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HopefulPHD14

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  1. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 got a reaction from hmss9245 in 2017 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    Maybe it's a good time for some of you guys to take a break and relax and come back in a few days....

    These poor 2017 applicants are going to have to read through all of this.  
  2. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 got a reaction from horrificmodernist in What did you do during the summer right before you started your Ph.D. program?   
    At first I was planning on quitting in july and starting in august and not doing anything at all....but recently I decided I am going to be adventurous while I can.  I worked hard for a few years and saved up enough money that I can enjoy myself this summer.

    So...I am backpacking in yosemite for a week, going to Belize for a week, going to Haiti for a week, working at a summer camp (that my friend is a director at) for a few weeks, and probably visiting friends for a weekend here or there.
    I also plan on reading a lot, probably binge watching some netflix, and spending some time with family.

    Get out and have some fun! (as long as you can afford it!)
  3. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 reacted to Infinito in Preparing for Grad School   
    Quit my job right after all my interviews, so now I'm on vacation until August.
    I'm helping plan a national conference via Skype as one of my extracurriculars to keep me busy. Besides that, gym everyday (trying to maintain that bod because I'm sure it'll all go downhill with all the free junk food in graduate school), picking up some coding, family time, and Netflix.
    I contacted a few professors about their interest, but the majority of them (and my graduate coordinator) definitely said to wait until I'm on campus during orientation to meet in person, so I'll do that. I did, however, request my POIs to link me to some articles to whet my appetite for their research and field (mostly as a primer for what I should know coming in).
  4. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 got a reaction from biochemgirl67 in Preparing for Grad School   
    8 Months? That is crazy.  We will be LD from June - Mid September.  In September she will move back in with family while she looks for a job.  Luckily I will only be about 45 minutes away at that point and hopefully much closer once she starts a job.  

    But yes.  Wedding drama hasn't started yet but I am sure it will begin shortly.... Hopefully we can get most of it out of the way this summer before grad school starts for me. 
  5. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 got a reaction from easybreezy in Preparing for Grad School   
    Oh don't scare me like this!  I just got engaged and will have to plan a wedding in my first year of grad school while my significant other finishes her last year of a masters program.  We are hardly going to have time to see each other let alone plan a wedding.  
  6. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 got a reaction from ballwera in 2017 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    Maybe it's a good time for some of you guys to take a break and relax and come back in a few days....

    These poor 2017 applicants are going to have to read through all of this.  
  7. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 reacted to MEISFFSNLE in 2016 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    Accepted from waitlist to Baylor COM Immunology PhD, will attend.
  8. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 reacted to MarineBluePsy in For those currently employed - does your employer know?   
    My employer doesn't know that I've applied for graduate school and I won't be saying anything until its time to put in notice that I'm leaving.  The job I'm in is a dead end and management knows this, yet they don't want to hire people that don't plan to stay forever.  I get that it costs money to hire and train, but if there's no incentive for people to stick around for more than 1-2 years then either accept that this is a stepping stone job or create incentives.  
    So here's how I've handled the time off.  I didn't take a single vacation day that way I'd have plenty of time for interviews and to deal with relocation stuff.  I did not explain why I wanted to take time off, just put in the request in advance and did my job otherwise.  Should I get an offer this season then I'll give my employer 2 weeks notice and nothing more.  My job will be wrapped up properly so that anyone needing to cover for me until someone is hired won't be overwhelmed.
  9. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 reacted to Infinito in 2016 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    That feeling when one of your previous top choices that waitlisted you now hits you up for a spot. And you're like "If you didn't pick me as a top choice candidate then, what makes you think I'd pick you now?" Cuz you've already made your choice~
  10. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 got a reaction from ihatechoosingusernames in What did you do during the summer right before you started your Ph.D. program?   
    At first I was planning on quitting in july and starting in august and not doing anything at all....but recently I decided I am going to be adventurous while I can.  I worked hard for a few years and saved up enough money that I can enjoy myself this summer.

    So...I am backpacking in yosemite for a week, going to Belize for a week, going to Haiti for a week, working at a summer camp (that my friend is a director at) for a few weeks, and probably visiting friends for a weekend here or there.
    I also plan on reading a lot, probably binge watching some netflix, and spending some time with family.

    Get out and have some fun! (as long as you can afford it!)
  11. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 got a reaction from sierra918 in What did you do during the summer right before you started your Ph.D. program?   
    At first I was planning on quitting in july and starting in august and not doing anything at all....but recently I decided I am going to be adventurous while I can.  I worked hard for a few years and saved up enough money that I can enjoy myself this summer.

    So...I am backpacking in yosemite for a week, going to Belize for a week, going to Haiti for a week, working at a summer camp (that my friend is a director at) for a few weeks, and probably visiting friends for a weekend here or there.
    I also plan on reading a lot, probably binge watching some netflix, and spending some time with family.

    Get out and have some fun! (as long as you can afford it!)
  12. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 reacted to lord_dracarys in 2016 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    Got accepted off the wait list by Northwestern DGP and since that was my first choice I'm going to accept their offer and decline my other offers at Pitt (IBGP), Madison, and UMD-College Park tonight.
  13. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 reacted to Infinito in 2016 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    Officially accepted my offer at UCSF <3
    Holla at me if you're also going there
  14. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 reacted to Microburritology in 2016 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    Declining Penn Bio, WUSTL DBBS, and Oxford IBS. Hope it helps someone on the waitlist!
  15. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 reacted to savay in What did you do during the summer right before you started your Ph.D. program?   
    I feel similarly to @HopefulPHD14 -- I've been working full-time for 3 years since finishing undergrad and while I've managed to do a lot of interesting and fulfilling things on the side, I am so looking forward to a summer full of stuff I want to do.
    I'm quitting my job at the end of May (SO EXCITED FOR THIS), moving my stuff to the east coast to sit in my mom's garage, spending a few weeks in DC volunteering at a sort of exchange student leadership camp, then going to Iceland for July for a language program, and then maybe the Faroe Islands after that. Then at the end of August I'll be driving across the country to Seattle. I haven't made things easy for myself in terms of logistics, but I have a very...naive? sense that it will all work out.
    So many books to read in the interim! 
  16. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 reacted to Neist in Grad. School Supplies?   
    Have you considered a Casper matress? I have no idea if they are any good, but I listen to enough podcasts that their ads have me brainwashed.  
    Also, you're talking reference management software? I really like Paperpile. It's cheap, and it's cloud base, so it can be accessed from any computer without added software. But a lot of people I know use Zotero and love it just fine. I don't know anyone who uses Mendeley or Papers, but then again, I'm not in the sciences either. Maybe other programs are more common?
  17. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 got a reaction from PlanB in 2016 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    Every school I talked to did it different.  Most seemed to have you "employed" for at least the first year meaning that you will get paid a week or two into starting.  

    Some programs did pay a stipend up front and then additional stipends either biweekly or monthly after that.
  18. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 reacted to YouCantBcereus in 2016 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    Got a reply from UVA saying they won't be extending anymore offers. Also got a reply from Vanderbilt saying they still haven't made a final decision but are "highly suggesting" I accept an offer elsewhere, which I'm taking as a rejection. It's a little bit disheartening that I got rejected from 3/4 schools I interviewed at, especially since I really liked all of them. 
    That being said, tomorrow I'm going to officially accept UGA's offer and I'm so excited! Honestly, even if I got accepted everywhere else It's very likely I would've decided to attend UGA anyways. I'm in love with their Micro program, I was nominated for & selected to receive a graduate assistantship, I go to Athens a lot and have family friends there so I'm really comfortable with the city, and it all just feels right  
  19. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 reacted to stygldbby in When to contact PIs for the rotations   
    I didn't set up my first rotation until about 2 weeks after arriving (and about 2 weeks before the rotation itself started) and definitely didn't set up all of my rotations at once. I really think it's program-specific though. One reason I'm really glad I waited was that my program (which is relatively large) also did a series of "mini-talks" where faculty present their current research and mingle with the incoming first years which was super helpful. Granted, there are A LOT of faculty in the program so it was a little overwhelming (though certainly not all of them gave talks) and did drag on after the first few rounds, but it was also very informative. On the other hand, it can't hurt to reach out earlier than I did, like say the summer before.
    But I definitely wouldn't do it too early because you'll be wanting to set up meetings with faculty and that will be much easier when you're physically there/know your own schedule a little more, in my opinon. I guess the one caveat to this might be whether or not it's common for students to have to "compete" with each other for rotations and, if so, getting a foot in earlier than others is necessary? This was never the case for even the most popular labs in my program, but it might be a concern I suppose.
    As for later rotations (however many that is for your program), my top choices definitely changed throughout the first semester from getting more familiar with the program and faculty and talking with current students and post-docs in the labs I was interested in (which I highly recommend doing before choosing a rotation!!). Both my second and third rotations were overall much better informed decisions than my first, but also went in much more surprising directions research-wise after unexpectedly hitting it off with both PIs at random department events.
  20. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 reacted to biochemgirl67 in "Prereqs" For Molecular Biology Programs?   
    I took both semesters of P chem and I don't think you really need it.  As mentioned before, you could ask if you want to.  If you are interested in structural biology, it might be a good idea just to be able to understand the fundamentals of biophysics.  But I get it!  I hate physics, hate my biophysics class, and generally want nothing to do with physics.  BUT.  I did enjoy my quantum mechanics class quite a bit.  Thermodynamics, which was my 2nd semester of P chem, was really boring.  Honestly, I found taking specialized biology courses and grad courses much more helpful.  Immunology, medical microbiology, virology, molecular signaling, molecular genetics.  These high level classes will introduce you deeply to areas of molecular biology and, if you take a grad level course, you will probably get introduced to literature review which is one of the most important skills outside of experimentation and science you will learn.  HIGHLY recommend finding a publication-based class in an area of your interest to try your hand at what journal clubs, grad classes, and researching for your thesis will be like.  I took 4 before applying and it really helped me to explain what I liked and why, even if it was outside of what I currently do.  (FYI I took immunology, molecular signaling, molecular genetics, and nucleic acid  biochemistry as my publication-based classes before applications.  They were also graduate level.  I took like 9 grad classes total, I think, before application.  But that's completely over the top!)
  21. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 got a reaction from MercurialMisfit in San Jose, CA   
    I live in the East bay (Hayward) but my gf lives in SJ and goes to school at SJSU.

    I will give you her experience:
    1. SJ is expensive no matter where you live, sorry.  Try to find a group of people to live with or a room to rent out.  SJ is pretty spread out so expect to have to commute to campus.
    2. Luckily there is actually a pretty good public transportation system.  If I were you I would take advantage of this!  She uses the light rail (VTA) and it drops her off right by campus.  I think its even free for students... So if I were you I would look for something near a VTA station.
    3.  The nightlife/culture isn't great anywhere in SJ but it isnt bad either.  There are things to do all over (mostly downtown and in other nearby neighborhoods....Campbell comes to mind).  But luckily you really are close enough to anything you wanna do.  SF, the beach, any sport you like, music, good (or ok) bars, hiking/outdoors, are all within an hour.  
  22. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 reacted to Neuro PolarBear in When to contact PIs for the rotations   
    Even if you start contacting them now, I wouldn't set up more than the first rotation. You won't know who you'll want to work with next, and if you interests change (after hearing faculty talks, more from other grad students, etc.) you don't want to be locked into other rotations and not get the chance to rotate with someone that you decide you want to!
  23. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 got a reaction from fernandes in Any good budgets for PhD stipends?   
    I too cook in crock pots all the time.  I agree with everyone talking about crock pot meals.  They are just so easy.

    I also like this website/blog a lot.  There are tons of great ideas for budget/cheap meals that still taste great.  Most of this stuff freezes well too so you can make a meal, freeze half of it, and eat the rest a week or so later.  

    http://www.budgetbytes.com/ 
  24. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 got a reaction from keviv1692 in 2016 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    Every school I went to asked me which schools I had applied to, who I had interviews with, and who had already accepted me.  I was always honest with them because... well why not.  Also I wanted the schools I was interviewing with to be honest about my chances so I figured I should be honest with them about their chances.  I still got in at every school I interviewed at.  I think it may have even helped me that I was upfront and honest.

    Anyways, I told one of my schools I was interviewing at that I had an acceptance from another school.  It was actually during my interview with the program director.  He  even made a comment that I am going to have tough decisions to make (big vs small school, traditional university vs institute, location....).  It actually turned into a very good conversation about what is important to me in a grad school and what I want in life.  He was able to tell me the areas that his school was a good fit and the areas that the other schools were a good fit and was really upfront and honest with me.  

    Then, they pulled me aside later that day (while I was still at the interview) to tell me that I got in and that they really wanted me and that they hoped I would pick them for reasons a, b, and c.  They said they knew I had a tough decision but they really thought I was a good fit for the program.  They told me since they know I have a tough decision to make they wanted to let me know ASAP that they were interested in me so that I had ample time to make my decision.  I was encouraged to think it through and call them if I had any additional questions or concerns.
  25. Upvote
    HopefulPHD14 got a reaction from Bioenchilada in 2016 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    Every school I went to asked me which schools I had applied to, who I had interviews with, and who had already accepted me.  I was always honest with them because... well why not.  Also I wanted the schools I was interviewing with to be honest about my chances so I figured I should be honest with them about their chances.  I still got in at every school I interviewed at.  I think it may have even helped me that I was upfront and honest.

    Anyways, I told one of my schools I was interviewing at that I had an acceptance from another school.  It was actually during my interview with the program director.  He  even made a comment that I am going to have tough decisions to make (big vs small school, traditional university vs institute, location....).  It actually turned into a very good conversation about what is important to me in a grad school and what I want in life.  He was able to tell me the areas that his school was a good fit and the areas that the other schools were a good fit and was really upfront and honest with me.  

    Then, they pulled me aside later that day (while I was still at the interview) to tell me that I got in and that they really wanted me and that they hoped I would pick them for reasons a, b, and c.  They said they knew I had a tough decision but they really thought I was a good fit for the program.  They told me since they know I have a tough decision to make they wanted to let me know ASAP that they were interested in me so that I had ample time to make my decision.  I was encouraged to think it through and call them if I had any additional questions or concerns.
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