journosci

@voaku don't sell yourself short!! if there are people there who you're interested in, and who you have good conversations with.. that's your foot in the door

@voaku good on ya to start contacting profs early! research experience is super important, but, in my experience, so is breadth -- really, other than your stats, your application is about telling a compelling story. also look into columbia's earth science program if you're interested.. funding is guaranteed for 5 years and they have a ton of resources for graduate students.

(physical) geography!

hey all, just received an unofficial acceptance to UC Boulder's PhD program -- official letters should come out in a few days!

hey! I'm waiting on MIT at this point.. Anyone heard anything? I'm visiting Minnesota, Northwestern and Cornell in the next month.. Anyone else?

Figured I'd post since my background is fairly unusual.. applying to about half Biomed, half Mech E PhDs. Studied physics and took a year off after school to be a science journalist. My schools are ambitious given my stats, but all my recommenders told me to aim high. Hoping my unusual background helps rather than hurts. Undergrad Institution: Big state, top 10 in major Major(s): Physics Minor(s): GPA in Major: 3.45 Overall GPA: 3.63 Length of Degree: 4 + 2 extra quarters Position in Class: No ranking Type of Student: Domestic white female GRE Scores: Q: 163 (86%) V: 165 (95%) W: 4.5 (80%) Research Experience: 3 months in plasma physics (part-time), REU in atmospheric physics, 6 months in chemistry lab (part-time) Awards/Honors/Recognitions: AAAS Mass Media in Science and Engineering Fellowship Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Math/physics tutor for elementary, high school; attended/reported on conference for women in physics; leader in Code for America brigade Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Heading on a cross-country bicycling trip this spring, teaching physics at middle schools en route Applying for PhD at: Minnesota - Biomed Minnesota - Mech E - accepted /Jan. 21 / departmental fellowship Vanderbilt - Mech E Vanderbilt - Materials Science - Interview on 1/19 Cornell - Mech E Columbia - Biomed MIT - Mech E Berkeley/UCSF - BioE Northwestern - Mech E University of Washington - Biomed

Figured I'd post since my background is fairly unusual.. applying to about half Biomed, half Mech E PhDs. Studied physics and took a year off after school to be a science journalist. My schools are ambitious given my stats, but all my recommenders told me to aim high. Hoping my unusual background helps rather than hurts. Also conflicted... I'm biking across the country this spring and teaching physics at schools with a 3d-printable solar-powered bike model my friend and I designed. Finally built a website, etc for it and wondering whether to follow up with schools about the trip and goals? Undergrad Institution: Big state, top 10 in major Major(s): Physics Minor(s): GPA in Major: 3.45 Overall GPA: 3.63 Length of Degree: 4 + 2 extra quarters Position in Class: No ranking Type of Student: Domestic white female GRE Scores: Q: 163 (86%) V: 165 (95%) W: 4.5 (80%) Research Experience: 3 months in plasma physics (part-time), REU in atmospheric physics, 6 months in chemistry lab (part-time) Awards/Honors/Recognitions: AAAS Mass Media in Science and Engineering Fellowship (unusual as undergrad) Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Math/physics tutor for elementary, high school; attended/reported on conference for women in physics; leader in Code for America brigade Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Applying for PhD at: Minnesota - Biomed - decision/date/funding Minnesota - Mech E - decision/date/funding Vanderbilt - Mech E - decision/date/funding Vanderbilt - Materials Science - decision/date/funding (Interview on 1/19) Cornell - Mech E - decision/date/funding Columbia - Biomed - decision/date/funding MIT - Mech E - decision/date/funding Berkeley/UCSF - BioE - decision/date/funding Northwestern - Mech E - decision/date/funding University of Washington - Biomed - decision/date/funding