microarray

I may also end up in East Lansing, but who knows. I'm hoping to be off of the waitlist after their second interview weekend for the BioMolecular Science Gateway program. I realllly want to go to Michigan though. I'm hoping my interview goes well! You should do it if you end up moving away for grad school!

If I move to MI and go to Ann Arbor, I'll be moving as soon as possible after graduation to start doing field work. However, I'd love to see some more things on the west coast before moving inland: Crater Lake, the Lost Coast, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I would like to see as much as I can along my drive across the country and I'd like to move early so I can get settled in and explore my new city and state.

Here's a great blog post on this subject which may have some additional things not mentioned here. http://serialmentor.com/blog/2014/1/25/6-reasons-to-do-your-graduate-work-in-the-lab-of-a-junior-pi-and-6-reasons-not-to

I generally only reuse wool socks 1-2 times. They're so durable and don't get nasty like regular cotton socks. I'll wear jeans 3-4 times (given i don't get food/dirt on them and they don't smell).

Another important thing to think about is how well they know you ie character and how successful you'll be in graduate school.

Yay that's great news. congrats!

Congrats guys! I unfortunately got put on the wait list. However, the email stated that the majority of students were wait listed. I wish I was accepted so my stomach could un-knot itself! Hope UM accepts me right away!

I got an email telling me i'm on the wait list. Here's what part of the email stated: " To make the admissions process fair to all applicants, a large portion of our visitors to the first recruiting weekend are placed in this "wait listed" category. Once our second recruiting event is completed, a final decision on your application will be made. It is important to note that we do not prioritize this wait list. Following the completion of our interviewing process, each applicant will be judged based on their individual merit." I guess there's still hope. Sigh. Congrats to those who were accepted this round.

I guess you have to figure out what's most important to you. I don't want to have kids, so this won't be an issue when I get my PhD in my late 30s.

You're welcome! At this point, there's nothing you can really do right? You've submitted your applications and they are judging you with the info they currently have. However, you could currently work on figuring out how to nail your interviews and impress them when you meet them! Right now, I'm finishing up my last semester of undergrad and doing one last semester of research in my lab. I think I have enough to keep me busy/preoccupied. I'm still anxious to see an acceptance letter, but I know I should get in to at least one school.

From what I can tell, this is pretty comparable to stipends at most universities across the US. i'm not from Penn so not sure how much it costs to live there. To figure out about how much housing is - craigslist is a good place to look up apartments/houses for rent.

From what I've read, retaking GRE does not really increase a students score by much. Luckily, the good majority of schools look at you as a whole package. Overall, you seem like a great candidate and I wouldn't give up just yet. I did horrible on GRE - 150V/145Q/2. In most of my applications I had an "additional essay" to write anything. I added why i did so bad on GRE (I don't test well) but this does not reflect my ability to do math or write. I then pointed them to look at my transcript. I have A's in all math and english classes i've ever taken. I think the real key is that you have research experiece! If your recommenders know you well and can speak about your abilities to do research and be successful in graduate school, i'm sure you'll be fine. I was terrified that my GRE score would ruin my chances of getting in to grad school, but so far have 2 interviews at some pretty good schools. Hang in there!

Thank you iheartplants! I'm so excited for UM, it's my top choice! I actually applied to the micro program at MSU (more microbial ecologists in that dept). I was surprised by how much I liked the school and would be super happy there as well. I love how all of you Michiganders show the mitten when you talk about where you're from. Super cute. Can't wait to live there (hopefully!!)

If I've learned anything this interview season, it's that don't let low GRE scores get you down. I did horrible on the GRE (150/145/2). I don't test well and it takes me a really long time to write. Every assignment I've ever had time to think about, I've gotten an A, but exams are a totally different story for me due to test anxiety. I thought for sure that I had ruined my chances of getting into grad school by doing so bad on GRE. I didn't want to take it again because I knew I'd probably only do slightly better and frankly I couldn't afford to take it again. I have interviews at some stellar schools and I'm confident I'll get in to at least one of them. Research experience, strong SOP and LOR will carry you a long way. (I have a 3.76 GPA, but not sure how much this really influences the decision.)

Just got my invite for UMich EEB! Interview weekend Feb 13-15. They make travel arrangements so no need to worry about reimbursement, etc.

Hi everybody, I found this great blog post with some tips for the interview weekend. http://serialmentor.com/blog/2014/1/14/understanding-the-graduate-school-interview-or-recruitment-event best of luck!

I'm sure they're just really busy. We have to remember that these PI's get so many emails every day. I've had a similar situation happen with a prof at Brown. I'm trying to be patient!

50s/60s every one/thing was so dang classy. I wish I could have grew up then without all of the sexism.

I'm 29 and hoping to start my PhD this fall. When I went to Mich State a little over a week ago for interview, I was surprised how young all the current grad students and current applicants were. There were only a few grad students I saw around my age or older. Do you guys/gals think that we have an advantage or disadvantage of being a little older? Personally, I think I have an advantage, I'm much more mature and I know exactly what I want and how to get there.

Ugh i'm anxiously awaiting to hear something from the EEB programs! From my potential PI at Mich, we should hear something Mon or Tue *fingers crossed* Any idea when we'll hear from Brown? There aren't that many posts on results so it's hard to know what to expect.

I only applied to 4 programs. Kinda wished I applied to a few more, not sure what i'll do if i don't get accepted. I only chose 4 because those were the only schools doing the research that I wanted to be doing in the places I wanted to live. I've only had one interview so far, hope to hear about other schools next week. freaking out.

In addition to what everyone else has said, I think it would be good for you to regularly have conversations with a native english speaker. Have them point out when you say something "wrong"/"odd".

I will have a BSc in Ecology after this semester! I'm applying to mostly EEB departments and mainly interested in microbial ecology - which is fun that I can still go out to cool places and sample!! When I was at MSU this weekend for an umbrella program - most students seemed to be biochem, cell and molec; or medical micro. I was one of the few (literally) microbial ecology applicants. Have you heard back from any of your programs yet?

1) Are you the first in your family to pursue graduate education? Are you the first to pursue higher education in general? My parents only have a high school education. I'm one of the first ones in my whole family to go to grad school. I have a 2nd cousin that's a Bio prof at a Uni, but other than that I think I'm the only one. 2) What struggles have you faced as a first-generation applicant? I think by being the first, I have to figure everything out on my own. The advice I get is from my PI (which is great!), but I wish I could ask my family how they went through this very stressful process. + Absolutely no financial support from my family. Applications are super expensive. I'm glad I only applied to 4 schools, i'm not sure how many more I could have afforded. 3) What have you accomplished as a first-generation applicant? Really high GPA, lots of scholarships, huge research grant/scholarship, and research for 2+ years all while being a non-traditional student. I started my undergrad when I was 25. 4) What has helped you reach your educational goals? Sheer determination to make my life better (I grew up in a lower middleclass/poor family in the south). Holding myself to high standards made me study hard and keep going. (Hope all my hard work will pay off.) Super supportive SO, who was in school at the same time as I was. He graduated a year before I did, but he understands when I need to study late or why I can't really hang out during the semester. Having a dog! He's always excited to see me and knows when I'm feeling down. Having friends at school to help you get through the tough parts of school. Lastly, a really amazing mentor (my PI).

If accepted: move to uni town (early june or july), get settled in and explore! Ride bikes, hike, watch birds, and have as much fun as possible! If not accepted: well.. i don't want to think about that yet