ltodd

Might be easier to just see if you can call them. You could just send a short email saying you've been accepted into the program and are having a hard time deciding between institutions. Then you can tell them you had some questions about rotation opportunities in their laboratory and ask if they would be available for a phone call. This is what I did and I think it works better. To satisfy your questions it would take a long email, where they could probably clear everything up in 10min over the phone. Since you are accepted they should be pretty accommodating, if not maybe its best you didn't rotate with them anyway.

Well maybe not totally unnecessary depending on some of the locations. Assuming your in Iowa, if you are applying to schools close in the midwest, visiting the campus, prospective location, and POI's can only help your application and help you get a feel for fit. If the programs are quite a distance away the advantage definitely isn't large enough to spend the money for traveling. Completely unfamiliar with your field, but in mine (Neuroscience) every school had completely paid for interview/recruitment weekends, so I got to visit before making a decision. So this is the most common way most people feel out the "fit". This is pretty standard in the biomedical sciences, but of course your asking about pre-application submitting visits I emailed all of my POI's during the early Fall (Aug-Sep) and I heard back from the majority of them. Some more enthusiastic than others, I would recommend doing this first and if it seems like they are interested in you then you can possibly consider an early visit, phone call, etc.

I've never wore a suit or tie at my interviews and have always felt comfortable. Nice slacks and a dress shirt have always worked well for me. The majority of people I've seen didn't wear a tie and I have only seen a small handful (3 or 4) in actual suits. I have noticed that this somewhat depends on the region and perceived prestige of the university (i.e. my higher ranked schools seemed to have people in more formal wear). This also probably varies with the field, I've been interviewing with neuroscience programs but I know people who have interviewed with ecology programs and they have told me its much more casual. As long as you dress respectfully suit vs. no suit and tie vs. no tie should not be a factor in your ad coms decisions. Just wear what you are most comfortable with.

I had to ask my 3 writers for 14 letters a piece! About to ask them for their 15th here soon for something else. Students typically think this is a much larger burden than professors do. It is part of their job, their in academia to help students. Just be very thankful and appreciative and I'm sure he will be glad to help again.

I typically ask more detailed questions about funding. If it's monthly/bi weekly, etc and if you have to TA or RA I would ask more details about that. Also can ask about health care policy. If you are changing areas you can see what type of resources are available to help you find a place. Congrats on the acceptance!

I only bring a notebook and hardly ever write in it. I wouldn't worry about bringing any supplemental materials.

With your background and being an international student, I imagine research experience is a must. Do you have any? I don't know much about masters programs though so maybe there a bit more lenient. But I still would think the absolute best way you can improve your chances is to get involved in a lab. You have very solid biology GRE scores, but with your paucity of coursework and if you don't have research experience you would not be competitive for PhD programs at "reasonably good universities" in biological sciences as an international applicant. I don't know about masters programs though.....

To confirm the previous caveat it definitely all depends on the specific institution and the program. That being said I have not found any interviews awkward, nearly all the grad students and faculty I have met have been very affable. I also have enjoyed spending time with the other applicants. I have not at all got the vibe we were all in competition with each other. Like others said over and over again you just have to relax and be yourself, it is the only way you will be comfortable and that will show. Also to confirm the previous poster keep in mind this is not just them analyzing you. You are preparing to dedicate 5 years of your life to this institution and program you need to be equally interviewing/assessing the school/faculty/students as well.

Albert Einstein: Jan 12-13, Jan 26-27 Boston University (GPN): Mar 4-6 Case Western Reserve University (BSTP): Feb 3-4, Mar 2-3 Columbia (Integrated CMB): Jan 20-22 Columbia (Neurobiology & Behavior): Feb 8-10, Feb 29-Mar2 Columbia (Pathobiology & Molecular Medicine): Feb 3-5 Cornell (Weill): February Dartmouth (PEMM) March 2-3 Emory (PBEE): February 2-4 Emory (IMP): Feb 2-4, March 1-3 Emory University (neuro): Feb 9-11 or Feb 23-25 Harvard (BBS): Jan 26-29 and Feb 9-12 Harvard (MCB): Feb 1st - 4th, Feb 15-18 Harvard (neuro): Jan 19-22 Harvard (BPH): Jan 26-27 Indiana University - Bloomington (Biology): Feb. 16-19 MIT (Biology): Feb 11-14, Feb. 25-28, Mar 10-13 Mount Sinai (Biomedical Sciences PhD): Jan 9-10, Jan 17-18 or Jan 24-25 MSU: Jan 5-8 MSU (Zoology): Feb 2-3 Northwestern (IBiS): Feb 13-14 or Feb 27-18 Northwestern (Neuro: NUIN): Jan 19-20, Feb 2-3, Feb 23-24 NYU Sackler: Jan 19-20, Jan 26-27, Feb 9-10 Ohio State University (IBGP): Feb. 9-11 Ohio State University (Neuro): Jan 18-20 OHSU (neuro) feb 5th- 7th Princeton (neuro): Feb 16-18 Princeton (EEB): February 8-10 Rockefeller: March 1-2 and 8-9 Scripps Research Institute-CA campus: Feb 24-25, Mar 2-3 Sloan Kettering: 1/17-1/19 Stanford (SCBRM) feb 29th - mar 3rd Stanford (Biology) feb 29th - mar 3rd Thomas Jefferson (neuro): Jan 26-27 Tufts-Sackler (Integrated Studies): Jan 27 Tufts-Sackler (Genetics and ISP) Feb 10th Tufts-Sackler (Molecular Microbiology) Feb 2-3 Tufts-Sackler (Neuroscience) Feb 17th UAB (BMS): Jan 19-21 University of Arizona (Medical Pharmacology): Feb 9-12 University of Cambridge (UK): Jan 18th-20th University of Chicago (BSG): Feb 23-25 University of Chicago (Molecular Biosciences): Feb 16-18 UC Berkeley (MCB): Feb 5-7, Feb 26-28 UC Berkeley (MBN): Jan 26-27 UC Davis (GGG): Feb 16-17 UC Irvine (CMB):Jan 26-28,Feb 2-4 UCLA ACCESS: Jan 28-30, Feb 11-13, Feb 25-27 UCLA ACCESS (Molecular and Medical Pharmacology): Dec 22 UC San Diego (Biomedical Sciences): Feb 9-12 UCSD Biological Sciences: Feb 1-2, Feb 22-23 UCSF BMS: Jan 26-28 OR February 9-11 UCSF Tetrad: Feb 2-3 OR Feb 24-25 UC Santa Barbara MCDB: Feb 23-25 or Mar 1-3 UChicago (neuro): Feb 10 or Feb 13 (but travel times drag it out several days before and/or after) U Colorado - Denver (BSP): Feb 2-5, Feb 9-12 U Illinois Urbana-Champ (neuro) - Feb 16-19 U Iowa (Micro): Feb 23-26 U Iowa (Neuro) - Jan 26-28 UMASS Worcester: Feb 2-4 and Feb 16-18 U Maryland - Baltimore - Feb 3 UMich (PIBS): Jan 27-28 (Cancer Bio), Feb 3-4 (general) U Minnesota (MICaB): Feb 9-12 or 16-19 UNC Chapel Hill (BBSP): Feb 2-4, Jan 26-28, Feb 9-11, Feb 23-25 UPenn (Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics): Jan 19-21, Feb 9-11 UPenn (CAMB): Jan 12-14 UPenn (neuro): Jan 20, Feb 10 UPitt (IBGP): Jan 20-22 URochester (BMB): Feb 3-4, March 2-3 UT Austin (CMB): Jan 26-28, Feb 16-18 UVa (BIMS): Jan 12-14 or Feb 2-4 UW-Seattle (Biology): Jan 13 or Jan 20 UW-Seattle (MCB): Jan 25-27,Feb 8-10 UW-Seattle (GS): Feb12-14, Feb 26-28 UW-Seattle (Neuro): Jan 24-25 U Wisconsin - Madison (Biophysics): Mar 1-3 U Wisconsin - Madison (CMP) : Feb 27th, March 5th Vanderbilt (IGP): Jan 12-14 Washington University in St. Louis (DBBS-MCB): March 1-3 WashU (neuro): Jan 27-28, Feb 3-4 Yale (B.B.S.): Feb 2-5, Feb 9-12

Albert Einstein: Jan 12-13, Jan 26-27 Boston University (GPN): Mar 4-6 Case Western Reserve University (BSTP): Feb 3-4, Mar 2-3 Columbia (Integrated CMB): Jan 20-22 Columbia (Neurobiology & Behavior): Feb 8-10, Feb 29-Mar2 Columbia (Pathobiology & Molecular Medicine): Feb 3-5 Cornell (Weill): February Dartmouth (PEMM) March 2-3 Emory (IMP): Feb 2-4, March 1-3 Emory University (neuro? Feb 9-11 or Feb 23-25 Harvard (BBS): Jan 26-29 and Feb 9-12 Harvard (neuro? Jan 19-22 Harvard (BPH): Jan 26-27 Indiana University - Bloomington (Biology): Feb. 16-19 MIT (Biology): Feb 11-14, Feb. 25-28, Mar 10-13 Mount Sinai (Biomedical Sciences PhD): Jan 9-10, Jan 17-18 or Jan 24-25 MSU: Jan 5-8 Northwestern (IBiS): Feb 13-14 or Feb 27-18 Northwestern (Neuro: NUIN): Jan 19-20, Feb 2-3, Feb 23-24 NYU Sackler: Jan 19-20, Jan 26-27, Feb 9-10 Ohio State University (IBGP): Feb. 9-11 Ohio State University (Neuro): Jan 18-20 OHSU (neuro) feb 5th- 7th Princeton (neuro? Feb 16-18 Rockefeller: March 1-2 and 8-9 Scripps Research Institute-CA campus: Feb 24-25, Mar 2-3 Sloan Kettering: 1/17-1/19 Stanford (SCBRM) feb 29th - mar 3rd Thomas Jefferson (neuro? Jan 26-27 Tufts-Sackler (Genetics and ISP) Feb 10th Tufts-Sackler (Molecular Microbiology) Feb 2-3 Tufts-Sackler (Neuroscience) Feb 17th UAB (BMS): Jan 19-21 University of Chicago (BSG): Feb 23-25 University of Chicago (Molecular Biosciences): Feb 16-18 UC Berkeley (MCB): Feb 5-7, Feb 26-28 UC Berkeley (MBN): Jan 26-27 UC Davis (GGG): Feb 16-17 UC Irvine (CMB):Jan 26-28,Feb 2-4 UCLA ACCESS: Jan 28-30, Feb 11-13 UCLA ACCESS (Molecular and Medical Pharmacology): Dec 22 UCSF BMS: Jan 26-28 OR February 9-11 UCSF Tetrad: Feb 2-3 UChicago (neuro? Feb 10 or Feb 13 (but travel times drag it out several days before and/or after) U Colorado - Denver (BSP): Feb 2-5, Feb 9-12 U Iowa (Neuro) - Jan 26-28 UMASS Worcester: Feb 2-4 and Feb 16-18 U Maryland - Baltimore - Feb 3 UMich (PIBS): Jan 27-28 (Cancer Bio), Feb 3-4 (general) UNC Chapel Hill (BBSP): Feb 2-4, Jan 26-28, Feb 9-11, Feb 23-25 UPenn (Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics): Jan 19-21, Feb 9-11 UPenn (CAMB): Jan 12-14 UPenn (neuro): Jan 20, Feb 10 UPitt (IBGP): Jan 20-22 UT Austin (CMB): Jan 26-28, Feb 16-18 UVa (BIMS): Jan 12-14 or Feb 2-4 UW-Seattle (Biology): Jan 13 or Jan 20 UW-Seattle (MCB): Jan 25-27,Feb 8-10 UW-Seattle (GS): Feb12-14, Feb 26-28 UW-Seattle (Neuro): Jan 24-25 U Wisconsin - Madison (Biophysics): Mar 1-3 Vanderbilt (IGP): Jan 12-14 Washington University in St. Louis (DBBS-MCB): March 1-3 WashU (neuro? Jan 27-28, Feb 3-4 Yale (B.B.S.): Feb 2-5