Spore

In my program, a B- is considered failing and requires a re-do. I received a B- in Immunology but was released because I was studying yeast genetics and yeast do not have immune systems (and I passed the qualifying examination). Boy, did I HATE that class. Every year, there was always some poor student begging the biochem or mol gen profs for mercy.

Call your department coordinator and she/he may be able to put you in touch with current students. I lived in an apartment complex in Saint James that allowed cats but not dogs. Dogs are always harder to find homes.

It is a fact that Oberlin College graduates the most graduates who obtain PhDs than any other school of its size. Oberlin Alum, 1998. PhD 2008 Molecular Genetics and Microbiology.

For my thesis committee, I had: 1. My mentor 2. Thesis Chair 3. Member in department 4. Member outside of department 5. Member outside of department I asked all members in person or over email. A couple of profs agreed to be members just as long as they were not chair. Honestly, the member of my committee who was the most helpful was just a "member." Of course, my mentor was super helpful as well. Just ask. Profs get asked these sort of requests all of the time. Be your own advocate. No one will do it for you.

green room

This will be a tough transition to finesse but not impossible. Why are you interested in marine biology? I think if you get a research job in a lab that studies marine biology that is affiliated with a university you will accomplish many things: 1. dedication towards your future field of study 2. letter of recommendation 3. research experience 4. ability to take coursework (for free) 5. networking contacts at prospective universities that you would meet through conferences, talks and collaborations in the research group you join. All of this will not happen overnight.

trap door

Try to get in state residency in PA. You can do this in several different ways:1. get married in PA; 2. Have a domestic partner that has a job in PA; 3. Defer for a year and move to PA in the meantime... Or defer and get a job at Pitt and go for the degree part time. I also was accepted to Pitt Public Health and though I am living in Pittsburgh now, I am considered out-of-state. I chose not to attend Pitt. 90K is a heck of a lot of money.

Umm....is this a joke? That is not a low GPA.

sky high

I think most ethical PIs will unerstand that a rotation student has only a limited number of labs to rotate through to ultimately decide on a thesis lab. It is not fair to the student to do a rotation in a lab that is simply not available. I always asked, "will you be accepting grad students into your lab in the Fall?" And I always got a straightforward answer. No one wants to be the student that after 4 rotations still cannot find a lab...that spells doom and a usual kick-out from the program.

This thread makes me sad. Only in a world of annonymity is this possible. Grapefruits, when I started PhD school I thought I was the bomb. I was super smart and science, beware! I quickly learned, yeah, I AM smart, but so are a whole bunch of other students and faculty. And there was tremendous amount I could learn from them...every single day. Thinking and acting that way only made SMARTER. Spore, PhD (2008, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology)

emergency room

@child of 2 I don't consider switching from Neuroscience to Molecular Genetics and Microbiology to be a field switch. One can study molecular genetics in a neurosciency way, though I did not. The basic science is the same. The reason I did poorly in undergrad was not due to my major....I did very poorly my first two years before I chose my major and could not salvage the GPA. After college graduation, I wanted to apply to graduate programs but knew I was not a competitive candidate. I became a research technician in a very strong lab, got my name on two publications and a very influential letter of recommendation.

Consider how much it cost to ship things versus how much it cost to buy things in the new location. When I moved from NYC to Chicago, I chose to buy most of my items in Chicago rather than have them shipped. This is tougher the more years you are out of undergrad and the more junk you acculmulate. Nevertheless, a mattress is a mattress is a mattress and takes up a great deal of space.

For Fall 2012, I applied to two masters programs and was accepted to both. For Fall 2001, I applied to 12 PhD programs. I withdrew my application from one school, was accepted by 5 schools and rejected by 6 others. So I guess that is an approximate 50% acceptance rate. Mind you, I was a very different applicant 11 years ago than I am today. I applied this cycle as Spore, PhD.

stay fit

minnie skirt

I started a PhD program in the biomedical sciences at the University of Chicago a decade back. I was enthralled with science and everything about it. Only I did not get along with the program director and could not find a suitable lab to join, I was also depressed. I took a leave of absence, an incredibly easy process to initiate. I transfered to a different PhD program that had accepted me during the first round of applications. This program was nowhere near as prestigious. This is the program I graduated from. Honestly, and I truly do believe this, I was accepted into a fantastic postdoc lab that attracts people from the best universities in the world. Meaning, FOR ME, it did not matter whether I went to the best grad program or a great program. And my second graduate program was much more user friendly. For you, I think your mental well-being is critical. I think your confidence is eroding...confidence of whether PhD is the best road for you. Only you can decide that. You need to think about what you would like to do in the long run, and consider if a PhD is necessary. Maybe stick it out in order to get a MA? You are likely only a year away from that and then you will have something to show for your efforts. Or, once again, take a LOA, return and try again. You can even apply to other programs in the meantime or consider other occupational opportunities.

I graduated from college in 1998 with a BA in Neuroscience and Religion and a whopping 2.8 GPA. I graduated with a PhD in 2008 in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology with a 3.8 GPA. I applied this cycle to two masters programs, both nationally ranked (top ten), and was accepted into both programs. I was even awarded a merit tuition scholarship. I had to retake the GRE since my scores from 2000 "expired." I got pretty much the same scores this time around though my percentiles shifted and the analytical section was replaced by a writing section.

I met my husband while I was still a student in my PhD graduate program. We dated for two years across I-95 from LI, NY to Boston MA. When it was time for him to look for a new job, he moved to LI to be with me. We married, I graduated and began postdoctoral work and, again, we moved. I am switching careers and will be returning to school once again. My husband has been nothing but supportive: both emotionally and financially. I love him dearly.

I would take the exam over the summer. This way, if your scores are less than what you deem to be desirable, there is plenty of time to take the exam again. Another way to think about it is to just get it over with. You will have to take the exam no matter what and it is a stinky exam and the sooner it is out of your hair the better.

All cool foglemgs. I have to say the Heinz folks at CMU have made the process of enrolling very transparent. I already have my AndrewID (and my Heinz ID) so I can access the system A.O.K. To get the card, I need to upload a picture of myself that the school uses to make my card...the first time EVER I supply the picture. Now, imagine what I would do with my newly minted PA Drivers License? It is an awful picture.

I am in a different Masters program at CMU. I was told I could pick up my AndrewID card after August 1.

Formal Attire