hihello742

Huge congratulations! I believe my UCSF train may have passed if they don't email by ~ 3pm today. Just trying to get through work today and concentrate on other schools.

Just heard from Davis too, Immunology just today. Congrats on your interview invites!

Huge Congrats! Do you feel like sharing which interview dates are for UCSF BMS? Thank you.

Hey @LadyScientist and @pep mocha, In terms of West Coast interviews I'm on the same boat as you guys. My perspective is this: - Some professors/programs will offer interview invite hella early, but only if you got lucky and they happen to LOVE your application (but it doesn't mean you're not a competitive applicant). IMO, those who have received interview invites are not only based on their competitive application, but also on having the right person reading your application, and them really liking the fit. However, I highly doubt you are out of the game yet. - Example: My UC Davis Immunology application was submitted last Thursday, and I was offered an interview invite today/Monday. That is before the program has had the "Meeting" to review the main batch of applicants. My guess is that someone felt like I was a good fit. Many others here have received UC Berkeley MCB professor phone calls, and I believe their situation could fall into the same trend of them being a really great fit for a specific program/lab. - However, I am also waiting on UCSF, UCLA, and UCSD. -If you think of it like Dating Dynamics, if you meet someone and totally click after 5 minutes, then you DEFINITELY will get a 2nd date. It's not your stats, not your "hard criteria" lol, but just about that perfect fit. However, other times you will meet great people who look amazing on paper, but maybe you hold off a few days before calling them, because you are not feeling that instant "chemistry." However, it does not mean life-long love cannot blossom in the future. Same goes for graduate school interviews and acceptances. Keep it strong and breathe. Best of luck to Everyone!

Congrats on UCLA! Which department did you apply to?! Omg I haven't heard from them yet. Maybe we'll see each other at PIBBS interview weekend.

Thank you for letting us know! Awaiting Davis here too

I believe someone in this thread said UCSF BMS is next Tuesday. ***good luck everyone!***

Thank you @Blahgirl. I will be waiting and praying anxiously!

Any know about UCSF's BMS interview dates from their invites? Thanks!

Yes, I applied to JHU Medical School graduate program in Immunology. Still waiting to hear back. Def a top choice. My mentor went there. THere's top notch research there that, in my humble opinion, is comparable to Harvard, Yale, UCSF and Stanford. What programs in JHU did you get interview invites from? Thank you!

Hey anyone else got the USC PIBBS interview? They only offer 1 interview weekend in Jan 18-20th, and they want me to decide by Sunday, Dec-18! Should I just say yes and book it? Does anyone else know the interview weekends for other UC schools? I'd hate to say yes, then have it conflict with another UC. Thanks guys!

Did anyone have their GRE general scores sent out, but then the ETS website just somehow "dropped/forgot" to send your GRE subject scores? I checked my NYU Sackler application status, and it turns out they were missing my Subject scores! I swear, these $27 score reports are getting expensive. ASFADSF!!!

Ditto here! I suspect East coast schools send out invites SUUUPPPER early. Backpacking sounds great. I like to workout then throw back a glass of wine. Once at an interview, the question of "how do you handle stress" came up, and I am sure building a habit of healthy athletic activities now will only help us in grad school! On another note, this forum is super helpful for those of us that are not currently in school, as it is hard to find my colleagues who are going through the same process!

Someone just posted in the results forum about an interview invite for NYU Sackler Biomedical Sciences (Microbio/Immunology track). Interview dates are set for either: Jan 12-13 or Jan 26-27. Best of luck!

I also applied to UCLA Biosciences, so I'll let you know if there's any movement on my end lol. So far, I'm bereft of any interview invites. Best of luck to you!

Hey there, I applied to NYU Sackler too, their Biomedical Sciences program. I have not heard back. It does not seem anyone in the results thread has posted anything either. Although they may have heard back, but do not read this forum.

Yes, I met some Bioinformatics/Computational Bio interviewees last year at Stanford's Bioscience weekend, and they were top notch. Many have started their own companies or technologies while being out of school. In the Computation world I believe that background is more favorable than neutral, while in pure biosciences it's either neutral or a minor advantage depending on how you frame it. I agree that I got super lucky with my industry job, where I'm still heavily in R&D with projects that have a strong "academic" flavor. My position required a Master's + 2 years experience, so it was unique because few PhD's were competing for it, but few Master's had that much experience. Best of luck to your interviews! If it helps, I observed that Stanford Bioinformatics program LOVES industry-seasoned applicants. I am sure other top notch schools will feel the same, like you described.

Thank you for the advice and encouragement pepmochaa. LOR #1: from a Staff Scientist/post-doc who mentored me during my Master's Thesis. LOR #2: Director of my Master's program - mentored me on small projects (not research-heavy). LOR #3: Professor, research mentor for 2 semester-long projects LOR #4: Most recent research supervisor from Biotech industry. No "professor" title cuz we don't have that in industry, but he's the most senior Science position in our department. Lol. If it helps, he is now the Director of R&D of another company.

Wow congrats on your recent interview invite! That's definitely encouraging. I'm not pining after Harvard or Yale - that would be like Chris Pine asking me out lol. But it's encouraging to see someone from a biotech/pharma background that wasn't immediately dismissed by top programs.

Hey All, A general question about "non-traditional" applicants. How do big California UC's and top-tiered schools view students who have taken time off to do research in an industrial/company setting? I come from that background, and explained why I want to go back to a Ph.D. clearly in my SoP's. However, I have strong research experience in academia of 3 years and Rec Letters from academic Post-doc's. However, I'm still really concerned about elite schools "looking down" at students who are not from a "pure and straight" path, like straight out of NIH or who stayed in academia all their life. Would love perspectives from similar-background students. Thank you guys! FYI: I'm in mid-20s, so not "Old" old.

Ahh! That is smart on your end, and some good lessons to take on my end. "Start everything early, then DOUBLE the time you think it will take to prepare."

Thanks Spiffscience. It's hard to concentrate at work. I submitted my applications on the morning of the Dec-1 deadlines, so hopefully that's not going to delay or hurt my chances. Congrats on your current interview invites!

Hi All, Has anyone received interview invites from West Coast UC schools? It's nerve wracking seeing the interview invites for most UC's go out by mid-Dec during last 2015 season, and it's creeping up. Although nobody has posted in the admissions results page. Cheers!

Thank you to everyone who is reading this! Need honest eval of my shot at UC- schools for Immunology Programs, as well as need feedback for “unconventional applicants” who took 5 years off between undergrad and PhD Undergrad Institution: Top 10 Large University (California UC) Major(s): Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology (Bachelor’s) Biotechnology (Master’s, Georgetown) GPA (overall, B.S.): 3.75 GPA (major, B.S.): 3.6 GPA (Master's): 3.85 Type of Student: Domestic F, Asian (not minority/not applying with disadvantaged status) GRE Scores (revised/old version): Q: 159 (75%) V: 160 (85%) W: 6 B: Waiting for results. Research Experience: 1 publication from 1 year of work in cancer immunology lab - in Journal of Virology, 2nd tier. 5th author of 9. 1 year undergraduate Dept. Honors Thesis (no pub) - Vascular Biology 1.5 years at National Cancer Institute/NIH (no pub) - Biochemistry of Mitotic Spindles 2 summers of research at City of Hope National Cancer Institute and NIH Work Experience: 2 years as Cell Biology Applications Scientist (80% benchwork, in R&D of company) Spotlight company recognition (less than 5% of people get it) for contribution to development of a new technology related to Immunology. Awards/Honors/Recognitions: $2000 research award in last year of undergrad (2011) Honors Thesis in Undergrad. $5000 merit scholarship for M.S. program (2014) 1 poster award (local, M.S. program), 1 President’s/Dean’s award (M.S. program) Special Bonus Points: Solid 4 recommendations with 1 from the Director of my Master’s program whom I know personally and have conducted an internship with. Older (27 at time of application) Focused field. I tailored my essays, LORs and entire application towards the field of interest. Solid essays and 3 years Lead Coordinator/Teacher for national STEM non-profit. Good for teaching-heavy schools. My Weak Areas: Older (27), haha depending on how schools view me. Could be good or bad. Industry experience - still 80% bench science in R&D, but not with the same “academic flavor.” I predict some schools will question my seriousness to return to academia. GRE Quant low - 159 (75%) Drifted around different research fields before settling on Immunology. Schools may question my ability to stay committed in 1 place for ~5 years. Unconventional applicant who took 5 years off. I fully address why I got a Master’s and am working in industry/corporate, and why I want to return to academic research in my Essays. However, still may be a pain point. Applying to Where: UCSF BMS program (Immunology) UCLA MIMG (microbiology, immunology molecular genetics) UC Davis Immunology UC Berkeley Immunology and Pathogenesis USC (Molecular Microbiology and Immunology) Sloan-Kettering (cancer immunology) Yale BBS (Immunology) Columbia (Immunology, Microbiology and Infection) JHU (Immunology) ** Need more mid-tier school suggestions with good Immunology/Cancer Immuno professors!! Thank you guys!