MusMusculus

There are some programs in molecular biology that have rolling admission. The only one I remember for sure is Albert Einstein's Biomedical Sciences program. So you can definitely have a potentially big advantage if you submit a reasonably competitive application early. However, most of the top programs do not even look at your applications until after the deadline. But being well prepared with your materials in advance and having time to revise and perfect your application can be invaluable! Also, applying for the NSF GRFP is kind of like an early grad school application that can also help you be prepared for the actual application process. Good luck!

Damn. Undergrad not awarded. E/E, VG/E, E/VG. Only comment in review that indicated anything negative was something about no publications.... Guess I will be trying to get some publications under my belt before applying again. Congrats to all the winners!!!!

Hah! Like you said about your friend, "She's not thinking in terms of jobs/ money/ time she'd lose, so that's a non-issue." I wanted to become a scientist, and the only way to become a scientist from no background is to take classes and get in the lab. It was definitely strange and depressing at times but there was no other way for me to get to this point so it was all worth it. If she wants to really become a research scientist at the PhD level, the information you need to acquire and the experience you need to gain is not trivial. It is totally possible though, and actually many PIs at top schools found my dedication and experience in other fields as a big positive. Alternatively, like some have mentioned she could also get involved through things like public health which would be a much easier transition. There is always something someone can do to help improve human health, be it from the bench or in other ways!

I kind of did this. I had a bachelors degree in non science, and then decided to become a scientist but I had no background so went back and did a new bachelors at 25. If she wants to pursue it through to the PhD level, I think with 2-3 years of sustained lab and course work you can totally get accepted to top programs as I seem to have managed. But I think you need at least 2-3 years of experience (post bacc or new degree) and learning and even that is cutting it close. And you need to get into the lab as soon as possible and excel in science coursework. This will also confirm or deny the idea that the field would even be a good fit for her. Also, this story about a couple who went from non-science to science after the wife was diagnosed with a disease is pretty amazing and inspiring. https://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2016/02/17/husband-and-wife-race-cure-her-fatal-genetic-disease/SLnmAndVfrq9XO1NnLIgkL/story.html

I would highly recommend attending the ABRCMS and/or SACNAS conferences the year you are applying (or any other similar undergrad research focused conferences). They are attended by a ton of schools that are looking to recruit students and you can get fee waivers for pretty much any school you want to apply to as well meet face to face with program directors and PIs at the schools you are interested in. I only paid to apply to one school and was able to network and get some fantastic interviews and acceptances in part due to attending these conferences... It also looks good to attend national conferences... and you don't necessarily have to be an underrepresented minority to attend these conferences even though that is the focus.

Does anyone have any insight on appeasing a professor who is grumpy that I will be missing several (8) classes due to interviews? None of my other professors care, and are instead just super happy because I go to a totally unknown school for science and managed to get interviews at great places. But this one professor has been rather unpleasant and expressed disbelief that my interviews take place outside of weekends and insinuated that I accepted too many interviews and would clearly not be strongly considering all of them and just want a free vacation, and has said that it will affect my grade but won't tell me how and just that I have to do twice as much work as everyone else to stay up to date. I'm fairly upset at this professor but have only responded super politely in fear of getting them more grumpy. Any else having any kind of similar issues?!

Yeah, based on the Survey stuff from previous years (http://www.thegradcafe.com/survey/index.php?q=washington+mcb), looks like we might be hearing back by the end of this week or next week! Also really looking forward for this one.

Been lurking this forum hardcore since finishing applications. Figured I'd contribute because the anticipation is killing me... Undergrad Institution: Big State School USA... Not much reputation. Major(s): Biochemistry Minor(s): GPA in Major: 4.0 Overall GPA: 4.0 Position in Class: don't know Type of Student: Domestic Minority Male GRE Scores (revised/old version): Q: 159 (75%) V: 161 (87%) W: 5 (93%) B: n/a Research Experience: 1 year at home institution in biochem lab, 1 summer REU in a cancer biology lab at prominent institution, currently guest researcher for 2 semesters in a bioengineering lab at a prominent institution. No pubs before grad applications. Presented at 8 conferences, 1 national, 5 regional, 2 institutional. Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Multiple awards for best oral presentation/poster, some STEM scholarships, won an Astrobiology essay contest. Pertinent Activities or Jobs: NSF funded STEM tutor and TA for Microbiology lab, bunch of STEM outreach. Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help/Special Bonus Points/Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Non traditional student getting second undergrad degree, first degree was not STEM, and have a bunch of totally non-STEM career experience. Have connections at 3 of the places I'm applying. Applying to Where: University of Washington (MCB & M3D) UC Berkeley (MCB) UCSF (BMS) UCSD (BMS) Rockefeller Sloan Kettering MIT (Biology)