Microburritology

MDTP is an AWESOME program, congratulations!! I want to know too...tell uuusssss @Tusenpo!!

Well then its not possible that you've heard back. We were clearly told by the Dean that the decisions will be released the first week of March. But really though, why would you take the pains of creating a profile just to troll people? Is your life really that sad?

Haha well I was worried for a minute, and had a feeling it was bs but didn't have the confidence to go ahead and call it out - Thanks!

Wait without the interview? And which program did you apply to at Yale? Yale just had it'd second weekend for BBS and they haven't given any admission offers yet (not as far as I know)! Just to clarify, did you apply to this cycle (Fall 2016 admissions) or the previous years cycle?

I'll give you my feedback and/or a re-iteration of other's advice on your profile backed up with real-life examples from what i've learnt in the past 6 months. 1) You really don't want to apply to so many programs, especially not if you are casting a broader net just for safety and some schools on your list aren't a good research fit. As @bicsy said, definitely do email profs at prospective program to gauge the competitiveness, and their interest in your profile - that will help you narrow down your list. THAT BEING SAID, I would improvise on his/her advice by saying a) you don't need to attach your transcripts but instead have a sharp, crisp and a succinct CV to attach, and b) have a pretty darn good reason as to why you're emailing that prof vs the others in that department (tailor the email to show how your research matches theirs - you should be emailing professors having the same research interest anyways). LASTLY, emailing professors at prospective programs helped ALL my applications. EACH ONE. If you have a very tailored, specific and an interesting email, conversations will flow, and they can definitely help your chances. They helped mine. 2) DO include WUSTL's DBBS program, can't stress this program enough. As @Agent Orange said, hundreds of faculty and research projects to search from, regardless of the track you interview for, 3) The rank of your liberal arts college REALLY doesn't matter, if that was your concern anyway. I saw people at Ivies coming from colleges I had (no one else either) had ever heard of. That being said, also not a big proponent of GPA requirements, but what I have indeed gathered from my research is that if there are some top programs kinda finicky about their stat requirements, and also a little blurry in their admissions process, they are UCSF and Rockefeller, as @biochemgirl67 pointed out. I won't go so far as to say that you won't have a chance there with your current stats, but better GRE scores would definitely help your GPA for these two programs. PM me if you need any help, would be happy to help!

I saw this thread and wanted to reply. One of my acquaintances went to Keck for the same program, and got a job as an analyst at an investment bank in the silicon valley. Definitely a new university, but they do have some great industry connections.

I love Qdoba burritos and I'm obsessed with Microbiology

Undergrad Institution: Top Tier Biotech Research School in India. Major(s): Biotech Minor(s): We don't even have such options. GPA in Major: 3.7 Overall GPA: 3.6 Position in Class: Top 5% Type of Student: International but Domestic? Been working in a multinational Biotech company for 2 years now in the US - also got my green card sponsored, so I now apparently fall into the pool of US Citizens/Permanent residents? GRE Scores (revised/old version): Q: 162 V: 160 W: 5.0 (I wrote 5 f***ing paragraphs) Research Experience: Umm, where to start. 1) Got selected after undergrad into an international science leadership program (12 selected every year out of 2500+ applications from around the globe) in a US Biotech company, who relocated me from India to the US (gave me a visa, car, home, etc.), been working in their microbial research lab for two years now. During my research here discovered a new combination of antifungal lipopeptides to control/eliminate an epidemic disease of Banana plantations worldwide, Black Sigatoka, without the pathogen developing resistance . First author publication, working now on its commercial formulation. 2) 3 years research experience during undergrad, rotated in a couple of labs, but still mainly sticking to microbiology, microbial enzymes, and studying the entire process of interaction of microbial antibiotics with pathogen cells. 3) A 6 month internship right after undergrad, before I landed this opportunity, working on similar plant diseases, studying plant responses and gene expressions after artificial infection. 4) Two three month internships during undergrad summer vacations, one at Novozymes India, other at National Institute of Mycobacterial Diseases. Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Full ride. Dean's List. External & Internal Scholarships. Tonnes of awards from extra-curriculars was heavily into them- from Debates to Spelling competitions. Oh and I played soccer for my university, equivalent of Division 1 athlete here. Pertinent Activities or Jobs: I use to voluntarily tutor Math, Chemistry and Physics at a local mosque. Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I also liked building databases and coding, so I actually built a database housing all the gene sequences of enzymes (to weaken the host immunity, create pores in the cell wall, etc.) secreted by the pathogen during the first stages of host pathogen interaction. I did this for the National Center of Mycobacterial Diseases where I interned. Apparently they licensed it later and gave me no due credit. Ho - hum.

I was sitting at the Philadelphia airport a few hours back, waiting for the connecting flight to New Haven, when I hear two girls behind me talking about mol bio research in Yale BBS labs. I turn around and ask them, are you going to Yale for the recruitment weekend, and they're like yeah, you too? I say me too, and I hear 8 other me too's from around me. Turns out there were 11 students for the recruitment weekend at Yale, and 2 Yale professors in a SUPER SMALL charter plane of 15 people It was almost like Yale sent a private jet to Philadelphia to pick up its people.

Lol that's exactly what I was thinking. I didnt even know there was an interview waitlist @123hardasABC I think you should be okay.

Yes, everyone should do that. Especially when you have two interview weekends. Always mention something specific which you'll spoke about in the interview (which reminds them of you), and say a thank you, and keep it short and sweet.

So I was indeed of the opinion that they actually don't have the time to read through your SOP..boy was I wrong. At least at WUSTL, atleast 3/5 PIs read through my SOP, and one PI said that she skimmed through the SOP, but she mainly utilized the resume's for an applicant's compact and detailed summary. Nonetheless, so I walk into my first interview, and my PI said, "Oh nice to meet you. I was just telling Prof. xyz that I was blown away by your SOP. I'm really interested to learn about your experience working with Bt Cotton". And inside, I went, "You actually read my SOP?!"

Actually just 2 business days

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.

Biology

Back from WUSTL DBBS interview last night at 1 am, and coming to work in the morning at 8 am. My head hurts so bad Nonetheless, COMPLETELY FLOORED. Such a great interview experience, such awesome PIs, lovely colleagues, and a bunch of extremely talented, fun loving co-applicants - had a blast! They truly went to great lengths to wine and dine us and convince us that it actually is the place to be. And for all the ones wanting to know anything about the interview experience, please PM me, would love to help anyone out who's in the same anxiety I was 5 days ago. Just a heads up: I was asked NO questions in any of my interviews. NONE. No why grad school, why here, nothing. Just a casual, brilliant conversation. Now since I saw this question asked elsewhere on the forum and also this thread, I'd like to bring this up. In one of the many presentations about the university and the program, a professor specifically said, that if you have been selected, and the a reason holding you back is the application status of your significant other since you'd like to attend school together, LET THE PROGRAM KNOW. I was actually surprised, but he said that if you've been selected, and if your SO's application is so-so/in the grey area, they'll coordinate with other departments in the university and get them an interview atleast, hinting that the SO's chances increase significantly since you are already on your way here. Also received an invite from UPenn in the middle of an interview with my favorite PI Fingers crossed for WUSTL decisions, they're sending acceptances out tomorrow I'll attend all the other interviews with such calmness if they offer me admission tomorrow.

@biochemgirl67 Haha, the only thing that I would've understood from your response would be the boots if I was reading this 6 months ago (I still can't picturise the grey strappy part though). The only reason I know knit pants now is because now I have a girlfriend who is in love with her LL Bean knit pants, which actually look like sharp trousers but are super soft and comfy and warm. She shows up for company presentations in those and also naps in those. And I hate her for those coz I haven't found something similar for myself

@miky LOLOL I actually shop PRECISELY for dexter's henleys. Indeed better to be overdressed, but I was just overthinking that maybe all the guys show up in shirt pant and no tie and i'm the clown dressed up in a suit. But good to hear suits are common. Yeah i'll need to consult with my grad student buddy to see what he's wearing and what would be appropriate for the last day. Thanks!

@peachypie to the rescue as always. Yeah I feel the jacket does kinda complete the look (it better, I paid a fortune for it). Okay so no jeans then, but I will ask the grad student assigned to me on his opinion for the outing day. Thank you!!

WUSTL DBBS interview the day after. SOO nervous. Plus the weather there is not exactly welcoming. Nonetheless, onto sartorial questions - I'm beginning packing now, so I needed some specific information for specific days: 1) The first evening, i.e., tomorrow, is just dinner. Will khaki's and a formal button down shirt, with a suede jacket and boots do? Are jeans and henleys ok, for the first dinner evening or the last day when students will show us about town? 2) I have a lovely suit for the interview day, and since I dont want to seem overdressed, should I even wear the suit/blazer, or just keep it down to a pant, shirt and tie? Thanks peeps.

Yup. Towards the end of the call when I asked again he said you might recieve an invite by next week if you haven't already, but highly unlikely. That was clear rejection for me. Anyways, focusing on the things in hand.

Just called MIT Biology department and asked about the interview invites. He said they've been sent out, and that if you haven't received any email thus far, it's unlikely you'll be invited. Atleast I know now and won't be anxious through the weekend. Ahh the weekend's going to be such fun going over in my head all the things I could possibly have done differently to get called by MIT. Fun times

LOLOL and Southwest and Qdoba. They never fucking send a coupon for free burritos but always send emails introducing their new quesos Pour the queso on yourself b**** I'm waiting for MIT's email.

Seeing the MIT invites roll in from the survey has left me hyperventilating. My heart seems to be racing, eyes are watering, and I'm feeling all feverish inside. I know I probably won't make it, but at this point of time I just hope they send me a rejection email. Also, I can't even explain what happens to me every time the phone vibrates. I'm pretty much cursing at every person who's sending me an email right now other than MIT. No I don't want your credit card, no I don't want your discounts, no I'm not getting groceries on the way back fuck off everyone

No I didn't and I have been looking fro someone who applied to that program to talk to! There are practically no results in the survey, and the few which are seem to have been all rejected. I was actually very excited about this program, and gave them a call yesterday, and they said they'll be conducting a skype call in january with all the applicants they shortlisted. Did you hear back anything at all?