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Science_Girl_

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  • Location
    USA
  • Application Season
    2016 Fall
  • Program
    Biology

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  1. ...yeah. That is gonna be a toss up. I've had a working relationship with my in-house recommender for years, either in her lab or through collaboration from other labs. I may be able to explain to her that I just wasn't prepared to relocate, and am too concerned about inbreeding and how it'll affect my future. Or she may tell me to piss off, and I can get other recommendations. They're not in short supply, I've worked a few places and haven't even dipped into all my bosses let alone professors or people I've student instructed for. I just want to reiterate, it's a good school with a good program. I just didn't expect it to be my only option, or realize how badly 'going home' was going to affect me emotionally. *off topic* What the hell is with the rating system? Like, if you say something helpful, I imagine a <3 is the equivalent of a Facebook like. Who are the creeper trolls who dislike posts in threads they're not participating in? Can you block weirdos like that????
  2. Suggestions to substantially change my profile other than my GRE? My current stats in brief: years research: 5 publications: 1 first author as of this app round undergrad GPA: 3.79 letters: I was told they were outstanding By next round I'll have an additional paper, second author in submission, plus maybe 1-2 others getting wrapped up at my last lab (things take time...). I feel like, as a published author with strong letters and a high undergrad GPA, the GRE was my hold back.... I should also add that my alma matter is well ranked in the grand scheme of things, and not a bad school, it's just not where I want to go. I rather dislike my home town, and the whole inbreeding thing.... I applied because a friend/mentor pressured me, and I figured I wouldn't need the whole 'safety school' thing. I had NO IDEA how the whole admission process worked and really wasn't ready for it. I just didn't feel I had a choice. If I had been successful at getting an RA position in a lab where I moved I would have waited after I saw how bad my GRE sucked. Basically I compounded one bad decision with another until I'm here asking for direction. Thanks. This seems to be the most commonly occurring community response. I really appreciate everyones reaching out. I have ten million PI's telling me what to do, and random friends and family offering unsolicited advice. It's really nice to get a response from people I'm asking who can empathize. But how do you have a similar problem on math tests? Your scores a...170???? Can I borrow like 5 points?
  3. That's a really good point I hadn't thought of. I picked a safety school, but honestly didn't think I'd need it. And I have a friend there who's really really pressing me to attend, so I felt bad not applying. The combination of high cost of living, along with a town I don't really want to be in, furthered by an average reputation really makes me think I'll be unhappy. The program is OK, the schools OK, it's all top 50 but not my best showing. To compound it, it's my undergrad alma matter. This is generally seen as a black mark on your pedigree. Since I graduated I've had a successful career in academic science at other institutions, which I judge by publication record, and it just seems like a backslide... As to the GRE score, I think I can pull it pretty far up. I increased 10% between walking in cold (arrogant mistake) and having only 3 weeks to study (pressured to apply by a mentor). I don't do well with the type of questioning, I'm unsure what they're asking for some of the times, other times I freeze. I've also been out of school and working in the field for quite a few years. I need to cough up the cash for a proper prep course, it's just hard to come up with. That being said, another 10% and I'm above the threshold that generally excludes people from my desired program. I looked into transferring during grad school, and it's just generally a cluster.... I'm worried that I'll screw myself and won't get in anywhere the next round, or won't get my GRE up. I suppose if I start prepping now I'll have a better idea if I can outperform my previous score. And if so I can take a few classes at the local little college to buffer my lack of formal computational training. I wish I'd applied for a masters in the mix...
  4. Yeah, there is a logic flaw in waiting when I'm not sure how I'd stay relevant in the town I recently moved to. I'd probably take a few classes at a local school, maybe redirect to support the computational tools I'd like to pick up during my doctorate. Perhaps I should take my own advice and pursue a masters in the meantime, I might be able to take classes as non-degree seeking and whip them into something down the road. The thing is, I think I can get into a better school if I fix the obvious problem in my package (GRE), and I'll have at least one more publication out. Weather or not we want to admit it, pedigree counts. Better pedigree is often better training, more access to conferences and travel that support networking, and better post-doc opportunities. When I scan the bio's of the scientists I admire, who've been very successful and have appointments at the places I'd like to see myself, they're mostly from Harvard, Stanford, UCSF, Berkeley, UW, etc. for my particular field. To the second paragraph: I really really wish it did go into higher math. Ask me to integrate in spherical coordinates or calculate a p-value. I'd do better. The quant GRE is not about math. It is not a math test. It's just not. It's about understanding the language in which they are posing a question that you can use simple calulations to answer, and answering that question in the way they designed it for you to approach, in the interest of time. If you ace the first part, which you can see in the free ETS power prep, the second section is, unfortunately, just extremely convoluted questions designed to be answered with the same set of basic mathematics. If you don't have experience or do well with that sort of questioning it becomes problematic. Yeah, I do partially agree. Except that a 310 is not competitive for well ranked PhD programs. The names I see, just in this thread, are Harvard, Columbia, Davis, etc. A 310 is not going to cut it for schools like that. I never had a problem during my undergrad coursework, which included calculus and physics for engineers. I most certainly have never found that I had any significant problems with the math involved in biochemistry, or biophysics, in their real world applications. Or in approaching complex patterns of genetic changes in experiments with high sample numbers and multiple experimental parameters, and properly utilizing statistics to determine the global changes and relevance of the data sets. What I'm trying to say is, I totally disagree. The GRE is a thing unto itself that has zero bearing on ones ability to function in hard sciences at a doctorate level and beyond. It's about a language of testing, that most people acquire during their education and experience wth standardized testing prior to reaching this level. Most, but not all. They're are always outliers. Hm... "so immature that i'd argue that a low GRE score is the least of their problems". That seems a bit of a reach to be able to determine someones level of maturity based on how they choose to utilize an online forum. Also it discourages people from reaching out in what I believe is supposed to be a supportive community. "At what point do we stop blaming our upbringing and sit down and study?" Considering the power of social media these days, it seems rather productive to open a dialogue about aspects of education that may be socially inequitable. To redirect: there's a difference between complaining and commiserating. No scientist is an island. Being able to relate and support each other bodes well for the social savy that's needed to be successful. In order to collaborate and be productive, you'll need to interface with people that are different than you, hold opinions you dislike, communicate in a way you might find uncomfortable, and sometimes people you just plain can't stand. The soft skills are often under-rated, and I've seen more than a few candidates or post docs sink or swim as a result of judicious use of communication.
  5. Also, sorry your rounds didn't yield what you wanted. This is a really heart wrenching process for all of us. I truly hope you get in at the programs you want next round. I've been told a masters can be good for addressing undergrad GPA. Just a thought. I'm most certainly not an expert of how to get in :/
  6. "some studies that suggest there is a correlation between the GRE and completion rate for PhDs" I totally don't read that as knocking me, just straight forward info. But thanks for the kind disclaimer. I could see how this is, but not because the test itself is a good indicator. I'm now considering turning down my current (pending) offer, maxing out my credit card on prep courses, and taking the test yet again. This will probably lead to a better score. What that better score will actually say is not that the test is a good predictor, but that the determination to create a commutative application package is a good predictor. "Whether that correlation is stronger than the link between test scores and income etc, I don't know" As far as other correlations, I feel they're stronger, personally. I'm a first generation college student who grew up in income controlled housing. I went to really poor public schools until the family needed my income, and I dropped out of high school to work full time and help. When I returned to school, I worked my entire way through college. I'm not trying to write a sob story, simply highlight that you can almost tell that these factors are present by one and only one part of my application package, my GRE....
  7. "I took the GRE three times, and I did study each time for it. The scores were mostly consistent. For whatever reason I can't bring up my scores." Oh man do I feel you. That test is totally bogus, a bad representation of anyones abilities to do anything, except excel at that specific type of testing. Here's my stats: Interests: Genetics, bioengineeringMajor: B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from a UCMajor GPA: 3.7ishTotal GPA: 3.79GRE Scores: Verbal 160 (89%), Quantitative 155 (60%), and Writing 4 (I don't recall, piss poor)I took the GRE twice now. I simply can't crack that test. Quantum mechanics? A+. Overall math GPA 3.9. GRE, failed.Position in Class: cum laude, top 15%Research Experience: 1.5 years during undergrad. 3+ post grad. 1 first name authorship, a second name in review.Reccomendation Letters: I was told by the only school I got an interview at they were 'outstanding, very strong' See the problem here? Top student, tons of experience, publications, BUT THE GRE IS HOLDING ME BACK. No other developed nation uses this useless metric. I've had to watch people with class rankings lower than mine that I tutored get invited to Stanford and UW. The system is broken. That said, I'll hold a good thought for you. The application process seems really random. Maybe you'll strike gold signed- Bitter Biology Student
  8. Hi all, Second post asking for advice here. So against my better instincts, pushed by a mentor and an odd living situation, I applied for PhD programs this round. The results are somewhat worse than if I'd done nothing, in my opinion. Details: My GRE is piss poor. No other way to put it, I froze on the quant portion of that test. Q155. I knew I shouldn't have applied. V160 though, odd. I think it's cuz I know no one cares so I'm less intimidated. My CV is solid. I've worked in 3 labs post undergrad, have one first name authorship, and was told by faculty at the one school I received an interview with that my letters were really strong. Second pub (second name authorship) is in review. Undergrad GPA is 3.79, deans and department honors, all the bells and whistles. As I mentioned, I've only been invited for an interview at one school. It's the lowest ranked UC, and also my alma matter. Seems like career suicide. Also, my experience and stats are far above most on the interviewing cohort. I'm not trying to be an ass, it's just obvious that I'm not well matched to other incoming students. But that GRE, I think it removed me from competition everywhere else. An additional complication is that I moved to no-where Idaho before the application process for financial reasons. My family is here. However, there is NO work in my field, so that might reflect really poorly in next years apps that I've been out of the game for so long. So. Do I cough up the cash and properly prep for the GRE and apply again? I'll also have one more paper by next round. Or do I take the offer I'm expecting (based on PI interviews and encouragement to choose their school)? A bird in the hand is worth what at this stage?
  9. Thank you. I'm going through a somewhat similar thing, slightly different scores but poor. I'm honestly on the edge of not applying, but this make me feel like I ought to tough it out. What did the rest of your app look like? Authorships? Work experience? I'd like to think these factors offset a standardized test score. The GRE is only one part. Thanks for reminding me.
  10. Hi all. Thanks for the responses. @Vince Kotchian GRE Prep I used predominantly Princeton prep. If I retake it I'll do Manhattan. It's really a question of time. I'm in conversation with so many people I feel like I have to apply this round. I honestly am not sure I'd do any better if I waited, I work and don't have time to study, I can't afford the materials, and I simply don't test well this way. @brown_eyed_girl My letters are 2 from academics and one from industry. They could be solid academics but my industry reference writes beautifully and (I thought) shows an ability to be successful post PhD in the private sector. @EMPOWERgreRichC You asked what resources I used: Princeton prep online interface w/ 2 tests and every free thing I could get my hands on, including PowerprepII I see your rational on 'my way' vs 'their way' for question answering. If I retake it, it'll be early 2016 and I'll miss the deadlines for this round. I have references, SOP, etc all lined up. I think a more clear explanation for the score is this: The GRE is high school math, I'm a high school drop from a socioeconomically and educationally underprivileged background turned first gen college student. It's not an excuse, but it's the only thing I can think of that makes sense. I never took the SAT, and I don't do well at that type of testing so far. I'm also 35 and have been out of school for a while so whatever algebra is left has long been forgotten. No one uses this in actual lab work. Verbally I do well because I'm a book nerd. I don't have money for a tutor, or any more materials for that matter. I scoured the internet for all the free tests I could get and bought the cheapest online test/question combo I could find. I know it's too low to be competitive. Here are the bottom line questions for me: Is it too low to apply? Should I hedge my bets and go for a masters? I'd hate to give up a dream based on one aspect of my profile, which is a standardized test. Thanks everyone for your help.
  11. Hi all. I read and searched the previous entries in an attempt to not be redundant, and I think my situation is a bit novel. Let me start by saying I just bombed my GRE, again. I received a 161V and 155Q. I'd like to apply for a biomedical PhD so the quant score is god awful. I've sat for this test repeatedly, and can't seem to do any better. I ace the first quant section (based on power prep II practice test analysis), so the second section is always their hardest version and the wording is so vague I can't figure out what's being asked until it's too late. My math is fine, it's the question interpretation that's killing me. I'd retake it with alternate prep, but have a few issues surrounding that. I don't know of any books or interactive online courses that focus specifically on the hardest questions, so I could adjust to the convoluted wording. Secondly, I've been talking with several PIs who are interested in working with me. One of whom I'd die to work with, and of course he's at Stanford so my score is laughable. I feel like not applying this round is disrespectful to the people who've spent time and energy encouraging me and discussing their work with me. In brief; I feel cornered. Here's the rest of my profile: Undergrad: Biochemistry and molecular biology GPA: 3.8 school and department honors as well as thesis specific awards. First name authorship 5 years post-bac experience Strong letters: from previous bosses as well as a CMO of a major pharma Does anyone have any clever ideas? Thank you so much for your time.
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