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?

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?

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.
 

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. 

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.

UCSF Tetrad rejection came in just now.  Oh well, I ain't even mad tho.

Why would it be too late? No ones been accepted yet

So we find out about Stanford interviews through regular mail?  Interesting... I thought the nearly double application fee would have gone towards some more modern methods of communication

So we find out about Stanford interviews through regular mail?  Interesting... I thought the nearly double application fee would have gone towards some more modern methods of communication

University of Washington Immunology just came in!!!  I'm out of my mind!! Feb 20-22nd weekend but I'm asking if the previous weekend is available

To me it doesn't sound like you have any interest in going there anyways.  Plus you are already applying to 9 institutions. 
 
I know you said it's a safety, but if the low stipend would make you that miserable I would not waste the 80 bucks.  Buy yourself a nice dinner when you get an interview at your #1 school!

I got 54th percentile on the biochem GRE and sent it to every school. UT Southwestern still gave me an interview...if this helps even one person that is unnecessarily freaking out over the subject gre, it'd be worth it.

Knew a guy that sent his Berkeley essay to UC Davis and still got accepted

Even with my UTSW interview...I am gonna need 3-4 more invites before I actually feel secure about my future lol.
 
Really really really REALLY want UCSD, Berkeley, WashU, and UW!
 
Those four + UTSW were my top tier so I am stoked to even have one...but now I want more!