aarhar

Hey thanks! and thank you to everyone who voiced congratulations. I am sorry I don't mean to seem too braggy earlier I just wanted to let people know that the truth is out there somewhere! Hoping you all have shiny CGS-D's to tell me about tomorrow haha!

Received PGS-D3, notified by graduate supervisor. They received notice this aft.

Received PGS-D3, notified by graduate supervisor. They received notice this aft.

Received PGS-D3, notified by graduate supervisor. They received notice this aft.

CGS is more $$$, and can only be tendered within Canada. PGS can be taken internationally.

CGS is more $$$, and can only be tendered within Canada. PGS can be taken internationally.

Received PGS-D3, notified by graduate supervisor. They received notice this aft.

Received PGS-D3, notified by graduate supervisor. They received notice this aft.

Received PGS-D3, notified by graduate supervisor. They received notice this aft.

Received PGS-D3, notified by graduate supervisor. They received notice this aft.

"creative" is a very polite way of putting it! I would rather have had radio silence for one more day and then the result! Not gonna be able to get any work done for the next 24 hours!

"creative" is a very polite way of putting it! I would rather have had radio silence for one more day and then the result! Not gonna be able to get any work done for the next 24 hours!

"creative" is a very polite way of putting it! I would rather have had radio silence for one more day and then the result! Not gonna be able to get any work done for the next 24 hours!

"creative" is a very polite way of putting it! I would rather have had radio silence for one more day and then the result! Not gonna be able to get any work done for the next 24 hours!

"creative" is a very polite way of putting it! I would rather have had radio silence for one more day and then the result! Not gonna be able to get any work done for the next 24 hours!

"creative" is a very polite way of putting it! I would rather have had radio silence for one more day and then the result! Not gonna be able to get any work done for the next 24 hours!

"creative" is a very polite way of putting it! I would rather have had radio silence for one more day and then the result! Not gonna be able to get any work done for the next 24 hours!

"creative" is a very polite way of putting it! I would rather have had radio silence for one more day and then the result! Not gonna be able to get any work done for the next 24 hours!

Undergrad Institution: Queen's University - Canada
Major(s): Life Science
Minor(s): Mathematics
Overall GPA(Undergrad): 3.83
Overall GPA (Masters):4.0
Type of Student: International

GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 162
V: 162
W: 5.0

Research Experience: Two years summer lab positions in undergrad for reputable PIs. Two undergrad theses (bioinformatics, molecular genetics). Master's (molecular genetics) complete in May (expected). Visiting grad student in an HMS lab (synthetic biology).

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Dean's list every year. Canadian Space Agency grant. A few smaller scholarships/awards. Two conference speakerships, one at an international conference (idk if this matters lol), one poster, one paper published in conference proceedings, one journal publication submitted.

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: I've TA'd three undergrad courses in molecular genetics / bioinformatics, Won a ntl. research competition for conducting MSc. work in 0G w/ the space agency.

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Lots of extracurriculars and volunteering experience

Special Bonus Points: I haven't been in my current position all that long so I might not ask because idk if it's appropriate, but my current supervisor is pretty well known so she would definitely help as a reference. I don't know, I think space is pretty cool and unique on an application, not a lot of people have flown with their theses in zero gravity, but maybe I'm a bit biased, some adcomms might definitely view space life science as a bit fringe even tho its totally cool!

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I guess I have a pretty broad skillset, bioinformatics, laboratory work, mechanical/electrical engineering... I had to built my thesis before I could use it to test genetics things! but I feel like a lot of people have diverse academic backgrounds and stuff.

Applying to Where: A few places in the States, I only really want to go down there if I get into a moonshot program so don't hate on my smaller sample size haha. Otherwise I'll tough it out at U of T and try to get a prof to let me do synthetic biology in their lab!
Harvard BBS
Harvard Systems Biology (dept. in which I'm working now)
MIT Biology
MIT Bioengineering
Stanford Bio
Stanford Bioengineering
University of Toronto (maybe MolGen, maybe CSB, idk)
My main question is really whether to include my GRE scores on applications where they are optional, like I know my scores aren't bad, but there are many applicants to the programs I selected with higher scores, will submitting a 5.0/162/162 help or hurt me? I would honestly be so appreciative of any opinions you may have!

Any internationals invited to Yale BBS MMPP for an interview? I was just notified that I was not invited for an interview. Yale was my dream school so I am pretty disappointed.
As an international I applied to 13 schools (all biomedical sciences or pharmacology, cancer bio when possible), and I have only heard back from 3 school for interviews. I am a little nervous and would like to have more options because as an international it is really hard to get accepted.
UMich, Duke, Columbia (interviews)
Weill Cornell (waitlisted for interview)
Yale, Harvard, WashU, JHU (rejected)
NYU Sackler, Stanford,  Northwestern DGP, MIT, UPenn, UChicago (pending)
Has any international applicant heard back from the schools that I have pending? Thank you very much.

Lets hope! invites all around!