biochemgirl67

I don't know about Infinito, but the grad students at Vandy were very open and helpful so I have some knowledge I accrued about how to decide.
Obviously you look at the science.  Core facilities, funding, type of research.  Then the grad students said that for them, the attitude of the program was important.  Did the professors, grad students, and admin seem excited to talk to you?  Did they believe in the program?  And finally, they all told me that it becomes obvious after you interview everywhere.  That you have to see yourself in the community and the university.  One girl said that interviewing students seem confused because they have like 7 - 10 interviews, but that if you are honest with yourself about the type of person you are, the right offer will feel like a fit.  

I don't know about Infinito, but the grad students at Vandy were very open and helpful so I have some knowledge I accrued about how to decide.
Obviously you look at the science.  Core facilities, funding, type of research.  Then the grad students said that for them, the attitude of the program was important.  Did the professors, grad students, and admin seem excited to talk to you?  Did they believe in the program?  And finally, they all told me that it becomes obvious after you interview everywhere.  That you have to see yourself in the community and the university.  One girl said that interviewing students seem confused because they have like 7 - 10 interviews, but that if you are honest with yourself about the type of person you are, the right offer will feel like a fit.  

I don't know about Infinito, but the grad students at Vandy were very open and helpful so I have some knowledge I accrued about how to decide.
Obviously you look at the science.  Core facilities, funding, type of research.  Then the grad students said that for them, the attitude of the program was important.  Did the professors, grad students, and admin seem excited to talk to you?  Did they believe in the program?  And finally, they all told me that it becomes obvious after you interview everywhere.  That you have to see yourself in the community and the university.  One girl said that interviewing students seem confused because they have like 7 - 10 interviews, but that if you are honest with yourself about the type of person you are, the right offer will feel like a fit.  

And now my waiting is complete...Vandy interview invite this morning for 03/04! 

Well this is an odd string of events. I just got an interview invite to Notre Dame.

Fun fact, some of you may remember I put the wrong school's name in one of my SOPs. Well, that school went on to offer me an interview, so never say never ha. 

Okay, at least I don't feel crazy for thinking that it might be best to just apply and see how the interviews pan out at the end of December.  And the publication thing, I feel like students at my home institution have a disconnect with the other, more "prestigious" universities and think them an unobtainable goal.  I actually had a couple of grad students straight out laugh at me when I was saying where I wanted to apply.  They said that although I'll have the Amgen summer experience at Harvard, there's no way someone with a state school education will be acceptable there.  Kinda thinking they're just projecting opinions that aren't actually true.  (HOPEFULLY)  Thank you for your helpful advice!
 
So I guess no one has experience with Rockefeller?

OMG ITS FINALLY HAPPENING! ACCEPTED TO WUSTL DBBS!!!!! 
I actually can't believe my ears. Just got a call from my favorite POI congratulating me for getting in and hoping that i'd actually join and work in her lab. I am, then, actually going to go to graduate school this fall. I need to sit back and let this sink in completely 
Ahh such a confidence boost. I'll be heading to other interviews with such peace of mind that I have something in my pocket. Onto Yale now.

This fills me with so much glee.

I just have to share this with someone... Accepted at Vanderbilt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG so excited.  I love that they do rolling acceptances because now all the other schools are competing to wow me as much as Vandy did.  Amazing school.  I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL

I just have to share this with someone... Accepted at Vanderbilt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG so excited.  I love that they do rolling acceptances because now all the other schools are competing to wow me as much as Vandy did.  Amazing school.  I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL

I just have to share this with someone... Accepted at Vanderbilt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG so excited.  I love that they do rolling acceptances because now all the other schools are competing to wow me as much as Vandy did.  Amazing school.  I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL

just so you know you  may have accidentally wandered into the biology/life sciences applicant threads. 
I will say doing what you did will feel like nothing for you since you have already overcome a lot and matured a ton through your schooling.  There are a lot of people who struggle in graduate school yet, namely those straight out of undergrad, since they have not endured obstacles and difficulty in academics up to this point and are used to the "undergrad" mentality of school.  You sound like you have a good head on your shoulders.  Best of luck!

I just have to share this with someone... Accepted at Vanderbilt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG so excited.  I love that they do rolling acceptances because now all the other schools are competing to wow me as much as Vandy did.  Amazing school.  I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL

I just have to share this with someone... Accepted at Vanderbilt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG so excited.  I love that they do rolling acceptances because now all the other schools are competing to wow me as much as Vandy did.  Amazing school.  I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL

That's awesome, congrats!

I feel the exact same way! Im am so relaxed thinking about my interviews because at this point they are competing against one of my top choice. Congrats on being admitted!

Congrats! That's amazing! I bet you're a lot less stressed for the upcoming interviews.
I received my poi list Saturday. I'm interviewing for the imp program. I got 2 with POIs, 1 with another professor, and 1 grad student. Call the coordinator. I think assigning and scheduling interviewers for each person is the limiting factor. 

I just have to share this with someone... Accepted at Vanderbilt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG so excited.  I love that they do rolling acceptances because now all the other schools are competing to wow me as much as Vandy did.  Amazing school.  I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL

That's awesome!  Congratulations!  

I just have to share this with someone... Accepted at Vanderbilt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG so excited.  I love that they do rolling acceptances because now all the other schools are competing to wow me as much as Vandy did.  Amazing school.  I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL

I just have to share this with someone... Accepted at Vanderbilt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG so excited.  I love that they do rolling acceptances because now all the other schools are competing to wow me as much as Vandy did.  Amazing school.  I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL

I just have to share this with someone... Accepted at Vanderbilt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG so excited.  I love that they do rolling acceptances because now all the other schools are competing to wow me as much as Vandy did.  Amazing school.  I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL

I just have to share this with someone... Accepted at Vanderbilt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG so excited.  I love that they do rolling acceptances because now all the other schools are competing to wow me as much as Vandy did.  Amazing school.  I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL

I just have to share this with someone... Accepted at Vanderbilt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG so excited.  I love that they do rolling acceptances because now all the other schools are competing to wow me as much as Vandy did.  Amazing school.  I'M GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL