Jump to content

Cogsprocks

Members
  • Posts

    11
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Cogsprocks

  1. I think the biggest lesson I've learned is self-confidence. I go to a top 20 institution, so a lot of the people around me were much better students than I was. My GPA is only a 3.6, with a 3.4 in the sciences. I have done research for 2 years, have attended conferences and stuff, but I have plenty of friends in the chemistry department pushing a 3.8 who have had publications. Although my departments GPA average is 3.0, I felt pretty inadequate when applying since I hung out with the hardcore chemistry nerds. While I knew I was cut out for graduate school, I think I sold myself short in a lot of ways. My adviser essentially told me that I needed to build my self-confidence, and she urged me to apply to schools with much more prestige than I thought I could get into. Thankfully she did, although I think I applied to WAY too many schools. I think the whole process has helped me gain perspective. My school had a huge pre-med population which warped a lot of the way us science students looked at the graduate school process. It's much more different. My self-confidence is through the roof now because of my adviser helping see what potential I have. I have gotten into 6/8 schools I've applied, with many offering fellowships. The POIs I've talked to on my visits have researched who I am and what I've been doing for research. The last few months have totally reshaped how I've looked at myself as an individual and a student.
  2. I didn't hear from MIT either today. Just a question, are you guys fellow P-chemists? It seems that some departments sort through the different subdivisions first. Maybe MIT shuffled through the organic people? I dunno. I applied as a "well 1% is still a chance!" I'm not getting my hopes up since CalTech toyed with my heart, alluded to me getting in, then rejected me. Not gonna let MIT do that too.
  3. Dude, your chances will be great, as your application looks better than mine. What you should focus on in my opinion is the things you have direct control, GRE and your essays. Your essays will help you stand out and make you memorable. You should also cultivate your LoRs. The top 10 schools are a crap shoot, but you have a chance. Also, I wouldn't look at what schools are "above average" look for schools that fit you and have research you want to do. How I started my school search was simple and basic. I took a map of the USA and blocked out states I want to live in, wouldn't mind living in, and dont want to live in. Then, I went to top 50 list, and dotted the ones on the map that weren't in "dont want to live areas." From there, I looked at school's research interests and faculties. Grad school isn't about going to the best top 10. Yes, name brand may help, but this is a *job* essentially. You need to work and live somewhere you will be happy. But, you will be fine, and I'm sure you have chances at great schools.
  4. Emailed Caltech to see what was up, since I was told I would get notice of my decision a week ago. I got rejected. At least I got an interview, and came down to fighting foe the last 2 spots in pchem. I knew it was a long shot, but I got close! I guess my next top choice is Irvine. Can't wait to see that school again!
  5. Ok y'all. I have some news from CalTech. I know adcom is meeting today to discuss the last remaining spots for the physical chemistry students. I dont know if they're meeting about other subsections. From what I heard, they are accepting 2 pchemists today, out of 4, and I know I'm one of the four. Wish me luck!
  6. Just received noticed from University of British Columbia. No info on visiting or stipends. Just an email saying AdCom has recommended me to the Dean of Graduate and Post-Doctoral studies for admittance.
  7. The weekends are March 6-8 and I believe March 28-30.
  8. Georgia Tech came in today for me. 24,000 stipend (but with 2200 in fees per year). 1000 in health supplement. I also got 5,500 for a President's Fellowship. Good luck everyone else. CalTech is still yanking my chain. Hopefully I will hear this week....
  9. Just joining in on the post. I found out from UC-Irvine on Dec. 7. I had only applied 6 days before, but it helps that when I visiting Southern California, that I took a tour and talked to some POIs. I also found out from Rice Jan 11. Got a call from a POI. Currently, I am anxiously waiting for CalTech to get back to me. I had an informal chat with someone from AdCom on Friday who started talking about visiting weekend and the professors there and what I would see. All this before I get official letter. I asked him if I had missed an email or something. He said my acceptance was "likely" and I would hear positive or negative this week. He then emailed me to get my last semester grades yesterday. I'm SO NERVOUS. I thought CalTech was a longshot with my application, but now that its so close, I really want it bad. When I visited, I loved everything about the school, the atmosphere and Pasadena.
  10. From what I understand, if you go to a school with a reputation, schools will have an idea of how people admitted from those schools perform. For example, if you went to *insert top 50 school*, admission committees would then look at how previous graduate students from those institutions performed. So for example, if a admissions committee saw a trend of high GPA students doing terrible from a certain school, a high GPA might not mean as much. However, if they have high performing students from a certain school with lower GPAs, they might see a high GPA from that school as a big plus. Hope this helps.
  11. Hello all, I have applied for this cycle, and I am thoroughly thrilled by my current situation. I have gotten into Rice and UC Irvine, and I am waiting on quite a few more decisions to be returned. I applied to MIT and CalTech as a "What could go wrong?" Well folks, today I was contacted to have a skype chat (interview I guess) with CalTech. I was completely floored, but now I am trying to prepare for it. My advisor essentially said it sounds like I am in the hold pile, and that the interview is trying to sort through it. Here is some basic info about my application. GPA 3.6 Chem GPA 3.4. GRE V(98%) Q(75%) W(93%). ChemGRE (39%). I have done 2 years of research in a lab where my PI received her PhD from Caltech. I am specifically interested in her PhD advisors lab. I assume that my LOR were relatively strong, and I believe my essay to be pretty unique because it is a pretty good narrative of my life in science. I also visited CalTech in November when I was in town. What kind of questions should I expect? How should I dress? What are some pointers that will move me from a candidate on the bubble, and get me in?
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use