Bacteria_Guy_95

Hi guys and gals. I applied to 8 Microbiology PhD programs this year, but with 5 rejections and 3 I haven't heard from, I am looking into Masters programs in Biology and Microbiology. I'm coming from a school in west Texas called Angelo State University, and we aren't big in undergraduate research. Some of my weaknesses are the various molecular techniques that are commonplace in research today, but we have little exposure to in our Biology undergrad program (unless you have the right research mentor). I'm hoping to find MS programs that are strong in this area to help round me out, before I apply to more PhD programs. I would love to find a program that also offers research assistantships to students working towards their MS, but that would be a plus. If you have any recommendations feel free to leave them in this thread. Thank you -Also if you would like to check out my current work with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, check out this link to my research gate project: https://www.researchgate.net/project/Antibiotic-resistance-in-Pseudomonas-aeruginosa-2?_sg=gORBTHJDgwZL5fN9jwk4d_8tgyEDfdv_IkdgIhTZI8AWl7Zas-s2ie-ynij6OAyXd-oUQz4a4rP-KPC5pNecVchCpIItk98XinuG

This is my first round of applying to PhD programs (Microbiology) and I was not sure what to expect. This year I have learned several things I should have done but didn't know until my applications were already in. I should have emailed the professors I was interested in individually and asked questions regarding funding. I applied to my dream programs this year, knowing I wouldn't get into most, if any of them. I've received five rejections, with no interviews so far and am waiting to hear from three more universities. Two of those universities (Harvard and Emory) are dream programs and I doubt I will even get an interview, but I am still hoping to get an interview at Kansas State University. One thing I know I'm lacking, now that I have looked at job postings, is more experience in molecular techniques. We get some exposure to gel electrophoresis, ELISA and PCR at Angelo State University, but I would like to say I have more experience than a single lab for each in Cell Biology. I've started looking into research assistant and microbiologist jobs, since it looks like I will have a gap year. Good luck to everyone still stressing out!

I also applied to two of those universities but for their Microbiology PhD programs. I received a no from U of Rochester at the end of January and I have yet to hear from Kansas State University. Best of luck!