samman1994

Hello everyone, So I sent my first email, and I was hoping to get some feedback on how you guys think it was (format wise). If its good, I'll probably send the other emails to other POIs the same way. I know this is a little subject specific, so I'll try adding annotations where possible to help explain what I'm saying. I tried to make it very brief and short. I opened it up introducing myself, and stating my interest in the project. Informed the POI I have experience in her project, and proceeded to ask some questions about her project that will hopefully show her that I know what I'm talking about. I tried to make my questions interesting (like these are not things I could just google about her and find) and not too detailed (POIs don't want to nor will go into detail about their project, but will explain the gist of it). Hello Dr. Cambell, My name is Sam Mahdi, and I was interested in applying to UNC for the fall 2018 semester for a PhD program. I saw your research page, and found your recent project looking at Gai1s [a protein] structure very intriguing. I worked on the G-protein signaling pathway in my undergraduate research lab (looking at RGS4 and RGS7 [more proteins] interactions, structure, and dynamics with Gai1 and Gao), so I know a little bit about the pathway and structural/dynamic work using NMR [an instrument]. I wanted to first and foremost introduce myself, but I also had a few questions regarding the project. I saw in your Grant information online that your lab will specifically be looking at Gai1s structure and dynamics during its activation and de-activation, and I was curious as to the details of the project. There are many papers regarding the structure of Gai1 and its dynamics involving GTP and GDP [small molecules] exchange during various transition states using NMR. I'm curious as to specifically what process of the pathway your lab will be looking at, and how it is different from other papers. Secondly, I know you said you primarily will be using NMR, but will you also be using other biophysical methods such as SAXS, CD, or even potentially crystallography? [these are just various instruments that are also used for structural determination for proteins] Thank you ahead of time for taking the time to answer my questions! I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Sam Mahdi

I'd just like to add to what _kita said (this really is dependent on your field), but for a gpa that low, you'd need GRE scores at least in the range of I'd say 80%+ minimum. The average student that gets in usually has a GRE of 60%+ (and that's with a decent GPA). Again, without knowing your exact major, this is all just theory.

I plan on discussing my previous research as part of my focus (and probably some in the fit as well). I've only ever been in one lab though, so not too much to say in those regards. In regards to future, I haven't fully planned that out yet, primarily just focusing on telling them basically my future plans (e.g. industry, make medicine cure disease, etc.). Still just brain storming ideas though until I hear back from the POIs. Thank you for your advice!

Well before I even start I'm emailing my top faculty member at each school I'm applying for and discussing their research with them and introducing myself. I plan on using the information they provided (as well as the hopefully good relationship I can create with them), in my fit and maybe even focus section. So I haven't started mine yet, but from bainstorming I think my focus will be relatively short and direct (I know exactly what I want to do, and how I want to do it), the fit will probably be the longest (in depth discussion of the facilities, how they will be useful to me, and their faculty members and exactly what they're doing and why it interests me). Future will be relatively short as well, probably about as long as my focus. The way I look at it is, the person reading this will probably not be an expert in the field I'm going into, and might just have general knowledge about it, so I don't want to go into too much detail. However they will be aware of the facilities (instrumentation) and faculty members (and a brief overview of what they do), so I want the reader to primarily see that I know my field well, know what instruments to use and how, and same thing with the faculty. I want their impression to be: "He knows what he wants, how he wants to do it, and who he wants to do it with". That way they can see why i want to go to their school, and that will hopefully convince them why they would want me to go to their school too.

Thanks guys!. I'll do 12 point font, and the spacing I guess will depend on how long my paragraphs are. If I have a lot of short paragraphs, I don't think each sentence needs to be spaced out more than just 1 or 1.15 at the most, they're short paragraphs. If they're more on the longer side, I'll space them out by 1.5. I like the idea of bullet points for each paragraph. I think that's probably how I'll organize it. I'll have 3 overarching themes (the 3 Fs) and then I'll have bullet points underneath each topic (e.g. under Fit I'll have one bullet point for facilities and another one for faculty, so my fit will come out to 2 paragraphs instead of one). Thanks again!

If your GPA is below a 2.0, I'd HIGHLY advise to retake all the classes before you graduate if possible, either at another school or at the school you are currently at. Most school have cut offs at 3.00, and even if they didn't, below a 2.00 is outright expulsion for most undergrad programs, let alone grad programs (a 3.0 is expulsion for grad programs). However the bigger question lies within why you would want to go to grad school? You will have to take classes in grad school as well, and as stated, you'd have to retake the classes if you even get below a B in any class. So if you're academics aren't your strong suite, not only will you waste your money, but you will waste your time as well. There are also plenty of jobs you can get with an undergrad degree. Basically, if you graduate with below a 2.00, my advice would be, reconsider going to grad school. If you've made up your mind and are absolutely positive you want to go to grad school, then only apply to master programs (and not at top programs, maybe some low tier programs), and I don't know try and get a very high GRE score. Your best bet would honestly be try and do some really good networking and try and get into a school without really applying for it (if the PI knows you really well, they can sorta sweep your application into the system, but this is not at all schools). All this being said, sadly, a straight up answer would be no. I don't think you'd make it past the filter for any school with a gpa below a 2.00, unless you had perfect GRE scores or something (even then you might not). Some schools will not even accept it (they have a 3.00 cut off). Personally, I'd say bring your gpa high as possible in the next year, retake the classes you didn't do well in, get your degree, and honestly just take a break for a year or 2. Get a job, go into the field, and maybe consider grad programs after a few years.

I cannot open your document. You could PM me your SOP

I am unable to open the document. You could PM your SOP

I'm going for Biochem, so I could take a look if you like

Sure I'd be willing to take a look! Keep in mind, my field is Chemistry/Biochem.

Sure, but what field are you applying for? I don't know how helpful I can be for subjects like Art or History.

Just curious, what field are you applying for. I don't know how helpful I can be reviewing SOPs for Art or History for example.

Found it. Thank you!

So I've come across a potential dilemma, and thought I'd get some feedback and opinions on it before I proceed. So I've narrowed down my list of professors at each school to the top professor I'm interested in. However, for one of them, the thing that interests me most about them is their most recent work (there are no publications on it, but they do discuss it on their lab page). Based on the previous methodology and other papers, I have a good idea about how they are or planning to approach their new research interest. The problem is, since there are no publications about it, I'm just going on assumptions right now. I know you're supposed to email them and ask specific questions about their research, but do you guys think it would be fine if I emailed them and asked the PI to actually explain their new research interest as a whole? What I mean is, email the PI and basically say, " I saw on your lab page your lab is now pursuing X, could you please explain what you're looking at and how you are approaching it? Also, what phase of project X are you in right now?" For most professors, I'm planning on taking a project they already have, ask a few questions regarding one specific part of it, and basically demonstrate where I could fit in and what exact part of their research interests me (basically if got accepted and joined their lab, what would I be doing). The problem with this project is, I don't know anything about it since they haven't published anything about it, so I'd be asking for a brief overview of their project and its status. Is that ok?

Hello everyone, So I've recently been getting a lot of emails and mail through the door regarding various school across the country. Now I'm almost positive this is because I told the ETS (for the GRE) that they could put my information in their database for schools to find me, but do they even look at your GRE scores when they send you their advertisements? I just got an email from Cornell telling me to check them out for their Biochem program but I got a 150 on my Quant. I thought initially this would be cool, since schools can see my score and consider whether they would still like me to try and apply to their school despite my shitty score, but now I'm wondering whether they don't even care and just send mass emails to anyone they can find.

I know this is an old topic, but I feel it is an important one since it has happened to me as well and thought I'd add my 2 cents. I had an issue of superiority, where the grad students felt they were smarter/better than me (this extended far beyond academics). When I joined, there was a guy at the very start who was very impatient and made my life hell. He would outright refuse to help me because he would say it's pointless and I'd never get it. If he did help me he would complain I'm an idiot the whole time. He threw shade at me everyday, telling me my ideas were dumb, my research was stupid, but it extended beyond just the lab. We make jokes and have conversations from time to time with other lab members, but he would always say my jokes sucked and weren't funny. We also played music sometimes, and he would always complain my music was garbage. I should mention he never outright tried to sabotage anything I did, and when he did help me, he did show me how to do things properly, he just was very negative mentally towards me. Fast forward 2 years working with him. I hated him at first, but now, I pity him. His project is going downhill while mine is basically almost done (note: this is primarily due to his incompetency and not his project itself). If anything, I just misunderstood the poor guy the whole time. He is very impatient with himself as well, so with me it wasn't personal (which I thought at the time). As his project takes longer and longer, and gets worse and worse, he starts to get pissed at himself more and more. Ironically, he tries to create an image to me that nothing is wrong, but then goes and tells literally every other lab member what is wrong. With his humor he also has clear insecurity issues as well, as he is very self conscience if no one finds his jokes funny, and becomes clearly distressed if we don't (honestly I don't care if nobody finds mine funny, I think it's funny so fuck the rest). Anyways, I'm not going to go into deep analysis, but he suffers from a lot of mental issues that at the end of the day, are targeted towards himself, and I was only getting a small deflection of it. One final thing I want to mention, as stated he was not the only one, however, as I've grown (I was 19 when I joined, the rest were 25+) up and "matured", and as my knowledge of the lab has improved (so less fuck ups effecting the lab), they've all gone from enemies to friends. I had a lot of issues when I first joined the lab, I was clumsy, unorganized, unresponsible, etc. It was honestly the harsh criticizms of my lab mates that has helped shape my personality into one that will succeed in the lab, and in all honestly, if it wasn't for their criticizms, I probably wouldn't even be contemplating a PhD program, I wouldn't be mentally ready for it. Anyways, tl;dr 2 points in the post. 1) These people who are poisonous may actually have some personal issues with themselves, and they just deflect it onto you. Understanding them and where they come from will help greatly in how you feel towards them, and in extension, the lab. 2) These people who you perceive as poisonous, just keep an open mind. They may be trying to help you, even if they come across as very harsh. Personally, if you insult me and try to bring me down, that only motivates me to push harder and try and be better. i wanted to reach the day when they couldn't even find anything to complain to me about. It was the only way for me keep a positive mindset and not hate my previous lab, and it worked out pretty well for me in the end.

As fuzzy stated, my answer is similar. I am going from Chemistry to Biochemistry, but they are relatively related (I don't know how related anthro is with comm). I am personally asking 1 biochemist and 2 chemists for my LOR. The LOR are just to show I am a hard working scientist and student, and am research driven (which is what the schools want). This can be done by both chemists since I did a collaboration with one of them, and the other had a class that was basically a mini-research project in itself. So they have both seen my research skills, and even though they are not in the field of Biochemistry and probably know very little about the field I will be applying for, they should both be able to write a good letter showing that I am a good researcher (which is again, what schools want to see). That being said, as fuzzy stated, will it hurt your chances? Hard to say, really depends on what the person reading your LOR is looking for from it, and that varies widely department to department, and even person to person. Luck of the draw really. But the reasons for why it might are as fuzzy stated above. There is one thing I do want to add though, whatever you do, do not go ask someone in Comm that doesn't know you well for a LOR just because you'd think a Comm letter would help. I think having a letter from a someone in anthro who knows you personally (and knows the type of person you are), will be waay more beneficial than a Comm professor you took once who sorta remembers you. So if you're not really close with any Comm professors, I'd so don't go and ask any of them, just improve the letters you already have doing what fuzzy stated above. If there is one final thing I would add, I don't know if this is good advice yet or not because I'm personally in the process of finding out how to even write an SOP, but you may want to address this in your SOP. What I mean by that is, explicitly state in you SOP a connection between anthro and communication. Explain the skill set that you have attained from an anthro background, and how that allows you to approach Comm in a unique way. Use this difference in background to your advantage, and demonstrate what you can bring to the table with your unique background. Switching fields doesn't have to be a weakness, it can actually be a strength. If you can find a connection to the field you're coming from, and to the field you're going into, you can demonstrate some particular skills that would be very useful to the field you're going to that Comm majors might lack (since they don't have an anthro background). So basically, let them know you are coming from a different background, but let them know that is a good thing. Therefore, if you lack that Comm letter, it doesn't matter. Have your current LOR focus on these anthro skill sets that you have, that you will be explaining in your SOP. That will not only make you stand out, but it'll also make your anthro LORs look stronger than if you had a Comm LOR.

Hello everyone, So I have been looking at the department of the schools I want to apply, and almost none of them say anything regarding word count or page limit. Only one has stated normally SOPs are more than 1 page but less than 3. So with no direction I have a couple questions regarding SOP in Biological Sciences: 1) How long is the average SOP? Is it defined by page numbers or word count? 2) Is it double spaced? This goes back to question one in regards to what defines length. A double spaced SOP can actually be a very short 2 pages, where a single spaced one can come across as quite a lengthy SOP. 3) What is the average or standard Format used? I am thinking of using just 3 paragraphs (focus, fit, future), with no real particular format (e.g. APA, MLA, etc.). Will that look bad? Should I use a particular format? 4) How about Font size? I usually use Font 14 (I like my letters relatively big), but my PI always complained it was way too big and a font size of 12 is perfect. This will again, effect the length of the paper, since smaller font, more information that can be put 5) And finally, why all of this matters, what is the "perfect" length. What I mean by that is more defined by characters. Yes, single space with 12 font is going to be a very detailed and heavy letter even if its only 1 page, but that might be too much for the person reading it. Again, I'm thinking 3 paragraphs, so that's just going to come across as 3 giant blocks of text. Double space with 14 font would be nice, have it come out to 2.5 pages, so it's nicely spaced and big enough for the reader to easily read through it, but then you'll be sacrificing extra details you could put in. What is a good font size/page formatting that will allow you write a good amount, but also be appealing to the reader that will be reading it. I ask these because I want to write something detailed but concise, but have been given no parameters by the schools. Detailed enough it gives the reader a good idea of what I'm going for and why I want to attend (and why they want me), but not too much that it jades them and becomes overbearing. I'm trying to create some parameters for myself so I know how much I can write, so I can prioritize whats important to include, and unimportant enough to keep out. Thanks ahead of time as always!

You got kicked out for a B in a stats class? That's a very stringent program then because from what I know, it's pretty acceptable to get a B in a class. I know people who get mostly B's and don't get kicked out. I know people who got C's and retook the class and got a B a second time and passed, so getting just 1 B and getting kicked out? That's pretty harsh. That being said, I find your situation quite unusual (however I could be wrong). I would make sure it was just your grade (if you are reapplying to the same school), and make sure there were no other political factors involved (which there very well could be). Anyways, I think you'd have a good chance going back for a successful PhD program if you're biggest complaint was a B in a class. Just my 2 cents

Well there are very few labs that I saw that focus only on NMR. Almost all the labs do have xray crystallography or fluor on the side, and I think every single NMR lab does a little bioinformatics work. In regards to chromatography, you need to purify your own proteins, but that is almost entirely HPLC/FPLC so you do gain very good solid work there (an that's actually pretty popular in the job market, if you have a Masters). You also express/grow your proteins too, and that can range from bacterial, yeast, to mammillian, using a variety of vectors. Most of these labs also look at In-cell work as well, and sometimes have a variety of different assays for testing activity of proteins, so overall, I think in regards to my specialty (protein NMR), I'll be putting my interests into a niche, but the all protein labs do a huge variety of different things. This is one of the reasons some of the interviews I've gotten have ranged everywhere from cell expression line specialists, to protein purification specialist, to even Research Associate positions at other schools to help analyze NMR data for the PI. However, being a jack of all trades, meaning not specializing in any one particular thing, and that is my concern. When I get my PhD, I will have done a little bioinformatics, but you have people who's entire field was bioinformatics, I'll have done a little mass-spec or xray crystallography, but you have people who's entire program was crystallography.

Hello everyone, So I've started looking around to find out how to format my SOP, what to include in it and what not to include in it, and I've come across a variety of suggestions. Generally, I really like the format of "Focus, Fit, Future" that I found on this site. I think it's a great format to use and can be applied to every school I apply to. That being said, there are a few questions I have regarding it. I have seen a variety of places state you should try and illustrate your research interests, and a potential research topic you'd be interested in pursuing. Now my confusion is, is this discussing a dissertation? Should you outline the basic focus of your dissertation? I'll put a very brief example of what I mean below following the 3 F format. Focus: I want to focus on protein structure and dynamics using NMR (liquid NMR). Now here I would state the benefits of NMR (answering why NMR), and the importance of structure and dynamics of proteins as related to disease, and why NMR is a good tool for this. However, all of this is very vague. I have not stated any biological systems that I would like to focus on. That would I imagine entail more of a dissertation type topic (e.g. I want to look at the proteins involved in this pathway because it's been shown these proteins cause cancer). This goes back to my first question, should I specify say a certain topic that is studied by someone at that school (the POI research)? And expand on it by stating very briefly my own dissertation in the lab? I'm curious as to how detailed I should get on my focus, also how personal do I make it? Should I explain personal reasons for my interest in the field? As it stands now, it is more of a rant about the importance of structure and dynamics if proteins within drug design and why NMR is great for studying them. FIt: I'd focus on the faculty members that have my interests and the facility they have. A little bit about how great their NMR facility is and how useful it would be for my project focus (again, should I state my specific project focus, or just a vague, it'll be great for elucidating protein structure and dynamics). Going into more detail about my own personal project can also help me detail what about their facility is personally so great. I.e. Say the protein I will be looking at is huge, then having a high frequency NMR would be great!. I'd also discuss their faculty member and how their research interests align with mine. Again, don't know how detailed to get in regards to my project. Should I simply state, well they look at protein structure/dynamics using NMR, so that's what I wanna do, it'll be great. Or should I state (if I stated my dissertation topic earlier), they are studying this biological pathway which is involved in a specific mechanism I want to look at, so they would be the perfect fit for my dissertation. Also, should I discuss the other faculty members research that interests me, and state they have multiple people also working on this as well, so there could be higher chances of collaborations or opportunities, thus making their school and even better fit for me. Future: This is where I was considering making it more personal. Tell them why I am even interested in studying proteins in the first place. Where do I see my field (protein NMR) going in the future, where do I see myself in it. What other various problems could I tackle, what other mechanisms can I elucidate, what other diseases could I target using the NMR. Basically I was thinking of making this section more personal, why I am even interested in the field of biochemistry, and where I would like to be after this program. As you can see, the issue is more of a, how detailed do I make this. Should I include a potential dissertation topic? Is that unrequired or too much? Is it advised or ill-advised? Thank you ahead of time!

Yeah, I realized this when I started looking for jobs, I realized there are very few jobs that I would theoretically be qualified for (in terms of experience). I brought this up to my PI a few days ago, and she said the amount of jobs in the field that I'm in and will be going for in my PhD are on the rise, but still very scarce. That being said, there are huge institutions that primarily work on solving solution structures of proteins in the industry, the only problem being they are "institutions", so I'd have to move over to them, and they are very few and far between (I only know a few globally). So I don't think I'd have difficulty finding a job per se (after my PhD), just difficulty finding a job that wouldn't require me to relocate.

Well that was actually a random number. The actual range is over 100+ now. I've applied to literally every QC/QA, manufactoring, R&D, lab/research associate/technician job within a 50 mile radius. What makes mine even harder is I have no industry experience, and only have a BS with a skill set that isn't valued in the slightest at my grad level (nobody hires someone with a BS to run an NMR or analyze NMR data for proteins). Most of the jobs for recent grads are either analytical jobs, or microbio/cellbio jobs with assays and or fluor/MS (of which I've never done any of). So, yeah, at this point, I find myself actually getting a job anywhere to be a stroke of luck!

I haven't started applying yet (think I'll do that in early November), but it'll be fine since I'm only applying to 5 schools instead of 50 jobs. It just gets frustrating when you're doing the same copy/paste for the 10th time in one day. And I have googled the company, it's just again, a bit frustrating. If you're going to put a job post up at least tell me a little bit about what i'll be doing at the job so I should know whether to apply or not (most companies actually do this, but sometimes you'll find those that have an HR department completely oblivious of what their company does). This is one of the reasons I sorta document my experiences on here a little bit, is so that other people looking for a job in the biotech/pharma industry might see this post and avoid all the pitfalls I ran through. If anything my number one advice I'd tell people is, this process takes a loooong time. I thought I'd have a job in a month, but I was sorely mistaken. I'd say if you're in school, start applying as soon as you graduate, and start looking hard (i.e. look everywhere, not just your ideal job). And never stop applying, even if you have a job interview, even if they tell you that you might have the job, continue to apply until you actually start working in the company (even then I'd advise to have a back up plan). Highly competitive, highly annoying, but what are you gonna do. This is how the world works. Thanks for everyone who commented on this post by the way! It was not just helpful to me, but I'm sure will be helpful for anyone who is in a similar situation and see's the post.

I'd say with what Tak said. Few professors will actually confirm or hold your spot in the lab unless they personally know you, or know someone who knows you (and again they'd know to knw that person pretty well as well). Unless through the conversations you have with them they come to know you and reaallllly like you (which is sorta what I'm hoping for). Even then, I'd argue its not a guarantee. I knew a PI who guaranteed someone a spot, but their grant got rejected so they couldn't take the student into the lab. Also, keep in mind, any school you apply to you should have back up plans, which means even if he can't or won't take you, there is someone else you would like to join.