EthanL

Hey Tan, What are your research interests? I dont know much about the UK/Australia, but the University of Auckland (NZ) has a lot of great programs, and they're "ranked" pretty highly internationally. You can either find a project and supervisor first (through the links below or by emailing them directly) or you can submit an application without a supervisor. If you submit without a supervisor, your app will go into a pool that professors can review and choose from. After you have a supervisor, a project, and funding, there are some other little bits and pieces to complete your app, including a Preliminary Thesis Proposal. Check out this link. It's U of A's 'Find a Thesis' system, which allows you to search through all of the currently-available theses for masters and PhD projects, research advisors, and other current research. I don't know if it's fully up to date, but it's a good place to start. https://www.findathesis.auckland.ac.nz/#/ It's unorthodox for us here in the States, but you can also find funded PhD positions on job websites such as www.Seek.co.nz. That's where I found mine. Let me know if you have any more specific questions. Ethan On another note, I received my Visa a couple days ago (took 2 days to process!) and I leave on Wednesday. Pretty psyched.

The University of Auckland (New Zealand) has a lot of neat cancer research labs and their PhD applications are processed on a rolling basis. You can start any time of year, so if you can find an opening in a lab, you could potentially start in January. https://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/en/sms/about/our-departments/auckland-cancer-society-research-centre.html

Ha! Probably saw you around campus at some point, then. Having options for research groups is nice, but I guess that doesn't help you focus on readings right now. I dont remember much of anything from Organic I/II. I'd try to relate, but I have no idea what I did/did not learn. I guess that may be an indicator that I didn't truly learn anything at all.

Are you from AR or moving to AR for your PhD? I just graduate from UA Fayetteville. I don't see many people on here associated with the state. Do you know the primary focus of your project? I already have a pretty good idea of what I'll be doing, so I've been gathering a ton of papers to start reading. The project is outside of my previous research field, so I have a ton of stuff to learn, though. I've also been using my brother's university ID to access Nature and other journals just to stay caught up with what's going on in the broad science community. I've been struggling to find things to do as well, so I'll be interested to hear what other people have been up to.

First off, I'd base your International/American status on your citizenship. If you have dual, use your American citizenship to your advantage. Unless, that is, there's a clause in the application agreement/terms and conditions that states this explicitly. Some schools may have specific policies about this. I think your citizenship will be the primary determinant in when you can start here. If you have to apply for a visa, you're likely limited to starting Spring of 2017. I've just had to deal with this in my grad school app. I graduated in May and needed to get my application complete ASAP by sending in a confirmation of degree completion, GPA, but my graduating class was so large that they wouldn't have diplomas finished by mid-July. After my final grades were calculated and submitted, my final GPA was visible in an unofficial transcript, but they also wouldnt process official transcripts until mid-June. Instead of having to wait all summer, the Dean of my department wrote an official 'Certificate of Degree Completion' stating that I have completed all requirements for graduation and that my final GPA was X/4.0, and then had the Registrar notarize it. I sent that in immediately and received my official acceptance from the grad school. So basically, an official diploma is not required, as long as you can get administrator to confirm your degree completion. I suppose universities handle these things differently, though. You could start emailing admissions departments now to see how they'd handle this.

Sounds like fun to me, but I'm not sure I'd be saying that if I actually had to do it. Ha.

I'm interested in hearing thoughts on this, too. I'm an American moving to New Zealand for grad school, and I assume I'll need to adapt to British spelling/language conventions.

Hey, Ashlee! I feel you on the visa uncertainty. Such a pain!

Great to see some more people posting. Haven't been on in a while; bit busy with finishing up the semester. Got my official scholarship offer and admission last week. Just dealing with visa stuff now. Set to start August 1!

I've had two Skype interviews with professors at international schools. I prepared for both by familiarizing myself with recent publications from their groups (not fully reading everything, but knowing the bases of the papers) and thinking about why I want to work in their groups. I figured there wasn't much that I could do after that. Just have to go with the flow and be quick on your feet. The first interview lasted close to an hour, the second lasted about 40 minutes. Discussions for interview 1 (medical and industrial biocides group): My research experience and interests and why I find them interesting Multidisciplinary nature of my degree and how it fits into their projects What kind of projects i'd be willing to take on What kind of projects they have coming up My study abroad experience at that institution and why I plan to return Discussions for interview 2 (cancer immunology group): My current research (specifics; what i've done, how it fits into the overall lab focus, how i've worked with grad students, etc.) Academic history My study abroad experience at that institution Recent papers that I've read Why i want to be involved in his research group (cancer immunology) Where I see the field of cancer immunology going in 10 years (caught me off guard!) What kind of projects I'd be willing to work on (wet lab/cell culture, animal models, computer modeling, etc.) Potential projects in other labs and cooperative projects between different universities

My public library has a pretty decent connection. And there are a number of libraries at my university, none of which require a student ID to access. An ID is required to reserve a room, but there are plenty of relatively isolated places I to sit for an interview. Might be worth checking out.

Library for sure. Or even a local university campus.

lol: "I donno d exact reason y i was rejected.. i hav seen guys getting admitted vth score less dan mine and CG less dan mine... anyways disheartening :("

That's a bummer. Is he supportive of the idea of you moving? I'd have some pretty mixed emotions about it. Honestly, the time zone thing isnt that much of a challenge. For most of the year, she's just a couple hours different, but on the next day. I spent 6.5 months in NZ in 2013 and she was here for 6 months in 2014, and I'll be moving there for my PhD at the start of June. Just 4-6 month gaps of not being together.

Damn. Congrats on the awesome acceptance and the funding package! Sorry it's made a little bitter by your situation. Is your husband not able to move with you? I'm sure you've given this a ton of thought and I probably dont have to spell it out, but PhDs are long. Years apart would put a strain on the strongest of relationships. I've been in an ultra-long-distance relationship for the last 2.5 years (I'm in the US and my girlfriend is in New Zealand), and it can be a challenge at times.

I would look into getting some anti-anxiety pills to pop before the exam. It may sound like the easy way out (or at least an easy way to attempt to reduce anxiety), but I think it could help. I really like the timed video game idea on the previous page as well. My brother was just 'diagnosed' with acute exam-induced performance anxiety (sounds like what you have). He was prescribed some propranolol, and he said he felt pretty good going into his most recent exam after taking a couple. Best of luck.

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My research as an undergrad (and what I'm currently most passionate about) is in drug delivery for cancer immunotherapy, but I'm joining a medical biocides group (all the way across the world, where my girlfriend is rooted) that focuses on bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Cancer is where I'd like to end up later on, but the tools, experiences, and network associated with this group are invaluable. Interests are ever-changing, and I wouldnt rule out working with a different PI just because they're not an expert in your field. Especially if it means staying at the university with your spouse. I wouldnt even dare ask my SO to drop PhD study 3 years in. I'd be killed or kicked to the curb. Hah.

^ Hah. Lots of people taking this comment way too seriously. No matter how objective you try to be in situations like this, people will try to play it off like you're favoriting the student if it becomes apparent you two are involved. Depending on your school's policies, this could very plausibly lead to a huge mess and set you back in some way. But that's already been said. I'd tell her that you need to stop things (whatever those 'things' may be, no matter how minimally intimate or flirty they are) immediately until the semester is over.

I don't have much to add, but congratulations!

Been to a majority of the States, Mexico a couple times for a few days each, Ireland for 2 weeks, and 6.5 months in New Zealand on a study abroad trip.

Holy cow. This sounds rough. How long have you been working in this lab? I'd be pretty hesitant to bring this up with a PI with this kind of demeanor, but it sounds to me like it'll be necessary pretty soon (before you go absolutely insane). The best policy is probably blunt honesty. Express to him that you need to take on research that interests and motivates you, and that what you're doing now is not what you had imagined yourself doing. I think moving onto something else would benefit both of you a ton.

I've only had 2 interviews via skype (same overseas school, two different PIs and programs) and neither were very technical. One (where the PI is doing something very different from what I've done as an undergrad) was mostly a discussion of my interests and my willingness to learn new stuff. In the other (where the PI is working in the same realm as my current research), we discussed interests, what kind of projects I'd like to take on, and current developments in this research topic and where I think the field is going.

Some unhealthy/ungodly amount. 30-50 refreshes between my two accounts on my phone and computer.

I've started to threads in the IHOG; one specifically for NZ grad students in general and another for Americans going abroad. Personally, I applied for a project that I had interest in that was already fully funded; got an interview and was offered the scholarship a bit later. It's a government-funded grant, but it was offered by a specific research group. Otherwise, check this out. You'll need a strong GPA (3.6/4.0 minimum), but it's a pretty standard source of government funding for internationals in NZ. https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/for/international-students/is-scholarships-loans-and-funding/is-new-zealand-international-doctoral-research-scholarships.html