haughtysauce007
-
Posts
22 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by haughtysauce007
-
-
Just now, blc073 said:
I think you are incredibly rude and arrogant. If you are this abrasive online, I am concerned how you will be in person. I sincerely hope you are able to adjust how you come across to people before you interview - interviewers at every institution will see right through any facade.
I am rude for telling a peer not to take things so personally? Seriously?
-
3 hours ago, Bioenchilada said:
Can you please not take over this thread with rambles? By this point, I would think that you'd know that generalizing is wrong and you should avoid doing it at all costs. Also, basing your opinion on inaccurate information and hearsay makes it rather weak and, some would say, wrong.
lol
-
3 hours ago, blc073 said:
I love being in BBS. It was my top choice, and the interview weekend confirmed every expectation. We have a cohort of 75, so it is not hard to find a group of friends.
The coursework is amazing. We are required to take 32 credits of courses: eight credits are required (BBS 230 and BBS 330), 24 credits are for electives. I can take courses through any science department at Harvard, MIT, Brown, and Tufts. The lecturers are all leaders in their fields: I've had lectures from George Daley, Phil Sharp, Bob Horvitz, David Altshuler, George Church, etc. Contrary to popular belief, the teaching here is amazing.
Everyone in BBS is fully funded throughout their PhD. There is no question about funding. Everyone gets the same funding regardless of how long they have been here. In addition, the stipend for Harvard BBS is around $5k higher than the stipend at other Boston universities.
The lab work here is outstanding. There are over 800 labs in which BBS students can work. I can work in the Harvard Quad, Beth Israel, MGH, Boston Children's, Brigham, Broad, Wyss, DFCI, Harvard College, etc. The lab work itself is what you make it. I've completed two rotations and I am currently in my third. My first was in yeast genetics. I told the PI that I was interested in autophagy, so I was put on a project looking at selective autophagy. The PI was always available to chat, but he really just left me alone with a grad student and we went to work. I set my schedule and got good work done. My second rotation was in cancer biology. I told the PI I wanted to look at metabolism in cancer, so I got put on my own independent project looking at the role of a specific pathway in breast cancer. Again, the PI could meet whenever, but I was independent with the guidance of a graduate student. My third rotation is at MGH working on the human genetics of neuropsychiatric disorders. My PI does several things, but I told him my interests and now I am on a project doing exactly what I said I wanted to do. In short, research here is incredibly independent with enough guidance to learn what you need to learn. Many PIs want to train graduate students, not use them for free labor. I feel like I am in an environment to learn how to be a scientist.
Many BBS graduate students do great things. I know one who is the senior scientific advisor at the White House. Another is in Bob Weinberg's lab. My PI is a Harvard graduate. I'm also on the executive board for the Harvard Biotechnology Club, and many of the speakers we bring in are BBS graduates.
There are a lot of student clubs. I am always being invited to free events with free alcohol and food that are put on by other students. Student life here is great. Boston and Cambridge are also amazing cities with a lot of culture.
But anyway, it doesn't sound like Harvard BBS is right for you, so good luck at Hopkins!
This was very helpful - thanks for the details. Looking back I realize that this thread's focus isn't Harvard BBS so perhaps I should have started a particular thread to seek detailed information concerning Harvard BBS.
But this is very helpful. I will of course have to decide which school is right for me after I go through interviews, get admitted, and perhaps go on a 2nd look to see.
You shouldn't take things so personally BTW... If I can upset you, then you've got to get out more...
-
7 minutes ago, blc073 said:
I guess I would just point out that your assessment of Harvard BBS is not an opinion, rather an inaccurate description.
My advice would be to be careful being overly critical of institutions during your interviews. It's a definite red flag.
Red flag - lol - go focus on some research please.
-
Just now, kindsoul101 said:
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
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.
- Janiejoneswoah and blankens
-
2
-
12 minutes ago, blc073 said:
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.
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
-
1 minute ago, Epigenetics said:
Can we all please chill with overwrought stereotypes of major institutions? As someone who went to Harvard for undergrad and now works in an HMS lab, and is applying for PhDs, there are great things and awful things about Harvard. Also in your stereotypes, you're making a hilarious equivalence between medical research and biological/biomedical research. It's very hard and frankly incorrect to connect research into surgery techniques to research on DNA or the cell. Also just saying an institution "was amazing in the history" ignores what it currently is, frankly when a lot of those discoveries at JHU were being made Stanford was like 20 years old, so let's all chill.
I applied to only six schools, but I applied to them because there were faculty there that I wanted to work with on topics I'm working on. Most graduate programs are defined by your PI, as I've learned working full-time in a lab the past two years. If you're just choosing for "reputation" or in spite of it, you're going to miss great opportunities.
I can tell you for certain BBS is a program that will let you do anything you want pretty much, and it is incredibly student-dependent in outcomes. In that way it's similar to the Harvard undergrad experience. But the idea that you're just a PI's bitch or not doing good science... you literally can't make such broad statements because every lab is different. Let's chill with overgeneralization plz.
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...
-
2 hours ago, blc073 said:
Can you elaborate on what you meant when you said Hopkins defines medicine?
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.
-
1 hour ago, hippopotamus said:
Received an interview from JHU immuno!
Congrats! That's awesome! I've read a lot of great research being produced in that department!
-
26 minutes ago, Bioenchilada said:
I was also talking about research. I'm just saying that name recognition alone doesn't warrant more applications from prospective grad students. Also, I'm pretty sure that more people know about Harvard overall and would rather have that name brand associated with their name than Hopkins. Again, just judging on name alone is not good and some people value different things when evaluating grad programs. So, it's hard to know why people don't apply to Hopkins.
But, for me Baltimore was the dealbreaker.
well.. i hope to hear back from MIT biological engineering soon (eventhough deadline was yesterday)... I'd say that they are prob my #1 choice, but just thought the lack of discussions on hopkins research/grad programs were interesting...
anyways goodluck to everyone!
- blc073 and always.the.guest
-
1
-
1
-
4 minutes ago, Bioenchilada said:
I feel like a medical grad school program is different than medical school itself, though great medical schools tend to have great graduate programs. Also, honestly, I didn't want to live in Baltimore for 5+ years. Applying only because of name or what school defines medicine is unwise for graduate study.
I'm talking about research, Hopkins has a stellar research program, so much so that I am still considering them over Harvard, if admitted to both, and I'm sorta amazed that more people aren't talking about their graduate programs (not med school)... unless I'm missing something...
I have never been to Baltimore so I will have to see, but having been in NYC for a few years, I'm yearning to get to a city that has less expenses than say another Boston/NYC etc.. but we'll see, I've never been, but honestly I was more excited to get to interview invite for Hopkins than Harvard...
-
yeah i'm not trying to be an ass, i'm just curious to know people's thoughts on the program.. it's just i hardly see anything about Hopkins... i'm curious to see Baltimore..lol
-
Question to anyone
I don't see much discussion about Johns Hopkins Medical school graduate programs... anyone on here waiting to hear back/applied?
I guess I'm surprised to see so many people talk about Harvard while Hopkins to me seems to define medicine... interesting to hear what people have to say.... it's just I'm shocked to see more people waiting on results from Dartmouth than Hopkins medical school grad programs... but I may be missing something
-
So I got a 2nd invite from Johns Hopkins today - so I think test scores aren't end all be all for that school...with that said I did have a masters and undergrad from top 5 so maybe they overlooked the very low quant... You can check my signature to see how I end up doing later with similar GRE scores... i did have a recc from distinguished professors and department heads of physics and public health (2) and 2 others were PIs on research
Anyways, I will say for MCATs you do need a high score and I would recommend setting aside a at the very least 6 months of study (3 months full time study) if you plan on doing PhD/MD programs because they are not forgiving with low MCAT scores, from what I understand, but check around.
But for PhDs i think it's about focusing on your research and getting strong letters of recommendation - don't stress over things you cant change...from recommendations, try to have at least 1 or 2 with high up titles... a department head saying you're prepared in the sciences says a lot and I'm sure will trump a low score on gre...
-
I have received invites from Hopkins (Pharmacology) today and Hopkins (Pathobiology) a few days ago...
-
How competitive is it to get into the American Studies program at Harvard? Does anyone know? JW...
-
Also, contact each school to request a fee waiver - they are easy to get.
-
Interesting mix of schools - how did you decide which to apply for?
I have GRE scores similar to yours but got a perfect on the analytical writing portion. I've applied to about 15 programs so far and counting.
Two days ago I got invited to an interview for a PhD program at Johns Hopkins in science. I would encourage you to apply to a broad range of schools, think about the fact that if you do the PhD then MD it will probably be the same amount of time. I am doing the PhD (4 years) then MD (choosing a 3 year from PhD to MD program). Most MSTP programs only accept like 10 people and on top of that take 8-9 years anyway with Harvard being like 10 years.
My advice is to apply to 10-20 schools (including top programs), get letters of recommendation commenting on research. Talk about your research in SOP and have a clear focus on what you want to focus on (for me it was cancer). I did Fulbright and was a finalist for the Rhodes scholarship. Ultimately I think what helped me was choosing 4 different departments to consider me on the JH application, clearly highlighting my awards, emailing a few professors for info, and just submitting everything on time. I also applied for broad range, so I'd recommend also doing multiple programs at one school (for example you could apply to Biomed and Immun at Harvard vs. just Biomed sciences).
Basically you can still get into a top school, but you need to broaden your range so you don't end up in piles that reject just based on score alone (this may even differ from department to department at the same school!).
Fulbright Stipend- A call out for all fulbrighters out there
in The Bank
Posted
it depends on the country but it was more than enough for me... they also pay all luggage fees/flight/ a conference/ and you can hire a research assistant if you apply for the extra funding
- whenever they send out links about applying for extra funding, do it and then if they don't ask them about it...for my year and country I got paid even more to hire a research assistant and more for funding to go to a conference of my choosing
when it comes to money you have to be proactive about it and you will find a lot of hidden gems...goodluck!