VirologyPhDinTraining

If you're meeting that many then it is overkill. Judicious reading is always a good idea, discussion, introduction and being familiar if there are procedures the lab uses all the time is a good place. As for dress, at interviews its not really the case, but there is definitely a casual atmosphere that makes you stick out if you overdress.

First, my situation isn't typical. So take what I will say with a grain of salt. I went with very business casual. Expensive jeans, nice white button down shirt and a blazer. I got into all programs I interviewed for as well. Now the reason I say take this with a grain of salt is that I walked in with a masters, multiple first author publications, 3 long, very strong letters of rec, two from people well recognized in their fields. And the real kicker is that I am now in a program I didn't even apply for. I would say that dress is the last thing I would be concerned about. I would practice interviewing, being able to talk fluently about any research you have done, and ask intelligent questions about their research (I would suggest, once you know who you are interviewing with read all pubs out of their lab in the as 2-3 years).

For guys, I wore jeans (brand new, and rather expensive) at all of my interviews (and a nice blazer and a nice button down shirt), and it didn't seem to hamper my results last year. Not saying you're wrong, just saying that I did have a different experience. I think if you show you take the process seriously that business casual, even jeans and a blazer, can work.

So, this isn't a question about applications. My PI asked me to write an email to another lab about getting cells they have. Their research was NIH funded, so they should give us a sample of them. Anyone ever write one of these emails? Any suggestions on how to frame it? What to say? Thanks!

All but one of the programs I interviewed at sent out forms you fill out, which makes it a lot easier.

If you don't get into a program doing a post-bacc is always a good idea. It definitely will help you get a third strong recommendation, research experience and maybe even a pub or two. Those are always great things to have.

No problem, it's part of the process. Your worries will be more assuaged when you start getting emails from programs inviting you to interview.

It's definitely hard to make a long move (I moved from midwest to the southwest), but, there are definitely some good programs in the south and southwest that support their students well, that are good programs, and you'd be a very good candidate for.

It's competitive, but you are also a competitive candidate. But you might want to add a couple more schools, because it never hurts to have more options.

The only thing that I would have advised against is having an art professor give you a LoR. Admission committees are most concerned about your ability to be a researcher, and an art professor may not be able to speak to that. Other than that I think your chances of getting interviews is good.

You should get lots of interviews. I think your biggest problem will be deciding which program you like best. Good luck!

I never said I was better than anyone, nor do I have an inflated since of my own abilities. I am not trying to make anyone sad, I am just giving my opinion based on their packet. I never said it was impossible for them to make it into a top program, but, they are also very competitive and their admission committees tend to be very stringent. If it's not helpful to tell someone to hedge their bets if they want to for sure start a program next fall, or possible ways to improve their packets if they are married to top programs, then I don't know what is. I may have been a bit more blunt than I should have been (years in the army didn't help this), but, I have seen a few people get crushed because February/March roll around and they have no interviews or offers. And as I said before, I think with great LoRs, and a well polished SoP will definitely go a long way towards improving their odds.

I didn't say that they did. I said that those who have deficiencies in their packet usually do. The GPA and low quant score are red flags to admission committees. To overcome this usually one has to show that they are more than just the numbers in their packet. Having talked to many professors who have and currently sit on admission committees, and reading what others have said, most in top programs will automatically reject packets with low GPA/scores without a second thought, unless they have a the ability to show that they are more than that set of numbers. I believe this person is on the edge of that, had they had a 75% or higher in quant that GPA would be a minor issue. I am not telling them not to reach, but to also look at other programs as well. I wouldn't want to find out that middle April they are left out in the cold. In the end it comes down to them having great a LoR, a well polished SoP and being good in interviews.

I mean, if you think so, but they don't have any first author pubs. Being in research for 3 years without a first author pub isn't what I would call good research experience. It's a lot better than nothing, but top programs, when you have deficiencies in your packet, want proof that you will both be committed and productive. They have shown the former, but not the latter. As I said, if I were them, I would cut a few of the top schools and would add a few middle tier institutions, especially if they want to do a PhD asap. Also I would still suggest retaking the GRE, a low quant score is a massive red flag for viro/immune programs. As for your comment about 50k+ on a masters? I have a masters and spent 0 for it. The only people I know who paid for masters were pre-meds who want to pad their GPA. Funded MS programs definitely exist, and can make an okay candidate into a top candidate.

Your GPA and GRE are too low for a lot of your list. Especially your quant score. The lowish GPA and low Q score will be major red flags. If you are married to these programs I would suggest getting a masters degree first. This would give you time to retake the GRE, get a couple pubs, and show you can cut it in grad school. If not, I would consider some 'middle' tier programs.