains the world of writing and publishing and living in a huge city and I explain science. I think the difference between her and lots of other people is that I actually find her interesting. She has knowedge and experiences that I respect. My sister in law on the other hand is a wonderful person but never wants to do things that I consider fun (like travel abroad or read classic books or learn science) so I cant learn anything from conversations with her. I just feel bored about whatever we talk about... I think there is definitely a change during grad school that wasnt there during undergrad. During undergrad, I think that I had time to be more well rounded. Now, I find myself having to study/research from the time I wake up until I go to bed many days, including some weekends. Basically my entire world is science right now which I LOVE but makes it hard for me to talk about anything but science since I basically am doing nothing else... I do love talking to academics though! My professors are some of the more interesting people I have ever met and I get excited to get them to myself during office hours or in the hall. I feel like whenever we talk, they basically just dump all of this knowedge onto me which is great. Why do you find it difficult to talk to other academics?

I realize that you feel like school A might have been better but I feel like you need this to be put into perspective... You are upset about grad school when you will going to a top school, near your family, that is allowing you to do the reserach you want and you got a great vibe from the school??? It sounds to be like you have an amazing set up for grad school. Playing this what if game isnt going to help anything. I would change your attitude and start thinking about all of the things that will be amzing about school C! No matter waht decision you made, another may always have been better. For all you know, you could have chosen school A and then your advisor could have moved half way through or maybe you would have hated your cohort there. You can never know what the best decsion is. Maybe your future boss will have gone to school C like you and that connection will get you your future job. You NEVER know what the best choice is. You made a choice, a great choice so now go have an amazing experience!

yep i agree with above that youll have a tough time getting into PhD programs. I am also doing an MS and will be retakng the GRE. Sure, it sucks but I think that it could make the difference between getting into a program or not for you.

Im a different field but am also going from MS to phd programs... What does your MS GPA look like? I would try to get your GRE scores up for sure. Studying makes a huge difference. If you get those up and have a good MS GPA then I htink you have a shot at top schools! I would apply to a few top programs, a few middle range, adn a few lower ranked. Of course, research fit is more important than rank so apply wherever the good research fits are.

I'm not in CS but I am in a computational field. I get that it's hard while working but many people here are even current MS students and making time for it. Instead of focussing on what the schools want to hear, focus on what you actually want from a school and write about that. If you write some standard statement that isn't authentic then you have no shot getting in. They want unique people with unique backgrounds. What about your unique background makes you want those particular schools? Write about that!

In my opinion and experience, majoring in a related but more "basic" (as opposed to applied) science and then moving into an applied science has some big advantages. I majored in math as an undergrad and am working on a bioinformatics MS now. From here I plan on getting a PhD in biophysics. Another example is a friend who majored in chemistry and then moved into atmospheric science. The reason why this can be an advatage is that a degree in something like biomed engineering (or bioinformatics, in my case) is not going to give you a really strong foundation in math, physics, chemistry, or biology. It is an interdisciplinary area and will give you a bit of coursework in all of those areas. This is great too but I have found that having a really strong background in a particular science (math for me) allows me to understand concepts in depth that most people in program dont understand since they have only taken calculus/differential equations. I don't think going this route vs majoring in biomed engineering from the beginning is better or worse but it does give you an interesting/related but different background than the average candidate which has been SO incredibly beneficial for me. The one peice of advice I have as someone also in an applied bio related sort of field is to NOT major in biology. As an undergrad, I recommend picking up the skills that are the most difficult and important to understand in your field. To do applied bio work, you truely do not need a full degree worth of biology, you only need a couple classes on the type of biology that is relevent to your particular area. All of the students with biology majors in my program are majorly struggling because alot of their knowedge is completely irrelevent. You would be wasting classes learning about plants and random stuff that you will not use later. Instead, I would major in physics and biochemistry. I really strongly recommend focussing on chemistry or biochemistry instead of biology. You will still take some biology classes which will show your apptitude but along with it you will pick up biochmistry and chemistry knowedge that will be very useful. I am saying this as someone who really wishes that I had double majored with biochemistry! Also, regardless of what you decide to major in, make sure you do research in the subfield that you want to pursue later.

I'd say your gpa is below average for what they are looking for but not horrible. I think the best way for you to overcome this is to really impress admissions with your research. A summer isn't going to cut it. As a grad student, you should be putting in 20-30 hours a week throughout the semester. This is what I do at least and most of the programs I am applying to are ranked 20-40. Research can overcome gpa so I would start really pursuing it. Good luck!

I am pretty sure that most grad programs just want to see a gpa > 3.5 ish. I really don't think they care about a 3.8 vs 3.9... once youre up to that point, research experience and LORs are what seperate candidates.

I guess this depends on the program but I think most just have 3.0 - 3.3 gpa requirements. Ive never heard of anyone getting kicked out of a program for a single B. In my program actually, I think I may be one of only a couple people with all As (ive been a bit over the top with my grades because i am trying to make up for a low undergrad gpa before applying to phd programs). I would read the graduate school handbook if you have one or ask your advisor. Ive never heard of a program that strict before though.

If I were being treated like that then I would leave. You don't owe him anything! He have you LORs and experience and in return you have him help with his projects. This wasn't a one sided relationship, it was mutually beneficial. If it is no longer mutually beneficial then I think that you should leave just like any other job. There is no reason for an employer to treat an employee like this and you should not have to tough this out.

I am from a different field completely but I think you have really interesting/different experience then the average candidate and I think that this could really help you if you find a way to spin it right in your SOP and tie everything together. You don't mention research at all which is the purpose of a phd. Like others mentioned, a big part of the application process comes down to how well your research matches with a school and how knowedgeable you are about your reserach area. If you can nail down your research interests then I think that you will be in the same position as most others on here.. I would apply for a few top 15ish programs, a few 15-30, and a few 30-50. With that being said, research does override rank. Basically every single one of the programs I am applying for will be ranked around 30 in my field because thats where all of the research in my subfield is done. Goodluck. As long as you have nailed down your reserach interests or can do so by application time then I definitely think you have a shot!