SysEvo

Undergrad Institution: Big Ten, strong in bio Major(s): CS (currently working on) Biochem; Genetics( earned a BS earlier)Minor(s): PhysicsGPA in Major:3.85Overall GPA:3.77Position in Class: no idea, near top?Type of Student: international female studying in the usGRE Scores (revised/old version):Q: 167V: 166W: 3 (screwed...)B: won't takeResearch Experience: (At your school or elsewhere? What field? How much time? Any publications (Mth author out of N?) or conference talks etc...) 2.5 yrs experimental, thesis project 8 months computational, 2nd author paper published 1 yr (on-going) theoretical, biophysics/quantitative biology, modeling and simulation, may turn into a paper later, but definitely after the application season.Awards/Honors/Recognitions: (Within your school or outside?) Within school scholarships, dean's list. Phi Beta Kappa for my 1st BS in bio Pertinent Activities or Jobs: (Such as tutor, TA, SPS officer etc...) Coursera Community TA for bioinformatics Lead a voluntary translation group to translate MOOCs, actively collaborating with a targeted U biology department. (will this help??) Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Conference poster presentation? Special Bonus Points: (Such as connections, grad classes, famous recommenders, female or minority status etc...) Have met and talked with several interested PI, received good feedbacks. Strong recs from somewhat famous recommenders. Connections between current mentor and potential mentor. Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Applied once on 2013. Turned offers down, and went to work on another BS to become more quantitative. Very interested in physics, and will only consider PIs with a physics PhD. Applying to Where: Haven't finally decided yet. Princeton: Quantitative Biology Yale: Molecular Biology? Harvard: Systems Biology MIT: Computational and Systems Biology UCSD: Quantitative Biology Georgia tech: Systems biology Rockefeller: biophysics UIUC UMich MSU

First offer from Edinburgh...at least no longer need to worry about no school to attend to. Still waiting nervously to hear back from Harvard...

Yes, I was told to prepare for a 10-min talk with no more than 5 pages of slides. And I asked the POI about the questions which are likely to be asked and they were indeed asked...

I sent out my "thank you" email the night of my interview to the four professors I have talked with and to Sam. I sent the email with my thesis presentation slides and with questions to two of them too. I got positive reply from 2 of them but not from the PI whom I like most (which made very nervous now..).

Hi, I had one with Edinburgh with five people via Skype last week. They asked me to present my project for 10 min and then then they started to questions. Since they come from different background, the questions are general and you do not need to worry about the details about science. Just consider why you are interested in the specific field, what you like to do for your PhD and after that, why you choose this school etc. Relax and you will be good. Good luck!

for anyone that may be interviewing with Edinburgh, they are likely to ask you about your favorite scientific papers outside your work...

Could you please be more specific? Though we are not in the same program, but waiting for decision making is really painful...

I did mine already on 8th since I was leaving the US. Good luck!

at least for systems biology, only 2/3 will be admitted after interview

Congrats guys! Did not receive one but I said I couldn't not come for interview in the application...

Mine is 45 min each and showing the data instead of describing them in words definitely saved a lot of time.

Just finished my interview at Harvard and iPad worked pretty well! When asked about my research, I showed them the data from thesis presentation, which made communication very efficient. They showed me their data on their computer too. Just to make sure to ask the faculty if that's OK to use the iPad.

Someone posted CalTech interview invitation today...Haven't heard anything from them yet.

yeah, this email made me heart attack. Thought I got the invitation....LOL

is that ok to bring an iPad to show the PIs the data?

Thanks! And good luck! Hope we could be classmate this fall.

Anyone knows about the admission rate for the interviewees at Harvard?? it is my dream program and I got really nervous now...

relax, I got 3.5 in GRE writing. yours will arrive soon.

It's from the administrator of the program. Hope it helps.

Invitation from Harvard Systems Biology. Made my day.

Just called and Harvard systems biology will send out the interview invitation by the end of this week.

Undergrad Institution: Big ten, good in bio, especially in EEB Major(s): Biochem; Genetics GPA in Major: 3.76 Overall GPA: 3.75 Position in Class: no idea Type of Student: international Asian female GRE Scores Q: 166 V: 156 W: 3.5 >_< Research Experience: At the U same lab same project for 2.5 years. Project developed by my own. No paper yet. (At your school or elsewhere? What field? How much time? Any publications (Mth author out of N?) or conference talks etc...) Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Honors program, Dean's List College scholarship in research two years Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Undergraduate research assistant Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Translate Yale Open Courses One translation publication.... Special Bonus Points: (Such as connections, grad classes, famous recommenders, female or minority status etc...) graduate 3.5 years, double-majored, 140+ credits, 3 grad classes Disabled (wheelchair) Asian female Recommenders famous in their field but I am kind of changing field Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Emailed all POI's and got all positive feedback. Some show strong interests in my current project Applying to Where: Edinburgh (UK) Molecular & Structure Bio (unofficial interviewed by the professor) Harvard Systems Bio Yale Genetics Caltech Systems Biol Rockefeller Systems Biol Dream school Rockefeller or Harvard