braindump

Very informative, thanks! Oh well. At least they're good for an ego boost, hehe.

It's good to be pragmatic. Personally, I decided to "reach for the stars" so I applied to a lot of top programs, but I also applied to way too many programs. Part of this is due to the fact that I didn't really recognize what I wanted to do until later in the application process, but I also wanted a bit of cushion, because I really didn't expect much from the top programs. While ratings aren't everything, you can expect a higher rated program to be more competitive. It helps to look at the GRE/GPA/etc of past years' acceptances and see which ones you're in the range of. These scores aren't everything, but I think there tends to be a "cutoff" for each, and some schools may not even look at an applicant with a score/GPA below a certain number. For the most part, what I considered my "safeties" were some of the lower ranked schools (top 50ish, plus my home institution), though there was one that was pretty well ranked; I considered it a safety because I had done my REU there and had a great relationship with my PI, so I felt I had a good chance of getting in. I don't think it's bad to apply to some schools you think you don't have a shot at. I applied to a lot of top programs because I thought, "what have I got to lose?" (aside from time and money ). While I didn't get into most of the top tens I applied to, I ended up getting into my first choice, which was pleasantly surprising. It's most important that you're a good fit with the program. Meaning, if a uni has multiple professors doing the exact research you're interested in, or many who are in the same ballpark, then that's a good match. Look through the website and professors; who has research that excites you? If you apply to a top program just because it's a top program, but no one there (or even just one professor) is doing research related to your interests or your experience, then you aren't going to get in. The same goes for lower ranked programs. I did not apply to any programs that didn't have at least 2 professors I would be excited to work with. I also took things like location into account. Partially because my SO needs to find a job when we move, but also because environment and overall happiness is important to me. Some people aren't as interested in these factors as they are with the program in itself. You just need to figure out what's important to you, where you stand in relation to past accepted students, and where your interests lie. For me, it was a very stressful process, and the earlier you start, the better. It may help to look through this forum and the results page for past/current acceptances/rejections/etc. and see how you compare. It would also be useful to talk to others who are familiar with the process, you, or both: current graduate students, professors, etc.

That's really unfortunate for those who actually wrote their own and did a great job on their own. But I guess it's also unfortunate for those losing to someone who may not have written their own proposal.

Hmm, this is very helpful, thank you! It does make sense that it isn't based solely on assessments; I just wish I knew what else they took into account. It'd make it easier to know what they're looking for and how I could refine my application. I really wonder what the process is like and how many applications a single person goes through. Honestly, I really expected not to win it; I felt my application was pretty weak at the time. But getting the great reviews and nothing out of it felt like getting winning lottery numbers only to find out they already gave the lottery away.

This makes it sound like the opinion of one person can completely override the opinion of three others? Somehow that seems a little wonky. I guess that's what got me, though. All E's & 1 VG, two "strongly recommend," and "one of the best proposals on this level," and I guess that one guy down the line didn't like something about it. That explains a lot, though, why some people with lower ratings can get it and vice versa. I thought it was all just based on the ratings alone. Sorry I didn't answer your question; just voicing my frustration.

I visited! This was my last visit of several so by this point I was a bit burnt out, but I loved my visit. I liked Boston a great deal, and it seems like an awesome place to live. I'll try to answer your questions as best as I can remember. 1. I asked this same question, and the responses I got made it seem as though either everyone got into their first choice lab, or were very happy with the lab they got into. If there's only one professor there with whom you'd like to work, attending the program is a bit riskier than if there were at least 2-3. But overall, it seemed like most students got into their first choice; no one remembered an instance in which someone ended up in a lab they did not want to be in. 2. There is not much of a campus feel, as far as I could tell. We mostly stuck to one building for our visit, since most of the professors' labs were in the same one, so I don't know too much about the rest of the campus, but the campus is in the middle of Boston. So it has a "city feel," not a campus feel. That being said, I really liked the city (I had never been to Boston before, and did not know what to expect because I'd heard as many positive things as negative). It was very clean and pretty. Since it's in the middle of the city and surrounded by academic institutions, it definitely seemed like there is tons to do, and something for everyone. I'm pretty sure you'll have no trouble finding something related to your interests. 3. I believe most students live off campus in surrounding apartments. Boston is expensive, so some chose to live further away for lower rent prices, but the cost of living was much lower than I expected it to be (still quite high though, but the students said the stipend was more than enough to live comfortably). I believe most used public transportation to get around the area and recommended not having a car. I don't know too much on this subject, so it may be better to defer to someone who knows more about Boston. 4. Simply put, yes. The environment was surprisingly relaxed; everyone seemed very chill and happy with their program (including the professors!). The students I met seemed very close-knit and friendly with one another, which was a great sign. I personally loved the environment. You do need to take into account the weather, particularly since you are coming from CA. All in all, I wasn't too sure about BU before I visited, but I genuinely loved my visit and the program. I do think you should take my opinions with a grain of salt and do as much research as you can if you aren't able to visit, and talk to more people. But I think it seems like a great place to be. That being said, my own personal research fit is not as close as it is with some of the other programs I visited, and I believe I will be accepting another offer soon. Hopefully you'll have a chance at my spot! Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.

I would call instead of emailing. Also, I haven't heard back from JHU either but someone earlier in this thread said they called and were told if they haven't heard anything then it's likely a rejection. Sorry. I think I know of one or two people from a recent visit weekend who were accepted to MIT BE. Not sure if that helps, they may not be done with decisions yet.

VG/E, E/E, E/E, all reviews say "strongly recommend" but nothing to show for it. Wish I at least had an idea of what I was missing/how I could improve. /sigh I'm pleasantly surprised with the reviews but now it really feels like a crapshoot.

I think that some schools might have more industry connections, and some are located in a more biotech-heavy area (bay area, for instance). And I think that going to a better-known uni might get you more recognition in the job market, opening up more doors and bringing you more opportunities. That's not to say that someone from a lower-ranked uni can't get work, because they certainly can; I just think you have more opportunities the more well-known a uni is. They're ranked highly for a reason. Each of those schools you're considering is pretty great, by the way!

Got me excited. But no, not down for me.

I completely agree with this. The difference between these rankings are pretty negligible. There's a lot of factors at play, here, and you should consider all of them. USNews rankings are not the bible and should not be treated as such, especially between such close numbers. I think that any differences you may have seen between a top 5 and top 10 school are circumstantial, not the rule. UMich is a very well-funded university with a great reputation, and, having visited just a week ago, Ann Arbor is a pretty great environment. I don't know much about UIUC short of the fact that it, too, is a great school, but my point is that you've really no reason to choose one over the other just because USNews says so, not when they're both very comparable. I highly recommend going where the research and environment are a better fit for you. Also, to add/emphasize: I don't think it would be wise to choose a school such as MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, etc., over one of these schools if the research fit is not great. They're all still ranked pretty comparably, and I can't imagine that you will have much luck succeeding in a program where you don't fit with the research, in which case, the "MIT" stamp on your resume will not help you nearly as much as a school where you truly thrived. I know you were speaking hypothetically, but these are just my two cents.

Well, I'm not very familiar with post-docs or how easy it is to get a position, but you're assuming you'll be able to get a postdoc position at such a prominent institution (not saying you won't, but I don't know how easy that is compared to graduate student positions). And, if you think about it, going someplace new for graduate school, and then someplace else for post-doc, you're making many more connections than you would be if you stayed at just one institution.

Definitely Magoosh. They have great videos to help you brush up on your stuff, and I swear by their vocab app. They separate the decks based on how common the words are, and you see the words pop up based on how well you know them. I also used a Kaplan book (got it free through my REU's GRE course, but I think it's fairly cheap if you get it on Amazon) and the Manhattan 5lb book for doing tons of practice problems. They also explain to you what ETS is looking for, and I think this is more important than anything else for the exam. I highly recommend doing the free practice exams on the ETS website; there's two and they're exactly like the real exam, so doing them as if I was taking the real thing was immensely helpful.

I personally think that going to the top program would open up more opportunities for you, making the extra few years much more worth it. I also think it's better to widen the breadth of your experiences; meaning, I personally wouldn't attend the same university for all three degrees. For what it's worth, I don't necessarily think that it will take you 6 years if you already have your master's. Even for those with just a bachelor's degree, the average is typically 5 years. Your master's might shorten that, but it might not. It depends a lot on circumstances. It looks like you've been accepted to some pretty great programs (congrats!), and I think that, in the long run, these will be pretty great for your future. Just my opinion!

I assumed as much. Still think it's pretty crappy to not at least let me know.

I don't know about your field, but for mine, it was not necessary at any interviews. All my interviewers already had my application information. I didn't bring anything except a small notebook and pen, but I rarely used them.

I think this is a totally appropriate question. It's important for graduate students to understand the financial situation. I would email the graduate coordinator or something though, not the department chair.

If it were me, I would choose school A. If school B were among, say, top 40, I would say B. But I think that, unless you think you will absolutely hate the higher ranked school (in which case, you aren't very likely to succeed in a place you're miserable, and honestly being miserable for so many years doesn't seem worth it to me), a higher ranked school will open more doors for you in the future. That's not to say that you can't succeed at a top 70 school, but the difference between that and top 10 is not insignificant. It sounds like A is a bit risky but low-risk enough that I would probably go for it. I'd rule out C for sure, though. It might be top 10 but it doesn't sound like it'd be worth it for you, with the location you don't like and the unresponsive professor. School A sounds like a happy medium, but that's just me. Not sure I'm qualified to give advice when I can't even make up my own mind about programs Have you visited these places?

When everyone tells you, "you don't need to read your interviewee's papers, that's over-preparing." Being my over-prepared self, do so anyway. Finally start to slack off/have less time, so I skip a professor (one!). This professor just so happens to be the only one who asks, "which of my papers have you read?" I successfully circumvent the question - quite well, I think. Until the professor asks again! This would happen to me at my top choice.. Oh well, got accepted anyway! Somehow.

If you don't mind, can you elaborate a bit on this? Just trying to get some perspective.

After living less than two hours away from Harry Potter World and never having been, as soon as I accept a school's offer, I will FINALLY go!

Sorry, I didn't realize how negative my response was; it wasn't at all my intention to be so discouraging. I don't think you should give up or make an assumption about a school until you get some sort of official word!

A lot go into academia, but a good amount do go into industry. I'm not sure where/what exactly they do, though.

You're joking but I've gotten SO many of these deceitful emails.

Got a rejection a few days ago. I'm pretty sure they do interviews, don't they? Even before my official rejection, I assumed it as one since it seemed a bit late for interview invites. :-/ I guess the coordinator's broken arm is what's taking so long to get word.