shikkui
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Posts posted by shikkui
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Isn't the Trinity degree closer to what your PhD interests are? The other degree seems further away from what your goals are...
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On 6/1/2017 at 6:52 AM, abhisheks94 said:
Thanks a lot! I'll definitely do that. Did you reach out to any PIs before applying? Thanks!
I reached out to a few PIs, but I'm not sure it helped. It definitely did solidify what I wanted to do though, and what types of projects I'd be interested in. Before I interviewed though, a PI reached out to me though (before I knew I was even going to interview).
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On 5/17/2017 at 8:08 AM, FailedScientist said:
My advice;
- Sit for the GRE as early as possible, at least by August. Start researching schools at around the same time you start preparing for your GRE, so July/August. The GRE allows around 4 universities that you can send your score in for free.
I would say search for schools earlier than the GRE. That way, you can send in your 3 free GRE scores to schools you really like. Also, reading papers from potential PIs early is pretty important.
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9 hours ago, Zavier Sami said:
Great thread. I am doing Bachelor’s Completion Program (BCP) at Southern California School of Health Sciences.
Are you just starting or are you currently in it?
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10 hours ago, Cheshire_Cat said:
Ugh! I love my sister, but sometimes... She decided to come down and visit me this weekend because she wanted to get out of the town she's living in. Well, my parents so happened to come down at the same time, from a different city. My sister had just seen my parents last weekend and I haven't seen them in a while. And, I never have them to myself because before this, my brother lived with me until January, and the only other time my dad has visited since then, she also came down.
So my dad and I were talking about academia today, which admittedly has been a big topic of conversation all weekend, but its because he's a professor and I am just finishing up comps and we are trying to game-plan for my next 2 or 3 years of the program. All weekend she's been on her phone and acting completely uninterested in anything we're talking about. But then today, she interrupts and starts talking about what she wants to talk about, which I really wouldn't mind, except, she started by insulting what dad and I were talking about. So in essence she was like "Your topic is so boring and dumb, lets talk about me." And then, it isn't a conversation in which one person talks a few sentences, and then the other person responds, it is a 10 minute mini-lecture on her interest where she is the only one talking.
And this is just how she is. She's only interested in what she is interested in, and everyone else's interests are dumb, boring, or crazy. And then she's like "I hope when I get married my husband's family will be interested in what I'm interested in." and "if I wasn't here this weekend, I could have gotten free tickets to a concert of a band I like." Well, guess what, sister, sometimes I'm not interested in what the parents or my siblings are interested in either. However, I listen to them and try to talk to them about it, because the key to being interesting is being interested. People don't want to talk to you if the only time you are talking to them, it is about you, and especially not if you insult their interests!! And the parents came to visit me. She already got to visit with them alone. I'll get a little time alone with them, but not much. I haven't talked to anyone in three weeks because I've been studying for comps. Of course I want to talk dad's ear off about stuff. Ugh!
I hate people like that. Seriously, the world doesn't revolve around just what you're interested in! A lot of my family members are like that, and it honestly sucks to spend a lot of time with them because of that.
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I would be interested in learning more about making academic connections in grad school (i.e grad level conferences). Perhaps a podcast episode about the side of grad programs outside of the research and class portions.
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14 hours ago, whybanana said:
How early should I begin the PhD application process (i.e. reaching out to professors/schools, preparing a research proposal)?
If you're planning to submit your application this upcoming December-January, you could start around october, november to reach out the potential PIs. That's what I did. I took the GREs over the summer which gave me enough time to prepare outside of school and take the exam at my own leisure.
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People on this site really like talking and looking at rank, but I think it's important to look at individual research that PIs are conducting. There isn't any point going to a school if there aren't professors doing work that you're interested in doing. Also, when you're looking at schools online, you should think about the offers that you could possibly get in terms of funding. Some schools are waaaay more generous than others.
- sinistra, facelessbeauty, whybanana and 1 other
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On 4/3/2017 at 6:10 AM, CozyEnzymes said:
What a great idea for a thread! Thanks for starting this.
I'm 95.9% sure I'm heading to UW-Madison's Integrated Program in Biochemistry this fall, and I'm really excited for it. I haven't signed the papers yet since I'm having a last chat with one of the admissions committee members this week. It's a big move for me (13 hours from my undergrad) - it's really exciting but nervewracking at the same time!
Thanks, no problem! Congratulations on your decision! What will your project be focusing on?
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Daaaaamn! So many people on this site are going to Harvard!
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It'll be a move for me! Congratulations to you as well! Will you be moving?
I thought there would be more people who would have decided by now. XD
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Hey all!
I really wanted to start an acceptance thread for a while, but I waited! Hopefully, it's around a good time right now to start one. I wanted to ask all of you macro/micro biologists on this site about what programs you'll be attending starting this fall.
Starting with me: I'm attending USC's MBBO program~! I'm going to be a Marine Biologist. Where are you all attending and what program? Or what two schools are you deciding between?
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I'll be joining the MEB department at USC starting this fall! I'm not sure about where I'll live, and I'm looking for roommates.
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I'm irritated that I still haven't heard back from most of the schools that I applied to this year... Not that it really matters at this point, but considering the amount of money I've paid to each school for the application fee, I think it's unacceptable how late they are past the decision date.
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What's the funding look like for both programs (as in are you fully funded for both)? I think financials are important to think about when you're making your decision.
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Hopping on this thread here... I'm just wondering what the typical workload of a PhD program is like. I heard that I'm expected to work ~20 hours a week in the lab and take classes. My question to older students would be: did you find this to be a realistic estimate? Were you all able to find time during the weekends to relax and go places?
EDIT: FYI, I'm coming directly from an Undergraduate institution and I'm in my early 20's - so I wanted some insight especially from someone who went from undergraduate --> PhD at a young age.
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I'd say go with NYU. I think the vibe of the city is important to think about. Also, as you mentioned, the connections that you will be getting are world class. You'd be getting research opportunities either way - the post masters research opportunity doesn't seem guaranteed.
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1 hour ago, Epigenetics said:
I literally had a program just tell me they "have more highly accomplished applicants than we can accept".
I think they were just trying to tell you that the applicant pool was competitive and nothing personal.
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6 hours ago, Kaede said:
Ouch.
Did you get into any programs you could still see yourself at?
I also didn't know schools would send harshly worded rejections. That seems like a terrible way of going about things.
What do you all mean by harshly worded rejections? For the most part, the schools that have rejected me basically just told me that they have a small program and can't accept everyone. I guess I just can't see a grad program sending something like "YOU'RE NOT WORTHY!" XD
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7 hours ago, TakeruK said:
These are extremely limited. In my field, there is only one US fellowship available to international graduate students and it is the NASA Earth and Space Sciences Fellowship. Depending on your focus in oceanography, you may qualify for it too.
They recently increased the value of this fellowship! They will provide up to $35k per year for stipend. However, you cannot take the whole value if the standard stipend on your campus is less than $35k. (Next year, our school's stipend is $33k, so that's all we get). That is, if you are asking because you are hoping to increase your stipend, keep in mind that winning external fellowships doesn't always do this, it often just replaces your internal funding.
That said, there are tons of other great benefits to being on a fellowship, especially if there are research funds for travel and more freedom to do the research you want (since you don't depend on TA or RA for pay).
Thanks for replying! I'll look into applying for it next year depending on how much funding pans out this year. It seems like the deadline has already passed for it this year
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Probably quite clear from the title: Where should I be looking for additional fellowships for funding to attend graduate school in the United States as an international student? I've already been accepted, and I have been awarded some stipends by the school. However, if I can, I would like to be able to apply for a few others in order to better my quality of life as a student who cannot work outside of the institution.
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4 hours ago, Kaede said:
It usually says it in the program requirements. For example, taken from UC Irvine CMB's website:
"Research Rotations
In order to become familiar with the research opportunities available in the program, and to obtain technical training in appropriate areas, students are required to complete two laboratory rotations, each lasting one quarter, in different laboratories during the first year. Three are recommended in order to increase exposure to diverse research topics and experimental approaches. The Program Director provides incoming students with a list of laboratories hosting rotation students, and additional guidance will be provided by the CMB faculty advisors during orientation week."
Ah... I see. I don't think I'm going to have that. I think my program specifically recruits through interested PIs.
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How do you know if your school does the rotation system? I just can't seem to find any info about it...
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On 3/8/2017 at 10:57 PM, phylogenious said:
having a solid foundation in chemistry will give you good perspective going into biology. it will give you a framework in which you can ask biological questions from. good luck with your program!
Thank you for the encouragement! Good luck with your program as well!
If I knew then what I know now
in Biology
Posted
Ah, my bad. Was redundant.