TheScienceHoney

I'm in a STEM field (microbiology) and my quant score was in the 140s, I would imagine that your quant score won't be the most important part of your application and thus won't make or break an admissions decision

Really thankful for this question and the advice posted in response. I'm three weeks away from moving 2000 miles to a new city where I don't know anyone, and then starting a PhD two weeks after that. I've never gone more than a month without seeing my parents, and my fiance will still be finishing his BS back at my former university. I'm terrified of the loneliness and homesickness. In regards to the pet situation, I also second getting a cat, if you're interested in getting a pet. For a graduate student lifestyle and schedule they're much easier to take care of. Don't get me wrong, they absolutely need love and affection and playtime, but you don't need to let them out multiple times a day or walk them or have a very strict feeding schedule (most cats won't gorge themselves if you leave a big bowl of food out for a weekend while you're away, for example.) Coming home to my kitty is often the highlight of my day, she is very cuddly and talkative and definitely a source of stress relief. You could even consider getting an older kitty, who won't require as much immediate attention as a kitten, and will probably just sleep all day.

Absolutely. Check their websites, some schools actually offer tours that you can sign up for, I did one at the University of Chicago. I requested campus tours at a few other schools as well, and never heard back after multiple emails and phone calls, so it's kinda hit or miss. But, it's definitely worth it to go check them out, especially if you'd be moving across the country away from family for school.

You should look up Dr. Andy Kau's research at WUSTL. I work in the lab next to his and they are doing some pretty neat immuno/micro stuff with the gut microbiome

Depending on what field you're going into, there may be programs that do not take the GRE. I know that Biology/Biomed programs are largely starting to drop it, there's a list of programs that have dropped it already floating around this forum. I would imagine that there are other fields doing the same thing.

Yup. It's been a struggle especially when it comes to reaching out to labs I want to do my rotation in. Logically, I know that I was accepted because they think I have the potential to be a successful graduate student and PhD candidate. But in my mind, I'm like, lol no one wants to work with me, I know nothing, and they know that I know nothing I've gotten better about just shushing that voice and doing sh*t anyways. Sometimes you just gotta ignore it and keep plowing forward

Echoing StemCellFan's advice about research experience. Especially since your undergraduate background isn't in the field you want to pursue a PhD in, it would be really beneficial for you to apply to some internships or entry level technician positions. This way you can also build up your connections within the field, which will be vital for getting recommendation letters. It's not completely unheard of for someone with a different background to get accepted to a bio PhD program, but you'll need to put in some extra work. What connections do you already have? Do you have any friends working at labs or studying biology that you could perhaps shadow for a day? Anyone that could introduce you to a scientist in the field? Search far and wide for research opportunities that could help you get your foot in the door. Research experience is absolutely vital, whether it be wet labs or computational work. It might be beneficial to take the GRE subject test but most universities are moving away from requiring it, or even placing much weight in GRE scores at all. Research experience and recommendation letters are really key here. Why exactly do you want to pursue a PhD in neuroscience? What sparked that interest, and what have you done to nurture it? Do you really have a good grasp on what a career in research entails? These are all questions that admissions committees will want answered in your application. If you have minimal coursework in science, it would also be to your benefit to brush up on chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, statistics, and neuroscience if you can find courses at local community colleges or universities. It's difficult to convince an admissions committee that they should accept you if you don't really even understand the basics of the field. A post-bacc program might also be a good thing to look into, like you mentioned. I know many people who enroll in post-bacc programs to prepare for medical school, but I'm sure it's not unheard of for PhD paths as well. A master's program might be something to consider as well, and would 100% make you a better PhD admissions candidate with your present background, but you might run into similar problems with master's admissions committees. Whichever way you go, you should definitely try to play up the strengths you have as a business major - it's unique and probably lends you a different perspective than many applicants will have. Tl;dr: It's not too late and you can definitely pursue a PhD if that's what you really want! But it's going to take more than getting good test scores, you'll need significant hands-on research experience in the field you want to go into or a similar field. Good luck!!

Agree with research experience. Having specific coursework is nice, but it's also something you can make up for in grad school (for example, I'll be taking a statistics class during my first year as a PhD student because I didn't take it in undergrad, but this didn't prevent me from being accepted.) Having research experience in biomed is absolutely vital though. I took a year and a half off after my BSc to work in a lab as a technician and that combined with my other undergraduate research experience (totaling approximately 5 years cumulatively) made me a very strong candidate for my program. Every single professor I interviewed with mentioned how much of an advantage my research experience was. I had a lower GPA (3.4) and slightly lower than average GREs, but my research experience and multiple publications showed that I was ready. You can't just rely on your coursework to get you in. Of course, take classes that are relevant and interesting to you - I took like 6 different microbiology/related courses as an undergrad - but you will learn far more from actual lab experience

The University of Oregon doesn't take GRE scores at all.

Also wondering this! I proposed to my boyfriend two weeks ago and was so nervous about the proposal that I completely forgot that after he said yes, we'd be planning a wedding. I'm starting my PhD in the fall and he'll have 1 year left finishing his BS, and then will come join me. We're not planning to get married for two years so we can save up some more money, but I'm starting to think that maybe we should just elope because being in grad school, on a grad student budget, while planning a wedding that will take place ~2000 miles away (our family is in the same city we grew up in, but I'm moving to the West Coast for my PhD), well, that all sounds like a recipe for stress and disaster. I am really looking forward to having him out there with me though, and him having a more stable income. I do wish there were resources for spouses of grad students though, as I can definitely foresee us running into issues with him underestimating the commitment a PhD program *actually* is.

Sure! I love living in the CWE - it's safe, but there's lots of options for restaurants and entertainment close by. I'm a dive bar person so I really enjoyed Tom's, which is just your typical bar with trivia nights and karaoke sometimes, and right next door is International Tap House, which has a wonderful selection of beer. They also do live music and trivia. Pagan Wine Bar is a cute little wine bar in a former bookshop with great handmade cocktails and a great wine selection. There are so many options for dining no matter your taste. I really love Rasoi, which is an Indian restaurant with a tasty lunch buffet, and Sushi Koi, which has nice happy hour deals in the evenings and yummy bubble tea in the day. Gamlin Whiskey House is a little more upscale but perfect for a fancy date night, same with Wildflower. Taste is a cute little place that also has nice happy hour deals. If you like dancing, Viva Nightclub is really fun. When my friends and I would go out in the CWE we would usually just bar hop as everything is in close walking distance. There are plenty of places to hang though I think most places close by 1 or 3 AM, depending. I also spent many weekends at Coffee Cartel studying, they are open 24 hours and serve up ice cream, sandwiches, salads, a huge variety of coffee, and some alcoholic beverages as well. A Shake Shack just went in in the CWE and people are going crazy over it, it's not bad in my opinion, if you like burgers and shakes. Whole Foods and Straubs are convenient for grocery shopping, and if they are a little too pricey for a grad student budget, there is a Schnucks (local supermarket chain) right down Lindell. Also, the place I get my brows done, Roya's, is next to that and if you need a brow lady, she's the best. There is a public library on Euclid that's really nice, but you'll of course also have access to WashU's libraries which are far bigger. During the summer the CWE neighborhood association throws a few block parties and other fun outdoor events with lots of local restaurants and bars, live music and dancing, craft shows, etc. If you're a movie goer, the Chase Park Plaza Hotel has a theater and they do $5 movies on Wednesdays. They also have a bar there. Forest Park is nearby and is nice when the weather is warm for running, biking, walking, or taking in some of the great free entertainment: the Zoo, Art Museum, and Science Center all have free admission. In the early summer, the local Shakespeare company puts on Shakespeare in the Park, which is also free. Depending on where you are in the CWE it's easy to walk to Forest Park, or hop on the Metro at the CWE station (you'll get a free student Metro pass, which is really convenient.) In addition to the CWE itself, The Grove is another close by neighborhood that has an even more vibrant nightlife. Here you can find a huge variety of bars, food, outdoor patio spaces, a brewery (Urban Chestnut), most of the local gay bars, live entertainment, and more. It's just a few minutes away from the CWE by car and opens up so many more options. It's a really fun and vibrant place to live. I will say though, parking can definitely be a pain. My apartment has a parking garage that costs extra but it's so worth it because sometimes, especially on the weekends, you will drive around for 20 minutes before finding a parking spot, and you might get a metered spot. That is one of the only downsides to living in the CWE.

I'm looking for housing, saving up for the cost of moving across the country, and planning a trip to Iceland! Aside from all that, I'm gonna not stress, I'm gonna read all the books on my to-read list, I'm gonna binge watch all the TV shows I've been meaning to, and I'm going to enjoy late nights and early mornings and spending time with friends. Mostly, I want to enjoy the last bit of a 'break' I get before diving into the grad school life!

Hey! Not going to WashU but I currently work here as a research tech. I live in the Central West End and love it. The Monticello is a great, lower-cost building (many of the CWE can be quite expensive), but there are plenty of nice places around. If you are wanting a bit more of a nightlife scene, The Grove has some great options as well. I grew up in University City and loved living near the Loop, another awesome area. If anyone has questions or needs recs feel free to ask! Sorry to crash your thread, thought it might be helpful

Heyyy!! I'll be going for my PhD in Microbiology, just got the news yesterday! I'm so excited, Corvallis is beautiful and I can't wait! Currently trying to decide where to live and when to move.

Ok. I'm actually freaking out now. Still NO word from one school I interviewed at (a month ago) and no word from the other school that I had an informal interview with one of the professors. Their websites say "early April" is when decisions are mailed out so I haven't called yet because they ask to be patient. I'm so nervous. My interview went incredibly well and two professors have still been in contact with me, but I feel like since I haven't heard *anything* yet it's not good news :/