AjjA

I just met this great PI, his work interests me so much, his personality fits with mine. However, he is old - 70s - and seems to be in miserable health. I like to be in his lab, but would he be around until I'm done? That question would make me lose sleep for the next five years

I spend most of my free time now a days reading about PIs and their Pubmed pages, trying to figure out where to go for rotations. Since I'm interested in translational research more, I found most of the PIs publish their work in journals with impact factors range from 3 - 10. Ones publish in Nature and Science are usually basic research, at least at this school. As you may know from my previous post, I'm not quite happy with the school ( and the only option ) I'm going to this full. I thought I'd compensate this low achievement by working harder in grad school and publish in top journal. Another thing, which might sound horrible stereotype, I was advised by two friends, one of them is a postdoc. other is a grad student to avoid PIs from China and India. Their reasoning that PIs from those two countries are usually demanding and expect their students to stay for longer time in grad school than average. But again I'm aiming to publish at top journals, which might require staying for longer time. What do you think?

Indiana was the only interview I got. I've been trying to avoid grad school for the past two years, applied to a lot of postdoc. positions, impossible to get without being a first author. I decided to go to Indiana. Thank you for your input everyone.

Thank you all. I really appreciate your input. My question now, although sounds like a reconciliation with IUPUI, how common for graduate student to ( make it ) in such low ranked school. And by make it I mean publishing in top journals. The comment of jaesango has made me do some thinking. I can see the possibility of working in some labs there. But still concerned about the role of the PI/school reputation and ranking in my success. Me, I can change, at least theortically, but I can't do anything about the school/PI. Another question, which is easier, to reapply or to transfer. I'm thinking to making a transfer to a closer ranked school but has more work in cancer immunotherapy ( UM-Baltimore )

MD ( international), GPA 3.9, three years of research experience at top US schools, two publications, GRE ( V. 154, Q146, AW3.5). Things can be changed/added : GRE score, I didn't study well last time, I believe I can do much better. I also can have the result prior to the deadline. Two publications are expected to be published by August. Things cannot be changed are recommendation letters, I didn't perform well in my first lab, the PI there told me I'm not even at the top 10% category and discouraged me from applying to top school. I don't think he will change his mind. I was a little bit better in the next lab. That's what's concerning me, my performance was mainly affected by lack of motivation. I need something translational. I found cancer immunotherapy the most interesting. I can't have letters from my instructors at medical school, most of them are clinicians with weak credentials. I see you are located in Indiana, can you comment on IU?

I messed up in my GREs, submitted the result very late and it was a terrible one. Recommendation letters were not that great as well, I have a very good one, I don't know about the other two. I suspect one of them at least wasn't that great. I received rejections from all schools except one ( Indiana University at Indianapolis ). The city seems nice and affordable, a lot of labs there, friendly faces everywhere. But I have developed some interest in cancer immunotherapy, I don't see Indiana U. as a major player at this research. My current PI advised me to be more flexible and find another topic in cancer research, I'm afraid I won't be very motivated if working with something else. I didn't work with cancer immunotherapy before. I just find the idea ( alluring) and has a lot of potential in the future. Should I reapply next year with a better and earlier preparation for the GRE? Does it really matter to go to top schools?

I will be attending the IBMG program at Indiana University - Indianapolis this August. I was wondering if anyone here is?

I'm still working as a full time technician. I accepted a grad school offer for the Fall 2016. When should I started contacting PIs and ask them about rotating at their labs? Should I contact them directly or through some office in the school?

Hi, Is there any foreign medical graduates out there planning to go to graduate school? I'm in a quite dilemma about my plans and I need some advice, Thank you

Has anyone here applied to MD Anderson? I want to know how competitive it is.

Receiving a rejection letter from Sloan Kettering made me wondering if it's still a good idea to apply to MD Anderson. How competitive Immunology at MD anderson is? I see the US ranking for University of Texas at Houston falls in the 50s. Yet MD anderson could be one of the top ten at cancer research.

Hi, I couldn't meet the application submission deadline for two schools out of ten. My recommenders have already submitted their letters to these two. Is it possible that the admission office of these two schools transfer my letters to other schools with Mid December deadline? I just don't want to contact the recommenders again for some personal reason.

Thank you, please check your inboxes

Hi everyone, Would anyone be kind enough to review my SOP? It's for PhD in Molecular Medicine for an international applicant. A friend of mine has checked it from the language prospective but I need someone who works in Science to give a better feedback. If yes, I'll send it to you in a private message. Thank you

Hi, I am writing my SOP and I feel a bit confused of how much I write about my future goal in the graduate school, how specific should I be? And when it comes to reason my interest in this particular school, what should I write exactly. Here is one example : I am interested in your program as I want to work on xxxx, I understand that at your school there is xxx facility/center/ lab that is specialized in this kind of work. Is this good enough?

Now I'm in a bit of conundrum I have three options for the third letter, each one seems worse than the other : 1- LOR from someone whom I haven't worked with >>> But he has good credentials. 2- LOR from postdoc who supervised me, his impact factor is 23 >> But the 2nd recommender is the PI of that exact lab. 3- LOR from a clinician, whom I rotate with for couple of months >> It's been very long since I contact him, he doesn't have any research background. There is noway to have letter from my school, it's foreign school, research there is zero, faculty have no credentials at all, and finally we had huge class ( 1800 student), they give the same letter for every one.

Hi, Does it matter if I haven't actually worked with the recommender? the relationship is kind of mentor-protege. I have been in contact with this person for years, he knows what I do, what I have been through to get to this point and what's my plans. He also has good credentials ( dean of medium tier college, PI, very good publication record). I contacted him yesterday and he's happy to do it, asked me to send a draft. The the other two recommenders are my PIs, so I don't have a problem with that.

Some programs have two deadlines ( Dec. 1st, then Jan. 5th), the website states that Dec.1st is the priority deadline. What does this mean? Does it mean they wouldn't consider any further applications if they have enough from Dec.1st applicants?

Hi everyone, I'm applying to Molecular Medicine PhD programs. My credentials : ( MD from foreign school, graduated with excellent and honor, my name is on two publications, a third was just submitted, my impact factor is 7, three years of lab experience at two different labs, both at top schools, US citizen, two very good LOR ). Now the bad news, not very well prepared for GRE, which I'm taking it in a couple of weeks, I'm not expecting good scores. Although I graduated with the level of excellence and honor which is the way my school grades, when it comes to the US GPA, it looks like I'm falling into 3.1 ( My cumulative percentage is 87%) I was aiming high until this evening, my boss started to upload his recommendation and for some reason sent me an email suggesting a mid-tier school (ranked in 50s in life science grad-school.usnews) saying it's good and practical for me. As I feel very upset by his suggestion, I'm worried that I'm aiming too high ( applying for 12 programs, 11 of them are top 20 ).

Since I'm not a native speaker, I'm struggling the most at the verbal part. I've been trying to read the opinion pages at the New York times and few others but when It comes to RC passages, it's completely different story. For the vocabulary, I think I'm doing quite well. I went through all Manhattan and Magoosh vocab and learned them all. But, I'm still not being able to answer all questions in the 5lb or magoosh practice questions. Now, I'm trying to improve my comprehension skills and vocabulary by watching Magoosh and EmpowerGRE verbal videos. However, I don't feel they are adding anything to me. All of their strategies are common sense to me. It seems to me it's either you know the vocabulary and therefore what the passage or sentence is about you not, it's all or non. I'm afraid I'm waisting my time with those videos. What do you think?

I contacted a professor whom I work with in the past. She said she would be happy to recommend me and asked me to send a draft of which she will ( Clean up). I'm confused as I never did that before. Should I write an excellent letter praising myself then leave it for her to decide, or should I just write an informative letter which includes details about my educational background, the work and techniques I did in the lab and my future goals.

Another choice, an MD/PhD who is now a director of clinical pathology program, he's been mentoring me for couple of years but we haven't had any actual work experience. He is willing to give me a letter similar to this : I'm very pleased to write this letter for AjjA who is applying to your PhD program. AjjA received his medical degree from the XXXXX. I have known AjjA since his arrival to the US to pursue his graduate education. We kept in close touch where we frequently meet to discuss his academic progression and his future career interest. Beside his academics, AjjA has admirable personally traits. He is compassionate, dedicated honest and sincere individual. He is motivated, hard working and dependable person. He shows an interest and commitment to his speciality. His hard work, humble and respectful personality enables him to get along with everyone and serves well in his pursuit for a career in graduate studies. I strongly endorse him to your program and strongly feel that he is an excellent candidate for your program.

All the faculty I know have nothing to do with research. All of the them are clinicians. Also due to the huge number of students at our school, they write the same letter for everyone without paying attention even to the applicant name. I'm afraid the review committee would contact him to find out the painful truth. It's messed up I know.

Thanks for your input guys. I talked to the postdoc. and he's willing to do it.

My only concern that I'm getting LOR from the the PI of that postdoc. Means two LORs from the same lab.