7layermagik

Yeah I think it depends, in biomedical sciences people can definitely make up for poorer grades and quality of undergrad institution by working in a pretty good lab for a year or two in postbac research. Not sure how it works in your field though. I got a number of B's as well, so ended up averaging with the 3.55 which is between a B+ and an A-.

I wouldn't catastrophize too much. I had 3 C's in undergrad with a total GPA of ~3.55. Will be going to a PhD program at Northwestern in the fall. I did work as a lab technician after undergrad though, which boosted my resume.

We should do a first year beach party

I'll be attending Northwestern's NUIN program so maybe I'll run into you in Evanston! It would be nice if there are some events to get to know students from IBIS and DGP as well.

Hmm I thought Richmond's reputation has gotten a lot better? I'm originally from the Richmond suburbs--- don't venture into the city that often but I know a lot of people enjoy it.

I've lived in Charlottesville for about 7 years. The people in town are relatively diverse and on the liberal side (the UVA STEM community even more so), so I would consider that type of behavior very unexpected and unusual... The towns outside of Charlottesville tend to be more rural/"southern" so perhaps the reaction you encountered there is more probable? Anyway, Charlottesville is pretty progressive in the scheme of things and I don't think there is anything that should deter someone from living here... hopefully we don't have anymore white supremacist rallies (those folks are from outside of town)....

My current PI recommended emailing professors of interest at the schools I'm going for interviews at. Is it a bit late in the game for that? Feels a bit awkward to me--- don't want to come off as a sycophant.

I haven't gotten a rejection or acceptance email from them yet. An interview on the 17th is looking unlikely though haha.

Sorry I don't have an answer, but just have a similar question to add on. I have significant postbac academic research experience (~3 years) yet this application cycle isn't going as well as I'd like... if I need to reapply in a year or two I'm wondering if working in biotech would be okay as long as I'm still working with relevant techniques/field I'm interested in. Pro: Would save up good money. Cons: Industry is frowned upon by academics? Wouldn't publish either, but from my experience getting a good pub even with significant postbac research isn't a guarantee. The other option is to try and move to a high profile academic lab to hopefully boost the impression of my application. Also, coffeebeforebed, have you enjoyed working in industry? What techniques do you use/have learned and what field is it?

You can just apply for lab tech/lab specialist jobs as well and get good research experience. Obviously try to avoid the jobs where you will solely do drone work (i.e. mouse colony management/genotyping, tissue sectioning, etc).

Mass email?

Is Weill Cornell Neuroscience done sending invites then?

If you're looking at UVA, John Luken's lab might be kinda up your alley. He's in the Center for Brain Immunology and Glia which is in the Neuroscience Department, but most of the professors in that center are actually immunologists for the most part.