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molecularmagic

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    2015 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

    in Biology

    Posted

    I work here too (Hi!), and they haven't sent anything yet. Grad students told me they usually send invites the first week of feb, so the February 1-3 dates is probably a mistake. I think it's actually March 1-3.

     

    Yeah I was talking to my PI about that date and he said that they have been having some administrative issues so they might be a little behind.  I just wanted to make sure that was the case! Thanks!

    2015 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

    in Biology

    Posted

    A story for those without invites who are starting to worry:

     

    [Apologies in advance for length]

    I graduated with a BS in biochemistry in 2012. I was lucky enough to be able to conduct research in three different labs as an undergrad, each in slightly different fields, so by the time grad school application season rolled around I (thought) had a pretty good sense of what my research interests were. I didn’t get any publications from my undergrad work, but I figured I was still a competitive candidate regardless. I ended up applying to a handful of programs. None Ivy League, but top ones for what I was interested in.

     

    I didn’t get a single interview. Didn’t get a chance to meet with anyone. Didn’t get any phone calls. No Skype. What I did end up getting were a couple of emails around March telling me what by then I already knew – I had been rejected from every single program I applied to. They didn’t even want to talk to me. I was crushed.

     

    Meanwhile I had been wasting away here on the Gradcafe, seeing people with stats much better than mine (and much worse than mine!) receive invites and acceptances to the very same programs I had applied to. This made my personal defeat that much harder to deal with. Was I really so much worse than all these other people? Sure, some seemed to have rockstar profiles that I knew I couldn’t compete with, but most didn’t. Most just seemed like normal, smart, qualified applicants. Like I assumed I was. Did this mean I was a failure? An idiot?

     

    It probably sounds trite, but getting rejected from every program I applied to ended up being the best thing that has ever happened to me (professionally, at least).

     

    Even before March rolled around I was freaking out. My life trajectory seemed ruined. I had no backup plan – I hadn’t even given a moment’s thought to one, to be honest. But when things starting looking inescapably dire I began pestering professors I knew, telling them point-blank that I was going to need one or two years of fulltime research employment starting, well, immediately. The majority said little more than, “Good luck with that.” But as luck would have it, some did know of open positions, either in their own labs or just down the hall.

    I got hired by the same university I graduated from after less than a month of job searching. I ended up turning down two other positions. I found myself with a salary higher than the grad students in the lab, and it quickly fell on me to train them. And the new post docs. I probably learned more in my first year of fulltime lab work than I did in my entire undergrad education.

    After a year at that position I was picked up by a well-known global biotech company that had connections to my university. My new position came with a 50% raise and a chance to work on topics much closer to my core research interest.

    It has now been about two years since my blazing defeat. I am reapplying to many of the same grad programs that rejected me in 2012. Only this time I am a much stronger candidate. I know the field, and I know how to articulate my knowledge. I know how labs really work, both in industry and academia. And I have a throng of senior scientists and professors who offered to write me letters. I had to turn most of them down.

     

    This time around I was invited to a private interview for a program I hadn’t even applied to yet. I was offered a position by a POI on the spot. “I have a spot for you if you want it,” he said, “but you should wait, apply to other schools, and hear all your offers before you accept it.”

     

    The take away:

     

    I.   Rejection is not the end of the world. It does not necessarily mean that you’re a failure, or an idiot. It most likely means you just weren’t ready, which is fine. Stay focused.

    II.  If you’re worried about not getting in, start your job hunt right now. Get creative about how you seek out and apply to jobs. Accept only meaningful work. It will propel you.

     

    tl;dr – Got rejected two years ago. Been working in research labs ever since. Everything turned out better than expected J

     

    This is really great! Congrats!  I'm was in a similar situation, although so far no bites for interviews and I'm so scared it will stay that way :/.  I was rejected to all the schools I applied to, but ended up just going full-time in the lab I had currently been working in.  In my year off I even came out with a first author published paper, and reapplied again this cycle, but still nothing.

     

    So I have a 3.12 undergrad GPA, and 150 V and 153 Q scores.  I know ugly, but my research is amazing!  I had an internship and LOR from NASA, as well as a very highly regarded genetics professor at the university I went to.  I'm so worried I'm not even getting looked at because of my GPA and test scores.  I have a first author paper, just in PLOS ONE, but I would hope that would prove I can do the entire research process! 

     

    Sorry about the rant, I'm just about to go crazy!  Any insight from anyone would be great.

    2015 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

    in Biology

    Posted

    Hey y'all,

     

    I have been following this forum for quite a while now but this is my first post. I have applied to several graduate programs in genetics and molecular biology but haven't heard beck from any as of today. I am getting very nervous now and am wondering if I should look for backup options if I don't get into any of the programs. Has anyone heard back from Miami PIBS, Tufts- Sackler, UGA or UF? And does anyone know if UCSF-BMS and UT Southwestern DBS are done sending out all of their interview invites?

     

    I'd be glad to hear some motivating thoughts from y'all.

     

    I'm in the same boat is you, but I have some insight at UF! I currently work at the genetics institute and applied to the program.  I have not heard anything, but I'll probably start asking soon. I can keep you updated if I hear anything.  So far I do NOT think any interview invites have been sent out yet and I work very closely to the department.  And just a general FYI about UF, they take forever to do most things, so for them I think you can relax for now!

    2015 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

    in Biology

    Posted

    So as you know all the application are basically in and now the real anxiety begins.  I just had a first author paper published in PLOS ONE, and was wondering if anyone knows how much that will help my application, since I'm freaking out of course.  All my other stats suck.

     

    My stats are:

     

    Major: Biology

    Minor: Chemistry and Criminology

    GPA: 3.12

    GRE: V:150 Q:153

    Schools applied too: UF, University of Colorado Denver, University of Michigan, and University of California Santa Cruz

     

    So I have almost 3 years total of different research experiences.  I worked in one lab for 2 years on and off (internship at NASA broke up my work time there), an Oceanography lab for a year (where I wrote my paper, although my paper was about the microbial ecology of plants). I have taken a year off since I've graduated to work on my paper and start a lab that is more biomedical and a better University. I also now work for the director of a Genetics institute.  But I definitely know my GPA sucks and my GRE do too.  I "think" I have UF at least locked down since my boss (the director) really wants me to stay in his program.  But any feedback would be nice! Thanks.

    Terrified of applying to grad school again

    in Applications

    Posted

    I guess the questions are:

    Can you afford to apply again?

    How much do you want it?

     

    This entire process is a pain in the rear, but you have to try if you really want it.  I know that's probably not what you were thinking about when you asked the question. 

    Your GRE scores are a bit low and susceptible to an automatic cut.  Can you take it again?  I absolutely HATED taking the GRE, but I would take it again if I got those scores.  I upped my verbal score by at least 6 points just by using flashcards for vocabulary. 

     

    One point I disagree on is the reputation of the journal that your paper is published in.  I have a paper in review in a journal not really even worth mentioning, but it did wonders for my application. 

    Ok so I do want to go to grad school, I guess it was more do I even try a Ph.d. or retake the GRE. Just random advice to help my application this coming Fall.  I'm just worried about not getting anywhere and having the feeling "well what do I do now".  

     

    I think I'm going to take it again. I've heard no matter what journal you publish in it is definitely a huge plus.  I submitted mine to PLOS one which I know isn't huge, but I am the first author.  That should show I can do the entire research process, I just suck at taking classes ;)

    Terrified of applying to grad school again

    in Applications

    Posted

    Thanks for the advice! The reason I denied the FSU program is because I was accepted into Oceanography and I didn't enjoy the research.  I really wanted to move in to biomedical research, and needed the experience in that field.

     

    Are the cutoffs usually from GRE scores? I always thought they would be from your GPA if you had the minimum GRE scores.

    Terrified of applying to grad school again

    in Applications

    Posted

    Alright so I applied to 4 different graduate programs last fall. Three biomed Phd programs and one oceanography program (worked in the lab).  I applied to Ohio State, Michigan, Virginia, and Florida State.  Well I got in the FSU Oceanography program mainly because I worked in the lab and I was denied from all the other places.  I wasn't surprised but still disappointed.  I decided to turn down the FSU grad program because I really want to go into biomed.  So I now work in for the UF genetics institute as a lab tech and I am planning on applying again this fall but just really wanted some feedback whether it's worth it or not.  

     

    Major: Biology

    Minors: Chemistry and Criminology

    GPA: 3.15

    GRE: 150 Verbal, 153 Quantitative, 4.5 Analytical

    Internships: NASA Ames Research Center

    Jobs: 2.5+ years working in several labs

    Papers: One first author paper under review

     

    I know my weak points: my GPA and test scores.  When I applied last year I had less research experience as well as no paper under review.  I would think this would help my chances, but that is why I am asking for feedback.  I just want to know if it is worth applying again this fall.  Not necessarily the same places, but just some help!

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