ineedanak

I explained to my mom the difference between basic and applied research. She then gave the impression that applied research is the "real" research and that that's what I should be doing.

I had a Skype interview with my POI last week. The POI said they would give me an update this week (it's Wednesday, so 2 more days and I'll assume complete rejection). So, even if it's good news, I'm not sure how planning a trip that quickly wouldn't be practical. I thought someone in this thread said the EEB weekend wasn't until the 27th or so. Anyway, the interview didn't seem to go very well (had personal issues on my end leading up to the interview time, also, overall tone of the interview) so I don't expect to hear anything positive back anyways. Messing up the interview was really disheartening though, since UNC is such a great school and was my "reach." I haven't heard anything formal from the department or school either since I submitted the application. But since my application was forwarded to the POI, I feel that your POI should have some information as well for you to email them about.

I think I have a type of imposter syndrome that is based on reality.. Well, thinking that is a symptom in the first place, isn't it? Still, I'm going to be going to a lab for a type of science I have basically no experience in besides a few things I've studied in classes. I don't know how to use half the equipment and I'm terrified. I told my POI I would need training but I don't think he understands how much I will have to learn.. It's scary and I think he could really end up frustrated if it turns out I need to have my hand held for awhile before I can work by myself.. However, I did stress in my application that this was the direction I wanted to do research in despite not having direct experience with it.

Got my official acceptance today with a fellowship nomination! To note: this came 1 week after I heard about my unofficial acceptance (which was initiated by me not the POI) and it came 1 week and 3 days after the adcom met to make decisions. Also came on a Sunday morning.

I don't think so, since they reject people with incomplete applications all the time.

Got an unofficial acceptance form my POI (he said "as he understands," not in a matter of factly way and it was after I contacted him first) but haven't heard from department and its been over 3 weeks. They said we'd hear back from then in 2-3 weeks. :/

No I'm not extremely far away. I do know that my application is not as up to par as the typical UNC applicant though.

I got an invite for a Skype interview from my POI at UNC. Does UNC do a recruitment weekend for EEB, and if so, does anyone know when? I'm assuming this would be a preliminary interview with the possiblibilty of moving on to a visitation interview.

They already have your application, why would they care about you selling yourself via credentials at that point? If there was anything not on your application worth talking about, then it would have been on your application. Many schools are looking for "fit" at the interviews. Being a good conversationalist sounds perfect, since that means you are a person that the professor might want to be around for 5 years or whatever. I think this is more true for smaller interview pools. If it was a school flying out 40 people for 5 slots then maybe it's a different story.

Well I got another interview invite, but I've already been unofficially accepted at my top choice. This new school seems to be going out of their way to schedule my interview due to some circumstances. However, I am simply waiting for the official acceptance from my top choice then I plan on canceling. I don't want to cancel yet because of the potential for a freak incident that I don't get into my top choice, but I feel bad having them schedule this interview when there's a 99% chance I'll cancel it. Going to the interview and pretending to be on the market still seems even more rude than cancelling though.. Not to mention a waste of everyone's time/someone else's potential interview spot.

How do nominations for department fellowships work? Is it truly a "competitive" process or is it pretty much guaranteed to whoever is nominated?

I planned on applying to 5 schools but only completed the application for 3. After submitting the first three, I felt so hopeless and thought that I really had no chance of getting in anywhere this year. In an attempt to cut my losses I didn't complete the final two. As it turns out, I've gotten an interview at 2 of the 3 schools I applied to.. definitely not expected. I was floored when I heard back from the first school, telling myself that I just got extremely lucky. Then the second interview invite came out and now I kind of regret not exploring my options more, because I apparently gave myself way less credit than I deserved.

That's weird, I have had the same dreams too. The feeling of realizing there's a class you've been neglecting is terrible. Then following that, I either have an exam I need to take or just found out I missed an exam. Then again, I've had somewhat similar experiences in my freshmen year of undergrad, so I guess that's where these dreams come from.

Shouldn't be that big of a deal since the adcomm won't even review for another week or so at least. You could also send an email to a grad secretary or something to make note of the late letter of recommendation to see if that's kkay.

I had my first and probably only interview the other week. There was only a handful of us but it was a smaller department anyway. I'm really nervous now while waiting to hear back. I have an idea of what I will do for the next coming year if I'm rejected but it would also be very painful. I felt like the least qualified interviewee out of the group, so I almost think that I was only a "back up" in the event that one of the more qualified students flopped during the interviews.

Oh well I guess I was assuming that any of the clothes you would be wearing at that time wouldn't be worn the next day.

I've heard of studies claiming ecigarettes are still dangerous and not a "healthy" alternative. I think the verdict is still up in the air though since there hasn't been enough long term data and studies on it. Either way, you can buy disposable ecigarettes for about $10 (might vary by state/county, but they are at least a few bucks more expensive than a pack of regular smokes). I'm a smoker as well and I think I will buy a couple of these during interview weekends. They leave a minimal smell (if any at all) and are much more satisfying than gum/patch/dip. They can be used very discreetly as well, such as in a bathroom or your hotel/dorm room. I think this is the best way to go for such an event. You could also supplement ecigs with real cigarettes at nighttime when you know you definitely won't be around anyone important, in the event that the ecigs aren't satisfying enough. Based on my local options I would recommend Vuse or Njoy. Njoys are slightly cheaper per pen ($7) and pretty much replica size of real cigarettes (they even burn with red LEDs at the tip IIRC), but they aren't rechargeable/refillable. Vuse is slightly more expensive but offers the option of buying "refills" after you buy the core set ($10; cigarette pen + charger + 1 cartridge). The refill package comes with 2 cartridges to replace on the pen when your first runs out. Vuse are fairly larger than a real cigarette though. I've noticed that the Njoys can give you a slight burning sensation in your throat when you first start using them, I didn't notice this when I used Vuse. Both of these should be available at any major gas station. To address the points from posts above: -I don't think you look silly with an ecig. They have become common on campus at my undergrad institution, especially since real smoking was banned. I've heard they are much more popular/common out in the west (USA) as well. -I don't think the "we are all adults" argument is valid. The smell of cigarettes is not enjoyable for many people and lingers on your clothes for much longer than you'd think. Either way, potentially having your chances hurt by something as silly and avoidable as this is just not worth the cost of smoking.

I myself am a neuroscience PhD applicant, so I am having trouble deciding if neuroscience is actually hugely popular or if it is just me being selective in what I expose myself to. I'm talking about actual neuroscience PhD programs and their applicants, which would exclude people studying in the field of neuroscience but are under a different graduate program (feel free to talk about this, though!). Law and med are being considered in arenas of their own here. For example, the neuroscience threads in "Waiting it Out" seem to be the most popular threads in each cycle. I know that neuroscience as a field of study has benefited from huge leaps in the recent decades (especially the 90s). It is also more commonly becoming its own undergraduate major. Here's some questions to start of: -Has anyone else noticed the popularity of neuroscience on these forums? It would be nice to hear the perspective of non-neuroscience applicants/graduate students on this -Does anyone have stats to support/counter this claim? -If it is as popular as I think it is, what does this mean for the postdoc neuroscience world? -If popular, do you think the popularity is justified in terms of the research available versus the interest in it? -Why do you think it is growing in popularity?

Hi everyone. I got interview for University of Miam via email. Anyone else?