biochemgirl67

Congratulations! That's an awesome school!

Congrats! It's all picking uuuuupppppppp

I mean there are people who will say "You'll get in anywhere!" or tell someone who thinks their profile isn't so good that they'll get interviews anywhere. I will more likely tell people if you have a defect in your application to apply to lower tier schools if you are really serious about getting into grad school or that if they feel their profile isn't up to par to apply to schools where they are comfortable. I just don't want BiochemVitD to think that my opinion is any more than that!

So here's my 2 cents... your GPA is extremely low AND you do not have any academic research experience. I think the caliber of schools to which are applying is high, especially considering these 2 things. jThe grad committees want to know you can hack it both research-wise and in classes, and your record doesn't necessarily indicate that for the schools you've chosen. If you want to be certain to get in somewhere, you should apply to 2-3 more schools. It's not that industrial experience doesn't matter, it's that it is different. If you really want to get into one of these schools, it might be a stretch, but remember I'm one of the more conservative members on this board stats-wise.

NOOOO I have a giant term paper due tomorrow so... this website is either keeping me sane from the next two days or destroying said sanity. I want to know about Harvard Immunology, Princeton Molecular Biology, UW Immunology, and UCSF BMS already!!! (the ones that I applied to that seem to send out invites before Christmas)

Congratulations! I'm originally from New Hampshire and that sure is some gorgeous country up there!

Nope... but I applied and am waiting too!

Please? Please? PLEASE? You would be my favorite!

Ugh. I just wish they would just book the flight and send the ticket.

Okay, I have a question. Do all these interviews work on reimbursement? I have like no money and my credit card is half maxed with the Vandy trip alone... does anyone know?

Anyone heard from Harvard Immunology? It's small so it's kinda hard to gauge.

Thank you! It's really a weight off to know that one place wants me, at least.

November 8th, Got an email, and January 15th and 28th

Looks like Vanderbilt sent out first round invites. I was wondering when that would happen. Hopefully some of you got one! I sure as hell wasn't expecting one Haha. Yeah but it's reimbursement.

OMG I KNOW I'M SO EXCITED!!!! It really takes a weight off to know that I'm interviewing at least SOMEWHERE. Although I wish I didn't have to front the money to travel.

I know. It's just... it's like a compulsion. I WANT TO KNOW. At least everyone else here is obsessed.

Then they really don't get the angst that goes into this process.

EEEEEK.

Regardless, you DO come across as pouty. Of course adcoms take into account the prestige to some degree. But my friends from Harvard all have great grades and research and didn't feel the way you do. It is difficult to get good grades everywhere. Big state schools can use real curves a lot, which makes it hard. I would probably caution you against saying your application is different than everyone else's... Because of your school. Adcoms don't push you out of science, they accept you if you are a good fit. Maybe you could have applied to a wide variety of schools if you felt the top programs care about your GPA as a #1 priority. Either way, good luck on hearing back. Just my 2 cents from a state school girl who didn't have to compete with my dull colleagues who couldn't jump through the hoops of college.

Where did you hear this from?

I guess you really have no choice then. It's worth a shot in this circumstance. But be prepared that they will still not really want to talk to you because you could have sent a letter or an email with your CV and SoP months ago. Especially since they don't accept continuing students. I wouldn't even mention you getting married because then it will 100% seem like you're asking a favor or playing the pity card.

I wouldn't simply because it would be white noise at this point. If you are trying to decide between schools and want to know if they'll be accepting rotation students after interviews, that would be great. Otherwise you are kind of asking them to take time out of their day to get your application in. All the faculty members I have talked to said they wouldn't and it's an obvious attention grab at this point in the game.

Oh man. I've worked it out; I'll get married and start and dog sitting business that will become so successful that I'll be able to vacation in Spain and never think about money again. I mean, or get a job and eek out a living until next year when I'll reapply.

I don't think prestige matters as much as you think it does. You sound like you go to something like Wartburg or Luther, which are good schools. However. I would say that maybe it would be worth choosing ~2 additional schools that aren't of the level of the others if you want to have some variety in choice. If you notice on this website, people usually do that. I'm not saying a safety, but really somewhere where you stand a great chance of getting in. Because you've chosen all the tippy top programs in the nation and if you haven't had an experience at a school of that caliber, it might be a good thing. Your GRE scores are low for your GPA and the long term research you mentioned (the cell line) isn't something you would be doing in grad schools or have done vin undergrad research at the schools you've chosen. But your profile is highly competitive. Don't get me wrong. If you want to have >4 options, maybe choose University of Tennessee, University of Oregon, university of Iowa, or something similar. I guess now that I'm reading it again, UTSW is apart from the rest. Still. I would choose another. But it's totally up to you.

Mine still says submitted. I think they would email the invites out before they update the website. But I promise if I hear ANYTHING I'm gonna be posting on here. :P