Torbjornen

Both great responses. Thank you!

One of the greatest things about Bio medical PhD programs, is the fact it is paid for, plus you get a stipend. Even so, I anticipate needing more than the stipend will provide. What advice is out there about taking out student loans (federal or private) or other ways of financing graduate education? I have done the standard google searches, so I am mostly looking for what people have experienced personally and what their recommendations are.

Thanks for your response. Very informative. I applied to IMP, so a little different, but probably not drastically. I would think they follow similar protocols.

Was the email you received about being wait-listed an "official email" or sent in response to your inquiry? I also applied to Emory and haven't heard anything official. I emailed early last week and received : "All of our programs are in the process of finalizing their interview invitations. Most programs keep a healthy wait list that they can go back to if they need to, which is not uncommon." Though I assume I have been wait-listed, I am wondering if I should expect a formal notice of it. Good luck!

I am in a similar position, where I am working and having to balance time off and job requirements. There are a couple holidays coming up (MLK and Presidents) and my work is typically off for those days. I have been talking with my boss about working those days and taking off others. He is very open to the idea. You could try and swing something like that. Volunteering to work holidays or weekends is typically seen by management as a plus, even if it means talking off other days were there is staff available to cover your assignments.

I am married, but I am under 30 and without kids. I don't want to hijack this thread too much, if this isn't directly related to admissions, interviews, or the like... would it be better to have these questions discussed elsewhere? (honest questions, I am not sure what the precedent is for this.)

Maybe having several of us in the situation lessens our chances, or maybe it doesn't. I would guess they track their admissions statistics pretty close even if they don't publish them all. If they feel they have a need for a waiting list, they have probably had a history of using it. Again, I could just be deluding myself. But I think hope remains.

I am in the same situation as you, and I am also a Seattle local. I have been wondering if they have kept a list of Seattle applicants wait listed, because if there are some people who drop out, we are much easier to pull in for a last minute interview. Since they don't have to book flights for us, there isn't a financial incentive for them to get back to us. I might be grasping at straws, but it has put me at ease to think of it like this. Hope it helps you too

Thanks Peachypie and GeneWeaver, that does help. Thank you!