Spore

Not all PhDs just want to be professors. A decent number in engineering and science want to go off and work at national or industry research labs, where they often require graduate degrees. There's always a need for them. While, this is in theory true, in reality it is not so easy to get a professor job OR an industry job following PhD graduation. When I finished my PhD in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology in 2008, I was told by professors and people in industry (pharma) that I MUST complete a multiyear postdoc in industry or the university in order to be competitive for many positions such as Research Scientist at big pharma company Z. It used to be you were considered a "sell-out" if you did not remain in academia and instead opted for a more cushier existence in industry. I found it was impossible for me to get hired into industry and instead submitted to becoming a postdoctoral fellow. Very rarely did I ever discuss with my PhD cohort what was to become of us once we graduated. Only 3 are left in postdoc land and 2 of those want out. Many are teaching at the community college level. Our PIs could only advise us on how to become a PI and even that information and advice was dated. There is limited career services available for PhDs. For those that are humanities based, the options out of the academy are slimmer. In general, you are being trained to be an academic. A teacher of some sort. Making light of the situation does not make the truth go away. It is difficult to find a hot shiny job post PhD. I went to a fine program, had an excellent PI, had great recommendations and papers. I left science and am currently being retrained in a different field.

Indeed, the lack of jobs for bachelors degrees is upsetting. Honestly, I don't believe a graduate degree is necessarily going to hand a job to people. Evidence: out of work lawyers, people with degrees in education who cannot work as teachers, people with PhDs who would like to be professors but there are 400 people competing for one slot.... What graduate school is guarenteed to do for most folks is put them more in debt. Consider: Spending 6 years getting a PhD while fully funded. This is followed by years of postdoctoral work. And then not being able to find a professorship. Sure, you have not spent money on the degree....but you could have been establishing yourself in a different field and rising through the ranks (and an increased salary). When I graduated from college in 1998, the world was wide-open. Everything was grand. I could do anything! I could be anything! Somehow, it just does not seem to be the case anymore.

Ah, undergrad GPA (worse than a tattoo...it just cannot be removed). I graduated from a selective liberal arts college with a whopping 2.81 and double majors in Neuroscience and Religion. Yuck. I wanted to go to graduate school. After college, I was a research technician at Columbia University in a great lab with a great PI who hired me based on recommendations, my CV and an impromptu IQ test during my interview. During my time as a tech, I was an author on two papers and earned two great letters of recommendation. My GREs were within normal limits for the most competitive schools. I was rejected at many large state schools (Madison, Michigan, Washington). I was accepted at Columbia and U of Chicago. I ultimately graduated with a PhD in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology from Stony Brook University (GPA 3.81). Currently, I am in the midst of a career change and as such, am applying to graduate school again. This cycle I applied to two masters programs: MPH and MS in Health Care Policy. I was required to submit all my transcripts. But what is done last matters most and undergrad is quite some time ago for me. I was accepted to both programs. For applicants with sub threshhold 3.0 GPAs, you need to construct a stellar application to soften the undergrad GPA. If you have just graduated undergrad, this is a tough feat to follow. Some time placed between graduation day and application submission may be needed to focus the admissions committee's eyes elesewhere. For example, being a research technician in a PI's lab who was absolutely influential and powerful and well known in the science community helped me score acceptances. What would I have changed if I could do it again? Studied harder in undergrad! Spore, PhD

Given that the application process is naturally anxiety-provoking and expensive, I recommend doing everything in my control to make an acceptance more likely. No one wants an otherwise strong application to be bounced because of low GRE scores. I would retake the GRE.Perhaps if you feel very prepared, your anxiety level with dampen down. FWIW, I did poorly (what I thought was poorly) on my math SAT and retook the exam. I knew in my gut the score was wrong. Indeed it was because I improved 130 points the next time I took the exam.

How do you know if you should retake the exam if you don't know what your scores are? And even if you would do better on sleep, if you did fine, there would be no need to suffer the same event twice! My adivce: look at your scores and determine if they are in a competitive range for your programs.

ring ding

That makes sense regarding the housing situation. You will "save" a chunck of change. You should be fine getting to your appointments/classes. Just leave enough time for your commute each morning. Obviously, you can always read or listen to music or do whatever while you wait. I live in Shadyside and walking takes me about 35 minutes-fine in pleasant weather-and there is the CMU shuttle as well as public transit.

So...I will be attending the Heniz College for an MS in Health Care Policy and Management. I start in August 2012. I have already done the full-blown graduate school experience and earned a PhD in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. So I know a bit about grad school life: the good, the bad and the ugly. Happily, your CMU ID card will get you free rides on all PGH transit. There have been some grumblings about the transit system in PGH concerning cut backs on service. If you find a place close to school on the bus lines this won't be a problem because those lines' services will not be disrupted. Additionally, CMU runs a series of shuttle buses throughout Squirrel Hill and Shadyside so that is another good option to have if you live in those areas. Leases tend to start on 8.1 and follow the academic year. I see many advertisements for rent, both in print and on foot, currently. I think it is fantastic you have a support network in PGH. Are you planning on living close to campus?

I think the posters gave presented you with very sound advice concerning a GRE test re-take. I sincerely agree with them. I am absolutely convinced higher GRE scores will make you a more competitive applicant. And that is one of the easiest building blocks of your application to improve. After all, you cannot change you undergraduate institution nor your GPA. When I applied, I was told an applicant really needed to be 80 percentile or higher on all sections, but definitely the quantitative, to be competitive. Another way you can improve your application is by getting your name on an original research paper. Good luck

I will also be at CMU in Fall 2012 (I already live in PGH so relocation is finished). Did you have an admitted student day? Did the department provide you with some student contact names? If not, it would not hurt to ask? Do you know how much wiggle room your program has? For example, I don't get to pick any of my first semester courses as they are dictated to me by my program. If you have any general PGH questions, or very general CMU questions, I'd be glad to help you. PGH is a great city and CMU is a fantastic school.

water drain

Make sure to time yourself when you are taking practice exams! That was something I did not do that I regretted when I blew through the final five questions on the math side. I also suggest making a rigid study schedule and sticking to it since you are dealing with a very limited amount of time: 1 month. Every day put in 2 hours on one of the sections. I know this seems daunting, but your scores were almost there for goodness sakes! The task at hand is not unreasonable to accomplish. Good luck

I have heard this happening before to a student. Did he tell you what minimum scores are necessary for matriculation? Maybe you are not off by that much. Good luck

Did you ever get off the waitlist?

strike out

Ktel, Goodluck with your new family member!

Bat_mipt, I see you are writing from Moscow! This situation is a common one no matter where you choose to go to school. Often, students will buy second-hand furniture (look at Craig's List). Other students purchase furniture (Target, Ikea or other pricier stores). Once you are ready to graduate you can resell your furniture to someone new who is starting school (a conveyor belt of furniture). There may be furnished apartments in the area which would obviously solve your problem.

I am pretty sure if you enroll into a group plan as a graduate student your preexisting condition will be covered. It is very wise to call and ask prior to accepting an offer. I am sorry that health insurance has become a big factor in your decision of where to attend graduate school.

I don't think your concern about adding a year to your graduate studies should matter. An extra (paid) year of study is a blink of the eye in your life. I know because I started a graduate program in one school for one year and then transferred to a different program. As for your advisor being annoyed, it may or may not happen. I do not think it should influence your decision to apply. This is your academic future you are setting up. Still, his LOR will carry the most weight in your applications to PhD programs. Also, no matter how well qualified you are, there is no guarentee you will be accepted to MIT etc. I recommend having an open and honest conversation with your mentor.

Having completed a PhD program... All of what you write makes a lot of sense except for: Also I heard that there are too much international students and it is not hard to get admitted. That statement, and I have no idea whether it is correct or not, has no bearing on CMU's job placement in CS. That being said, all else being equal between programs, I would follow the money and not mortgage your future (CMU is very very expensive unless you were given a financial award). I would call UIUC career services office and ask your questions directly. I do know CMU has an incredible career services, at least for my intended program. I just went to admitted students day and every student graduating in May 2012 already has accepted a job offer (all but one who is currently interviewing).

mfapittsburgh, My husband and I are disussing your question. A 2 bedroom in Squirrel Hill should run about 900-1200 Food will probably be what it is for you right now. Utilities will be about 75 at the highest (summer with a/c). Some rents include utilities. Your CMU ID card gets you free transport on PGH's buses. BTW, I live in Shadyside (since November 2011), another popular location for CMU students. I will be attending CMU in Fall 2012

Which program at Pitt? Pitt Public Health had an accepted students day last Friday. I found out about my acceptance at the end of February.

I graduated from SBU in Dec 2008 with a PhD in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. I lived in an apartment complex in Saint James my entire graduate career (was approx 1000 for a large studio, separate kitchen; 1600 for a 2 bedroom). My "commute" was about 10 minutes. Grad students can get parking tags to park in student lots. It was about a 10 minute walk to lab. Most of my classmates shared houses with other students. Everyone was able to make it on the stipend supplied to us. I lived a bit cushier because of my parents' help and then my boyfriend/husband. Even though I hate suburbia, and SBU certainly has a less-than-regal campus, I thoroughly enjoyed my graduate career years.

I would try to get a job in a university as a research assistant. My field is Biology and I chose not to apply to PhD programs straight out of undergrad. Instead, I was a research technician at a prestigious university under a well known and respected investigator. I worked very diligently. In return, I got my name on two publications and a very influential LOR. I also was admitted to the University at which I was a research technician. Anyway, I think remaining in an academic environment is extremely benficial.

All of the above advice is quite sound. Your GREs need to be picked up a bit. After college, I knew I wanted to go to grad school. But I had a GPA that was in the toilet (2.8). I determined a good way to figure out if grad school was really for me was to work in lab. I was a research technician at Columbia for three years and got awesome experience, publications and recommendations. I applied to several NY area schools: Einstein, Columbia, Rutgers and Stony Brook. I was accepted at all...and graduated with a PhD from Stony Brook in 2008. For what it is worth, my PI at Columbia told me that for GREs, the committee is looking for above the 80th percentile. I would try to find a good lab to be a technician in...it worked for me. Good luck