[Maryland Molecular Medicine]

Yeah I'm just starting chapter 25 and some of the stuff so far is pretty detailed. I was able to finagle my way into doing an unofficial rotation starting july 9th (which you're apparently not supposed to do, oops) so I'm not sure if I'm going to do the bridge class or not, but I'd definitely like to since it seems like every little advantage will go a long way in the core course

[Maryland Molecular Medicine]

lol nevermind, Racael Holmes just sent out an email with it. Did you get it?

[Maryland Molecular Medicine]

they actually gave it to me in person when I met with someone down there after my interview. pm me your email and ill forward you the assignment and what textbooks you need

[Maryland Molecular Medicine]

So im officially going to maryland. Have you started that summer reading assignment? I've only read a couple of chapters so far. Do you plan on doing the bridge class too?

[Maryland Molecular Medicine]

Well, If you go to Molecular Medicine at Maryland, Ill be your classmate, so that is a plus...

Joking aside, I choose Maryland over the other programs I got into because of the wide range of choices available there for students to take part in. You have the Hospital, Institute for Genome Sciences, Aquatic Biology Center, Schools of Dentistry/Medicine/Pharma. I think you have a misconception about the size of labs at Maryland because when I visited I saw labs running all the way from one or two people, all the way up to the 20-30 range that you described. So you have a choice between labs in the size that you want. Also, I think I was told by the program director they only expect 8-12 students in the Mol Med program this year, so there will be plenty of space to make yourself stand out. I think there are way over at least 50 labs to choose from, so you can really pick what you want. I'm in the same boat as you, I currently work in a small lab, and I love the atmosphere it generates, where I know I can always have a chat with my boss. I wouldn't have chosen Maryland if I didn't think I could continue to have that experience.

Plus, funding at Maryland is EXCELLENT. And sad to say, but good funding makes a world of difference. I don't know Drexel's program, but Maryland is top in terms of funding.

Also, I'm from the Baltimore area, and I choose to came back after studying out of state for Undergrad. So I think it is a great area.

Just my opinion, but make a good decision for yourself.

Thanks for the feedback. Like you said I love the atmosphere of a smaller lab where face time with the PI is easy to come by. It would make sense though that there would be smaller labs at Maryland too, since despite being a larger school, there are way more labs to choose from. Also if I'm not mistaken, we can choose labs from other programs as well, correct? So I think in total there is something along the lines of 150 mentors that you can choose from which is pretty amazing.

[Maryland Molecular Medicine]

So I've been accepted to U of Maryland School of Medicine Moleuclar Medicine program. However I'm having a tough time deciding between there and Drexel Medical College Pharmacology & Physiology PhD program. I was wondering if anyone here was in the program at Maryland and could give me their opinion. My main concern with Maryland is that since it's such a large program it might be easy to get "lost". If you're doing research in a lab with 20 other grad students, post docs etc it might be difficult to get some face time with the PI if you're having trouble with your project. Also, how do you pick your thesis committee at such a large school? I'd imagine you might be picking people you've never met, or people that don't really know who you are? Is it hard to get face time at such a big uni?

I'm coming from a small undergrad uni so Drexel appealed to me since it had a similar feel. All the professors there seemed genuinely interested in me, and really seemed like they would advocate for their students after graduation. All the students seemed to know all the professors to some extent, and it seemed like they had pretty close relationships. Can this be said about larger programs as well, or are you more likely to be someone to pump out data for them and then be done with you?

I guess when I really break everything down, I like Maryland more in just about every category (location, electives, choice of labs) except for the fact that I feel like I might just be "another student". I have this image of Ivan Drago from the rockie movie standing there and instead of saying "If he dies, he dies" saying "If he fails, he fails" and worrying that might be what it's like at maryland, but at Drexel the emphasize that they do everything to make sure their students are successfull since it's such a small program (they're only taking 2 students into the program this year)

[Rutgers or Drexel for neuroscience?]

Im in a similar situation, deciding between drexel for pharmacology & physiology, or Maryland for molecular medicine. Maryland is the higher ranking school and has way more options for research and electives. However Drexel really had a small school, personal touch to it that I liked. All the professors really seemed interested in me, and talked about potential projects for me. I also had a very lengthy phone conversation with one of the professors there after my interview. I had emailed her asking if she could talk about her experience working in industry, and rather than just send me a quick blurb in an email, she suggest we talk about it over the phone, and talked to me for about an hour. They all seem very dedicated to their students at Drexel. So it really is a matter of big reputation vs high priority on you as a student

[interview schedule]

So the day ended up flying by much more quickly than I would have thought. The first professor I met with was the program coordinator and really just gave me an overview of the whole program. I asked her the more technical question I had on the program itself such as class size, teaching requirements, target entering class etc. The only question she asked me was why I had picked that program. The rest of the professors I met with the only questions I was asked were to explain my research and again why I wanted to go to that particular program. It definitely helped to know their research because I had a few fairly technical questions thought out for some of them and it seemed like they were pretty impressed that I not only knew about their research but took some time to think up a decent question on their topics. The only curveball I got was the last professor of the day asked me what I would do if i was working on a project and had a solid question i was trying to answer, developed an assay, yet still wasn't getting results. And what he was really looking for was communication. He wanted to know that I wouldn't just be the lonely scientist pouding away in the lab, and that I would be communicating with other people in the field and the other professors in the department to try and troubleshoot.

Over all I think everything went real well except for the fact that I mentioned wanting to work in industry as opposed to academia after my phd. Apparently they don't like that. Oh well, now I know for the next one. The program is only taking 2 students this year so I think that screw up could cost me, but they told me they would let me know in a couple of weeks, so we'll see.

[Biological Sciences interview questions thread 2012]

Was anyone asked to discuss ideas for a possible future thesis project?

[2012 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results]

Hey guys,

I have been interviewed by UTHSCSA ( IMGP program) and Rutgers UMDNJ for Pharmacology. Has anyone applied here and can help with the current status... also I have been waitlisted for baylor- Pharmacology and delaware biological PhD...pls let me know if any one has updates with respect to this univs

Thanks

Which UMDNJ campus? I was accepted to UMDNJ-Stratford for biomedical science

[Questions I was asked]

Hey everyone-- I just returned from my first interview day, and I wanted to share some of the questions I was asked in my individual meetings. I know it differs by program, but it can't hurt to be prepared, right? This was for an experimental psychology Ph.D. program.

1. What are your research interests and ideas?

2. Tell me more about [anything on my CV].

3. Based on your interests and mine, what kinds of projects do you see us working on together?

4. What kind of career do you want in the future?*

*This topic came up more often than I thought it would. Make sure you have an answer prepared for whether you see yourself in industry or academia, and if academia, whether you want to focus more on research, teaching, or a mix of both. Know what size and type of university would be ideal for you.

And the number one question: "Do you have any questions?". Everyone will offer to answer your questions all day. Have some prepared, and pace yourself! If you forget to ask something, don't worry, they'll ask again later if you have any questions.

In regards to question 3, were they asking you to identify a possible future research thesis topic?

[interview schedule]

I have an interview this week and I figured I would post what the school sent me for the schedule, and update how it went/what they asked etc after. Its a pharm/phys phd program.

10-1040 (meet with professor 1)

1045-1125 (meet with professor 2)

1130-1210 (meet with professor 3)

1230-130 (lunch with current students)

145-225 (meet with professor 4)

230-310 (meet with professor 5)

315-355 (meet with professor 6)

depart.

Hopefully I'll be able to talk about my reserach enough to fill out a good amount of time, and have enough questions for them about their research.

[2012 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results]

Somewhat of a misnomer, schools have the right to rescind an offer at any point and time. Its pretty much in the fine print of any school's application form and the CGS is a voluntary organization, not some suicide pact. A reason why you may wish to accept early is that folks that sign on early lock up institutional funding (TAships, RAships, other institutional funds) and if you wait around you may undercut your chances of getting those monies. This isn't a huge problem but some PI's may not wish to take you if they have to foot the bill for you because you strung out the decision process or they needed you to secure those funding mechanisms in order to join their labs.

That being said, I've seen offers with a two week window and that is indeed a dick move. In my experience I have found that communicating with schools that have offers on the tables with you that you are waiting for others and found them quite receptive to waiting.

In the first (and only, so far) acceptance letter I received, it stated I had until Feb 3 to inform them of my decision otherwise my application would be "inactivated" . I accepted even though it is not my top choice, just to ensure that I have somewhere to go in the fall. Was this the right move?

[2012 Interview Dates]

Albert Einstein: Jan 12-13, Jan 26-2

Baylor COM (MCB): Mar 1-4

Brandeis University (Neuro): Feb 3, Feb 17, Mar 3

Boston University (GPN): Mar 4-6

Case Western Reserve University (BSTP): Feb 3-4, Mar 2-3

Columbia (Biological Science) March 1-3

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

Cornell Tri-Institutional (Weill/Cornell/Memorial Sloan Kettering) Computational Biology and Medicine: March 4-6

Dartmouth (PEMM) March 2-3

Drexel (Pharmacology and physiology) February 13-17 and 20-24

Duke (Toxicology and Environmental Health) February 2-4 February 16-18

Emory (PBEE): February 2-4

Emory (IMP): Feb 2-4, March 1-3

Emory University (neuro): Feb 9-11 or Feb 23-25

FSU (Molec. Biophysics): Feb 16-18

Georgetown (Biochem): Feb 27

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

Marquette University (Biological Sciences): Feb 1

MIT (Biology): Feb 11-14, Feb. 25-28, Mar 10-13

MIT (CSBi): Feb 9-11, Feb 16-19

Mount Sinai (Biomedical Sciences PhD): Jan 9-10, Jan 17-18, Jan 24-25 or Feb 13-14

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: Feb 1-4

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

USUHS: Feb 27

UAB (BMS): Jan 19-21

University of Arizona (Medical Pharmacology): Feb 9-12

University of Arizona (Physiological Sciences) Feb 16-17

University of Cambridge (UK): Jan 18th-20th

University of Chicago (BSG): Feb 23-25

University of Chicago (Molecular Biosciences): Feb 16-18

University of Chicago (CEB): Feb 15-19

UC Berkeley (Biophysics): Feb 14-16

UC Berkeley (MCB): Feb 5-7, Feb 26-28

UC Berkeley (MBN): Jan 26-27

UC Davis (BMCDB): Mar 1-2, Mar 5

UC Davis (GGG): Feb 16-17

UC Davis (neuro): Feb 9-10

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 Riverside: Feb 24

UC San Diego (Biomedical Sciences): Feb 9-12

UCSD Biological Sciences: Feb 1-2, Feb 22-23

UCSD (Bioinformatics and Systems Biology): March 1-3

UCSF BMS: Jan 26-28 OR February 9-11

UCSF iPQB: Feb 9-11

UCSF iPQB (Bioinformatics): Feb 16-18

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

U Kentucky (IBS)- Jan 12-13, Jan 26-27

UMASS Worcester: Feb 2-4 and Feb 16-18

U Maryland - Baltimore - Feb 3

U Miami (RSMAS): Feb 3-4

U Mich (PIBS): Jan 27-28 (Cancer Bio), Feb 3-4 (general)

U Mich (EEB): Feb 16-18

U Minnesota (MICaB): Feb 9-12 or 16-19

U Minnesota (neuro): Feb 23-26

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(environmental medecine) Feb 2-4

University of South Carolina (Biomedical Sciences) Feb 6-7

USC/Univ of Southern California (MEB) Feb 26-28

UT Austin (CMB): Jan 26-28, Feb 16-18

UT Austin (MSI): Feb 10-11

UVa (BIMS): Jan 12-14 or Feb 2-4

UVA (Biology): Feb 23-25

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, many others (just got back from the 1st weekend, they said there would be 8-9 other weekends)

Virginia Commonwealth University (Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Portal): Feb 3rd or Feb 17th, Feb 24 or Mar 2

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

[Biological Sciences interview questions thread 2012]

What level of detail were you asked to go into when discussing your research? I'm sure this will vary with each interviewer, but were you typically asked to go into a fairly detailed account of the project, or more of just an overview of the objectives of the project and what role you played in it?

[2012 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results]

Got an email from Drexel about financing a phd there. I have a feeling it is a generic email sent to anyone who applied there but it felt nice to get an email from SOMEWHERE.

Anyone apply to/hear back from Thomas Jefferson?

What program did you apply to? I got an email from them on Friday for an interview for the pharmacology and physiology PhD program. I haven't gotten one like what you mentioned though

[Feeling clueless]

Awesome, thanks a lot. Initially I thought it would be a one day deal where I would just go in for an interview, meet a few professors then leave but after reading some info on this site I realized I was most likely way off. That was great summary of what to expect. (It is a PhD program by the way)

[Feeling clueless]

First some background info about me...

I was an undergrad bio major who was planning on going to grad school for education to become a bio teacher. The fall semester my senior year however I took a pharmacology course and loved it. After talking to the professor I decided to pursue pharmacology at the graduate level. I got an internship at a pharma company over winter break, did research the following semester and then took the gre during the summer.

I recently applied for fall 2012 admissions and have my first interview at Drexel Medical College for their pharm/phys program in February. My main problem is that I don't have the slightest clue as to what to expect. I feel like I have been so busy trying to improve my CV for grad school that I never really took the time to learn about the whole process. In the email Drexel sent me requesting an interview, they gave me 2 weeks to choose from. Does this mean that I will be down their for a week meeting with various professors, or will they pick one day during that week that works best for them? Is there any beginner article I can read on here to get the basics of this stuff? I've been browsing the forums all day to try and gather bits of info to paint a better picture of what it will be like.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.