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_caffeinated

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    Ask questions about the PhD application process!

    in Biology

    Posted

    30 minutes ago, synapticcat said:

    hey! I totally understand that, kudos to you for sticking to your guns with your programs and reconciling with all of that, it sounds like you know what you're doing! Well at least, totally more than me, I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off since like November. Wishing you the best of luck! :D

    I've heard fairly good post-interview acceptance rates for PIBS, generally around 2/3+ are accepted from what I've been told. A friend of mine is a 5th year student in the Biological Chemistry dept, and when I mentioned my interview he said that an invite "almost guarantees" acceptance. However, I think he was exaggerating a bit because he was excited for me :blink:. I imagine it might also depend on the program you intend to join if you matriculate, and how many spots they need to fill, etc. I know for example that a higher number of applicants than usual applied for MCB, and therefore there were more rejections on that front. I applied with neuro being my priority interest, and I was called by the assistant program director on 12/15 before invites were sent out on 12/18. 

    His other advice/insight was mostly this (some of which was also echoed by commenters here) - the admissions committee takes the opinions of the faculty you interview with, and the student hosts you have, into consideration. I believe they write reports on you which are then forwarded to admissions. I've been told the interview weekends can be pretty overwhelming (~100 people interviewing for PIBS, and UMich is a big school with a large campus regardless). I was told to make sure I'm engaged and interested the whole time, and to not mention other schools as being your first choice, etc. They want to sell you their program just as much as they want to make sure you're a good fit, as they're already paying money to get you up to Ann Arbor and hosting you all weekend. From what I can tell, they'll email you your ~personal itinerary~ 1-2 weeks before the interview, with the names of the 5 faculty you're interviewing with. My plan is to make sure I dedicate some time to researching each one and making a list of questions/things I would like to bring up with them in interviews. I have a little notebook I might dedicate to this purpose, worst case scenario I look like I've done my research, ya know?

    The other thing I would say is dress warmly and comfortably! Not sure where you're from, but I'm a Michigan native, and it can be pretty damn awful in the winters. Wear good shoes and bring a warm coat, and check the weather before you pack. Act like yourself and have a good time, but also be on your best behavior during department lunch/dinner outings, don't get drunk or do anything like that haha. I have a few friends who were accepted through PIBS last cycle who I plan to reach out to soon, and my PI got his PhD through their neuro program - he's a pretty young guy and might have some interview advice specific to UMich that could be useful. Once I'm back on campus he'll be helping me do some interview prep and I'll make sure to thoroughly interrogate him and report back haha. Overall I think the best thing you can do is enjoy yourself and have a good time while making sure you're engaged and clearly conveying your interest to faculty during your one-on-one appointments. 

    Best of luck! If you happen to be interviewing on 1/25-1/27, I'll be there too! :)

    Wow thanks so much for the response! This eases some of my fears! I’m interviewing the first weekend of February but best of luck to you! :)

    2018 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

    in Biology

    Posted

    38 minutes ago, sp.110172 said:

    congrats! do you mind if I ask what program in PIBS you applied for? wondering if I should keep waiting to hear back from them also or to know that they sent out all the invites already. 

    Thank you! I applied to the Molecular and Cellular Pathology program. For what its worth, I called PIBS yesterday asking for a timeframe during which they will be sending out interview invites, and the lady I spoke with said they'll send them out before the holidays. I know thats not exactly helpful but I'd maybe keep a lookout until the holidays. Good luck! I hope you hear from them. 

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