nermah1

Super!!

Stanford and Berkeley!!! Fantastic Congrats you both!!

Yeah! Congrats!! Let's GO!!!!

Yeah, hearing something not good is better than not getting any response from the schools. Hope some good news coming for you!

awesome!

Hey Sylvia88, I am an international, too. I'm also curious about US taxes on stipend. Maybe this topic could be a new independent topic for grad life forum.

Exactly. I got my first acceptance from UC Davis too. Congrats!!!

There are plenty of posts here about whether or not taking GRE biology. Here is one of the post In short, most applicants do not take it and they are still admitted by decent schools. In my case, I took it because I think I myself lack of some eligibility for admission. BTW, I couldn't find any school which "requires" GRE biology score although many of them just "recommend" it. (It's just a rhetoric)

I've got accepted from UC Davis! Finally my one year effort sees the decent consequence!! They offer good financial package, too! About 23k~27k stipend and other typical support!!! I have to pay NRT for some quarters (it's complicated) but it's fine because I have my own external fellowship. I'm really relieved and can now wait for Cornell. Private meeting that I had today morning with Cornell Plant Biology PI seemed to go very well as he said that he would make a recommendation for me to the adcom! I can't believe after all the rejections things got suddenly changed Good luck for everybody here!!!

Thank you very much! Then I shouldn't have any worry about this interview

Hey guys, I have a question about one-on-one interview. Recently, Cornell admissions committee interviewed me and head of the committee seemed to send a message to one of my POI to ask him(POI) to privately interview me. It was so sudden. The POI just sent me a mail today to ask me whether or not I am available tomorrow morning. According to his mail, it's a typical "research fit test" to check my eligibility for his lab. (This means I am close to the admission one step further.....right? I got so many rejections.....so I don't believe in myself.) Anyway my question is if I take this interview and fortunately give him a good impression, does that mean I have to attend this lab? There is a lab rotation system in Cornell and I want to decide my thesis lab after experiencing several labs using that rotation system. I am totally happy with his lab.....so this is minor worry but still I am just curious whether I will be able to change thesis lab after this interview goes well. (Think there are many similar posts here, but love to listen your opinion)

Penn State is sending admissions and I don't get it. Now my remaining hope is Cornell and UC Davis.....

I got same question. I think there are pretty much similar posts already available. But can't remember proper answer. By the way, this is the reason why I prefer rotation system. I have gone through horrible master course and I won't choose the lab by internet search and their publication. I must see how the lab atmosphere is and PI is talking and acting....

Hey guys There must be some lurking plant biology guys and if so, I hope you guys share some information together! FYI, 1. UW Madison Plant Breeding and Genetics have sent invitations and the final decision will make by March 1st. This is their e-mail answer to my question. 2. UT Austin is still processing applications. They said they would plan to make most decisions next couple of weeks. 3. Cornell will make final decision after visiting weekend(Feb. 20-23).

Congratulations for you guys! Good news keep coming. I hope waiting people like me would all get positive news

UW Madison Plant Breeding and Genetics has sent me a rejection (almost). They've already chosen and sent invitation for selected applicants. Hmmmm.........I am not that highly competitive, so this is acceptable. But I now regret that I didn't contact any of professor. They highly recommended that applicants should directly contact their PIs. So maybe only the applicants who contacted were selected. Only two schools are left. Getting nervous again........Ha

Hey, thanks. You've always been cheerful So you've been through with many interviews! Did you post about them? I really wanna hear about other's interview

Hi guys, I just finished a Skype interview with Cornell plant biology. Because I don't have much lab experience, I wanted them to ask more about my knowledge and interest in the department, not just entirely about my experiments. (which are futile :-S) But they just asked about my lab project and experiments......and after I answered then they simply said "Do you have any questions?" and I asked a few things......and end of the interview....!!! I was a bit disappointed because I read many articles from my PI and professors from the department. Well.....honestly, my feeling is that they don't have much interest with me. Hm.....!!! But now what....I just have to wait and wait again

An hour before Skype interview!!! Super nervous I hope every one has good result from interview weekend!!!

I am wondering, too. Some of interviewrs are my PI but some are not. In an extreme case, entire interviewrs are the ones that I did not mention in SOP.

This is quite similar with my Penn State interview......"I spewed all of that stupid stuff. Secured my rejection." That's exactly what I felt too!!!

Hey guys, I know there are only a few plant biologists here but UC Davis sent invitation via mail. I and another applicant got mails at the same time. Hope to get a good result

I must say that is envious offer! Isn't that almost the best offer they can give you?

And I think GRE biology questions are sometimes too meticulous or ridiculous at all. Like practice test No. 17 question, tubulin heterodimer problem is too minor detail I think. Questions in ecology and development really suck, too.....!!

As an international, I felt it was very difficult for internationals to get high scores in GRE biology. I got 790 last year (a test in September) and it was about 80%. I was fortunate because I almost missed 50 questions out of total 200 questions. (I think September test was pretty difficulty) Anyway here are my reasons. First, GRE biology deals with too much topics. And some of them are NOT in Campbell! For example, you cannot find what clathrin protein is in Campbell. If you receive GRE biology practice test, you can immediately recognize this is not the thing that you can prepare with Campbell. I don't deny Campbell is the best (I studied Campbell too and it was surely helpful), but it was never enough. Second, GRE biology requires English proficiency very much. (This is for granted but still difficult for internationals like me) Last part of GRE biology test is almost interpreting data. You don't need pre-knowledge about those questions. That is, studying Campbell actually doesn't increase your skill at this part. But those questions are not easy for test takers who are not highly familiar with English. Actually, I felt data questions are more likely a GRE general test. I am very happy that I got a score over 80%. But I don't wanna take that ever again. You can search for topics already posted at the gradcafe and most of them recommend NOT to take the subject biology unless you are from dubious college or have very bad scores in biology. Actually, most of admitted applicants in TOP schools say they didn't take the subject test. In my case, I took the test because I withdrew from my master's program and have no master's degree. Well......but if you still want, just take it and if the score is not good enough, just don't send the score!