Sevi

I had an independent project in my undergrad studying cell cycle regulators in yeast models, but as a member of the lab also had to occasionally change mouse cages. When anyone asked my parents what I did they'd answer, "She plays with mice all day!" For the past year I've been working in a cardiovascular genetics lab where I perform rat abdominal implantations. My parents still say I play with mice all day. *headdesk* Nowadays, when I say I'm getting a PhD in Biomedical Sciences, most people have an idea what that means. But my favourite reply was: Woman: "When do you graduate?" Me: "I graduated a few years ago from college." Woman: "From college?? I thought you were in high school! So are you a nurse now? Or want to teach?" Me: "Actually, I'm pursuing a PhD in Biomed." Woman: "Oh! But why...? You're so pretty..." o.O Uuuh.... Is that a compliment...?

Thank you so much for posting!! I'm pretty sure I'm going to die from all the cold. I might as well just stay in Houston where, although I might melt walking to class, I won't be a popsicle for half the year. If by the time I finish my degree I still feel the need to explore the Cleveland area then I could always find a post doc there!

I've been working as a research assistant in a genetics lab since I graduated from undergrad. And now I'm going to be a maid/waitress at an anime convention's maid cafe! I'm really excited but I don't know if you could really call it a "job" since it's just for one week. More like a gig I guess.

honeymoon phase

It's part of the first year's retreat. Each department does some sort of skit for a contest.

Ditto

Shark bait! (ooh ha ha)

Black hole

My best friend rotated in this lab I can't believe how viral this video became in such short time!!

*girly, happy squeals for you!!!* As soon as I find out if/where I'm accepted, I'm quitting my job.

If I got all rejections, I might actually just let out a sigh of relief. At least its an answer to make me stop stressing. And it gives me one more year to do whatever I want before having to sell my soul to research for 5-7 years. I anticipate a lot of cupcake baking, buying clothes I don't need, and taking trips with money I don't really have.

Woohoo, teaching in Japan! I had a considerable number of friends from college do that and now most are preparing to return to the States to resume their lives here. And by preparing I mean crying over having to leave the great playground that is Japan. Aaaand they're studying for the GRE and researching grad school programs to apply to. If teaching english in Japan (JET, Aeon, etc.) is a reasonable option for you, I say GO FOR IT! And take me with you!

Guillermo Del Toro's "The Strain" for the cheesy science fiction and non-Twilight vampires Any other books by Haruki Murakami I have not yet read for the emotional masochist in me And all the Angel Sanctuary mangas I bought in high school but never read for the super dorky nerd that I still am

Albert Einstein College of Medicine: Jan 24-25 / Feb 14-15 Baylor College of Medicine (Molecular and Cellular Biology): Feb 3-5/Feb 25-27, Feb 16 (Houston residents) Boston University School of Medicine CMB: Feb 14 BU (A&S) CMBB/CM: March 6-7 Brown MCB: Jan 27-30 / Feb 11-13 Brown-NIH GPP (Neuroscience): Feb 28-Mar 3 Case Western Reserve University: Jan 28-29/Feb 25-26 Columbia CMBS: Jan 21-23 / Jan 28-31 Duke: Feb 4-5 / Feb 18-19 Emory (Cancer Biology): March 3-5 Emory (Neuroscience): Feb 10-12; Feb 24-26 Florida State University Neuroscience: Feb 18-20 Georgetown(Tumor Bio) Jan 24/Feb 18 Gerstner Sloan-Kettering: Jan 18-20 Harvard BBS: Feb 10-13 / Feb 24-27 Indiana U IBMG: Feb 3-5 / ??? Johns Hopkins BCMB: Feb 17-20 Johns Hopkins--CMDB: February 10th-13th NYU Sackler Institute Biomedical Sciences: Jan 13-14 / Jan 20-21 / Feb 3-4 / Feb 10-11 OHSU Neuroscience: Feb 6-8 Rockefeller: Mar 3-5 / Mar 10-12 Stanford Biosciences (Chem/Systems Bio): March 3-5 Stony Brook Neuroscience: late January/early February?? The Scripps Research Institute: Feb 24-26 / Mar 3-5 U Alabama - Birmingham: Jan 13-15 UC Berkeley MCB: Feb 6-8/Feb 27- Mar 1 UC Irvine CMB: Jan 27-29 / Feb 3-6 UCLA ACCESS: Jan 29-31 / Feb 12-14 / Feb 26-28 UCSD Biomedical Sciences: Feb 17-20 UCSF TETRAD: Feb 3-5 / Feb 24-26 University of Chicago--Immunology: February 10th-12th U Georgia - Genetics: Jan 27-29 University of Iowa - Biology: February 17th-19th (second weekend sometime in March) U Maryland - Baltimore Neuroscience: Jan 21 / Feb 11 / Feb 18 University of Minnesota Neuroscience: March 3-6 UNC BBSP: Jan 27-29 / Feb 17-19 / ??? U Penn CAMB: Feb 3-5 University of Pittsburgh CNUP (Neuroscience): Jan. 27-29 or Feb. 3-5 USC PIBBS: Jan 13-14 University of Virginia Neuroscience: Feb. 3-5 or Feb. 24-26 University of Washington Immunology: Feb 17-19 / Feb 24-26 University of Washington Microbiology: Feb 13-15 / Feb 27-Mar 1 University of Washington Neurobiology and Behavior: Jan 18-19 / Jan 19-20 U Wisconsin Microbiology: Feb 3-6 / Feb 17-20 Wake Forest Neuroscience: Jan 13-15 Washington University in St. Louis Neuroscience (WashU/WUSTL): Jan 27-29 / Feb. 10-12 Watson School of the Biological Sciences: Jan 27-30 / Feb 3-6 Weill Cornell Immunology and Pathogenesis: Feb 16-18 Weill Cornell Allied: Feb 16-18

I am so glad that you said this!! I've been reading posts on this forum for a few months and going through articles/blogs trying to get a grasp on what to expect from grad school. I understand grad school requires dedication, but I was terrified by everyone ONLY talking about researching and studying 24/7, declining physical and mental health from stress and being over-worked, and mentioning that when choosing which school to attend only the program matters, nothing else such as location and having a support system. A 5-7 year PhD program is a huge chunk of time in your life. Your LIFE. I've been dedicated to education all my life and have not had a social life, many friends or a significant other because of my dedication. I am not okay with knowing the next 5-7 years in a program are going to force me to continue to make those sacrifices. Life is too short. What is a successful PhD going to mean later in life without someone to share life with? I'm so glad that the OP asked these questions about breaks and vacations. And thanks to everyone who replied and help reassure me that a life is sustainable during grad school!

This is one of the easiest desserts I've made and certainly one of the most delicious! I like cobblers but hate using canned fruit, so this is perfect! Fresh Cherry Cobbler Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter 1 cup all-purpose flour1 cup white sugar1 teaspoon baking powder1 cup milk 2 cups pitted sour cherries3/4 cup white sugar1 tablespoon all-purpose flour Directions: -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees -Place butter in a 9" x 13" baking dish, place in the over to melt while preheating, and remove once the butter has melted -In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and baking powder. Mix in the milk until blended. -Pour the batter into the pan over the butt and do NOT stir. -Rinse out the bowl and dry. Place the pitted fresh cherries in the bowl and toss with the remaining 3/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon flour. -Distribute the cherries evenly over the batter and, again, do NOT stir. -Bake for 50-60 minutes at 350 degrees until golden brown and it passes the toothpick test.

I usually stress out and whine a lot but it's been getting exponentially worse. It really doesn't help that my family is a 6 hour drive away and I don't have any friends where I live now. I tried to go shopping for interview clothes to relax and distract me, but ended up completely frustrated that I couldn't find anything that fit and/or seemed appropriate (and didn't cost a full paycheck to purchase). What's up with all the incredibly low-cut women's shirts?! Gah!

I regret not applying to more out-of-state schools. Originally, I was only planning on applying to Texas schools since I was born and raised here, my family is here and isn't leaving, and there are good schools here- no need to leave. I ended up throwing one out-of-state school into the bunch just for kicks not thinking I had any chance at actually being admitted. But apparently I'm way more awesome than I thought I was and I've received interview invitations from all but one school. Now it's been killing me that although I have a chance at the out-of-state school, it may still be a small chance or if I get accepted by this out-of-state school AND an in-state school I'd have to choose. On top of that, there's an incredibly sweet and supportive guy in the out-of-state school area that I've really become closer to since starting applications, so if I don't go to that school I fear I may always wonder "what if" with him.... I also regret not applying to at least one Masters program on top of the PhD programs since I've recently been doubting whether or not a PhD is worth the time commitment and if a PhD is right for me. I should have applied to a Masters in the out-of-state school area mentioned earlier. Oh well... Can't do anything about it now. Out of my hands, out of my control. Sucks....

If I don't get accepted into a PhD program this year I know I'll just try again next year. But as for back up plans to get me through this year until application season starts up again, I have a few. 1) Try to get into a Masters program doing research similar to what I want to do for a PhD 2) Get a medical masters to be able to work in an artificial reproduction/infertility clinic 3) Try to find a job in industry or just another lab from where I am now 4) Find a boyfriend with a business degree so I can open up my own super cute cupcake bakery/maid cafe!! And then of course there's Marry Rich and Win the Lottery. I don't think I'd make a very good crack whore.... But maybe for a little extra income I'd be a cam girl. Especially like this girl! Seems simple enough. Eat fruit while wearing cute pigtails? I think I can handle that.

I'm so glad to see this post here. I have recently found myself in the exact same place. I have received interviews from 4/5 universities I have applied to, but am more hesitant in my excitement because I've been questioning the benefit of a PhD. I'd feel awful declining acceptances from fantastic schools because I might be getting "cold feet" but also don't want to feel trapped in a bad decision later. As an undergrad and even now working in an academic lab I've always been told that there are career options in biology/biomedical science other than running my own lab or teaching, yet no one has really told me what those options are other than working in a patent office, being an editor for a scientific journal or working in quality control for some food/plastics/oil business. All things I really don't want to do. There have to be more options. Why is it so difficult for someone to tell me or to find a list somewhere? I've even thought about wanting to work in an assisted reproduction lab/clinic (which resulted in me becoming an egg donor) but don't know how those are structured to even know what positions are available and what credentials would be needed to work there. So far it seems like earning a PhD is a good idea so you have a little more security in finding another job if a start up biotech company falls through. But I also don't want to get into a 5-7 year commitment PhD program just to use to get into a career fair when they actually WILL tell me what career options there are other than PI or Prof.

I don't know if you could really call it a hobby, but it's definitely going to keep me (at least a little) distracted from constantly fretting over hearing back from grad schools. I've just been picked by someone/a couple to be their egg donor. Yep. Someone is going to have my baby. By the end of this year, there will be a mini-me somewhere. It's entirely scary but absolutely exciting! I start the process tomorrow or early next week. I'm super nervous but I'm so thrilled to be able to help someone achieve their dream of being a parent. Has anyone else ever been an oocyte donor? If so I'd love to hear about your experience and what to expect!

Thanks, everyone, for your replies! It's really easing the stress and worry! I'll be going to Uni A at the end of January and Uni B at the beginning of February that I've already committed to, and attending Uni C's second interview weekend. You're all right- they have alternative dates for this very reason. Also, like MoJingly, I live very close to Uni D so if they invite me for interviews I could ask to speak with them independently. Hell, I could realistically have an interview during lunch at work! You're all the best! Good luck to everyone!!!

I'm starting to hear from schools I've applied to about invitations to their campus for interviews. Needless to say, I'm very excited to hear that I've passed at least the first round of review and want to go to all the interviews to maximize my chances of getting in somewhere. However, the interview weekends for some of the schools are overlapping and I don't know what is the best way to handle the conflict. I've already committed to going to one university's recruitment weekend at the end of January and another's in the beginning of February. Both of these schools are the lower tier schools I applied to. We'll call them Uni A and Uni B, respectively. I recently received an invitation to interviews from one of my top choices (Uni C), but the first/primary recruitment weekend is the same as Uni A. They have an alternative weekend at the end of February but I'm worried that going to the second weekend would decrease my chances at getting accepted and/or make me look like I'm not serious about them. I could ask to change the weekend for Uni A's interview, but that would mean my first grad school interview would be at this top school that I desperately want to get into. Would it be better to take the second weekend option for Uni C and use Uni A and B as "interview practice"? Or will not attending the primary recruitment weekend at Uni C hurt my chances of being accepted? I haven't heard anything from my other top choice (Uni D), but I looked up their interview weekends only to find that their two weekends are the same that I'll already be interviewing at Uni B and maybe Uni C. If I get an invitation to interviews at Uni D should I ask for a random weekend for me to interview although it won't be with other recruits or be an organized event? Or should I cancel my interview at Uni B since it's more like a safety school and I probably wouldn't go there anyway and do my top choice Uni D interview on that weekend? I'm sorry if that was confusing! Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated!

Can you give me an idea of how bad the winter weather is? Like on a scale from 1-10? I've lived in Texas all my life and I'm weary of committing for 5-7 years to Cleveland in fear that I'll freeze to death during my first year. Considering I'm use to weather ranging from 40 degrees to 110 degrees, I don't know what I may be getting myself into if I decide to go to Case Western for a PhD. What's the warmest it usually gets in the summer? Any tips for snow-virgins??

I've been stressing like no other waiting to hear back from schools and trying to figure out where I 100% want to go. I'm still trying to find things to take up my time and distract me, but so far I've picked up some crafting, gaming, and general sloth. I started haphazardly sewing which has resulted in a skirt, mended clothing, a TON of bows and usamimi (bunny ear) headbands, and lounge/sleep shorts. A friend got me a PSP and some games for Christmas knowing that I would be freaking out so that is definitely getting used along with my old Super Nintendo I brought from my parents' house. I've also been reading a lot more and watching more movies and TV shows. But I still need to find a more productive form of thumb-twiddling! Or just build a time machine to speed up the time it takes to hear about acceptances/rejections....