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SysEvo

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    2018 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

    in Biology

    Posted

    On 9/20/2017 at 11:02 PM, OwlTree said:

    I'm applying to computational neuroscience programs, would love some feedback on my chances. I don't have any direct research experience in the field, (I've been working on some related industry stuff for two years). The research problems I'm interested in aren't the traditional domain of CS programs, so I'm trying to see if it's possible for me to make a move.

    Undergrad Institution: Top 5 Computer Science School
    Major(s): Computer Science
    Overall GPA: 3.41 (Took over 20+ hrs/semester + grad classes)
    Position in Class: Tough to know
    Type of Student: Domestic Latino Male

    GRE Scores (revised/old version):
    Q: 169
    V: 170
    W: 5.0

    Research Experience: See job experience - nothing directly related to computational neuroscience

    Awards/Honors/Recognitions: I was employee of the month for my 100-person division once.

    Pertinent Activities or Jobs: 

    I've been working as a software engineer at a Silicon Valley startup for the past two years. In that time, I've been promoted twice, (as fast as possible), and was a founding engineer on a team. I work a lot with AI, and our team focuses on an applied psychological research problem (we have relationships with prominent academic psychologists). I want to explore research questions related to the intersection of AI and neuroscience. My rec letters are extremely enthusiastic , 1 from a former manager, 1 from the head of a research division in the company, and 1 from a professor I work with in industry (different field).


    Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:

    Special Bonus Points: Latino, relatively high-profile work (written about in NYT)

    Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

    I took a grad computational biology class in college and got an A. I guess that means I have a little bit of track record in demonstrating interest on the biology side, which I hear is the limiting factor for computational people getting into the field. I've also read a couple of computational neuroscience textbooks in my free time.

    Applying to Where:

    Probably applying to:

    Stanford

    Berkeley

    WashU

    Caltech

    NYU

    Columbia

    Might apply to:

    MIT (? looks like they don't take GRE into account which might sink my chances)

    Harvard (?)

    UT-Austin (?)

    safer schools (?)

    To my knowledge, Harvard doesn't seem to  have many comp. neuroscientists. MIT CSBi(comp and sys bio) is a good comp bio program but I'm not sure about the neuroscience part.

    Should I retake the GRE?

    in Biology

    Posted

    6 hours ago, maximum411 said:

    I recently took the GRE for the first time and scored a 168 on the verbal section and a 163 in math. I am happy with my verbal score, but feel as though I could have done better on the math. I ran out of time, and left a few questions empty without even guessing. Given that experience, I think I could prioritize my time on the math section better were I to take it again. On the SAT I scored in the high 90th percentiles for both math and reading/writing, so I expected to do similarly here. 

    My question is- given these scores, would it be worth it for me to take the GRE again? I know the math is not awful, but if it could reduce my chances of admission at all, I would be willing to take the test again. However, I do not want to waste the time and money if it would not help me at all.

    I am especially interested in Harvard's BBS program, and my academic credentials are very competitive otherwise.

    The math score is good unless you want a more quantitative program like math or physics, but in that case you also need the subject GRE. GRE really doesn't matter much. I got into Harvard SysBio with a writing score of 3...

    Ask questions about the PhD application process!

    in Biology

    Posted

    37 minutes ago, LilyMira said:

    Wow thanks to everyone for the thoughtful and EXTREMELY useful/pragmatic responses. Based on the advice, I'm going to go ahead and skip the Biology GRE, and not worry about switching up my list to add prestige. As for the reason I eliminated programs where microbiology is part of the medicine department, I started by looking through every program, but found out a few dozen in that faculty in the micro programs in the medicine department are (reasonably) slanted towards research in virology, immunology, etc., which I have no interest in. So I started "reading books by their cover" and just knocking them out right off the bat. Micro at UW Seattle seems very cool, though, so maybe I should go back and check out some of the ones I knocked off... still, I feel pretty happy with my list how it is (would be genuinely happy to get into even one of them, and I think I have a good chance), and I still have plenty of time (well, 4 months until I start putting everything together at least). Thanks again!

    Being a gopher myself and highly involved in the micro community, I can't recommend UMN microbiology more. And keep in mind there are several very cool microbiologists who are not actually in the microbiology department but in EEB and Biotechnology Institute.

    Ask questions about the PhD application process!

    in Biology

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, EatBread said:

    I received a formal notification of waitlist status from my top school about 2 weeks ago. However, like many of you, I'm feel the anxiety creeping up as the deadline draws closer. When is it appropriate to directly call the program division coordinator/councilor about your application status? Would it be considered rude/irritating?

    I think it is totally OK as long as your are polite and sincere during the call

    Summer before Graduate School

    in Biology

    Posted

    2 hours ago, SarahBethSortino said:

    To each their own, I'm just saying I knew quite a few people in my Masters program who wished they had taken the summer to prepare. People who took the summer off.

    It's quite subject-dependent. Whereas liberal arts like history may require continuing reading and writing, for most science subjects slacking for few months is totally OK if you have had your courses solid. 

    2017 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

    in Biology

    Posted

    58 minutes ago, abcd1 said:

    Finally got my first acceptance after 2 months of silence. Feeling relieved.  

    Still no word from the first choice school I interviewed at though so I am about to email their program director. I want them to know that it is my top choice and I will certainly join if they offer but I am not sure if I should hint at the fact that I already have an acceptance at another school and am only waiting for their decision. Is it ok to send such an email or should I wait a bit more?

     

    Email is definitely OK. A call may be even better

    Ask questions about the PhD application process!

    in Biology

    Posted

    58 minutes ago, Bioenchilada said:

    A desirable verbal score is higher than 160, especially if you're an international student. 

    Admission rates for grad school are completely meaningless, the process is much more complicated than for undergrad. I'll just say that it is not unheard of for top schools to have 15% acceptance rates. However, I don't know how this changes for international students, probably much much lower. 

    The subject test does help to alleviate a lower GPA, especially if you go to an unknown school. A low GPA will hurt you, but it will not necessarily kill your chances. 

    Professors read your applications. 

    Contacting profs is very likely to NOT give you any kind of advantage when it comes to admissions, in my opinion. 

    I don't agree with your last point. Though in the US most bio professors can't admit you directly, they can certainly give you an interview opportunity if they are really interested in you.

    MIT vs. GSK

    in Biology

    Posted

    58 minutes ago, MCF10A said:

    I'm facing a similar decision (Harvard BBS vs. GSK) so I can totally feel you.

    I pretty much agree with all of your pros and cons, and just want to add a few points: (1) GSK has many PIs doing comp bio/genomics work too. They recently added a new "computational and systems biology program", and recruited Dana Pe'er from Columbia to be the chair. Those PIs are doing amazing cancer related work (Berry Taylor, John Chodera, Christina Leslie, to name a few). (2) There are several faculty members in MIT Koch doing cancer immunology (their cancer immunology program has 10 faculty members according to the website). Their work might not be as transnational as those done by GSK researchers tho. (3) GSK is not necessarily cancer biology focused. They have a top-notch structure biology department (arguably the best in the nation), and many top-notch scientists doing non-cancer related developmental biology, stem cell biology, immunology and cell biology research. 

    I think at the end of day, the major differences between GSK and MIT Biology are (1) translational vs. basic science research; (2) New York vs. Boston. The whole impression of the GSK program gives me is that they want to train the grad students to be ready to solve the problems in cancer clinics (clinical program, many many researchers doing translational research). Most of the cancer biologists at MIT (both Whitehead and Koch) focus on the deeper mechanism questions about cancer. Scientists at both places are doing outstanding science. Which aspect of cancer research interests you the most? As for New York vs. Boston, I haven't lived in either city, but I think both are awesome cities from my interview experience. The stipend should be similar at both places. The subsidized housing from GSK is a great deal, I don't know whether MIT provides subsidized housing too (Harvard doesn't so that's a big headache:()

    Anyway, both are awesome programs and you really can't go wrong by choosing eitherB)

     

     

    For the housing part, MIT does... MIT's 1b1b apartment is ~$400 cheaper than Harvard's....

    2017 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

    in Biology

    Posted

    3 hours ago, Kaede said:

     

    Congrats all! We made it!! :D

    Was this through email or through mail? Didn't hear specifics about the package yet, though I did get the electronic accept form.

    Electronic one saying decision is available on the portal. and the online mail contains a link to confirm attending and says a package has been mailed. Just confirmed too:lol:

    2017 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

    in Biology

    Posted

    13 minutes ago, Kaede said:

    I haven't received the letter itself, but I did get an email saying the decision was available on the portal and they had a mini-letter there saying I was admitted. (I don't know if I was supposed to get this for both programs I applied to...)

    thanks! i think yes, you should get an offer from GSAS for both of your program. The offer letter from my program said I should get the official one from GSAS in the next few days and I'm a little impatient now...

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