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brainsandeggs

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Posts posted by brainsandeggs

    2016 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

    in Biology

    Posted

    18 hours ago, ultravioletblack said:

    Just curious, why didn't you ask for hotel accommodations? I live about an hour away (subway commute) from one of my interview schools and I asked for a room the night before the interview just because I thought it would be more convenient. Since the interview day starts around 8am - 9am, I didn't want to feel rushed or have to wear my nice clothes on dirty, smelly public transportation. I get that it might seem greedy to ask for lodging when I live in state, but I figure the school probably prepared for the cost and they still end up saving on travel expenses for me, anyway.

    ...Was that a bad idea? 

    I don't think so - I'm i the same situation, but I chose not to do the hotel just so I can get ready and everything in my own house - but I don't think the school will care either way IMO. 

    2016 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

    in Biology

    Posted

    42 minutes ago, jordy_protein said:

    Is anyone interviewing for Weill Cornell PBSB on Jan 20-22? I just got the detailed schedule of events and I noticed that on Thursday we're doing things from 7:45am to midnight, including attending talks, getting tours, and some of our interviews with faculty. :)The evening consists of fun activities with the grad students. My question is, what would you wear for this? I have a nice dress and blazer I was going to wear with tights and boots for the interview but there's so many activities all day I wonder if I should bring clothes to change out of for after interviews? 

    I am (neuro though) Yeah I saw that - til midnight OY (I live in Brooklyn so will be commuting back home afterwards, a train ride that'll take me an hour at that time...so might have to skip out on Ph.D: The movie...). I was planning on wearing nice pants and blazer type thing for the actual interview day, including heels so I'm probably going to bring a change of clothes (like dark pants and boots with my collared shirt) to change into after the interviews and faculty parts are done so I'm not in bizness wear all night during "fun activities". 

    2016 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

    in Biology

    Posted

    7 minutes ago, Microburritology said:

    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 :mellow::blink:

    ahhh time to break out the smirnoff ices - thanks for letting us know!

    2016 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

    in Biology

    Posted

    Just now, Microburritology said:

    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 invite atleast.

    Also, I can't even explain what happens to me everytime 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 :ph34r:

    YUUUP. If hotwire sends me one more promotion for a 600 dollar vacation to puerto vallarta I'm going to lose it. 

    2016 Neuroscience Ph.D. Applicant Thread People Thing

    in Biology

    Posted

    16 minutes ago, Infinito said:

    Haha, what's your study technique? One abstract per PI?

    Well I was going to do several papers per PI and then make sure all the technical details of my own research are completely in my memory so I don't forget something obvious when i'm sitting there all nervous but I'm not sure how much preparation is necessary - anyone who has interviewed before have any perspective on how detailed we need to get for this stuff? I posted something on the other thread but any neuro-specific advice would be welcomed! 

    What is your plan if I may ask? 

    2016 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

    in Biology

    Posted

    11 hours ago, biotechie said:

    This might not be the post you meant, but maybe it will help: 

     

    Feel free to comment questions on the post or pose them to me, here. It might take me a day or so to get back to you as I'm in the middle of trying to finish a paper for publication. :)

    I have a question! In your interviews, how detailed did they get in their questions re: your research and your planned projects? I had an informal meeting with a POI before apps season started, and she REALLY grilled me about technical stuff - she wanted me to draw out diagrams and describe how I arrived at equations for stuff. It turned out okay in the end, but I was just totally unprepared for how in detail she would go, and it wasn't the smoothest meeting. I've been working in the same lab for almost 5 years now, so I expect they will want me to have every little thing down pat, but I get really nervous in person and I"m worried I will flub something and blow an interview! So I've been trying to memorize everything, but I"m not sure if I"m overdoing it. 

    Do you remember what kinds of things most faculty members wanted to know about your research? Was it big picture stuff, or did they want the nitty gritties? Also - same question for their own research  - I know people have said that they don't expect you to know stuff about their work, but I worked hard to make sure each faculty member I identified in my SOP was PERFECTLY aligned with my current research, so I"m worried they will be asking me technical questions about their stuff too since it's so similar to mine. 

    Thanks in advance! I know things must be crazy busy if you are writing a publication! I am just trying to figure out how to best use my time to prepare for interviews. 

     

     

    2016 Neuroscience Ph.D. Applicant Thread People Thing

    in Biology

    Posted

    On 1/5/2016 at 7:21 PM, majorlurker said:

    Just got Yale Neuro :D

    Congrats!! 

     

    17 hours ago, Micecroscopy said:

    I got one of the invites for Stanford neuro. I got a phone call from someone in admissions and she said she'd follow up with an email, but I haven't received that yet.

    I got the email a few minutes after posting

    Damn! Thats awesome congrats! I was hoping for that one :( but this is the time to get up off my butt and stop waiting for phone calls and start studying for interviews I did get - feeling grateful regardless :o 

    2016 Neuroscience Ph.D. Applicant Thread People Thing

    in Biology

    Posted

    2 hours ago, gs1992 said:

    They're combined programs now and the interviews are combined. I know that the adcom is combined as well. For what it's worth though, I heard from Neural Science.

    This is sad for me, no invite from NYU :( Last year the neural sciences ones came out first week of January, but I guess that was before they combined the adcoms and whatnot? 

    2016 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

    in Biology

    Posted · Edited by brainsandeggs

    59 minutes ago, Jmoney$$ said:

    Butts.

    Well still holding out for Stanford.

    Me too! According to the survey, looks like last year all of the invites were sent out via phone call on the Friday of the first week back from break - so I am giving myself til the end of the week to wallow in wine coolers. ETA: sorry this was for Neuroscience BTW

    What to do better next time.. Masters before PhD?

    in Biology

    Posted

    16 minutes ago, fr0sting said:

    peachypie - thanks for your advice! I'll start looking into nearby post-bacc programs, to improve my GPA and show that I can handle the coursework. I actually did have my SOP critiqued though, by two researchers/MD's, one who edited it, and the other who read the edited version, and gave only positive feedback. My SOP was great in his view, but I think in the end, I feel that maybe I didn't personalize it enough to each university and/or POI. 

    brainsandeggs - thanks for the encouragement and sharing your story! I can see from your signature that you are indeed doing terrific in getting those interviews! Congrats :). I would agree, a Biology related Masters would be a stronger move, I just hope I can find a program that would still interest me for that long if neuroscience is not the main part of the Masters program. Once again the only part of my SOP I think could've been stronger is the tailoring to each university. 

    PlanB - thanks! Just wondering whether in your view, would a Post-Bacc be less beneficial than a Master's for improving my chances?   

     

    Youre right that neuro masters are few and far between - I knew I wanted to do a neuroscience Ph.D program, but I think at most Biology MA programs you will be able to sort of pick and choose amongst the faculty at that school to find a good advisor for a neuro-themed thesis on the biology side of things (at least for me). As for your SOP, I said this earlier in another thread but I think what helped me tailor my SOP really well was looking up prospective POIs funding application information to see what they were asking for money to study in the upcoming year, (use grantome.com) so i could use that information to make the app reflect skills that I had that a POI would need in their laboratory moving forward. This might help in tailoring your SOP better. Things like "world-class faculty", "diversity", and "great facilites" apply to all these schools, so when people talk about tailoring your SOP, they really mean demonstrating that you have done your research into the program and can provide the skills they are looking for to build up the labs of faculty with careers that are moving in the right direction - find those lab heads that have recently won big awards or consistently get R01s renewed etc, or that are mentioned often in the news or field-related media. These are the people that can get you into a program, and making yourself attractive to them is the key to getting noticed. They don't have to be the big nobel winning labs either - labs that are rapidly expanding with a relatively young PI are an easy mark! Take my advice with a grain of salt though - I'm still at the interview stage! 

    I think you'll be just fine! 

     

    What to do better next time.. Masters before PhD?

    in Biology

    Posted

    HI, for what its worth, I was in a similar (but much much worse) boat as you when I graduated (GPA 2.4). Since I was so far from a decent undergrad GPA, i chose to work in a laboratory and go for a Masters (GPA 4.0 in molecular Bio), so I have about 5 years research experience and a shiny new GPA. I've been doing fairly well so far with Neuro program interviews, much better than I ever expected. I think the MA really did help me, but again, I was in a different situation.

    It's my belief that psych programs are so much tougher to get into, so you might find that a biology masters (funded if at all possible) will be both easier to get into and give you some basic science cred. If you can afford to get a MA at one of the top schools you want to go to, and make connections there in a lab, so much the better. 

    Of course a MA is not necessary by ANY means, especially if you already have so much research experience and a GPA above the line. You can work on getting your GRE up, plus one extra year of experience and maybe a boost from additional non-matriculated courses could do the trick just as well. 

    I agree with peachypie, the SOP is a major piece of the puzzle for someone with a lower GPA - work work work. 

    Good luck!

    2016 Neuroscience Ph.D. Applicant Thread People Thing

    in Biology

    Posted

    On 12/23/2015 at 6:27 PM, SR said:

    Anyone hear back from Mount Sinai?

    Hi there - I heard back from them - the date I chose was Jan 26th since its midweek to make room for other stuffs, but they also have a weekend date. They could be doing rolling invites since a wave went out super early (like December 6th) and I can't believe they got all their spots that quickly. Could go by POI...

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