
isobel_a
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Everything posted by isobel_a
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I used to work at RU - they send *everything* FedEx, it used to drive the accounts and operations people nuts. :/ Congrats. You'll love it there, if you go - such a great place to be, with Sloan-Kettering and New York Hospital right across the street, it makes for a really lively intellectual community.
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@eco_env I wouldn't assume that a program is full of sexism/sexists/discrimination/harassment - but I would want to be sure before I jumped into a program and got 3 years and thousands of dollars deep. Most women applying to grad programs in STEM fields are strongly advised to watch out for potential problems with ambient sexism when visiting/interviewing at prospective programs. I'm surprised that you take umbrage at my comment, frankly, since it's such a common concern.
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I've set my FB on private and have only two or three photos of myself up. I'd imagine most POIs are too busy to scour the internet in hopes of linking people to usernames and forum posts. I know I'm too busy to do that, and I'm on vacation at the moment...
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Astrophysics student with 810 Biology GRE - can I get in?
isobel_a replied to InquilineKea's topic in Biology
I think you're in good shape no matter what type of biology you're interested in, as long as you balance out your GPA with research and strong LORs. At the graduate level, ad coms are looking for applicants with the potential to do good research. What does research entail? A lot of determination and self-discipline. If you're a self-starter- and it looks like you are- you shouldn't have too much trouble sliding into a biology program. -
I'd say next to engineering or pharmacology, microbiology is probably the most industry-friendly graduate field. Whether you choose the medical or environmental route, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding work as a researcher. Biotech/envirotech are basically the only growth sectors left in the U.S. At the moment, with the economy as bad as it is, opportunities are more limited than they would be in an upswing. But I wouldn't worry about starving to death with a background in micro research. Personally I'm hoping to go into biofuels development
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Congrats, btw. I thought applying was nerve-wracking, but this has to be worse! From what I hear, the weekends are a lot of fun.
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Difference between "recruiting" and "interview" weekends...?
isobel_a replied to isobel_a's topic in Interviews and Visits
That's what I figured, ktel. But keep the tips coming, people... it's easing my mind. -
The psychological joys of applying to grad school
isobel_a replied to milara's topic in Waiting it Out
I thought break would finally give me a chance to relax... not much luck yet :\ Sleep? Yes. But the waking hours are filled with obsessive message boarding. I wanted to start a new thread about this, but I don't know where to put it, so I'll ask here: Do senior year grades matter? Because I really don't know how I'm supposed to maintain my GPA with all of this application stress, and 4-day interview weekends! I know my GPA is probably going to dip a little after this semester... will schools care? -
Difference between "recruiting" and "interview" weekends...?
isobel_a replied to isobel_a's topic in Interviews and Visits
Would you suggest reading a lot of papers by faculty before going, or is that excessive? -
Is there a difference between a recruiting weekend and an interview weekend? I just got an invitation for Berkeley's "Interview Weekend". From what I can tell, it sounds similar to the "Recruiting Weekend" I already have scheduled. If there is a difference, it would be nice to know now so I can plan accordingly... any tips?
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I just talked on the phone with a program director about a similar issue I'm having. She told me that it's common for people to have conflicts, and she'd tentatively schedule me for the latest possible date. Once the plane tickets are ordered, it's set in stone. I'd call and talk to someone at JHU - they might be able to accommodate you by rescheduling.
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I know what I'd like to see, as someone who is being recruited: 1) Evidence that there's a collegial environment at your school. After some of the experiences I've had in my recent department, I want to be damn sure I'm not going to walk into a political nightmare that's going to sabotage my ability to learn and enjoy the program's offerings. 2) Something resembling evidence that females aren't singled out or treated like 2nd class citizens within the program. 3) Stats on current students. Profiles of current students. Videos made by current students promoting their research. That sort of thing.
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Thanks! I'm excited to visit... I'd take any recommendations via PM that you might have for restaurants, etc., in the area....
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I just got my invitation from UWisc-Madison today for the recruiting weekend in February. Anybody hear from Cornell or Berkeley microbio yet?
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I wondered the same thing. In the end I uploaded my CV. As someone who's worked "in the real world" for a while, my justification was that it's worth it to bend the rules if your CV has valuable information on it. A lot of employers will put guidelines on their website (e.g. no unsolicited resumes, please) while sort of expecting you to break them. I thought it was a little strange that the Cornell app forced you to cram awards and scholarships into 3 lines - I didn't have enough space to list mine.
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What about interviews? Is it a good sign if you're asked to visit a lab before your apps are in? Edit: btw, I'm the same poster as naddyfive. I think facebook auto-logged me in under this ID...
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Microbiology PhD - what programs should I apply to?
isobel_a replied to isobel_a's topic in Life Sciences
Thanks! I'm glad to hear it. The people I've talked to seem to be split down the middle, with some telling me that grad programs love non-trads, and others sort of wincing and saying "at least you don't have kids..." I'm in my late 20s, so I doubt I'll be geriatric at most programs; I've heard that the average age of first-year grad students in my field is 26. One aspect of the app that I know I can ace is the personal statement. I have no idea how important these are, however, in deciding admissions... (Btw, my GPA is 3.8 right now, and I've taken all of the most challenging courses I could fit into my schedule.) -
I'm looking to get into a microbiology PhD program with a focus on applied micro/environmental engineering (biofuels, etc). I'm sort of a unique (read: non-traditional) applicant, so I have no idea where I stand compared to fresh-faced undergrads who will be applying for PhD programs. Any advice would be appreciated Here are my stats: First degree: B.A. in Philosophy from a top 10 liberal arts college (scholarship) Second degree: M.A. in Media/Communications (took these courses because my employer paid for them) from university in NYC Third: B.S. in Biology with a Chemistry minor from a small state school (scholarship) GRE: 740V/760Q/5.0 AW After my first degree, I moved to NYC and worked at The Rockefeller University as science writer (impressive CV with names of Nobel laureates on it). Went through a few major life events (deaths in family, etc), and realized life is too short not to pursue my dream career. So I decided to switch it up and become a scientist. Went to a small/affordable state school to get the pre-reqs that I needed for a PhD in micro. I've won some awards, grants, and done research related to my field of interest. Working as a TA currently in my final year. No publications yet but maybe one coming next year. Should have solid LORs. Applying to: University of Washington Cornell University of Wisc-Madison UC Berkeley UMass Amherst Thinking about applying for the hell of it: MIT Will I stack up against their other applicants?