evolve

I will have just turned 23 before the Fall semester begins. It took 4.5 years to finish undergrad--because I decided I wanted to add a second major, and then a minor--but it was fun . After graduating in December I just kept working in my undergrad. lab, awaiting the beginning of grad school. After reading this post, I feel like a baby! haha

You should also check out the dept of Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley. I'll be starting there in the fall, and I absolutely love the people/program/area. Not sure about your specific areas of interest, but there generally tends to be a little bit of everything at UCB. I will be studying marine environmental physiology, biochemical adaptation, and molecular evolution. Good luck!

I am going to visit this weekend. I'm fairly certain that I will choose Berkeley, so I too would be interested in knowing where people do / will / should live. Mollie, what are you studying?

MB1087 and Homo studentsis congrats! ...IB definitely took their sweet time! So H. studentsis, you will still be going then, even though you've already met with your potential adviser? Also, I love the fact that the tentative schedule and rsvp specifically state to dress casual! See you both in a few weeks I suppose..

I received an interview invite from Berkeley IB today via email!

I was mistaken... apparently the committee was to decide by the 22nd and they will notify people around the end of this month.

I am interested in the biochemical mechanisms underlying physiological adaptation to environmental stress in the marine environment. Also, in a more broad context the genetic regulation events that spawn evolution and novel function. Anyone with similar interests is welcome to reply...I love (maybe too much) chatting about this stuff!

I'm not sure about your specific case, but I was told by a prof at UC Berkeley today (Integrative Bio Dept.) that I could still send in new GRE scores, and they are sending out interview invitations on Jan 22.

I spoke with a professor today in UC Berkeley's IB dept. He told me they are making interview decisions by Jan 22. Just FYI for anyone applying to that dept. Has anyone else heard from UCSB EEMB? Good luck!

Okay here we go: B.S. degrees in Biochemistry and Zoology with a Genetics minor from a large state school. GPA 3.80 cumulative--3.91 bio GRE 700Q 460V 4.5 AW --my GRE's are horrible, I know. I took them late and while sick with what was later found to be H1N1 2 years in a molecular endocrinology lab 1st author publication, some presentations and abstracts Research award from Sigma Xi 2 semesters teaching experience (Intro. Biochem class) Glowing letters of recommendation. My largest concern is (obviously) the GRE. However, a couple of my LOR writers addressed the score in their letters. I am applying to PhD programs in Environmental Physiology at Berkeley IB, UCSB EEMB, and UC Davis. I have been contacted by the potential PI at Berkeley, who has informed me that he is very impressed with my application, and that my GRE score seems out of place considering my grades, experience, and letters. I'm not sure how to interpret this? Have also been contacted by UCSB, and will be going out there in Feb. Potential PI there informs me that the GRE score will not heavily influence the decision. Also not sure how to interpret. At this point I am very nervous, and am considering retaking the GRE for the sake of grant applications. Any advice would be much appreciated! Good luck to everyone!

Yeah that is what I was afraid of. How about having recommenders mention it in their letter? Would that be a better approach? I know that if I asked, they would be obliged to include something about how my score isn't reflective of my abilities, and that I was sick when I took it, etc. Thanks!

So basically I waited until late Oct to take the GRE, and I know that wasn't the best of ideas to begin with. When GRE time came around, I was extremely ill with what the Student Health Center at my university called H1N1 (although they didn't test for it?). I rolled out of bed, drank some Theraflu and went to the testing center. In hindsight, I should've coughed up the extra 50 bucks to reschedule until I was better, but I was already late and in the brain fog of flu, decided to take it. I had worked hard and taken many practice tests with my average hanging around V 650-700, Q 750-800. Took the test. Scores were V 460 (ouch!) and Q 700 (not horrible, but still ouch!) AW 4.5. So what I would like to know is, should I make some mention of this in my SOP for the schools that are due in early Dec? (I am retaking it for my later due dates). I am applying to some top-tier schools, so now I'm pretty scared. I don't doubt my ability to score well when I retake, because I would literally read a portion of the V section and forget what I just read when I took it sick...and I generally do well with standardized tests (near perfect SAT). The rest of my app is great: GPA=3.91, plenty of research, 1st author pub, TA experience, glowing recommendations, research awards, fully funded my education, bla bla bla.... Oh yeah, my degree will be in Biochemistry and Zoology with a minor in Genetics from NCSU. Any advice would be greatly appreciated (at least something to ease my nerves!). The main application I'm concerned with is UC Berkeley.

As you probably know, some schools require it, some recommend you take it, and some do not. It seems that since you don't know what schools you want to apply to, you should probably take it to be safe. Besides, it couldn't hurt to take it anyways (for schools that don't require it, it may strengthen your application, assuming you do well). Unless you know that none of your potential schools require it, I would take it.

No recommendations?

Earlier than late September, or were you referring to October? I think I may be able to swing the end of this month. My quant practice scores are 780-800 and verbal is upper 600's right now. I just thought that improving my verbal may be worth the extra time but I suppose since I am going into the life sciences it isn't a big deal... Does anyone who has studied for and taken the biochem./cell/mol. bio subject test recommend a particular book to study with? Thanks in advance.

Ahhh I know, I am still working on that one. Guess I may have to beg some family members for money/sell some things I don't need anymore/eat nothing but Ramen! Just the logistics of applying are a headache. I could apply to fewer schools, but of course then I have a lesser chance of getting in somewhere. How can they expect us to have that kind of money?!? I think I'll end up shooting for late September on the GRE. I can't imagine 20 days would make a huge difference if I study from now until then. Thanks for the response Astaroth!

Hello everyone, I have been perusing the different forums at the grad cafe for a couple of weeks now and thought it was about time I introduced myself. I am a senior at NCSU in biochemistry and zoology, graduating in December. Right now I'm studying for the GRE (which I'm taking in late September/early October), working on my SOP, and trying (sometimes it feels to no avail) to whittle down my list of prospective schools. I must say, along with research it is all quite daunting, so I commend all of you who have successfully conquered the graduate school application process! I will most definitely have a considerable number of questions to ask of the wonderfully knowledgeable users here at the cafe, and I look forward to chatting in the future. My plan so far is to try to get my list down to ten schools. I was just wondering though, based on everyone's past experiences, is somewhere in the neighborhood of October 19 too late to take the GRE considering many apps are due early December? Thanks!