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VBD

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  1. Upvote
    VBD got a reaction from TwirlingBlades in Have any of you received a negative recommendation?   
    Well it will probably never happen to the OP or probably anyone else since this particular student was really really stupid. 
     
    (Story time! You should probably ignore it - TL;DR - Don't hook up  in your lab behind your prof's back especially if you plan to ask for a letter in the future.)
     
    So Boy A started a summer lab "practicum" with the Professor. In general, Boy A was a hard worker and did whatever needed to be told. He told the Professor that he was interested in either research or going to med school. In reality, his focus was pretty much on med school and he just wanted to pad his resume. The Professor sort of figured this out part-way through the summer so he was wary of the student. Boy A had a girlfriend who thought that doing science was "sooo cool" and for some reason kept insisting on trying to sneak in the lab. For some reason, Boy A and his girlfriend decide to go into the lab at night, when no one's there. For some reason, the girlfriend finds the whole thing "sexy" and they start making out in the lab. Boy A then convinces the girlfriend to engage in intercourse on one of the lab bays for the lolz and to take pictures and show it off to their friends (WHY?!). Meanwhile, the Professor was working late in his office for a grant application. He heard a commotion from the lab and ran to see what was up. Through the door, he saw Boy A and his girlfriend doing their thing. Boy A thought he got away with it. A few months later, Boy A was applying for med school, and asked the Professor for a letter. The Professor said sure and proceeded to write a scathing letter about Boy A's unprofessionalism and sexcapades. Boy A did not get into any of his 15 med schools. 

    The Professor later that year became the advisor for a master's student, Boy B, who told me this story. The Professor told this story as a warning to all new members of the lab. Interestingly enough Boy B knows Boy A and had seen/heard of the pictures taken that night so he can verify it and knows Boy A's version along with the Professor's story. So yeah, don't do this.
  2. Upvote
    VBD got a reaction from crazycheese8 in Waitlisted - waiting for your school AND everyone else's   
    I respectfully disagree. 
     
    I was waitlisted last year, and it almost physically HURT. I got on the waitlist of my (at the time, #1 program) on April 4th. Yes. I remember the day, and the sour weekend following that. I was happy thinking "Hey, they kind of liked me. Almost there!" Then by that Saturday, April 7th, my thought turned dark "Why?" "How long will I have to wait?" etc. I finally decided to email them on Monday April 9th. They (secretary/coordinator) CALLED me back saying that they definitely wanted me -- funding issues -- my POI was running a crowded lab but may try to take me on etc. Now starts the most painful rollercoaster ride of my life. April 10th, this time the department chair emails me a super sympathetic email. "I know how hard it it to wait, but good news is there is a high possibility that someone will come off the waitlist, and it has happened in recent years.." and a similar vein. It was also obviously not a form email (in different font/style from previous form emails he had sent before). April 11th. The secretary confirms with me that I am on the waitlist through email. I shoot back an email replying Yes, and asking "why" she lets slip that one/two of their accepted students show hesitancy, and that again this is a good sign for me. April 12th. Radio silence. I'm letting myself feel happy around this point. "Maybe.. there's a chance!" April 13th. The Department chair and secretary sent me emails saying that one spot was vacated and the waiting list's first person got accepted. At this point they inferred that I was the second position on the list -- well now the first. Then April 14th. Keep in mind, this was a SATURDAY. I received a call saying that "I regret to inform you.." My heart dropped, and I really couldn't hear what he had said and had to ask for him to repeat. He said that "We will be unable to offer you admission to our PhD program this year. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this year had an extremely competitive applicant pool." I thanked him and sort of phoned it in that day. I was planning to set up lesson plans for my TAing gig, and run some analyses for my thesis project. I did not have the functioning capabilities to do that. Instead, I indulged in comfort foods. I recall calling my mother and sister crying, but I can't remember what I said. I was devastated. I had been rejected everywhere else, except for one school that was way down the list, and I was considering saying No to regardless of the results. 
     
    This school had raised my hopes and then brought it crashing back down on reality. I would have been happier not being in almost daily communication with them (though granted, they initiated it on some days. But I got the ball rolling). I really am not the sort of person to just fall apart like that, but the emotional rollercoaster just made it happen. I really think now I would have been happier if I had been flat-out rejected. I WISH I had been rejected. 
     
    Sorry for the long story. Just ignore it. This was a bit cathartic for me (it still kind of hurts). I just wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy, let alone you congenial people of TGC. Good luck to anyone waitlisted out there, and I hope you don't go through the mental hell I went through in just a little over a week's time last year.
  3. Like
    VBD got a reaction from FlyingSun in If I knew then what I know now...   
    LORs play a pretty big impact, at least in my field. To avoid LOR-related stress during this time:

    A. Organize Organize Organize! I had a google spreadsheet to share with my LORs with the school, program name, POI, website links (or whether the applyweb, or whatever site sends an email) and the deadline date. If you update your short list, email the LORs of the update. Some LORs were even able to point out that they've met x POI and y POI at q conference, etc. which can be helpful. 
     
    B. Echoing that post graduation, keep in contact with the LORs you plan to ask. I felt so dirty for asking one LOR that I didn't really keep in contact. It felt like I was using him, and he noted that he had forgottten some of what I did, so I engaged in a quick phone chat refresher. 

    C. When you ask you LOR about their willingness to write a postive letter ask if they want to set up a reminder system. One of my LOR was absent-minded and self-aware of that, and was happy I asked him about that. The system we set up was I would email him a reminder every Monday night until he did it. And you know what? He was the first LOR to turn one in for me. Yay. 

    Echoing another section: POI:

    A. Contact more than one POI at the program of interest prior to applying. It may be the case that the POI would LOVE to have you, but cannot due to funding. The second POI would save you. I had made sure that for each of my programs, I had at least 2, sometimes 3 POI's I could see myself working with in the future. And I contacted each of them. Is it a lot of work? Yes. Am I sure of my fit at each of the 8 programs I applied to? A loud and resounding YES. 

    B. Don't be dismayed if a POI ignores you, perhaps you contacted them when they were at a conference. Find out if your program has a grad student coordinator or some intermediary position (someone who works with the professor) I was able to do this and the coordinator reminded the busy POI about my email, and I got an extremely positive response this time!

    C. Read the POI's publications. It's a bit of a warning sign if there is a huge space between publications than usually warranted for your studies. A friend (who's already in grad school, the lucky duck!) got a POI in the biomedical sciences who has not published since 2007 but was really personable. Had she asked around she would have found that this POI had a personality problem that drove away most of his lab, including the lab tech. 

    As a UG - take advantage of summer opportunities. Yes, it could be fun to vacay with your friends at W place, but that can wait, at least get some experience for one summer. 

    Also take time to research what kind of job you would like, and the degree needed to get that job. I've had peers who applied to PhD programs but found out that all they needed was an MS to do her dream job. It would save you time, money, and peace of mind. 

    Cheers.
  4. Like
    VBD got a reaction from horseshoesandhandgrenades in Waitlisted - waiting for your school AND everyone else's   
    I respectfully disagree. 
     
    I was waitlisted last year, and it almost physically HURT. I got on the waitlist of my (at the time, #1 program) on April 4th. Yes. I remember the day, and the sour weekend following that. I was happy thinking "Hey, they kind of liked me. Almost there!" Then by that Saturday, April 7th, my thought turned dark "Why?" "How long will I have to wait?" etc. I finally decided to email them on Monday April 9th. They (secretary/coordinator) CALLED me back saying that they definitely wanted me -- funding issues -- my POI was running a crowded lab but may try to take me on etc. Now starts the most painful rollercoaster ride of my life. April 10th, this time the department chair emails me a super sympathetic email. "I know how hard it it to wait, but good news is there is a high possibility that someone will come off the waitlist, and it has happened in recent years.." and a similar vein. It was also obviously not a form email (in different font/style from previous form emails he had sent before). April 11th. The secretary confirms with me that I am on the waitlist through email. I shoot back an email replying Yes, and asking "why" she lets slip that one/two of their accepted students show hesitancy, and that again this is a good sign for me. April 12th. Radio silence. I'm letting myself feel happy around this point. "Maybe.. there's a chance!" April 13th. The Department chair and secretary sent me emails saying that one spot was vacated and the waiting list's first person got accepted. At this point they inferred that I was the second position on the list -- well now the first. Then April 14th. Keep in mind, this was a SATURDAY. I received a call saying that "I regret to inform you.." My heart dropped, and I really couldn't hear what he had said and had to ask for him to repeat. He said that "We will be unable to offer you admission to our PhD program this year. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this year had an extremely competitive applicant pool." I thanked him and sort of phoned it in that day. I was planning to set up lesson plans for my TAing gig, and run some analyses for my thesis project. I did not have the functioning capabilities to do that. Instead, I indulged in comfort foods. I recall calling my mother and sister crying, but I can't remember what I said. I was devastated. I had been rejected everywhere else, except for one school that was way down the list, and I was considering saying No to regardless of the results. 
     
    This school had raised my hopes and then brought it crashing back down on reality. I would have been happier not being in almost daily communication with them (though granted, they initiated it on some days. But I got the ball rolling). I really am not the sort of person to just fall apart like that, but the emotional rollercoaster just made it happen. I really think now I would have been happier if I had been flat-out rejected. I WISH I had been rejected. 
     
    Sorry for the long story. Just ignore it. This was a bit cathartic for me (it still kind of hurts). I just wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy, let alone you congenial people of TGC. Good luck to anyone waitlisted out there, and I hope you don't go through the mental hell I went through in just a little over a week's time last year.
  5. Upvote
    VBD got a reaction from Bayesian1701 in Waitlisted - waiting for your school AND everyone else's   
    I respectfully disagree. 
     
    I was waitlisted last year, and it almost physically HURT. I got on the waitlist of my (at the time, #1 program) on April 4th. Yes. I remember the day, and the sour weekend following that. I was happy thinking "Hey, they kind of liked me. Almost there!" Then by that Saturday, April 7th, my thought turned dark "Why?" "How long will I have to wait?" etc. I finally decided to email them on Monday April 9th. They (secretary/coordinator) CALLED me back saying that they definitely wanted me -- funding issues -- my POI was running a crowded lab but may try to take me on etc. Now starts the most painful rollercoaster ride of my life. April 10th, this time the department chair emails me a super sympathetic email. "I know how hard it it to wait, but good news is there is a high possibility that someone will come off the waitlist, and it has happened in recent years.." and a similar vein. It was also obviously not a form email (in different font/style from previous form emails he had sent before). April 11th. The secretary confirms with me that I am on the waitlist through email. I shoot back an email replying Yes, and asking "why" she lets slip that one/two of their accepted students show hesitancy, and that again this is a good sign for me. April 12th. Radio silence. I'm letting myself feel happy around this point. "Maybe.. there's a chance!" April 13th. The Department chair and secretary sent me emails saying that one spot was vacated and the waiting list's first person got accepted. At this point they inferred that I was the second position on the list -- well now the first. Then April 14th. Keep in mind, this was a SATURDAY. I received a call saying that "I regret to inform you.." My heart dropped, and I really couldn't hear what he had said and had to ask for him to repeat. He said that "We will be unable to offer you admission to our PhD program this year. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this year had an extremely competitive applicant pool." I thanked him and sort of phoned it in that day. I was planning to set up lesson plans for my TAing gig, and run some analyses for my thesis project. I did not have the functioning capabilities to do that. Instead, I indulged in comfort foods. I recall calling my mother and sister crying, but I can't remember what I said. I was devastated. I had been rejected everywhere else, except for one school that was way down the list, and I was considering saying No to regardless of the results. 
     
    This school had raised my hopes and then brought it crashing back down on reality. I would have been happier not being in almost daily communication with them (though granted, they initiated it on some days. But I got the ball rolling). I really am not the sort of person to just fall apart like that, but the emotional rollercoaster just made it happen. I really think now I would have been happier if I had been flat-out rejected. I WISH I had been rejected. 
     
    Sorry for the long story. Just ignore it. This was a bit cathartic for me (it still kind of hurts). I just wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy, let alone you congenial people of TGC. Good luck to anyone waitlisted out there, and I hope you don't go through the mental hell I went through in just a little over a week's time last year.
  6. Upvote
    VBD got a reaction from LolJustAdmitMe in Waitlisted - waiting for your school AND everyone else's   
    I respectfully disagree. 
     
    I was waitlisted last year, and it almost physically HURT. I got on the waitlist of my (at the time, #1 program) on April 4th. Yes. I remember the day, and the sour weekend following that. I was happy thinking "Hey, they kind of liked me. Almost there!" Then by that Saturday, April 7th, my thought turned dark "Why?" "How long will I have to wait?" etc. I finally decided to email them on Monday April 9th. They (secretary/coordinator) CALLED me back saying that they definitely wanted me -- funding issues -- my POI was running a crowded lab but may try to take me on etc. Now starts the most painful rollercoaster ride of my life. April 10th, this time the department chair emails me a super sympathetic email. "I know how hard it it to wait, but good news is there is a high possibility that someone will come off the waitlist, and it has happened in recent years.." and a similar vein. It was also obviously not a form email (in different font/style from previous form emails he had sent before). April 11th. The secretary confirms with me that I am on the waitlist through email. I shoot back an email replying Yes, and asking "why" she lets slip that one/two of their accepted students show hesitancy, and that again this is a good sign for me. April 12th. Radio silence. I'm letting myself feel happy around this point. "Maybe.. there's a chance!" April 13th. The Department chair and secretary sent me emails saying that one spot was vacated and the waiting list's first person got accepted. At this point they inferred that I was the second position on the list -- well now the first. Then April 14th. Keep in mind, this was a SATURDAY. I received a call saying that "I regret to inform you.." My heart dropped, and I really couldn't hear what he had said and had to ask for him to repeat. He said that "We will be unable to offer you admission to our PhD program this year. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this year had an extremely competitive applicant pool." I thanked him and sort of phoned it in that day. I was planning to set up lesson plans for my TAing gig, and run some analyses for my thesis project. I did not have the functioning capabilities to do that. Instead, I indulged in comfort foods. I recall calling my mother and sister crying, but I can't remember what I said. I was devastated. I had been rejected everywhere else, except for one school that was way down the list, and I was considering saying No to regardless of the results. 
     
    This school had raised my hopes and then brought it crashing back down on reality. I would have been happier not being in almost daily communication with them (though granted, they initiated it on some days. But I got the ball rolling). I really am not the sort of person to just fall apart like that, but the emotional rollercoaster just made it happen. I really think now I would have been happier if I had been flat-out rejected. I WISH I had been rejected. 
     
    Sorry for the long story. Just ignore it. This was a bit cathartic for me (it still kind of hurts). I just wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy, let alone you congenial people of TGC. Good luck to anyone waitlisted out there, and I hope you don't go through the mental hell I went through in just a little over a week's time last year.
  7. Upvote
    VBD got a reaction from arnoldgold in Waitlisted - waiting for your school AND everyone else's   
    I respectfully disagree. 
     
    I was waitlisted last year, and it almost physically HURT. I got on the waitlist of my (at the time, #1 program) on April 4th. Yes. I remember the day, and the sour weekend following that. I was happy thinking "Hey, they kind of liked me. Almost there!" Then by that Saturday, April 7th, my thought turned dark "Why?" "How long will I have to wait?" etc. I finally decided to email them on Monday April 9th. They (secretary/coordinator) CALLED me back saying that they definitely wanted me -- funding issues -- my POI was running a crowded lab but may try to take me on etc. Now starts the most painful rollercoaster ride of my life. April 10th, this time the department chair emails me a super sympathetic email. "I know how hard it it to wait, but good news is there is a high possibility that someone will come off the waitlist, and it has happened in recent years.." and a similar vein. It was also obviously not a form email (in different font/style from previous form emails he had sent before). April 11th. The secretary confirms with me that I am on the waitlist through email. I shoot back an email replying Yes, and asking "why" she lets slip that one/two of their accepted students show hesitancy, and that again this is a good sign for me. April 12th. Radio silence. I'm letting myself feel happy around this point. "Maybe.. there's a chance!" April 13th. The Department chair and secretary sent me emails saying that one spot was vacated and the waiting list's first person got accepted. At this point they inferred that I was the second position on the list -- well now the first. Then April 14th. Keep in mind, this was a SATURDAY. I received a call saying that "I regret to inform you.." My heart dropped, and I really couldn't hear what he had said and had to ask for him to repeat. He said that "We will be unable to offer you admission to our PhD program this year. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this year had an extremely competitive applicant pool." I thanked him and sort of phoned it in that day. I was planning to set up lesson plans for my TAing gig, and run some analyses for my thesis project. I did not have the functioning capabilities to do that. Instead, I indulged in comfort foods. I recall calling my mother and sister crying, but I can't remember what I said. I was devastated. I had been rejected everywhere else, except for one school that was way down the list, and I was considering saying No to regardless of the results. 
     
    This school had raised my hopes and then brought it crashing back down on reality. I would have been happier not being in almost daily communication with them (though granted, they initiated it on some days. But I got the ball rolling). I really am not the sort of person to just fall apart like that, but the emotional rollercoaster just made it happen. I really think now I would have been happier if I had been flat-out rejected. I WISH I had been rejected. 
     
    Sorry for the long story. Just ignore it. This was a bit cathartic for me (it still kind of hurts). I just wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy, let alone you congenial people of TGC. Good luck to anyone waitlisted out there, and I hope you don't go through the mental hell I went through in just a little over a week's time last year.
  8. Upvote
    VBD got a reaction from artsy16 in Waitlisted - waiting for your school AND everyone else's   
    I respectfully disagree. 
     
    I was waitlisted last year, and it almost physically HURT. I got on the waitlist of my (at the time, #1 program) on April 4th. Yes. I remember the day, and the sour weekend following that. I was happy thinking "Hey, they kind of liked me. Almost there!" Then by that Saturday, April 7th, my thought turned dark "Why?" "How long will I have to wait?" etc. I finally decided to email them on Monday April 9th. They (secretary/coordinator) CALLED me back saying that they definitely wanted me -- funding issues -- my POI was running a crowded lab but may try to take me on etc. Now starts the most painful rollercoaster ride of my life. April 10th, this time the department chair emails me a super sympathetic email. "I know how hard it it to wait, but good news is there is a high possibility that someone will come off the waitlist, and it has happened in recent years.." and a similar vein. It was also obviously not a form email (in different font/style from previous form emails he had sent before). April 11th. The secretary confirms with me that I am on the waitlist through email. I shoot back an email replying Yes, and asking "why" she lets slip that one/two of their accepted students show hesitancy, and that again this is a good sign for me. April 12th. Radio silence. I'm letting myself feel happy around this point. "Maybe.. there's a chance!" April 13th. The Department chair and secretary sent me emails saying that one spot was vacated and the waiting list's first person got accepted. At this point they inferred that I was the second position on the list -- well now the first. Then April 14th. Keep in mind, this was a SATURDAY. I received a call saying that "I regret to inform you.." My heart dropped, and I really couldn't hear what he had said and had to ask for him to repeat. He said that "We will be unable to offer you admission to our PhD program this year. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this year had an extremely competitive applicant pool." I thanked him and sort of phoned it in that day. I was planning to set up lesson plans for my TAing gig, and run some analyses for my thesis project. I did not have the functioning capabilities to do that. Instead, I indulged in comfort foods. I recall calling my mother and sister crying, but I can't remember what I said. I was devastated. I had been rejected everywhere else, except for one school that was way down the list, and I was considering saying No to regardless of the results. 
     
    This school had raised my hopes and then brought it crashing back down on reality. I would have been happier not being in almost daily communication with them (though granted, they initiated it on some days. But I got the ball rolling). I really am not the sort of person to just fall apart like that, but the emotional rollercoaster just made it happen. I really think now I would have been happier if I had been flat-out rejected. I WISH I had been rejected. 
     
    Sorry for the long story. Just ignore it. This was a bit cathartic for me (it still kind of hurts). I just wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy, let alone you congenial people of TGC. Good luck to anyone waitlisted out there, and I hope you don't go through the mental hell I went through in just a little over a week's time last year.
  9. Upvote
    VBD got a reaction from ilnomedellarosa in Waitlisted - waiting for your school AND everyone else's   
    I respectfully disagree. 
     
    I was waitlisted last year, and it almost physically HURT. I got on the waitlist of my (at the time, #1 program) on April 4th. Yes. I remember the day, and the sour weekend following that. I was happy thinking "Hey, they kind of liked me. Almost there!" Then by that Saturday, April 7th, my thought turned dark "Why?" "How long will I have to wait?" etc. I finally decided to email them on Monday April 9th. They (secretary/coordinator) CALLED me back saying that they definitely wanted me -- funding issues -- my POI was running a crowded lab but may try to take me on etc. Now starts the most painful rollercoaster ride of my life. April 10th, this time the department chair emails me a super sympathetic email. "I know how hard it it to wait, but good news is there is a high possibility that someone will come off the waitlist, and it has happened in recent years.." and a similar vein. It was also obviously not a form email (in different font/style from previous form emails he had sent before). April 11th. The secretary confirms with me that I am on the waitlist through email. I shoot back an email replying Yes, and asking "why" she lets slip that one/two of their accepted students show hesitancy, and that again this is a good sign for me. April 12th. Radio silence. I'm letting myself feel happy around this point. "Maybe.. there's a chance!" April 13th. The Department chair and secretary sent me emails saying that one spot was vacated and the waiting list's first person got accepted. At this point they inferred that I was the second position on the list -- well now the first. Then April 14th. Keep in mind, this was a SATURDAY. I received a call saying that "I regret to inform you.." My heart dropped, and I really couldn't hear what he had said and had to ask for him to repeat. He said that "We will be unable to offer you admission to our PhD program this year. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this year had an extremely competitive applicant pool." I thanked him and sort of phoned it in that day. I was planning to set up lesson plans for my TAing gig, and run some analyses for my thesis project. I did not have the functioning capabilities to do that. Instead, I indulged in comfort foods. I recall calling my mother and sister crying, but I can't remember what I said. I was devastated. I had been rejected everywhere else, except for one school that was way down the list, and I was considering saying No to regardless of the results. 
     
    This school had raised my hopes and then brought it crashing back down on reality. I would have been happier not being in almost daily communication with them (though granted, they initiated it on some days. But I got the ball rolling). I really am not the sort of person to just fall apart like that, but the emotional rollercoaster just made it happen. I really think now I would have been happier if I had been flat-out rejected. I WISH I had been rejected. 
     
    Sorry for the long story. Just ignore it. This was a bit cathartic for me (it still kind of hurts). I just wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy, let alone you congenial people of TGC. Good luck to anyone waitlisted out there, and I hope you don't go through the mental hell I went through in just a little over a week's time last year.
  10. Upvote
    VBD got a reaction from illinoismom93 in If I knew then what I know now...   
    LORs play a pretty big impact, at least in my field. To avoid LOR-related stress during this time:

    A. Organize Organize Organize! I had a google spreadsheet to share with my LORs with the school, program name, POI, website links (or whether the applyweb, or whatever site sends an email) and the deadline date. If you update your short list, email the LORs of the update. Some LORs were even able to point out that they've met x POI and y POI at q conference, etc. which can be helpful. 
     
    B. Echoing that post graduation, keep in contact with the LORs you plan to ask. I felt so dirty for asking one LOR that I didn't really keep in contact. It felt like I was using him, and he noted that he had forgottten some of what I did, so I engaged in a quick phone chat refresher. 

    C. When you ask you LOR about their willingness to write a postive letter ask if they want to set up a reminder system. One of my LOR was absent-minded and self-aware of that, and was happy I asked him about that. The system we set up was I would email him a reminder every Monday night until he did it. And you know what? He was the first LOR to turn one in for me. Yay. 

    Echoing another section: POI:

    A. Contact more than one POI at the program of interest prior to applying. It may be the case that the POI would LOVE to have you, but cannot due to funding. The second POI would save you. I had made sure that for each of my programs, I had at least 2, sometimes 3 POI's I could see myself working with in the future. And I contacted each of them. Is it a lot of work? Yes. Am I sure of my fit at each of the 8 programs I applied to? A loud and resounding YES. 

    B. Don't be dismayed if a POI ignores you, perhaps you contacted them when they were at a conference. Find out if your program has a grad student coordinator or some intermediary position (someone who works with the professor) I was able to do this and the coordinator reminded the busy POI about my email, and I got an extremely positive response this time!

    C. Read the POI's publications. It's a bit of a warning sign if there is a huge space between publications than usually warranted for your studies. A friend (who's already in grad school, the lucky duck!) got a POI in the biomedical sciences who has not published since 2007 but was really personable. Had she asked around she would have found that this POI had a personality problem that drove away most of his lab, including the lab tech. 

    As a UG - take advantage of summer opportunities. Yes, it could be fun to vacay with your friends at W place, but that can wait, at least get some experience for one summer. 

    Also take time to research what kind of job you would like, and the degree needed to get that job. I've had peers who applied to PhD programs but found out that all they needed was an MS to do her dream job. It would save you time, money, and peace of mind. 

    Cheers.
  11. Downvote
    VBD reacted to gr8pumpkin in Fat-Friendly Campuses?   
    Believe it or not--- and I know this is going to come as a shock to some--- not every fat person is fat through fault of their own.  I know, right?
     
    There is this med they call the "dreaded pred":
     
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2193172/Prescription-drugs-Lupus-make-Napa-California-Jena-Graves-obese.html
     
    This happened to my wife, who has taken massive doses of prednisone for her Crohn's disease.  It irritates me to no end that people will assume she's fat because she's just lazy or makes bad choices.  Never assume.  You don't know what's going on with the other person.
     
    ETA: Now me, I'm fat through fault of my own.
  12. Upvote
    VBD got a reaction from Furcifera in What were you doing when you got accepted?   
    First acceptance, I was out celebrating my mother's birthday, then I came back home, checked my email, and immediately ran to tell her. She said, "Best birthday present ever!" And we hugged
     
    Second acceptance, I was checking my inbox all day still. Then I left my computer and cell phone to get some work done, within that hour I had gotten an email and a phone call to boot detailing my acceptance and funding. I guess it's like that "a watched pot never boils" saying XD
  13. Upvote
    VBD reacted to guscrea in EPA Star Fellowship 2013   
    Hi all,
     
    I've been lurking this thread for months now; it's time to chime in with what I hope is good news. The relevant part of the bill (H.R. 3547) linked to by sone461 (thanks!) is on page 755, and states:
     
     
    It took some digging, but I eventually found the appropriate "explanatory statement," which is itself almost 300 pages long. Read it here:
     
    http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20140113/113-HR3547-JSOM-G-I.pdf
     
    The information we're all looking for can be found in the top two lines of page 30:
     
     
    It might be worth taking a look at page 81 of the PDF, too, where the specific allocations are listed relative to the FY2014 requests. On page 82 of the PDF, the Research: Sustainable and Healthy Communities FY2014 request is listed as 147,372 (in thousands). The amount allocated is 154,978--7.6 million more than was requested! So, while the EPA as a whole is taking a hit, it looks like the budget line we're all worried about actually increased!
     
    Crossing fingers!
  14. Upvote
    VBD got a reaction from DerpTastic in Starting over in a new place....   
    To add in my two cents on the cost of housing and such. 

    Case -- rents are gonna run you around $500-600. Efficiencies will be higher (Watch out for some landlords, there are some in the area who take advantage of the UGs who are renting for the first time).

    Pitt -- rents would be a little higher. BUT since Pitt allows student to do off-campus housing earlier, there's more competition. Some of my friends at Pitt had to show a statement to their landlord that they do have x income amount, or x amount saved, and can in fact pay the rent on time. 

    OSU -- similarly competitive, but the prices have a wider range. My one friend did have to get a credit check at some places which costs and additional $40. *shrugs* but that's the only time I've heard of that going on in Columbus
     
    I don't know about the other places you are applying. Point being is that for moving there's a lot to consider. I had a friend move from the bluegrass area of Ohio to OSU and the cost was a bit higher than she was used to. She worked as a waitress for a few months and with just the move, finding a place, etc. She completely drained her savings (and the emergency-save-for-a-rainy-day-fund of $2200 from her job. I don't know why, but just keep in mind that sometimes crap happens when you move. XD Have you asked those acquaintances you know in the area whether they would be available to help you or are you assuming? I ask because when school time comes, many acquaintances are usually too busy to be able to help and flake on you. 

    Social wise -- my friends at OSU were essentially forced to be socialable, but alcohol is usually involved. Also hope you like talking about football! (Jk -- I have some very home-body friends at OSU, and they are fine without forcibly talking about football) I have MSW friends at OSU, Case, and Pitt and they are usually somewhat tight knit since they share a lot of the same views, but of course, your mileage may vary. 

    In addition to sites like idealist, I would recommend opportunityknocks Also, maybe you can go to your local community service fair. I'm sure there is one in Univ of Akron. Contact someone at your alma mater who was in charge of community service and they can give you a lot of advice on alternative post graduation. Americorp and Peace Corp are extremely competitive, but you would never know if you can even get it if you don't apply! Peace Corp though will require a LOT of independence. You will likely be in a foreign country you've never been to before and have just learned the language, and may even have limited communication with your family. My friends in the peace corp have to walk a good amount of miles before they can reach the village with a working satellite phone (He was in Francophone Africa though). 
  15. Upvote
    VBD reacted to bananaphone in NDSEG 2013-2014   
    Olga Botvinnik posted a link to her blog on here a while back.  She was awarded the NDSEG and has a lot of other example essays: Link to her essays.
     
    Philip Guo also has some excellent advice on fellowships (Hertz, NSF, and NDSEG):  Link to his advice.
  16. Upvote
    VBD reacted to pulpoperdida in Research jobs in Public Health?   
    I actually did a year as a RA at a health policy institute associated with a major university (although sadly one without a serious MPH program.) I can definitely say that there is a lot of activity these days in the domestic health policy research field. However, while a good percentage of people had their MPH, lots of people had different degrees and different backgrounds, so it definitely wasn't a requirement for the position. That being said, the ability to do quantitative data analysis is definitely a hot skill If you are interested in policy jobs. So, basically, I wouldn't worry a TON about picking a specific program, but I would just make sure I was getting a diverse range of data analysis skills (both quant and qualitative), so that you can feel like you can interpret large amounts of data and then write about it clearly.
     
    In terms of  actually getting a job, I would  suggest trolling around sites like Kaiser Family Foundation, Academy Health, State Health Policy, the CommonWealth Fund. Those orgs are often the center of various research projects (either because they gave the grants or because they are doing the research themselves).
     
    Hope this is helpful. If you are looking outside of the policy area, then I can't really say much!
  17. Upvote
    VBD reacted to biotechie in 2014 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results   
    ilikeargyle, WashU is going to be a tough one, and so are the Ivy Leagues. Those are incredibly competitive (yes, most programs are, but those are cut-throat). Your grade profile/GREs look very similar to what mine were. I applied to WashU (who said they had close to 1000 applicants) and didn't make the cut. I also applied to UW for Immunology. They had hundreds of applications for 2 spots, as did the MCB program, so be careful, there; I know UW does do a cutoff before they look at applications. I think you'd stand a good chance at some of the others, including UT Houston and Baylor.
     
    Probably the best thing for all of you to do right now is take some time to NOT think about the name of the school. It is debatable how important rank really is, but make sure you're not picking a school just for that. Before you do applications, go through the professor profiles for each school. Look up their recent publications because odds are what is on the school website isn't updated. Make sure there are multiple professors you could see yourself working under. This is important... don't go somewhere where you find out nobody is doing what you want to do.
     
    Also check out where their students end up and how long it takes them to graduate. How do classes and qualifying exams work, and how do you feel about that? For example, Baylor's IMBS program has 10 months of classes and rotations, then qualifying exams, and you're in candidacy by your second year while UF's Interdisciplinary program spaces classes out over two years and then you do qualifying exams... I know that for myself, after completing a Master's, I felt like I wanted to limit the time I spent in classes.
     
    The last part you might only be able to determine at interviews, but feel out the environment of the students. Are they constantly competing with each other for everything and are looking over their shoulders? Or do they have a friendly competition with a camaraderie that allows them to have fun and help each other out?
  18. Upvote
    VBD reacted to Tritonetelephone in Finding info on city tools & other things   
    Is anyone else using the power of colorful spreadsheets to weight their funding offer against area COL?

    I made a spreadsheet using the COL index from http://realestate.yahoo.com/neighborhoods.
    A value of 100 for the COL index is the national average, and 110 would be 10% more expensive, etc.
    I used the following formula: [stipend/Fellowships - Fees] * 100 / [COL index].

    That way, a large offer in the northeast often evens out against a lower offer in the midwest, etc.

    The problem with a COL index, though, is that its heavily influenced by mortgage rates and house prices and things that aren't going to affect a grad student. So, I also looked at the average apt and energy costs in the area from bankrate's COL calculator, as well as what I thought I might actually end up paying for housing based on what current grad students pay. I then divided the funding offer by 12 and subtracted those potential housing figures to understand how much I would make in-pocket each month.

    Has anyone found a better method?

    BTW: Also in my spreadsheet: area demographics, weather stats, department specs (cohort size, # of qualifying exams, etc.), walk score, and squirrel quality
  19. Upvote
    VBD reacted to kahlan_amnell in Finding info on city tools & other things   
    That too is somewhat less than reliable, at least with it's overall "walkablity" score. It rated two different addresses in the same town quite differently, despite the fact they were equally walkable. It said that the town was "car dependent" when I just entered the town name and state, but when I added a street number it said it was "somewhat walkable". Also, the distances listed to various things like supermarkets, bars, etc seemed to pick a random example from each category. I can honestly say I've never heard of some of the ones they selected for my town, and there are closer ones than the ones they listed.

    The "walkablity" of a town really depends on how far you're willing to walk. A town could be less walkable if it lacked sidewalks in places, like the area I live in now. I'd say the best way to find out if you need a car in an area is to see how far it is to the things you need, like grocery stores, and determine if you'd want to walk that far. Also, check for buses and see if they go where you want to go at useful times. You should also take weather into account. Will you want to walk the distance to campus if it's snowing, raining, below zero, or over a hundred? Are area you'd be walking lighted enough that you'd feel safe walking at night? If they aren't lighted, would you feel safe enough if you just had a flashlight or headlamp? Some of these things can't really be determined from a distance.

    My opinion is that you can walk just about anywhere, some places are just friendlier than others for walkers. I live in a place that most people say it's impossible to get by without a car. Yet I don't have one, and I do just fine.
  20. Upvote
    VBD reacted to Monochrome Spring in Contacting Faculty   
    I recommend this:
    - Look up respected programs in microbial ecology
    - Look up professors in those programs
    - Read through published papers, and make note of anything that stands out as interesting
    - Focus on a few areas that you found particularly interesting
    - Look up professors that fit those focus areas (preferably, you have looked at their papers now)
    - Email those professors, expressing interest in their work, asking about the application process, etc.
     
    I don't think it's too early to contact professors. I've contacted some already. The general response is either contact them again in August or they have no problem keeping in contact over summer.
     
    The email format that I used was just a very general introduction with my GPA, when I'm graduating, and where I go to school. Then I had a short segment about my research and how that would relate to the interests of the professor's lab. Then I asked if they were accepting students for fall 2014, and if so, could they please keep an open dialogue with me about going forward with the application process at their respective programs.
     
    As for your research experience, once you have started talking to these professors, you can discuss the amount of research experience that you have and how to approach that in applications. The professors should be very upfront with you about if you have enough to be competitive for their programs or not. They can also give you advice on how to make up for shortcomings like that.
  21. Upvote
    VBD reacted to CageFree in reverse snobbery re: academic achievement   
    I think there are two separate issues here which keep getting conflated.
     
    1. "Snobbery" by STEM types who believe that the humanities and social sciences are inferior to their own fields.
     
    2. Negativity by people with less (or little) formal education, which can be due to anything from insecurity to a sense of "I accomplished X, Y and Z without your education." 
     
    For #1, I think one major issue is that *some* STEM majors did well in AP-level classes in high school (like US History) and maybe did ok in a survey class or two for general ed... so they think that they know what the "field" really is about and what it is that we do. That, combined with the stereotype that "humanities people are not good at math," makes them feel superior. Of course, those of us who majored in the humanities (and especially those who went on to grad school) know there are HUGE differences between high school history, survey classes, upper division work, and graduate work. And not all humanities people are bad at math.. I majored in a STEM field when I started college and HATED every second of it, which is why I switched out. 
     
    Note that I said *SOME.* My partner majored in a science field and now teaches math, and he will the the first to admit he can't write a paper to save his life. Our relationship works because he respects what I do and I respect what he does.
     
    For #2, there really isn't much you can do except deflect or avoid contact. My father didn't finish HS and to this day he still considers my education a waste of money (even though I went to a public university and he didn't pay a dime of it) because I switched to the humanities. My first marriage collapsed in part because my partner was very insecure about my education (and I only had a BA, and no plans to go to grad school). He kept shoving it in my face how I acted 'superior' because I had gone to college. He had only finished high school and joined the military, and even though this was not an issue for me, it clearly was a huge problem for him. (And clearly I picked a guy who was a lot like my father the first time around. Didn't make that mistake again).
     
    I would add that the educational emphasis at the high school level on "going to college" has created resentment in people whose skill set and abilities might not be suited for university but might do great in vocational or technical fields (a good mechanic is worth his or her weight in gold). Schools have eliminated vocational training in favor of college prep, and that has alienated a significant proportion of the population. You don't need to go to college to be successful or even to make money.Some type of education is generally a requirement, but high schools make it seem like if you are better at building houses than you are at chemistry, you're not "living up to your potential," which is BS.
     
    At the same time, we have a political culture that devalues education as "elitist" and "snobbish," and that combined with the fact that a college degree nowadays can't guarantee you a job at McDonald's, have emboldened people who chose not to pursue higher education (or were unable due to a variety of circumstances) to try to bring down those who have.
     
    I think it's just symptomatic of a larger issue in this country, which is class warfare promoted by politicians whereby people tear each other down to their "level" rather than demanding that living standards be better for everyone. Look at the backlash against public employee unions, for example. People in the private sector complain that "they don't have unions protecting them" so public employees (teachers, firefighters, etc.) shouldn't either. A better solution would be for private employees to demand collective bargaining rights, given that unions helped forge the middle class in this country and make it accessible to people who often did NOT have formal education beyond high school.
     
    And let's not even get started on this country's war on education (especially in the humanities), which is the reason why few people know why we have unions in the first place. 
  22. Upvote
    VBD reacted to iowaguy in Journal reading strategies?   
    Hi, just curious as to your preferred strategy for reading scientific journal articles in your field.  I'm preparing to digest some major background reading in my field (incoming PhD student) and am looking for ideas how to be the most efficient/effective with my literature reviews.
     
    Do you read a journal article once through quickly to get a rough idea of the content, then re-read with highlighter in hand for the nitty-gritty?
     
    Only read a journal article once, very thoroughly, because you've already screened it hard from reading the abstract?
     
    Immediately sit down after a thorough read and enter notes in Zotero?
     
    Do you subscribe to any of the scientific journals in your field, do you just read the latest copy at the library, do you only read articles that you find via online searches, etc?
     
    Any thoughts welcomed...  Thanks in advance!
  23. Upvote
    VBD reacted to Eigen in What u guys do with "undecipherable" writing?   
    The irony of that string of uncapitalized text speak in a thread about grading writing assignments just strikes me as hilarious.
  24. Upvote
    VBD reacted to Queen of Kale in reverse snobbery re: academic achievement   
    (the following is in no way meant to disparage any previous posters)
     
    While I'm sure that on occasion reverse academic snobbery exists, I think more often than not it's a phenomenon much like "reverse racism" - in that the very people who feel they are being wronged are in fact simply worried they will not get the advantage they feel they are owed.  I'm not an anti-intellectual, and there is certainly a strange cultural undertow which sometimes makes me feel as if I'm swimming upstream when I strive to be well informed, articulate, and logical.  For example, the constant need for politicians in America to make a big show of being "plain spoken" and folksy.  So in a broad sense, yes, I think culturally there is an annoying smart vs. "real" perception problem. 
     
    But, on an individual basis, I have to assume everyone is trying their best.  I just assume an intentional posture of niavete in order to not become an ass-hat myself.  Because for me it is better to assume if someone boasts to me that they would never be bothered to read a book that perhaps they have an undiagnosed learning disability, or an incredible strength in art, or simply a strong preference for auditory learning but they listen to pod casts religiously - whatever, than to assume they are just a big stupid idiot who hates smart people.
     
    I barely graduated high school, I'm the only one of my friends from that period of my life who did finish high school, I married a high school drop out, and I spent much of a decade working in a hair salon.  Many of my clients were college students, graduate students, law students, or scientists from the nearby national lab.  The most articulate, interesting, and accomplished people also tended to be the people who just spoke to me like I was a person and were completely unconcerned with impressing me or impressing upon me the importance of education.  Occasionally I had a jackass in my chair, and it's 50/50 that person thought I was an elitist high brow snob or an uneducated idiot rube.  
     
    I have strong feelings about this, because I've been on both sides, and have been perceived as being on both sides the entire time depending on who I was with and what I was doing.  In the end I found that as with anything, you won't change anyone who isn't interested, who has their guard up, and the more you push the more they will build up a defense against you and what you represent.  If you have a jackass in your salon chair, or in your life, treat them well until you get get them out the door and don't let them back.  And if you're dealing with a non-jackass, don't push an agenda or a belief system, and if someone is interested in your views, your beliefs, or your value system (including placing a high value on education) they will see that in your actions and ask you directly if they want to know more.  (All this is, of course, just one blue collar lady's opinion)
  25. Upvote
    VBD reacted to juilletmercredi in Why would you or would you not go into academia/teaching?   
    Why I would:

    1) Autonomy/independence.  I get to determine what I work on, when I want to.
    2) Flexibility of schedule.  I may have to work 80 hours a week, but they're any 80 hours I want!
    3) Intellectually stimulating environment of the university.
    4) Shaping young minds, I guess.  Helping to influence the future of my field.  I'd like to advise pre-health undergrads in their careers, and maybe advise new doctoral students one day.

    Why I wouldn't:

    1) I don't really like teaching.  Every time I get involved in it, I always think it's just distracting from my research, so I think that's a sign.
    2) I would prefer some geographic mobility.  I don't want a job in a place I hate just for the opportunity to be an academic.
    3) I prefer a more medium-stress lifestyle, and I don't want to fight for tenure.
    4) Tenure doesn't appeal to me.  I don't want to be tied to one institution for my career; I want the freedom to move if I want to.  I know it's a bit harder to move on in academia when you're an associate or full professor unless you are prolific.
    5) I don't want to pay my own salary through grants.  I would prefer a guaranteed salary.
    6) Academia moves too slowly for me.  I want my research to go towards applied programs that will solve problems in the more immediate future.  I want to work on very applied issues and help people in the more proximal future.
    7) I really don't want to run my own research lab.  It's not that I'm not a good manager, but I would prefer the structure of an established company rather than being, essentially, the proprietor of a small business.  I just want to worry about the science and not the money or the equipment or the space.  I would rather work on a team with other researchers at my level, all of whom have a particular skill set they bring to the problem at hand.  And I want to work for a corporation that hires other people to worry about the money and the equipment and the space and leave me to play with data and write papers.
    8) I hate committees, and I hate meetings.  I realize that those happen in corporate, too, but from my (admittedly limited) experience, academia = endless pointless meetings whereas corporate seems to have mastered them a little better.
    9) I like routines and predictability.  I know that I enjoy the flexibility of academia, but I also would not mind one bit working a 9-5 and knowing that at 5 or 6 or 7 pm I can drop everything and go home and not think about work the next day.
    10) I like juggling multiple research projects at once, but I don't like juggling multiple tasks at once.  I want to be a researcher working on a variety of projects, but not a teacher, adviser, and researcher all at once.  I'm not really good at segmenting my time properly, and I've found that I waste a lot of time transitioning my brain from one task to the next.
    11) I like to call myself a "research mercenary."  I am more broadly interested in public health research, but there are a wide variety of fields within that area that I am interested in.  I feel like if I became an academic, I'd be expected to dig a specialized niche within a particular area and burrow into that niche for the next 20 years.  But that's not what I really want.  I'd much rather be a semi-generalist, and know a little about a lot and a lot about one particular area of that lot.
    12) Again, I have limited experience, but I find corporate bullshit more understandable than academic bullshit.  Corporations want to make money, and people in corporations work together to make money somehow.  Even in think tanks and policy institutes, the goal is to compete for government contracts and produce good end goals so that more agencies want to contract with you.  Government agencies and institutes produce research for the national good (theoretically) to serve priority areas.  But academic politics drive me nuts.  I always feel a little bit alienated around other grad students who really, really want to be academics.
    13) I don't like conferences.  I know I will still go if I am in non-academic research, but they'll be less critical to my career (somewhat) and so maybe I will go to fewer.

    Now I sound like a misanthropic academic, lol.
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