Jump to content

glow_gene

Members
  • Posts

    79
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    2

Everything posted by glow_gene

  1. I'm all in favor of gap years. They are not required, but I think they absolutely help prepare you for a better grad school experience. I knew I wanted a PhD at the end of my freshman year, but I still took a year off. so..in pro/con format and adding to thegirldetective's list
  2. Many of the people posting about rejections didn't specify the program to which they applied. While DBBS accepts ~70 students each year, each program has its own interview process. Each program has its own level of competitiveness and % accepted. I can speak from experience that publications aren't everything. Those LoRs make a big difference, as do your SoPs. WashU, more so than many other schools, seems dedicated to creating a community for its students. If they feel you won't fit in with the community at large, it may be enough to get a rejection. Some programs have recently been burned by giving interviews/acceptances to stellar students and having them all head to different programs. It's possible, for several schools, that you can be TOO good for admission. Also, our Immunology and Neuroscience programs are some of the more competitive components of DBBS and they seemed to be the most frequently posted rejections recently. Anyway, don't let WashU get you down!
  3. Just for the record (I haven't seen mistakes here...but there are several on the results page) there are two very different schools: the University of Washington (UW - in Seattle) and there is Washington University in St. Louis (WashU - in St. Louis). If you go to either of these interviews, I highly recommend you use the correct name during the visit. There were people here who made the mistake last year during interviews...and it did not go over well... Peace and best wishes! ~glow
  4. Hey! I'm a second year student at Washington University in St. Louis (DBBS- Molecular Genetics and Genomics). I just wanted to wish you good luck with your applications and offer to answer any questions you may have about WashU or any of the other schools listed in my sig in green. Best wishes and best of luck! gg
  5. Like biotechie, I'm also here and available for questions if anyone has them. Feel free to PM me and best of luck to you during the application season!
  6. I didn't contact a single PI ahead of time and had a rejection-free season. I highly advise getting in touch with people since it can only help your chances, and in many cases the PI will advocate for your acceptance if you and he/she find common ground or you impress him/her. It is, however, not necessary for acceptance to contact professors ahead of time. If you are interested in one or two labs (and can't find anyone else who interests you) I would HIGHLY recommend getting in touch with the professors; you never know who is taking students and who has funding.
  7. Woohoo! Yay for WashU applicants . Gina, if you get an interview at WashU, I'll be one of the students helping you out while you're in St. Louis. Best of luck! If anyone has any questions about WashU interviews (or applying or any other schools on my list) please feel free to shoot me a message! I know how scary this process can be and would love to help in any way I can! ~glow
  8. THIS. I am so glad that someone else got the same impression of WashU. I was blown away by their facilities, students, professors and research topics. Best of luck with your final decision
  9. In the end...I never sent a thank you note...and was accepted everywhere I interviewed. The second I accepted, I e-mailed everyone with thanks and questions (which I planned to do regardless of acceptance or not). Yay networking? Thanks for the advice, everyone! I drafted so many letters and your input made the process much less stressful.
  10. FINALLY decided on Washington University in St. Louis' Molecular Genetics and Genomics program! Any one else attending their DBBS or MGG program? So happy to be done!
  11. I got an offer from them as well . I'm trying to decide between Duke (UPGG) and JHU...but this decision doesn't seem as easy for me..... Congrats and hoping for us both to get that official letter soon!
  12. Acceptance at Vandy! Still waiting on WashU.... ...I have four Skype interview for Emory on Monday and Tuesday...leave for Johns Hopkins on Wednesday, interview at their CMM program on Thursday, the CMDB program on Friday and try to speak to people from Human Genetics on Wednesday evening/any time during my stay...leave on Saturday and host an engagement party in NC on Saturday evening. Wish me luck??
  13. I apologize if this thread has been duplicated elsewhere. I assumed someone would have asked about this by now but I can't find it anywhere so: Do you think it's appropriate to send thank you notes to interviewers? If so, what should they say? I have to assume that these PIs are going to talk to each other after my interview and the content of the thank you note could come up in conversation. If the thank you notes are all the same, this might pose a problem (I would think) but I can only personalize them so much without coming across as egotistical or like I'm trying to compliment them into an acceptance. Any advice? EDIT: Bah...just found my answer on the "Applicant Profiles" thread. **facepalm**
  14. Thought I would finally post one of these just in case it's helpful to anyone: Undergrad Institution: High-ranked but small liberal arts school Major(s): Biology Minor(s): Genomics concentration GPA in Major: 3.51 Overall GPA: 3.53 Position in Class: erm...top 25%? Type of Student: domestic GRE Scores (new version): Q: 161 (86%) V: 166 (97%) W: 4.5 (72%) Research Experience: Been working in the same lab since the summer before my Junior year. (currently 3+ years of research). Also did one semester of research in haloarchaea genomics and a brief study in creating a new protocol for Xenopus neuronal staining Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Graduated cum laude with Honors in Biology, Beta Beta Beta Biological Honors Society Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Currently working as an HHMI Research and Teaching Assistant at my undergrad institution in the same lab where I researched/wrote my Honors thesis Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Special Bonus Points: Several of my LOR writers are widely respected and (I believe) wrote me pretty excellent letters. I'm lucky to have had classes/research experience with them. Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Audited several classes including Immunology, Biostats and Biochemistry, while working as a Research Assistant in addition to undergrad courses. Application/interview info below in my sig. Heading To WashU tomorrow! Kind of terrified but mostly excited
  15. I don't have any tattoos but I do have a few electrical brands. I think I'm treating myself to a double helix brand on my upper arm after my first acceptance (if I get one). ...and a book. A really good, long, must-read-with-coffee-and-a-fire book.
  16. So...I applied to the Cell/Molecular program at Johns Hopkins school of Medicine and the school of Arts and Sciences. Figured I would cover all my bases. Got interviews at both and they're on the same weekend. Things are going to get real in Baltimore. Just sayin'.
  17. I'm painting pottery (all nerdy pottery) and staying in the lab with the lights on. My employer is out so I am ONLY working on projects that are interesting/working. This is no time for finicky things that drive me up a wall. I'm also spending a ridiculous amount of time in various coffee shops, internalizing the Christmas songs. I'm from the Bahamas and thought I would be going home for Christmas but apparently my family is going to visit my brother in Philly this year. So..even though it won't be warm...there will be the warmth and joy of family...or something...
  18. Got e-mails from UPENN and UChicago withing a minute of each other. One was an interview and one was a "we got your GRE scores". ....I'm going to go sit down for a minute.
  19. Thank you! It seems odd to me that they only have ONE interview weekend. Every other school has had multiple options. I do, however, think JHU is going to win...and Emory is close enough for me to drive down on another weekend. I'll give them a call in the next day or so. Thanks for the advice
  20. So...I went into this application process with the mindset "Please let me get one interview request!" I've received 5, which is wonderful...but unexpected. I still haven't heard from four programs and I already have an interview conflict. Johns Hopkins and Emory both have 1 interview weekend set for Feb 9-11. JHU should win this contest no problem...but I applied to two programs at JHU and the one I have heard back from is the less desirable of the two. The game plan at present is to simply wait a bit longer before confirming an interview at one or the other. They both have deadlines in early January. Is it alright to wait that long to confirm my attendance? And when I do decline...should I just say I'm "unavailable" that weekend? They have to know that it's likely because of another interview... Bah...struggles...
  21. I have an iPhone and every time it makes the "ding! You have an e-mail!" sound...I have a small heart attack. I'm about to strangle every biological supplies company we use...I don't care about your holiday sales...stop e-mailing me during such an important period in my life!!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use