dzk

It's hard for me to imagine why one wouldn't consider location... sure, you can say that it's "just five years," but when you're living the lifestyle of a graduate student, you want a place you can enjoy when you're not working. Your research will not always be going well, and when it isn't, you don't want to be left miserable because you have nothing else. The happier you are, the more productive you are -- it's win-win. Now, I don't think location is one of the most important factors to consider -- for example, while I'd love to live in Boulder for a while, I couldn't justify an application to CU-Boulder given my interests. However, if you're deciding between a few programs on roughly the same level, then I think location is just as important as anything else.

Can't speak for other Midwestern schools, but Michigan is doing quite well (all things considered), because the state economy has been in the shitter for years and they've adapted.

The only institution I contacted a professor at ahead of time was the one that rejected me pre-interview. You're applying to the program, not to an individual lab (which is why schools require rotations). I'm sure it's true for other fields, but not neuroscience or CMB.

At Penn, each graduate group in BGS handles their interviews separately. If you applied to neuro, then those invites are out (the first interview weekend was this past weekend). [edit: gremot, I know a bit about Michigan, PM me if you have specific questions]

I'm a biology guy too. Every interview is going to be different, and what's going to get you in is your ability to hold an intelligent conversation, not your ability to ask the "right" questions. Most of the time, they'll open with "tell me about yourself/your research," ask you a few questions, then they'll either start talking about their own stuff or ask you what you want to know about the program. Personalities vary... occasionally you'll get someone drilling you about specifics and asking difficult questions, and occasionally you'll get someone who doesn't say a word about research because the conversation got sidetracked from the start.

A few points for you to consider... - Even if you have strong interests in a particular field, you should definitely consider the possibility that your interests will change. If you decide not to follow your current plans, then will you be screwed at Northwestern? - The people you're working with are more important than the name of the school... if these guys at Northwestern are big names, then the ranking of the school isn't going to matter much. - I don't think two labs is really enough... you could find yourself miserable in both, even if the topic really excites you. I'd suggest you find a place with at least 4-5 labs you'd consider a rotation in. - You might not even need to make this decision... if they're so close in your mind that it comes down to factors like this, you might find another school that blows them away. Stanford (top 5) is ranked higher than WashU (top 10), but WashU is ranked higher than Yale (top 20). - I was also at the Michigan interview, if you applied direct. PM me if you want to talk in more detail about anything.

I don't see why this is worrisome; it's realistic. If someone asked me to pay for my neuroscience Ph.D., then I'd be headed straight to medical school instead. I don't need to go into six-figure debt and work 80 hour weeks to make $40,000/year.

It's easier to get into industry than it is to get into academia. Just go to the best school you can and do great research.

If I didn't have Facebook friends applying to the same programs as me, I'd do it. If you're jealous that I get into a top program when you're not even applying there, then you're probably too much of a gunner to be my friend anyway But on top of the people I already knew, I've been getting new Facebook friends from my interviews, since I've hit it off really well with two groups so far. If I get an acceptance somewhere, then I really don't want to be the guy who lets someone else know they were deferred or rejected... and likewise, I'd really rather hear about my rejection from the school than from my Facebook live feed.

You misunderstand. You are right, but my point is that big top-tier programs have a greater ability to fund students with money from outside the federal sources. The international classes at schools like Harvard, Hopkins, etc. are larger by percentage than those at schools like Michigan, UW-Madison, etc.

This is false because many top schools do not need to rely on federal training grants/fellowships. Using your programs as an example, both Harvard and JHU can admit relatively large numbers of foreign students, because the departments have enough of a budget to be able to pay their way until they're in their thesis lab.

I didn't have a laptop through undergrad, and it caused me all sorts of grief, so I bought one when my desktop couldn't be upgraded any further. It's really nice to be able to analyze data, work on a manuscript, etc. without having to keep shuttling files back and forth, and the desktops in my lab are in high demand because of single-PC licenses for software. It also opens up more locations for you to work when you need a computer. I doubt I'll ever bring it to class, but for my research, it's invaluable. If you have the money for it, then I would definitely suggest a laptop if you are purchasing a new computer (and for ergonomic concerns, you can just buy a monitor, keyboard, and mouse for home).

For the programs I'm applying to? Generally speaking, they just want to make sure their average is high enough to look good (and appease their sources for doctoral training grants). I guess you could call that a tie-breaker, but it's not quite that simple.

It's program dependent. Every program has a different way of handling things. I can name you other programs at Michigan that don't look at GPA/GRE until late in the process. You'll never know what is going to happen unless you have inside information, like yourself... and it can even change from year-to-year.

I'll see you there, then! Probably too optimistic, but it's impossible to know unless we get someone from within the program on here.

This is a total guess, but I would think that Penn will accept more than 50% because they're recruiting from the same pool of students as schools like Harvard, UCSD, Yale, etc. Are you doing January or February?

Just to get people excited, I checked my e-mail today and had an interview invite in there. Yeah. They not only sent it over the holiday break, but on a Sunday. Obviously, I'll take it, but I'd been good about this... and now I'll be obsessively checking for the rest of the week.

You just posted a thread about it. Sheesh. If you'd just gone ahead and asked, then at least you'd have had some content in here

You realize that it's very likely that none of your schools have sent out interview invites yet, right? Relax. I know for sure that Stanford and JHU haven't sent their invites.

Considering neuroscience, for example... each institution graduates far, far more students and hires far, far, more post-docs than they hire new faculty. You will be need to be among the very best to get a good job in academia, if that is your goal. This doesn't just mean being the best on paper... but in every aspect, which training under a world-renowned advisor will certainly help. So... does it make more sense to spend five (or more) years doing your PhD at a weak program, or spend two years improving your application to go to a spectacular one? I think it's pretty clear. Sure, you can offset that gap by getting into the weaker program and publishing like a madman, but if someone isn't getting in anywhere good on this round, I'd question whether they actually have what it takes to excel and match the top students at the top schools without the same resources. Think long-term.

I can confirm that international students are reviewed later.

A higher award? Did you make a typo here? No school is going to take external funding away from you if it goes over their stipend. If you win an award that gives you a $30,000 stipend, then you'll certainly get it in full. If you win a $10,000 award, then yeah, they might reduce your stipend to $10,500.

Your best bet as far as dress goes is to e-mail the program contact to ask. One of my invites specifically says to dress casual, and AFAIK, this is the norm for biology programs. You'd look hilariously out of place in a suit. I'm sure this is different by field, though. (I'm a fairly fashion conscious individual, but generally speaking, biologists don't care about how you dress. Male biologists often are the type who will wear cheap button-downs with cheap khakis at their most formal. And if they are forced into wearing a suit, it will be a sale from Men's Wearhouse that's too big on the shoulders. If you find yourself worrying about how you look for anyone but yourself, you've gotta relax.)

Also got the Harvard invite! See you then!

Not only will people probably not notice, but they won't care even if they do. It's not like you sent the wrong SoP to the wrong school or something. I leave out prepositions all the time. You have nothing worry about.