Nomad1111
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Posts posted by Nomad1111
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6 hours ago, Onesilent said:
just wondering if there's anyone in the same situation as I am...
I didn't hear back from 2/9 schools, so there are certainly some silent schools out there!
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3 hours ago, .letmeinplz// said:
Similar success story here, "low" uGPA and even just a "decent" msGPA and got into a PhD program at a top school for my major. Research (and the connections you make while doing it) is much more important than GPA.
Agree!
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2 hours ago, whybanana said:
I'm graduating soon and I feel like I'm constantly on the brink of a meltdown.
I want to pursue a PhD more than anything, but my GPA is really holding me back. Though I go to a top institution, and have taken Honors courses in almost every STEM course, my GPA is stuck at approximately 3.25, which might go up to a 3.3 by the time I graduate. I have a very high GRE, but it seems like most people do anyway.
I know that I am capable of much more. My story is not unique, and I don't like excuses, but I lost someone very dear to me during my first semester of college, and continued to suffer the loss (and other personal issues) for the next two years. By the end of junior year, I had gotten a handle on some of these issues and managed to boost my grades.
I'm currently running my own research project, and have amazing recommendations from professors I have done research with. I am extremely close to being first author on a high impact journal publication (of a project I conceived and designed; to be published later this year), and am a very well respected member of the research community at my university.
I did not apply to PhD programs because I felt that they were too much of a reach, considering my GPA. I have a few remaining options:
1. I was offered a research position at the lab I currently work at, but I'm not sure if I want to take it.
2. I'm applying to top UK one-year research programs, but I'm not sure if they will take me because of my grades.
3. I might apply to a Masters program in the US to boost my grades in preparation for a PhD application.
What should I do? I'm terrified that I'll be left with no chance at a PhD in the next two years.
I just wanted to let you know that I just got in to Harvard with a 3.2 undergrad GPA (and a 4.0 MSc GPA). And I'm an international applicant
It happens! You are not doomed
I'm not on an adcom committee, so it's hard for me to say what aspects of my package offset my low UGPA, so I'll just give you everything:
-MSC in Biomedical Sciences at a top international institution (2 years 80% research, 20% coursework, full thesis) graduated with 4.0 and highest distinction
-2 years of research at a top institution after the MSc (in the USA)
-5 publications (none from undergrad), two first-author, none in any insane journals, but a few in mid-tier journals
-High GRE (>90th percentile in all sections)
-some unique extracurricular activities
-Killer reference letters, one from an influential and highly-respected person in my field of interest
Please feel free to message me if you wana talk in more detail about anything
Did you apply to any programs this year, or are you planning for next cycle? Perhaps it's the extra degree I obtained to show I could do well in school, but whatever it was your UGPA will not hold you back if you don't let it! You've got the GRE scores, you've got good letters of recommendation, you've got your name on a high-impact paper and it sounds like you've got some solid undergrad experience.
Perhaps a one year program or MSc will seal the deal in showing an adcom at a top-tier institute that you're academically capable, but you might not even need to do that for many programs. I overshot and really tried to compensate for my UGPA for several years before I threw down my applications for big programs, and it paid off! But perhaps all those years weren't required to score me a spot at a good school.
At any rate, your "low" UGPA isn't going to hold you back!
- desmond.bo and whybanana
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Just saw this, thought it sounded awesome for those out there considering post-bach programs before grad school. Full stipend, tuition waiver, health insurance, housing access as well!
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3 hours ago, neuro449 said:
This seems super late, but I just got an interview invite from Tufts for March 3rd. Anybody else in the same boat?
I just pulled out of my interview, so maybe you were on a waitlist?
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7 hours ago, justv said:
I've been waitlisted for Columbia's integrated CMBS program and it is my top choice!! If you are not planning on attending I am begging for you to let them know as soon as possible! I am praying to still get accepted if people decline their offer!
I'll be declining for sure, so fingers crossed I can get you off the waitlist
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7 hours ago, Epigenetics said:
Also like genuinely curious if anyone has had an interview so far that you genuinely thought would be useful to someone in deciding to admit you or not. Not one of my interviews so far has resembled anything remotely as useful to admitting me as my application did. I have trouble seeing how those could/would be used as a deciding factor in admissions decisions.
I've had many interviews that are definitely interviews.
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Ohh I'm also interested in this, not only for Harvard BBS vs MIT biology, but also Harvard vs MIT overall.
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On 2/7/2017 at 8:53 PM, Kaede said:
Pretty sure I will be attending this program.
Just waiting on the Stanford interview to confirm that this was definitely the right place to be. So excited to be with you all!
Tough choices!! Can't go wrong either way
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On 2/7/2017 at 11:00 AM, jeanetics17 said:
I'm excited. This was my top choice program long before I even started applying to schools, and the interview weekend just solidified it. This seems so surreal.
Excited to get started there with everyone!
Totally, same!
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6 minutes ago, Epigenetics said:
One of my close friends is on adcom and says that's not true, they are looking to cut it down but they already did that before the interviews.
Interesting, one of my friends was told 65-75 as well. By the ADCOM.
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Hey all! Looks like many of the admissions are out for those who interviewed in the first weekend. So excited to meet ya'll later this year
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Just received acceptance via email!!!!!
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6 minutes ago, jeanetics17 said:
Sweating bullets. Unless you're trolling.
There are 3 acceptances on the results page now :/
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1 hour ago, desmond.bo said:
Got an offer via a phone call from BBS. Good luck to everyone!
Major congrats :):) Did someone you interviewed with call you?
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Anyone else heard from BBS?! :/
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Neither!
Nothing in the results section either
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Nothing today!
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1 hour ago, Epigenetics said:
I can tell you fundamentally none of what you're saying is true. Yes they're trying to fill ~65 spots, because the program is large, but that is the post-acceptance matriculation number. They expect a large number of people not to attend, so if they anticipate a matriculation rate of 50% (from what I've heard that's about what they expect) then they have to accept 130 people to get that. I know for a fact their post-interview admission rate is 90-95%. Source: I work in a BBS lab.
Whew! That is reassuring!
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This question was asked in another section, but I thought this would be a good place to ask...
How does the final decision work? Is it based off of interviews solely, do they revisit your documents and look at that plus interview?
I know it'll depend on school/program, as well as how much the program over-interviews by, but any insight would be great!
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8 hours ago, Flux1100 said:
Hello,
so is the final decision solely based on the interview or the combination of our LOR, academic records, and SOP?
Thank you!
Exactly, I would love to know the answer to this!
2017 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results
in Biology
Posted
Total aside, but which program did you like better, Harvard BBS or Harvard MCO? Just wanted to pick your brain since you interviewed at/got in to both