kimmibeans

Just set up my new .edu e-mail account. 
It's been a fun application cycle. Good luck in your research endeavors fellow gradcafers~

HI Dank,
Your stats are good for most of the schools on your list, though they are definitely low for Rockefeller, Cornell, and UCSF. I'm glad to see you are retaking the GREs, that would help a lot. Also, you may want to consider the subject test to combat your GPA. However, your research experience looks good and if you can get published by the time you apply that would be awesome! I agree with everyone else that you should look at more middle and lower tier schools, as there is some fantastic research going on at some of them and shouldn't be discounted.

I've ghosted this forum due to being busy - despite being fairly active at first - but I just wanted to swoop back in and say congratulations to everyone on the very busy past two months (and to those who are still interviewing also... I'm pretty sure there are a few??) I met so many amazing people on interviews, no doubt some who have been helpful and active in this thread; it is honestly such an interesting experience! The next month is going to be difficult to make decisions, but I know regardless of that by April 15 we'll all be heading amazing places. 
Good luck to all and many happy wishes! Hope to see you all at conferences / in the news down the line

I'm an example of a student that got into her top choice school after doing a research-based masters! Even without publications, your application will be stronger than many undergrads with pubs simply due to two years of full-time research experience as a MS student. It is a good time to prove to yourself that you want to do graduate school. It will also set you ahead of some of the other students in both lab and coursework.
Speaking of UIUC, my ug institution used to have a not-so-nice song they sang about them. Being unwilling to retain students for a PhD program is not uncommon, and it IS good for you to expand your horizons and go somewhere new!

Well it's official, I am going to MIT in the fall!  I was really going back and forth between MIT and Wisconsin MDTP, but overall decided MIT was the one.  Anybody else on here going to MIT microbiology??

Just officially committed to UCSF BMS! So glad to be done...

Committed to University of Washington Biochemistry. So happy with my choice and relieved all this is done!!

Just got accepted to TCU MS Biology and UNT Health Science Center MS Microbiology, Immunology, & Cell Biology program! Really big thanks to all programs I am considering, but I am declining their offers. I decided to commit to The University of Texas at Dallas MS Molecular Cell Biology! After MS, on to Ph.D. Can't wait to start grad school in the fall! Best of luck to everyone waiting for decisions and making their decisions!

I emailed the coordinators when I was wait listed. I told them thank you for the update and that they were my number one choice. I was accepted a week later.

I emailed the coordinators when I was wait listed. I told them thank you for the update and that they were my number one choice. I was accepted a week later.

Officially accepted the offer at Boston College! Can't wait to live in Boston for the next 5-6 years!!!

Congratulations, @Microburritology!
Just got the acceptance notification as well for MCGD  Was quite surprised actually considering which of my friends didn't get in and I did O_O
But I still have MIT to visit. And then I'd have to heavily weigh the pros/cons of Yale vs UCSF (assuming I don't like MIT or don't get in).
#Struggles

Just got accepted to Notre Dame. Pretty jazzed up if I say so myself. 3/3 so far! 

OMG I JUST GOT ACCEPTED TO THE YALE BBS MCGD program . And that, ladies and gentlemen, officially marks the end of Fall 2016 admissions cycle for me. 
Feels surreal to have 4/4 acceptances from my interviews, and to have an offer from Yale (which seemed like a remote possibility 5 years ago). Also feel pretty accomplished having balanced a hectic work life with the entire admissions cycle, right from studying late nights for the GRE to attending the interviews, especially with limited paid time off.
So yup, heading to New Haven, CT. All the best to all you guys waiting on decisions. 'Twas a fun ride.

Just received an offer from Columbia's Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine program!
Columbia is most definitely my top choice for pursuing graduate studies, so I am really happy. Looking forward to spending the next 5 years in the city!

@merivo
I would highly recommend looking around Queens, as recommended above. Long Island City is a dream to live in, but it is quickly rising in price. Rentals, however, in areas such as Sunnyside, Roosevelt, or even parts of Manhattan outside of the expensive parts (unfortunately right around NYU) will be much more affordable. My advice is to make sure that wherever you live (once you've narrowed down options) is near an EXPRESS train line. Be careful not to believe that "25 minutes to midtown" means that you will get to midtown Manhattan that quickly. Avoid having to take a bus to the train as well. Also, research crime rates in the neighborhoods. Most areas are pretty typical of NYC, but some parts are exclusive and, quite frankly, may be a bit racist.
I've lived here over 20 years- if you have any questions, feel free to message me directly. Good luck!

Omg! Finally someone is here for a fashion program! I'm not aloooone! What about your other apps, what did you apply for?

I don't think it will hurt you that you didn't. I don't think most people send it to the program director unless they were heavily involved in your interview process.

Hey Merivo,
The area around NYU is very expensive, and so if you are looking nearby it is unlikely that you will find something affordable. A studio in that area will run you about $2000 a month before utilities, which is also roughly what you will be receiving monthly for your stipend. There are cheaper options (my cousin is also a PhD at NYU and found a good deal with a roommate in the East Village, which is not too far from NYU), but you would need a roommate to make it affordable off your stipend.
If you really want to live alone you can look at apartments in the outer boroughs. I personally recommend Queens, especially Astoria, Sunnyside, and Long Island City since you can get to NYU pretty easily from those areas using public transportation. If you want a more Jewish community, I recommend looking in Bushwick in Brooklyn or Forest Hills in Queens (I noticed your graduate schools were focused on Judaic studies, I hope I am not being presumptuous).
 

Illinois State Speech Language Pathology Masters, Rejected via Website on Mar. 14 2014
 
"I pulled out a bowl to put soup in, I have forgotten if I put the soup in because I see the can not opened, but why is my bowl full, oh because I have a bowl full of tears, rejection soup, with a combination of five different types of rejects"
 
This made me laugh. Good luck man!

Illinois State Speech Language Pathology Masters, Rejected via Website on Mar. 14 2014
 
"I pulled out a bowl to put soup in, I have forgotten if I put the soup in because I see the can not opened, but why is my bowl full, oh because I have a bowl full of tears, rejection soup, with a combination of five different types of rejects"
 
This made me laugh. Good luck man!

Your GPA isn't that abysmal. People have had similar GPA's and have been accepted to top programs. You can't do anything about the GPA now. Your GRE is what needs to improve quite a bit. Most schools have unofficial GRE cutoffs. You need to do well do ensure your app is read.
 
 Other than that you need to carefully research what programs you want to go to. Make sure that your research interests fit well with the program. Otherwise you aren't going to have a shot.
 You are not in as bad of a situation as you think you are.
 If you can't afford it don't do a masters, its not worth the money. A research tech job is far more valuable.

I would advise you to finish your MS (or apply in the 2nd year of it so that you will finish before starting PhD). My uGPA was similar to yours. I ended up doing a MS and working very hard during it. My MS GPA was 4.0, I made terrific connections and got great LORs, and gained SO MUCH research knowledge. I am such a better researcher now than before my MS... it isn't even comparable. I did do a lot of research during udergrad but you will learn SO much during your MS research. I just finished my PhD application cycle and got offers to 8 of the 10 schools I applied to including places like Hopkins, WashU, and Univ of Washington. I think you could very easily be a tier 1 applicant if you don't rush to get there. I would focus less on your age and more on how to become the best scientist you could be. If waiting another year is the difference between a top 10 school and a top 100 then isn't it worth it?
 
You will learn so much during your masters that will help in the PhD application process and throughout your PhD. I would not apply to the schools you interviewed at previously. Passion for your field is the #1 thing that PhD programs are looking for. I think the 1st impression you made at those programs will make it unlikely that you will be admitted in future application cycles. I absolutely think that you can shoot for that caliber of schools though, I would just chose different programs so that you can make a new first impression.

Hi trickster, my advice would be if you have the funds to definitely apply next cycle before you finish your masters degree as long as you will be done with your masters degree before starting the PhD program if you are accepted. I met many people who were currently working on a masters during my interviews and it seems to be quite common. I would also definetly expand your list of schools to those with programs and faculty more aligned to your current research and maybe not re-apply to schools you have already interviewed at unless you were wait listed or have a connection. Also at the new schools you will have a fresh start application wise I believe, and they won't have prior opinions of you based on your previous application. Good luck!

You should finish your Master's and try to publish if possible. Even though you most likely would work on a different project during your PhD, the MS degree would give you a better understanding of what graduate research entails and that will show in your interviews (at least I think that's what happened in my case). I'm slightly younger than you (24) and so it's a bit different, but a PhD will take a few years and relatively speaking, you're young and have plenty of time to develop a strong research portfolio and career. Basically, finish the MS, and go for the PhD - age is really not that big of a deal anyhow. Also I think your experiences would bring a unique perspective that many programs are seeking.