NeuroNerd86

If you can, retaking might be a good idea, but it really depends on how solid the rest of your application is. If everything is good, then 1200 on GRE should be alright. However, if you would like to make your application even stronger, scoring 700+ on math should definitely boost your application up. GRE is also used in determining some fellowships/grants, so that can also be taken into consideration. Good luck!

You being an international student can potentially be a problem because foreign students usually cost a school A LOT more than citizens/permanent residents (I had a friend from Sweden who was straight out told by several programs she applied to that they would love to take her on but they can't afford her). However, I'm not sure if this general rule applies to Canadian citizens, maybe it's a different funding ball game there. If professors encourage you to apply, it's a very good sign, it means they see that you have a great potential for being a good scientist.

as everybody else said, working with mammals is mandatory in some, but not all biological fields. A lot of research can be done with cells lines, c elegans, drosophila and zebrafish, to name a few. Mammals are just more relevant medically

To the OP: I was a PhD applicant last year and my stats and research experience/accomplishments are dead on like yours (my GPA was a tiiiiiiiinnny bit higher but everything else is pretty much exactly the same). I was also concerned about my GPA quite a lot (to the point that I have become very annoying haha). I was applying for neuroscience programs which are highly competitive pretty much everywhere. I applied to 10 programs, got interviewed and accepted at 4 and now attending one of the top 10 schools. Letters of rec, research experience and publications go a long way. I think you have a good shot at the schools you are interested in. One thing though - are you a domestic or an international applicant? i apologize if you mentioned that but I didn't read it, sorry If you have any questions, feel free to PM me anytime:)

I will definitely not miss the notorious LA traffic I will not miss the warm weather every day of the year- I do belong in the North I will not miss the area of LA that I live in, because it is ugly and depressing I will not miss working "in the group" - I'm excited about the opportunity to work all by myself with my mentor's guidance I will miss my friends and my labmates dearly, because they bring me so much joy and love I will miss the ability to go and see world class DJs anytime I want I will miss the ocean, even though I rarely ever get to see it

if you are willing to spend a bit of money, Tumi briefpacks or backpacks are beautiful and VERY reliable. I've had mine for years and I love it, although I am planning on getting a new one for grad school. Sometimes they discontinue certain colors and backpacks become reasonably priced (around 100$ or so).

Thank you so much guys, those are very valid points. I am a "work till you drop" kind of person, so I definitely need a reminder to relax once in a while:)

It was my first time applying and it actually went pretty well, although of course those were pretty stressful months. I have a couple of application regrets, such as applying to 2 schools where, as I realized eventually, I wouldn't go even if they accepted me. And I also wished I was a bit more brave and applied to a couple more top ranked programs, even if just to be rejected. Nonetheless, I got my acceptance into the program I liked the most the day of the interview in the end of January, so the rest of the application season was a breeze. I applied to 10 programs, interviewed and got accepted at 4.

Indeed I do - I will be doing cell bio/neuroscience track. Good to see a fellow PIBS student;)

Has anybody moved anything by rail? My friend did some research on that and it seems really cheap. But is it good?

I actually have a little more specific question in the same area. I am in biomed sciences and I really need a new laptop for grad school. Luckily for me, I got a fellowship which would allow me to buy a laptop "for scientific purposes" (aka for school, or so I hope), so I can actually get a nice one. Right now I am debating between a macbook pro or Lenovo Ideapad/Thinkpad. I've been a PC user all my life, but I will be alright with switching to MAC. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Astronautka, try Slavik Management apartments. They have several communities around the town and U Mich is their "preferred employer". It basically means that if you have an alright credit history and no complaints from a prev landlord, you might qualify for a security deposit of around 100$. Also you can try Medical Center Court apts, they are more expensive (a walking distance from med campus) but I believe they don't take a deposit. I do not represent nor endorse any of those places, just the same fellow new Wolverine looking for an apartment:)

Hello! I will be going to U Michigan- Ann Arbor PIBS program in summer 2010 (SOON!). Any other Wolverines around:)?

neurosci guy, I'm also an outsider for these three schools (congrats by the way, that's amazing!), but I know some people who worked/went there. The general thought about the Rockefeller is that it is a GREAT place to do your postdoc at, since it is insanely biomed research oriented. As a consequence, as a grad student you have to be quite independent there because you probably wouldn't get as much guidance from your PI as you would in other places. I heard great things about Columbia, although I'm not sure about housing with them (Rockefeller gives a very nice subsidized housing). For such an elite school, Yale is considered very friendly and collaborative, so it is a good environment for a graduate student to thrive in. there is a forum member here, don't remember the full nickname but it has "Alex" in it, I believe he also got in at all those schools (for microbio),maybe he can give you a good advice.

well, as you said it yourself, many graduate students change their minds regarding their actual dissertation project. What if you completely fall in love with, say, genetics or developmental neuroscience? In either case, you'd be working with such animal models as, for example, flies or zebrafish. For either, the issue of having to deal with hurting an animal is usually not as sensitive as with mammals. Both schools have MASSIVE resources for any kind of biomedical research application, so you should be alright with either. I know I'm not exactly helpful, but just as thought from a basic science perspective. I also think that it is great that you pay such close attention to what you want to do, as opposed to a lot of people who in your place probably would yell "GO STANFORD!" and go there just because it is Stanford. Good luck with your decision!

Tall Chai, can't you switch to biochem through PIBS though? from what I understood, you ultimately join a department by the end of your first year...

My 2 cents here. I live in LA for 5 years, first 2.5 I lived in Westwood for school and the cheapest rent I got away with was 445/mo for half a room in a HELLhole. The best housing I had was on Veteran ave, we paid about 2+ grand for a 2 bedroom between the four of us. For the past 2+ years I've been working at UCLA full-time and there is no way I can afford paying for housing in Westwood, so I live in the valley part of the city. It is considerably cheaper than West La, but it gets HOT here during summer and some parts of this region straight out SUCK. The nice ones are Sherman Oaks and Studio City - pretty much anything on/around Ventura blvd is decent. I'm not a valley fan at all, but it is cheap and the commute is possible. There is one bus that goes straight from Van Nuys through Sherman Oaks to Westwood, and with traffic and all it takes about an hr (about 10-20 less than a car in the same circumstances). I know some folks who live even further - they take advantage of commuter express/vanpool service. It is nice but it works better for people with set hours as opposed to a graduate student. I don't drive because I don't want to pay 60$ for parking every month, and my bus runs pretty well.

From what I heard (from people who work/study/interviewed at either of those places), Yale might be better for a PhD student, whereas the Rockefeller is great for getting your postdoc at (exactly due to the sink or swim attitude).

http://www.entourageedge.com/ - did you check out this guy? It seems like it has a lot of potential, although the common opinion is that the next version will probably be more refined. I have the same wish as the OP, I really want to get myself an e-book reader because I'm sick of dog-eared paper printouts and I can't read a computer text for too long, my eyes start to hurt. The Que was on my wish list for months...until they announced the price. 600+$ for JUST a book reader? Please.