sysbioj

(my experiences are from undergrad/Cambridge/science but are probably still relevant to your question) Tutorials basically follow along with your course, and are a chance to delve into the details of the course with an expert in the field. They can be quite taxing and you'll want to have read up on and be up to date with the lectures otherwise you can look stupid if a tutor asks you a question! Generally supervisions seem to be 1:1 for humanities and 1-3:1 in the sciences. You'll also generally be set work (usually an essay) after the supervision, due before the next one. Next supervision they'll have it marked for you, and you'll spend quite a bit of the supervision going over it, gaining really important feedback on your work (this is really useful)! Oxford is also a great city, and the tradition/experience at Oxford/Cambridge are unique. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

Hi guys, I was just wondering what the importance of program choice (at the same school) is when multiple programs could lead to the same eventual thesis advisor? I ask because having stalked around this forum the impression I got is that some programs (e.g. CSBi at MIT) are more competitive than others at the same school (e.g. normal biology) even though both could lead to the same PhD supervisor. So what's the advantage in choosing CSBi over biology (assuming your main interest is computational/systems biology)? Thanks

Thanks for the answers. Do you happen to know if Professors appreciate regional differences (this is something I could tell a letter-writer to include)? In the UK all bachelors degrees are 3 years long, with little to no time for research during term time (which from people I've spoken to in the US is common), until 3rd year when the focus moves to more independent study rather than lecture heavy courses. Also do programs have any reapplication bias, i.e. If I were to sign up for the 4 year program now, apply to the US this winter, get rejected and then reapply during my 4th year would I be at a disadvantage to someone who had applied for the first time (assuming all else is equal)? Thanks again for the help

Hi guys, This is my first post here after doing quite a lot of reading/research. Basically I'm currently at a top uni in the UK, studying medicine (however I will complete a degree in biochemistry in 2013, and after that would like to leave to do a PhD in the US before coming back to do clinical medicine in the UK). By the time I apply, I will have completed: 15 weeks of research in Cambridge, UK 9 weeks at the MIT-Whitehead institute 9 weeks at the University of Zurich And will be doing an 8 week bachelor's project the trimester after I apply Now question is will this be enough research experience for top systems bio programs in the US? I ask because I could potentially do a 4th year of undergraduate, but wouldn't want to spend an extra year in what is already a really long education if isn't necessary (and I also have to decide on this 4th year now, so can't take a wait and see approach). I was also wondering about the actual importance of the PhD program you apply to, e.g. the Systems bio program at Harvard and CSBi at MIT, judging from forums, seem to have much lower success rates than just the standard bio program even though the same faculty are available to be PhD advisors in the long run, so what's the advantage of applying to them? Thanks for the help!