BiochemMom

They categorize biochem as its own department. Some schools I applied to (ga tech for example) merge biochem and chem, some (Emory) biochem is in biology, and some it's stand alone (UGA--but i applied to chem there bc my ms is in chem and I wanted a place I knew I could get into vs going cross fields even though my bs is biochem and my concentration is biochem) The biochem dept at nc state is the one without funding. Chem is still going to take students. Chem is the one who told me they already sent out interviews and I couldn't forward my app to them cause they'd already made those decisions

Here's the email from biochem if anyone is interested. Dear Applicant Due to increasing budget and funding cuts scheduled for the next academic year, we will not be able to accept PhD students for fall 2015. This is an unfortunate situation for both the students and professors, but a reality of the times. Since you already applied to the Graduate School at NC State, your application can be directed to another program at no cost to you. To redirect your application, you need to contact the admissions office in the Graduate School (http://www.ncsu.edu/project/grad/admissions/index.php) and let them know that you applied for the fall 2015 semester and would like to have your application considered for another program. They should transfer your application based on your request. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Sincerely, (Director of admissions)

Their biochemistry department emailed out they no longer had funding to accept any applicants and offered to forward my application to another department. I called the director of graduate admissions in chemistry to see if they would actually consider my application this late. He said they'd already made all interview invitations (the interviews are the week of March 15) and would not look at my app. Not sure if that applies to the joint program but there's that.

That's crazy! Duke and UNC are both closed for everyone! Glad you made it safe. We didn't get any this time but Tuesday was bad.

The snow...the ice...the constant closing of UNC CH as a result.... The struggle is real. As a side note, I have a question. I logged into my UGA app for the first time since receiving an acceptance and under status it says "applicant has accepted admissions offer". First of all, I haven't in any way. Do you guys think this is just the way they put it in the system to hold the spot? Or should I ask them? I don't want to risk them thinking I'm rejecting their offer; I just haven't decided--and if GT and UNC say no, I will be taking it. Any ideas?

I had to upload six transcripts (thanks military) to show my completion of my BS degree. In an interview, one of my interviewers commented that the amount of universities I attended proved I had tenacity and fortitude and was committed to completing my degree(s--I have an AS, BS, and complete my MS this may) regardless of my circumstances or changes. So it's pretty obvious to me that attending multiple universities for whatever reason shows diversity and you can always use those unrelated classes to show you have diverse interests and angle it to indicate the diversity helped you grow in your current field. For example, I acted throughout high school and college in school plays--I highlighted this seemingly unrelated activity as a training situation to learn how to speak comfortably in front of large groups of people and explained how my public speaking for seminars was vastly improved due to my stage acting. There's tons of ways you can angle something to show you're a better person/student because of it. Don't worry! Plus if you don't include them, it would be fraudulent. And as a side note--UGA told me that they only needed my MS official transcripts after using my unofficial to make an admissions decision.

The person who contacted you may be on the admissions committee versus someone who wants you to work for them.

I swear to God I'm so sick of this weather. UNC has been closed so much for snow and ice I feel like it'll be mid March before I hear back. Gah!!!

Amen!

"Where else have you been accepted?" From a POI at a school I haven't heard from yet. Ahhh

I would tell my husband to kick rocks if he expected me to leave my phd program for his career goals after 3 years in. He would be welcome to move ahead of me alone for the rest of my degree, but no way would I drop out and transfer. But we've been married ten years and four of those he was active duty and two of them I was so we're used to separations for work. I agree with the first suggestion rising star made--take the offer, work with a PI your poi collaborated with while he worked for that university, have your poi serve as a cross university advisor/committee member, and do what you're interested in. If that isn't an option for whatever reason, then wait. What's the average time to degree for your wife's field/how much longer does she have?

Normally I advocate for handwritten because it's a dying art and personally handwrite thank you cards for every gift/daughter's birthday etc. however, I vote email so it arrives and is read prior to recommendations being sent to committee.

I want to do protein structure so no interest in genetics. I thought about chemistry since my ms is chemistry but their department also decided not to take any students. Sad day for NCSU.

I feel horrible for their department. I called the director of the program to inquire about joint appointments and find out if I had my app forwarded to chemistry could I work for my research interests in biochem (no, my POIs don't have joint appointments) and we talked about it for a while. I did undergrad and MS in NC. The state does not give two craps about funding education, especially k-12 and it's hitting universities now too. Pretty much, if it's not UNC CH or Duke, they don't get money anymore from state funds. He said the state cut back 18% of their funding. I'm just so sad for them and multiple other really strong institutions in our state.

It's okay. They were one of my back up schools (UGA the other) but unfortunately were higher on my list due to research fit. But I think my interview went super well at UNC (top choice) and Ga Tech is notorious for sending stuff super late. I have three friends who didn't get acceptances there until mid to late March. And either way, I got into one school so I'm going somewhere. I just feel really badly for the department. They said we could transfer our app to another but it's so late and the faculty I'm interested in don't hold joint appointments in chemistry. I go to another state university and our school was hit badly too thanks to NC goverment's wonderful love of education. I hate it hit NC State so hard.

Heck, I've already been accepted to a program there and have never been contacted by housing. Fake out email from NC State which turned out to be the bad news of "due to our funding next year we will not be taking any incoming phd students for fall 2015" Thanks for taking my money for nothing.

Glad I got one acceptance for one of my two back up programs. My other (and unfortunately due to research fit my higher choice) back up school just sent this out. Hopefully, no one has NC State as a top choice. Dear Applicant Due to increasing budget and funding cuts scheduled for the next academic year, we will not be able to accept PhD students for fall 2015. This is an unfortunate situation for both the students and professors, but a reality of the times. Since you already applied to the Graduate School at NC State, your application can be directed to another program at no cost to you. To redirect your application, you need to contact the admissions office in the Graduate School

I didn't have someone ask that at an interview but at a faculty dinner, a person I requested to interview me was hosting and I told him so. He playfully mock interviewed me and then told me why he asked every question. Found out later he actually was on the admissions committee. He asked me the where else did I apply question and I listed everywhere. He then told me they ask that question to gauge how well you know your own research. He said I wanted to do structural biology (when I told him Duke i also added I had realized the research fit wasn't there and I was no longer interested in them) and only applied to schools with people who do well in that area and had realized the one school who is famously good for biochem was more about dynamics than structure. So they, at least at my last interview, want to make sure you know what you want and where to go to get it.

I got accepted into UGA's chemistry program today! So much stress is gone knowing I'm at least going somewhere. Still hoping for Chapel Hill, but UGA is my number two out of who's left so that's pretty great!

Accepted into UGA Chemistry! *jumps up and down*

Tell new job you need to put in your notice at current job and ask if you can start on a date 2 weeks out. (You should do this anyway as a courtesy to not burn bridges and new job should be cool with it since they'd want the same treatment when it's time to leave) Then contact graduate program and tell them you've received a time sensitive offer and your acceptance is contingent upon their decision and ask when you'll know. Don't say job offer, just leave it vague. Okay you get in to the program--call new job and thank them for the opportunity and let them know you will not be able to join their company unless they were able to do a short term internship (assuming it's related) because you were accepted into a graduate program. Or you don't get in/they tell you all decisions have been made and you hadn't gotten one/whatever-- well put in a notice and start your new job. They won't know for longer than two weeks--put in your notice and start the new job. It's not unethical to do so, just inconvenient. You did your best for each employer at this point and if that changes, it changes. They'll understand. And if you're in an at will state and that last thing happens--keep your lips sealed until time to put in notice.

I'd go with something like-- Dr X, Thank you for how communicative you've been with me throughout this admissions process. I am very excited about your project and the prospect of attending (university). I was happy to receive an acceptance into the program; however, due to financial reasons, I do not believe I will be able to accept the offer. I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate all you've done and I'm disappointed we won't we be able to work together on (project). Thanks again, Ct1993 Or something similar The other thing you can try--see if you can defer your admissions for a year, work full time, throw every spare cent at your loans, and renegotiate payment terms if they're not paid off by July of next year. (Can I go back in time and yell, "nooooo don't do it!!!" before you got private loans instead of federal?)

I highly doubt you'll find a part time program at all unless an industry job is paying your tuition while you're working. Lots are parent friendly. I'm completing my ms in chemistry under a PI and at a school that has been amazing and let's me work when I can on a daycare schedule because I'm productive. When I interviewed at UNC I was amazed at the sheer numbers of married students with children. They offer subsidized on campus daycare for graduate students too--which has seemed to be a good indicator. The programs I've looked into with that offering tended to have more parents. The ones without it tended to have less. And every POI I interviewed with had young kids and students with kids and/or pregnant women in their lab. One even discussed (unsolicited--he brought it up) how maternity leave works at their school if I want more while I'm there. So full time kid friendly programs are definitely out there. But again, you'll be hard pressed to find any part time programs at all, much less a funded one (again unless you work for a few years first and your job pays for it)

In my opinion, it should boil down to "this is cool" only I would say--because this excites me. You have to love what you research to spend hours upon hours chasing that elusive answer to your question--and then want to know more when you find it.