Janiejoneswoah

I would love people who go to Harvard BBS to talk in detail about going to Harvard other than saying I went to Harvard. If you recommend certain labs/can elaborate on something other than the actual name "Harvard"...that would be appreciated...perhaps talk about the independence you have in a lab or your experiences
For example, I gave you examples of why I thought MIT was strong (ellowships/funding for independent research/in some cases you don't even have to rotate under PIs and can just choose a lab)
If you can speak about Harvard BBS more specifically and what areas you feel it is strong in and the level of independence of your research/help with postbacs/fellowships that would be appreciated.
Again, it's all an opinion but still isn't that what we are here for? To get generalizations and opinions? Since there is no objective way to prove any one correct? No, I just want an opinion.

I answered your question in the way I wanted too... that comment was my opinion based on my experiences, however generalized... it is an opinion... so I told you to go read more about Hopkins' history of research so you could form your own opinion, however generalized
there is no right or wrong answer, there is just a question and someone's opinion 

Those were my generalizations based on my processing of information. 
You guys get easily offended over someone else's opinion. Obviously it's based on personal accounts - obviously. Even from that generalizations can be made, duh.
Your comments above, that you can do whatever you want at Harvard - are generalizations. I said my opinion - whether or not it answers your question or you believe they are correct really doesn't matter... it's my opinion - that's what an opinion is ...just like you have opinions
I think people should be able to hear someone's opinion and take it at just that...
 

I was just asking for an elaboration on your Hopkins comment, which I'm not sure you gave me. However, your description of Harvard BBS and MIT has not been my experience. 

Dude, seriously, just  google Hopkins and read about their history in the field of medical research - really? They are sorta a big deal lol... 
When I think of medical research, particularly neuroscience or anything related to neuroscience/neurology, I think of Hopkins. 
When I think of of public policy/law/business/medical school, I think of Harvard. Furthermore, I'd choose MIT over Harvard for anything in the sciences if I wanted to live in Cambridge/Boston. 
Like seriously I've been to top schools already so I don't need a name to feel justified... so I am going based on objective criteria such as student/faculty interaction, whether or not students are collaborative, and funding/time to do your own research and not just being a PIs bitch... and hands down I actually think MIT is best for people that want to also have resources to carry out their own research as opposed to constantly rotating and being a PIs bitch. I also think MIT phds in the sciences do extraordinarily well in highly competitive postbaccs...I think they also place extraordinarily well in actually creating graduates that go on to teach and run their own labs...
There are some strong areas of Harvard BBS of course, but make no mistake about it, they definitely have drawbacks to which just getting the "Harvard" name isn't worth it...especially since I've already graduated from 2 top 5 schools. 
 

I do not advise drinking out of sadness. 

I thought that was just a hip new phrase. I was prepared to roll with it. 

Just got invited to interview with BCM neuroscience from Feb 8-11th!

As someone who went through last year what you all are going through now, and who just finished his first semester of grad school, I can assure you all that things will work out. The admissions process is exciting, frustrating, and scary, but it's an effective system that will put you all where you need to be to move your careers forward. 
I know this is hard advice to take, but just relax and enjoy the adventure. 
For many of you all, the difficult part will be choosing which graduate program fits your interests best. For some, there will be the difficult choice of deciding how to spend one more year before beginning graduate school. But rest assured, everyone will be on the appropriate path to their future goals. 

I heard back from Tufts Sackler on January 5th, FYI. 
Honestly, your profile is a bit of a toss-up. Your numbers are fine, but you only mention two LoRs and your research is below what most people have. You applied broadly, so that's great, but it will take strong letters and an outstanding SOP to do some convincing. Overall, I'm guessing you will get one or two invites. 

UW-Madison CMB program just sent an email...about how they will send responses in January.  I nearly had a heart attack.

Hey, everyone. Welcome to the 2017 application cycle! Since the new school year has begun (at least for me), I'm expecting things to pick up here pretty quickly. As in years past, I will be monitoring posts to this topic to see if there is any advice/questions I can provide/answer. I'm now a third-year Biophysics and Quantitative Biology PhD student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and I would describe my specific field as computational molecular biophysics. A copy of my stats (i.e., the form that current applicants have been posting), as they stood when I applied can be found on my profile, along with a list of the programs to which I applied and my results. I have also included my results list at the bottom of this post. There are many things I wish I had known when I was in your shoes, but I'm going to limit myself to two pieces of unsolicited advice, lest this post go on forever.
1. Look at individual professors' lab pages to decide how well your research interests fit with a program's. When I applied, I initially relied on program websites to determine what kind of research was being done. This was a mistake. Such information on program websites quickly becomes out-of-date when professors move to/from a university, and such information can also represent a program director's hopes rather than present realities. There is also a lot of room for misinterpretation when using the information on program websites. For example, several programs I looked at had titles like "Biophysics and Computational Biology" and stated they were doing research to figure out the mechanisms of proteins. That means they must be doing computational molecular biophysics, right? Wrong! Turns out, that stated research goal is only experimental, and the computational biology done in the program is all systems biology. When I applied, I didn't start looking at professors' lab pages until after I had written my SOP template and was trying to fill in the details for each program. Because of this, I had to scramble and swap out three of the programs to which I had originally been planning to apply...in October. (Coincidentally, the three programs I swapped in ended up being the three into which I was accepted, so these decisions really do matter.) Don't be like me. If you have not already done so, start looking at lab pages now! This is a lot of work, so plan accordingly.
2. You are (most likely) currently eligible and should apply for graduate fellowships. No one told me this until I was already interviewing, and it was far too late to apply at that point. There are many field-specific fellowships that you should all look into (this list is as close to comprehensive as any: <https://www.grad.illinois.edu/fellowship/>), but there are four general national US fellowships that I want to mention in particular (below). I will immediately note that you must be a US citizen, a US national, or a permanent resident to have a chance of being eligible for these fellowships, but there are many listed on the website above where this is not the case. In the past, three of these fellowships were open to applying graduate students (e.g., undergraduate seniors) and first- and second-year graduate students. In recent years, however, two of them have changed their eligibility such that you are eligible to apply once as an applying graduate student and once as a practicing graduate student. This past spring, I was fortunate enough to receive one of these fellowships (NSF GRFP), but this was only possible because I had already applied once before and was able to utilize the feedback/experience I received in that process. It is very much in your best interest to apply now if you are able!
Applying to these fellowships requires a lot of work on your part, but that workload is reduced because you are also applying to graduate school. You already have the references, materials, and the information you need on-hand, and you have already thought a lot about what motivates you as a scientist and the kind of research you want to do. Unlike most program applications, you will have to write a short research proposal for these fellowship applications, which will help you immensely when you go to your interviews. You should apply even if the fellowship stipend is smaller than what you would receive from your target programs. Many such programs will pay you the difference and even an added bonus because these fellowships are such a big deal in terms of prestige, both for you individually and for your university/program/lab.
These websites (<http://www.pgbovine.net/fellowship-tips.htm> and <http://www.alexhunterlang.com/nsf-fellowship>) are good starting points for information and advice on applying to the four fellowships to which I have alluded. You can also find a ton of information on "The Bank" forum <http://forum.thegradcafe.com/forum/17-the-bank/> for these and many other fellowships. While there are a few things I want to highlight about each fellowship below, you should definitely visit the fellowship websites for definitive information on eligibility, award, deadlines, etc. I will also note that I have only included the stipend in the information below, but there are other elements to each of these fellowships awards, both financial and opportunity-based.
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP) <https://www.nsfgrfp.org/> - Stipend: $34,000, 3 years - Deadline: 10/24/2016-10/28/2016 (depending on your specific field) - Open nationally to most STEM PhD and Master's graduate students. You are allowed to apply once as an applying graduate student and once either as a first-year graduate student or as a second-year graduate student. This is new, and you are the first group of students to whom this eligibility requirement applies. Eligibility is more complicated than this (see their website), but I will highlight that you are most likely ineligible if (1) you plan to pursue applied biomedical research or are applying to MD/PhD programs or (2) you already have or will be receiving a Master's degree and are applying to PhD programs. National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG Fellowship) <https://ndseg.asee.org/> - Stipend: $34,000, 3 years - Deadline: mid December - Open nationally to PhD graduate students in many STEM fields (including "biosciences"), but your research must tie into one of the Department of Defense's research goals in national defense. You are allowed to apply as an applying graduate student, a first-year graduate student, and a second-year graduate student. Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Research Fellowship (DOE CSGF) <https://www.krellinst.org/csgf/> - Stipend: $36,000, 4 years - Deadline: late January - Open nationally to PhD graduate students in many STEM fields (including "life sciences") whose research heavily utilizes computation. You are allowed to apply as an applying graduate student and a first-year graduate student. Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship <http://hertzfoundation.org/dx/fellowships/fellowshipaward.aspx> - Stipend: $32,000, 5 years (though there are alternative options) - Deadline: 10/28/2016 - Open nationally to all PhD graduate students in "the applied physical, biological and engineering sciences or mathematics" whose research will "generate solutions to problems of comparatively near-term, widespread human interest." You are encouraged to apply as an applying graduate student and a first-year graduate student. (You may continue to apply after your first year, but only 3 such people have won in the past 10 years). If you have questions about any of the programs or fellowships to which I applied (especially my current ones), my field, graduate school in general, or anything you think I may know about, please feel free to get in touch with me. Since the GradCafe no longer allows me to get email notifications when I receive a new message (*grumble, grumble*), posting your questions to this thread (or just quoting this post saying that you've messaged me) will ensure the most timely response from me, as I am able to get email notifications for each new post to this thread.
Good luck with this process, everyone!  I wish you all serenity, patience, and good fortune over the next several months.
 
Graduate School Application Results:
2014 Application Season: Applied (8/8) - Interview/Visit Offered/Attended (7/8) - Rejected (5/8) - Accepted (3/8) - Admitted (1/8)
Carnegie Mellon University-University of Pittsburgh - Computational Biology 
(1/22/2014, email; 2/20/2014-2/22/2014) (2/28/2014, unofficial email; 3/18/2014, official email) Johns Hopkins University - Molecular Biophysics
(4/11/2014, email) Princeton University - Quantitative and Computational Biology 
(12/30/2013, email; 2/6/2014-2/8/2014) (3/11/2014, email) Rutgers University - Computational Biology and Molecular Biophysics 
(2/18/2014, email; 3/26/2014-3/27/2014) (2/18/2014, email) University of California, San Francisco - Biophysics 
(1/13/2014, email; 2/13/2014-2/15/2014) (3/3/2014, website) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Biophysics and Computational Biology 
(1/10/2014, email; 3/20/2014-3/22/2014) (1/10/2014, email) (4/10/2014, website) University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center - Molecular Biophysics 
(1/2/2014, email; 1/9/2014-1/11/2014) (1/13/2014, email) Washington University in St. Louis - Computational and Molecular Biophysics 
(12/19, phone, email; 1/30/2014-2/1/2014) (3/12/2014, email)   Fellowship Application Results: 2015, 2016 Application Seasons: Applied (4/4, 2/2) - Rejected (3/4, 1/2) - Honorable Mention (1/4, 0/2) - Awarded (0/4, 1/2) - Accepted (0/4, 1/2) DoD National Defense Science and Engineering Fellowship
(4/1/2015, email) (4/1/2016, email) DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship
(4/15/2015, email) Hertz Fellowship 
(11/12/2014, email) NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program 
(3/31/2015, email) (3/29/2016, email) (4/4/2016, website)

I think you stand a good chance at getting interviews at most, if not all of those places. Just make sure you write a good personal statement - adcoms place a lot more on that than I think people realize. (GPA and GRE scores matter, and you clearly have those in the bag... but a bad personal statement will definitely count against you. So plan to spend a lot of time on it!!).

If you want to figure out what other schools to apply, there are a couple of great things you can do:
1) Ask your PIs (current and former) about programs they would recommend. This proved extremely valuable when I was applying.
2) Equally important - what kind of research are you interested in? What labs spark your interest and what programs are they in? If you are just applying to a school for the name but you can't find more than 3 labs that you can see yourself in, don't waste your time applying. If you are a strong candidate, which based on what you have written... it seems like you are, you will get multiple interviews. So prioritize early which programs you would want to attend. Making a ranking is helpful.
3) Less important, but still valid to consider, is where do you want to live? Does it matter if you have to move across the country?
Good luck!

Unless you are a total asshole in person, you should have your pick of schools. Your profile makes me incredibly jealous!

sorry poor choice of words, I meant the only way he won't get in would be if he comes across as racist

How are they being racist??