mvp713

Acetylcholine, a lot of the "stats" for these programs are truly trivial. you have a high enough GPA and test scores to be considered at just about any school. there's a lot of chest puffing about the GRE and grades around here that is really meaningless and is zero indicator of a good graduate candidate. your research interest being "niche" can only be a problem if your essays make you come across as having a very narrow focus on what you want to do. programs are expecting your interests (and potentially even your field) to change. it could be that your writing is too technical/focused on your project and not enough on the broader implications of your work or the work you want to do. i doubt this is the case since you got interviews, but just a thought. also, having your name on a publication is great and all...but it really is meaningless if you can't convey the significance of the work in written or spoken form. not saying this is the case with you, but just as a word of caution to not assume that a publication = acceptance. you are getting invited to interviews, so you're passing the "beauty pageant" portion of the application. it's gotta be something in your interviews. are you employed as a tech now? or still in school?

UTSW interview weekends have begun as of last Friday. Has anyone heard back that interviewed last weekend? As always, if you have an interview coming up I can always answer questions (specifically if it's about UT Southwestern).

Thought I'd chime in again! Anyone here is free to PM for advice on interview prep. It was only a year ago for me but I remember how stressed and hectic that time was. Also if you have any specific questions about UT Southwestern, I'd be more than happy to help. Best of luck to all!

Hey all, Some of you may recognize me from last application season, when I was getting close to hitting the submit button and freaking out for the next 5 months. Turns out things ended really well and I ended up at UT Southwestern in the Immunology program. I thought I'd come back here and see what the next year's applicants are up to and offer any advice that I can. PM me if you like!

GOT INTO UT SOUTHWESTERN!!!!!!! FIRST ACCEPTANCE!

Yikes! Thankfully I had no problems getting to Dallas. Hope you make it in all right

Waiting to fly to Dallas for UTSW interview. It's my first ever interview and im trying to relax myself and prepare for a nice weekend talking science and trying not to worry about grilling!

Just got into freak-out mode a little bit. I found out one of the PI's on my interview itinerary is one of the PI's whose work basically gave birth to my project. Someone reassure me!

Preparing as well as possible and getting more and more anxious about the UTSW interview this weekend. I love my project, can talk a lot about the science involved (rationale, current published literature, techniques i'm using, and future directions)...yet i am still pretty nervous.

Sorry for the late reply. But to answer the person that asked what our plans were for this summer before graduate school.. - 10 days (at least) driving around Iceland. - Build myself a beefed up home PC - pick up some artistic skill: drawing, writing, singing, an instrument...something that isn't science or gym related that I can escape to during the stresses of graduate work.

Mine was very personal. Explained how my interest in immunology and research (in general) developed, then talked about long term goals of my research experience and how it influenced my growth as a scientist, then built that into what I wanted to study and do after PhD and how UW was best fit for it (faculty, facilities)... not just science though I talked about the teaching programs UW offered...then I made it more personal by explaining why I want to live in Seattle.

Might be me. I had to turn it down bc of a conflict with UW. Pretty bummed about it, espec bc Davis is driving distance from me -___-

I'm also an ACCESS applicant. I picked Immunity & Microbes as my home area. Haven't seen anything on the results page from that home area at all which makes me think they're still reviewing. I remember reading each home area reviews the apps separately.

For UTSW, it was within 2-3 days they sent me a tentative itinerary for me to confirm. For UW, the coordinator told me they are a little bit delayed in making the travel reservations. But keep in mind, I only got that invite this past monday. I am sure the folks that heard before xmas from UW already have their bookings.

well shit