astaroth27

Who would take the time to write a negative letter? If they like or respect you enough to take the time to write you an LOR it will be generally positive. That said, it is really easy to tell the level of enthusiasm a letter writer has about someone and if they are on the fence about you it will show. Asking them if they will write a positive LOR is silly.

1.) I second gene therapy. Huzzah! I am more of a genetics person than an immunology person but both topics fascinate me. 2.) Money, definately. However, it is just a symptom of our misplaced priorities in this world. I don't want to go into politics but I think we could all agree here that scientific research is underfunded and dismissed by people who don't understand it. 3.) C. difficile! I have never studied a more pervasive organism. Study it at your own risk but good luck getting rid of it when you are done. 4.) Favorite: Anything I have never done before. Once I master something I don't have an interest in personally doing it anymore. Hardest: Plasmid construction. It is a skill I am glad I learned before grad school but I have only recently been able to get a plasmid I made myself to function as a vector. 5.) My proudest accomplishment was one of my first. Genetically engineering some bacteria to smell like popcorn butter based on my own experimental design was a proud day. Maybe not the most practical experiment but it made me a gene therapy believer.

no way

Anybody hear back from Johns Hopkins Human genetics?

Avoid DTN. I lived in two different DTN apartment complexes (Cedar Greens and 731 Burcham) and hated them both. Burcham apartments were disgusting and the Cedar Greens apartments were overpriced and tiny. I would commute from farther away if possible as both these complexes are right next to campus.

I didn't start obsessing until my first rejection. Booze sounds like a healthy way to cope with waiting.

Undergrad Institution: Michigan State University Major(s): Genomics and Molecular Genetics Minor(s): GPA in Major: Overall GPA: 3.77 Position in Class: top 10% Type of Student: white male GRE Scores (revised): Q: 155 V:167 W: 4.0 Research Experience: 1.5 years, 2 different labs. Pub in the works. Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Honor's College Pertinent Activities or Jobs: TA Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Military background, got Honor's degree in 3 years Special Bonus Points: 2 recommenders are from universities I am applying to Applying to Where: Scope my signature