groverj3

I thought I would post my stuff. It might help future students make decisions and whatnot. My situation is kind of unique. I graduated from undergrad in 2011, worked in biotech for about 2 years, applied to PhD programs, didn't get in, ended up doing a masters instead, re-applied to PhD programs, had much better results this time around.
 
Undergrad Institution: Michigan State
Major(s): Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Chemistry
GPA in Major: Never calculated, but probably not much higher than 3.1
Overall GPA: 3.23
Type of Student: domestic, male
 
Grad Institution: University of Arizona
Major(s): Applied Biosciences Professional Science Masters - Molecular and Cellular Biology Specialization
Coursework: Grad-level Cell Bio, Molecular Bio, Nucleic Acid Biochem, Bioinformatics, Some business classes (finance, project management)
Overall GPA: 3.70
Thesis/No Thesis: The PSM program is designed for students to do internships and write a report on the internship experience. However, I negotiated with them to do my "internship" in an on-campus research lab and found one that fit my interests in regulation of gene expression and epigenetics. So, I'll be writing up my results in more of a manuscript format, rather than a thesis.
 
GRE Scores (2010):
Q: 630 (54%)
V: 560 (78%)
W: 5.0 (84%)
 
GRE Scores (2014):
Q: 156 (64%)
V: 168 (98%)
W: 5.0 (93%)
 
I don't know if anyone else out there took the old and new versions, but I found the new one much easier. My quant score is probably what landed my application in trash heap at some places, but I don't really think it's bad. You'd think really high scores in the other sections would make up somewhat, but I guess not. Davis told me, specifically, that my GRE scores weren't high enough. Kind of silly, I think.
 
Also, by the time I applied the first time around my percentile rankings for my 2010 test had dropped a lot (Q - 10%). Probably didn't help matters.

Research Experience:
4 years during undergrad working with Arabidopsis genomics, finding genes related to metabolism. Lots of GS/MS, genotyping, some mapping of mutant phenotypes, etc. A summer at Notre Dame working with malaria. I didn't really do anything more than extract DNA and genotype some stuff though. 2 years at a biotech company. Did biodistribution studies of gene therapy vectors and stem cell stuff using qPCR. Mostly I just extracted DNA a lot, never loaded very many plates. Did some stuff with lab automation, and wrote experimental methods, trained people in the lab, ordered supplies, reviewed data. Everything was under FDA regulations, which means tons of paperwork. It was a bit of a departure, being animal-work. I couldn't have survived any longer at the place though. About a year in my current lab at Arizona studying epigenetics in Arabidopsis. Mostly looking at DNA methylation effectors.
Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Dean's list until 2nd semester junior year at MSU, Dean's tuition scholarship at Arizona.

Special Bonus Points: I really get along well with my PI at Arizona, as well as several other faculty members. I probably have a lot more lab experience than some other applicants, although not all of it was very exciting, and I didn't get any publications.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: qPCR, some very basic Python programming. My GPA tanked at the end of undergrad, but I have done very well in my master's coursework.

Applications:
Arizona - ABBS (MCB) - Admitted
Purdue - PULSe (Chromatin and Regulation of Gene Expression) - Admitted
UC Riverside - CMDB - Admitted + Fellowship (Only marginally higher than the stipend at AZ and PU, requires teaching in the first year, I think)
UC Davis - BMCDB - Rejected
Washington - MCB - Rejected
WUSTL - Molecular Genetics and Genomics - Rejected
Cornell - BMCB - Rejected
UCSD - Biological Sciences (Molecular Biology) - Rejected
Rutgers - Molecular Biosciences - Rejected
 
So, I got rejected by most places. However, several were reaches. My PI was more surprised than I was, since there are groups doing very similar work to ours at many of these places. I'm not as competitive of an applicant as some of the people around here, and I'm fine with that. I did my best. Life has a way of sneaking up on you and screwing up your plans, as happened during the end of my undergrad. I hoped I could make up for all that with solid grad-level grades and lots of experience. It worked well enough, I suppose. I've been asked several times why I'm bothering with a PhD when I might be able to get a decent job with my masters. Well, partially because this is a strange business/science hybrid degree (PSM) and I'm not sure how respected it will be since I don't think it's very competitive to get into. It sounds marketable, but not many people know about it. Secondly, my goal has always been to gather as much knowledge in my area, and now that I've been introduced to epigenetics I'm really excited to keep working on it. Also, in doing my masters I've worked with undergrads and high school students in the lab, teaching them. I've found I want to be involved in teaching science. It's vitally important.
 
My master's program allowed me to get experience on my OWN project. Despite my lab experience I'd never had one, just helped out with others'. Also, I realize that I could indeed do grad-level work, despite my lackluster undergrad performance near the end. I also developed good relationships with faculty and gained experience working in field I thought was interesting, rather than just whatever lab job I could find. It has been expensive though, so I will be paying student loans off for a long time. Some chastise me for this decision, but I had little choice in the matter if I didn't want to be a lab slave for the rest of my life. I would recommend this path to others having difficulty with rejections, but keep in mind it is costly. If you can, perhaps look for a lab tech job and get free tuition by being an employee (easier said than done). My point being, however, that it's not hopeless for you if you don't think you're that competitive but know you're capable.
 
Now it's essentially down to a decision between staying at Arizona vs going to Purdue. Purdue is a better ranked university, with lots of really good faculty, many epigenetics labs, and plenty of funding in those labs for me. Arizona has the advantage of allowing me to continue working on a project I'm already familiar with, and I know isn't a dead end, with a PI who is very supportive and other faculty that I really get along with, plus the fact that my coursework will transfer in from my master's. Purdue has minimal coursework requirements and several faculty are very interested in me though. A tough decision for sure, especially since our lab at Arizona has much less funding and I'll likely have to do more teaching and apply for grants myself. It may come down to deciding if I really want to pack everything I own in my car again and drive back to essentially where I came from, haha.
 
Sorry for the novel, but it might help someone out there. Good luck!

I thought I would post my stuff. It might help future students make decisions and whatnot. My situation is kind of unique. I graduated from undergrad in 2011, worked in biotech for about 2 years, applied to PhD programs, didn't get in, ended up doing a masters instead, re-applied to PhD programs, had much better results this time around.
 
Undergrad Institution: Michigan State
Major(s): Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Chemistry
GPA in Major: Never calculated, but probably not much higher than 3.1
Overall GPA: 3.23
Type of Student: domestic, male
 
Grad Institution: University of Arizona
Major(s): Applied Biosciences Professional Science Masters - Molecular and Cellular Biology Specialization
Coursework: Grad-level Cell Bio, Molecular Bio, Nucleic Acid Biochem, Bioinformatics, Some business classes (finance, project management)
Overall GPA: 3.70
Thesis/No Thesis: The PSM program is designed for students to do internships and write a report on the internship experience. However, I negotiated with them to do my "internship" in an on-campus research lab and found one that fit my interests in regulation of gene expression and epigenetics. So, I'll be writing up my results in more of a manuscript format, rather than a thesis.
 
GRE Scores (2010):
Q: 630 (54%)
V: 560 (78%)
W: 5.0 (84%)
 
GRE Scores (2014):
Q: 156 (64%)
V: 168 (98%)
W: 5.0 (93%)
 
I don't know if anyone else out there took the old and new versions, but I found the new one much easier. My quant score is probably what landed my application in trash heap at some places, but I don't really think it's bad. You'd think really high scores in the other sections would make up somewhat, but I guess not. Davis told me, specifically, that my GRE scores weren't high enough. Kind of silly, I think.
 
Also, by the time I applied the first time around my percentile rankings for my 2010 test had dropped a lot (Q - 10%). Probably didn't help matters.

Research Experience:
4 years during undergrad working with Arabidopsis genomics, finding genes related to metabolism. Lots of GS/MS, genotyping, some mapping of mutant phenotypes, etc. A summer at Notre Dame working with malaria. I didn't really do anything more than extract DNA and genotype some stuff though. 2 years at a biotech company. Did biodistribution studies of gene therapy vectors and stem cell stuff using qPCR. Mostly I just extracted DNA a lot, never loaded very many plates. Did some stuff with lab automation, and wrote experimental methods, trained people in the lab, ordered supplies, reviewed data. Everything was under FDA regulations, which means tons of paperwork. It was a bit of a departure, being animal-work. I couldn't have survived any longer at the place though. About a year in my current lab at Arizona studying epigenetics in Arabidopsis. Mostly looking at DNA methylation effectors.
Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Dean's list until 2nd semester junior year at MSU, Dean's tuition scholarship at Arizona.

Special Bonus Points: I really get along well with my PI at Arizona, as well as several other faculty members. I probably have a lot more lab experience than some other applicants, although not all of it was very exciting, and I didn't get any publications.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: qPCR, some very basic Python programming. My GPA tanked at the end of undergrad, but I have done very well in my master's coursework.

Applications:
Arizona - ABBS (MCB) - Admitted
Purdue - PULSe (Chromatin and Regulation of Gene Expression) - Admitted
UC Riverside - CMDB - Admitted + Fellowship (Only marginally higher than the stipend at AZ and PU, requires teaching in the first year, I think)
UC Davis - BMCDB - Rejected
Washington - MCB - Rejected
WUSTL - Molecular Genetics and Genomics - Rejected
Cornell - BMCB - Rejected
UCSD - Biological Sciences (Molecular Biology) - Rejected
Rutgers - Molecular Biosciences - Rejected
 
So, I got rejected by most places. However, several were reaches. My PI was more surprised than I was, since there are groups doing very similar work to ours at many of these places. I'm not as competitive of an applicant as some of the people around here, and I'm fine with that. I did my best. Life has a way of sneaking up on you and screwing up your plans, as happened during the end of my undergrad. I hoped I could make up for all that with solid grad-level grades and lots of experience. It worked well enough, I suppose. I've been asked several times why I'm bothering with a PhD when I might be able to get a decent job with my masters. Well, partially because this is a strange business/science hybrid degree (PSM) and I'm not sure how respected it will be since I don't think it's very competitive to get into. It sounds marketable, but not many people know about it. Secondly, my goal has always been to gather as much knowledge in my area, and now that I've been introduced to epigenetics I'm really excited to keep working on it. Also, in doing my masters I've worked with undergrads and high school students in the lab, teaching them. I've found I want to be involved in teaching science. It's vitally important.
 
My master's program allowed me to get experience on my OWN project. Despite my lab experience I'd never had one, just helped out with others'. Also, I realize that I could indeed do grad-level work, despite my lackluster undergrad performance near the end. I also developed good relationships with faculty and gained experience working in field I thought was interesting, rather than just whatever lab job I could find. It has been expensive though, so I will be paying student loans off for a long time. Some chastise me for this decision, but I had little choice in the matter if I didn't want to be a lab slave for the rest of my life. I would recommend this path to others having difficulty with rejections, but keep in mind it is costly. If you can, perhaps look for a lab tech job and get free tuition by being an employee (easier said than done). My point being, however, that it's not hopeless for you if you don't think you're that competitive but know you're capable.
 
Now it's essentially down to a decision between staying at Arizona vs going to Purdue. Purdue is a better ranked university, with lots of really good faculty, many epigenetics labs, and plenty of funding in those labs for me. Arizona has the advantage of allowing me to continue working on a project I'm already familiar with, and I know isn't a dead end, with a PI who is very supportive and other faculty that I really get along with, plus the fact that my coursework will transfer in from my master's. Purdue has minimal coursework requirements and several faculty are very interested in me though. A tough decision for sure, especially since our lab at Arizona has much less funding and I'll likely have to do more teaching and apply for grants myself. It may come down to deciding if I really want to pack everything I own in my car again and drive back to essentially where I came from, haha.
 
Sorry for the novel, but it might help someone out there. Good luck!

I thought I would post my stuff. It might help future students make decisions and whatnot. My situation is kind of unique. I graduated from undergrad in 2011, worked in biotech for about 2 years, applied to PhD programs, didn't get in, ended up doing a masters instead, re-applied to PhD programs, had much better results this time around.
 
Undergrad Institution: Michigan State
Major(s): Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Chemistry
GPA in Major: Never calculated, but probably not much higher than 3.1
Overall GPA: 3.23
Type of Student: domestic, male
 
Grad Institution: University of Arizona
Major(s): Applied Biosciences Professional Science Masters - Molecular and Cellular Biology Specialization
Coursework: Grad-level Cell Bio, Molecular Bio, Nucleic Acid Biochem, Bioinformatics, Some business classes (finance, project management)
Overall GPA: 3.70
Thesis/No Thesis: The PSM program is designed for students to do internships and write a report on the internship experience. However, I negotiated with them to do my "internship" in an on-campus research lab and found one that fit my interests in regulation of gene expression and epigenetics. So, I'll be writing up my results in more of a manuscript format, rather than a thesis.
 
GRE Scores (2010):
Q: 630 (54%)
V: 560 (78%)
W: 5.0 (84%)
 
GRE Scores (2014):
Q: 156 (64%)
V: 168 (98%)
W: 5.0 (93%)
 
I don't know if anyone else out there took the old and new versions, but I found the new one much easier. My quant score is probably what landed my application in trash heap at some places, but I don't really think it's bad. You'd think really high scores in the other sections would make up somewhat, but I guess not. Davis told me, specifically, that my GRE scores weren't high enough. Kind of silly, I think.
 
Also, by the time I applied the first time around my percentile rankings for my 2010 test had dropped a lot (Q - 10%). Probably didn't help matters.

Research Experience:
4 years during undergrad working with Arabidopsis genomics, finding genes related to metabolism. Lots of GS/MS, genotyping, some mapping of mutant phenotypes, etc. A summer at Notre Dame working with malaria. I didn't really do anything more than extract DNA and genotype some stuff though. 2 years at a biotech company. Did biodistribution studies of gene therapy vectors and stem cell stuff using qPCR. Mostly I just extracted DNA a lot, never loaded very many plates. Did some stuff with lab automation, and wrote experimental methods, trained people in the lab, ordered supplies, reviewed data. Everything was under FDA regulations, which means tons of paperwork. It was a bit of a departure, being animal-work. I couldn't have survived any longer at the place though. About a year in my current lab at Arizona studying epigenetics in Arabidopsis. Mostly looking at DNA methylation effectors.
Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Dean's list until 2nd semester junior year at MSU, Dean's tuition scholarship at Arizona.

Special Bonus Points: I really get along well with my PI at Arizona, as well as several other faculty members. I probably have a lot more lab experience than some other applicants, although not all of it was very exciting, and I didn't get any publications.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: qPCR, some very basic Python programming. My GPA tanked at the end of undergrad, but I have done very well in my master's coursework.

Applications:
Arizona - ABBS (MCB) - Admitted
Purdue - PULSe (Chromatin and Regulation of Gene Expression) - Admitted
UC Riverside - CMDB - Admitted + Fellowship (Only marginally higher than the stipend at AZ and PU, requires teaching in the first year, I think)
UC Davis - BMCDB - Rejected
Washington - MCB - Rejected
WUSTL - Molecular Genetics and Genomics - Rejected
Cornell - BMCB - Rejected
UCSD - Biological Sciences (Molecular Biology) - Rejected
Rutgers - Molecular Biosciences - Rejected
 
So, I got rejected by most places. However, several were reaches. My PI was more surprised than I was, since there are groups doing very similar work to ours at many of these places. I'm not as competitive of an applicant as some of the people around here, and I'm fine with that. I did my best. Life has a way of sneaking up on you and screwing up your plans, as happened during the end of my undergrad. I hoped I could make up for all that with solid grad-level grades and lots of experience. It worked well enough, I suppose. I've been asked several times why I'm bothering with a PhD when I might be able to get a decent job with my masters. Well, partially because this is a strange business/science hybrid degree (PSM) and I'm not sure how respected it will be since I don't think it's very competitive to get into. It sounds marketable, but not many people know about it. Secondly, my goal has always been to gather as much knowledge in my area, and now that I've been introduced to epigenetics I'm really excited to keep working on it. Also, in doing my masters I've worked with undergrads and high school students in the lab, teaching them. I've found I want to be involved in teaching science. It's vitally important.
 
My master's program allowed me to get experience on my OWN project. Despite my lab experience I'd never had one, just helped out with others'. Also, I realize that I could indeed do grad-level work, despite my lackluster undergrad performance near the end. I also developed good relationships with faculty and gained experience working in field I thought was interesting, rather than just whatever lab job I could find. It has been expensive though, so I will be paying student loans off for a long time. Some chastise me for this decision, but I had little choice in the matter if I didn't want to be a lab slave for the rest of my life. I would recommend this path to others having difficulty with rejections, but keep in mind it is costly. If you can, perhaps look for a lab tech job and get free tuition by being an employee (easier said than done). My point being, however, that it's not hopeless for you if you don't think you're that competitive but know you're capable.
 
Now it's essentially down to a decision between staying at Arizona vs going to Purdue. Purdue is a better ranked university, with lots of really good faculty, many epigenetics labs, and plenty of funding in those labs for me. Arizona has the advantage of allowing me to continue working on a project I'm already familiar with, and I know isn't a dead end, with a PI who is very supportive and other faculty that I really get along with, plus the fact that my coursework will transfer in from my master's. Purdue has minimal coursework requirements and several faculty are very interested in me though. A tough decision for sure, especially since our lab at Arizona has much less funding and I'll likely have to do more teaching and apply for grants myself. It may come down to deciding if I really want to pack everything I own in my car again and drive back to essentially where I came from, haha.
 
Sorry for the novel, but it might help someone out there. Good luck!

I thought I would post my stuff. It might help future students make decisions and whatnot. My situation is kind of unique. I graduated from undergrad in 2011, worked in biotech for about 2 years, applied to PhD programs, didn't get in, ended up doing a masters instead, re-applied to PhD programs, had much better results this time around.
 
Undergrad Institution: Michigan State
Major(s): Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Chemistry
GPA in Major: Never calculated, but probably not much higher than 3.1
Overall GPA: 3.23
Type of Student: domestic, male
 
Grad Institution: University of Arizona
Major(s): Applied Biosciences Professional Science Masters - Molecular and Cellular Biology Specialization
Coursework: Grad-level Cell Bio, Molecular Bio, Nucleic Acid Biochem, Bioinformatics, Some business classes (finance, project management)
Overall GPA: 3.70
Thesis/No Thesis: The PSM program is designed for students to do internships and write a report on the internship experience. However, I negotiated with them to do my "internship" in an on-campus research lab and found one that fit my interests in regulation of gene expression and epigenetics. So, I'll be writing up my results in more of a manuscript format, rather than a thesis.
 
GRE Scores (2010):
Q: 630 (54%)
V: 560 (78%)
W: 5.0 (84%)
 
GRE Scores (2014):
Q: 156 (64%)
V: 168 (98%)
W: 5.0 (93%)
 
I don't know if anyone else out there took the old and new versions, but I found the new one much easier. My quant score is probably what landed my application in trash heap at some places, but I don't really think it's bad. You'd think really high scores in the other sections would make up somewhat, but I guess not. Davis told me, specifically, that my GRE scores weren't high enough. Kind of silly, I think.
 
Also, by the time I applied the first time around my percentile rankings for my 2010 test had dropped a lot (Q - 10%). Probably didn't help matters.

Research Experience:
4 years during undergrad working with Arabidopsis genomics, finding genes related to metabolism. Lots of GS/MS, genotyping, some mapping of mutant phenotypes, etc. A summer at Notre Dame working with malaria. I didn't really do anything more than extract DNA and genotype some stuff though. 2 years at a biotech company. Did biodistribution studies of gene therapy vectors and stem cell stuff using qPCR. Mostly I just extracted DNA a lot, never loaded very many plates. Did some stuff with lab automation, and wrote experimental methods, trained people in the lab, ordered supplies, reviewed data. Everything was under FDA regulations, which means tons of paperwork. It was a bit of a departure, being animal-work. I couldn't have survived any longer at the place though. About a year in my current lab at Arizona studying epigenetics in Arabidopsis. Mostly looking at DNA methylation effectors.
Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Dean's list until 2nd semester junior year at MSU, Dean's tuition scholarship at Arizona.

Special Bonus Points: I really get along well with my PI at Arizona, as well as several other faculty members. I probably have a lot more lab experience than some other applicants, although not all of it was very exciting, and I didn't get any publications.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: qPCR, some very basic Python programming. My GPA tanked at the end of undergrad, but I have done very well in my master's coursework.

Applications:
Arizona - ABBS (MCB) - Admitted
Purdue - PULSe (Chromatin and Regulation of Gene Expression) - Admitted
UC Riverside - CMDB - Admitted + Fellowship (Only marginally higher than the stipend at AZ and PU, requires teaching in the first year, I think)
UC Davis - BMCDB - Rejected
Washington - MCB - Rejected
WUSTL - Molecular Genetics and Genomics - Rejected
Cornell - BMCB - Rejected
UCSD - Biological Sciences (Molecular Biology) - Rejected
Rutgers - Molecular Biosciences - Rejected
 
So, I got rejected by most places. However, several were reaches. My PI was more surprised than I was, since there are groups doing very similar work to ours at many of these places. I'm not as competitive of an applicant as some of the people around here, and I'm fine with that. I did my best. Life has a way of sneaking up on you and screwing up your plans, as happened during the end of my undergrad. I hoped I could make up for all that with solid grad-level grades and lots of experience. It worked well enough, I suppose. I've been asked several times why I'm bothering with a PhD when I might be able to get a decent job with my masters. Well, partially because this is a strange business/science hybrid degree (PSM) and I'm not sure how respected it will be since I don't think it's very competitive to get into. It sounds marketable, but not many people know about it. Secondly, my goal has always been to gather as much knowledge in my area, and now that I've been introduced to epigenetics I'm really excited to keep working on it. Also, in doing my masters I've worked with undergrads and high school students in the lab, teaching them. I've found I want to be involved in teaching science. It's vitally important.
 
My master's program allowed me to get experience on my OWN project. Despite my lab experience I'd never had one, just helped out with others'. Also, I realize that I could indeed do grad-level work, despite my lackluster undergrad performance near the end. I also developed good relationships with faculty and gained experience working in field I thought was interesting, rather than just whatever lab job I could find. It has been expensive though, so I will be paying student loans off for a long time. Some chastise me for this decision, but I had little choice in the matter if I didn't want to be a lab slave for the rest of my life. I would recommend this path to others having difficulty with rejections, but keep in mind it is costly. If you can, perhaps look for a lab tech job and get free tuition by being an employee (easier said than done). My point being, however, that it's not hopeless for you if you don't think you're that competitive but know you're capable.
 
Now it's essentially down to a decision between staying at Arizona vs going to Purdue. Purdue is a better ranked university, with lots of really good faculty, many epigenetics labs, and plenty of funding in those labs for me. Arizona has the advantage of allowing me to continue working on a project I'm already familiar with, and I know isn't a dead end, with a PI who is very supportive and other faculty that I really get along with, plus the fact that my coursework will transfer in from my master's. Purdue has minimal coursework requirements and several faculty are very interested in me though. A tough decision for sure, especially since our lab at Arizona has much less funding and I'll likely have to do more teaching and apply for grants myself. It may come down to deciding if I really want to pack everything I own in my car again and drive back to essentially where I came from, haha.
 
Sorry for the novel, but it might help someone out there. Good luck!

I thought I would post my stuff. It might help future students make decisions and whatnot. My situation is kind of unique. I graduated from undergrad in 2011, worked in biotech for about 2 years, applied to PhD programs, didn't get in, ended up doing a masters instead, re-applied to PhD programs, had much better results this time around.
 
Undergrad Institution: Michigan State
Major(s): Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Chemistry
GPA in Major: Never calculated, but probably not much higher than 3.1
Overall GPA: 3.23
Type of Student: domestic, male
 
Grad Institution: University of Arizona
Major(s): Applied Biosciences Professional Science Masters - Molecular and Cellular Biology Specialization
Coursework: Grad-level Cell Bio, Molecular Bio, Nucleic Acid Biochem, Bioinformatics, Some business classes (finance, project management)
Overall GPA: 3.70
Thesis/No Thesis: The PSM program is designed for students to do internships and write a report on the internship experience. However, I negotiated with them to do my "internship" in an on-campus research lab and found one that fit my interests in regulation of gene expression and epigenetics. So, I'll be writing up my results in more of a manuscript format, rather than a thesis.
 
GRE Scores (2010):
Q: 630 (54%)
V: 560 (78%)
W: 5.0 (84%)
 
GRE Scores (2014):
Q: 156 (64%)
V: 168 (98%)
W: 5.0 (93%)
 
I don't know if anyone else out there took the old and new versions, but I found the new one much easier. My quant score is probably what landed my application in trash heap at some places, but I don't really think it's bad. You'd think really high scores in the other sections would make up somewhat, but I guess not. Davis told me, specifically, that my GRE scores weren't high enough. Kind of silly, I think.
 
Also, by the time I applied the first time around my percentile rankings for my 2010 test had dropped a lot (Q - 10%). Probably didn't help matters.

Research Experience:
4 years during undergrad working with Arabidopsis genomics, finding genes related to metabolism. Lots of GS/MS, genotyping, some mapping of mutant phenotypes, etc. A summer at Notre Dame working with malaria. I didn't really do anything more than extract DNA and genotype some stuff though. 2 years at a biotech company. Did biodistribution studies of gene therapy vectors and stem cell stuff using qPCR. Mostly I just extracted DNA a lot, never loaded very many plates. Did some stuff with lab automation, and wrote experimental methods, trained people in the lab, ordered supplies, reviewed data. Everything was under FDA regulations, which means tons of paperwork. It was a bit of a departure, being animal-work. I couldn't have survived any longer at the place though. About a year in my current lab at Arizona studying epigenetics in Arabidopsis. Mostly looking at DNA methylation effectors.
Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Dean's list until 2nd semester junior year at MSU, Dean's tuition scholarship at Arizona.

Special Bonus Points: I really get along well with my PI at Arizona, as well as several other faculty members. I probably have a lot more lab experience than some other applicants, although not all of it was very exciting, and I didn't get any publications.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: qPCR, some very basic Python programming. My GPA tanked at the end of undergrad, but I have done very well in my master's coursework.

Applications:
Arizona - ABBS (MCB) - Admitted
Purdue - PULSe (Chromatin and Regulation of Gene Expression) - Admitted
UC Riverside - CMDB - Admitted + Fellowship (Only marginally higher than the stipend at AZ and PU, requires teaching in the first year, I think)
UC Davis - BMCDB - Rejected
Washington - MCB - Rejected
WUSTL - Molecular Genetics and Genomics - Rejected
Cornell - BMCB - Rejected
UCSD - Biological Sciences (Molecular Biology) - Rejected
Rutgers - Molecular Biosciences - Rejected
 
So, I got rejected by most places. However, several were reaches. My PI was more surprised than I was, since there are groups doing very similar work to ours at many of these places. I'm not as competitive of an applicant as some of the people around here, and I'm fine with that. I did my best. Life has a way of sneaking up on you and screwing up your plans, as happened during the end of my undergrad. I hoped I could make up for all that with solid grad-level grades and lots of experience. It worked well enough, I suppose. I've been asked several times why I'm bothering with a PhD when I might be able to get a decent job with my masters. Well, partially because this is a strange business/science hybrid degree (PSM) and I'm not sure how respected it will be since I don't think it's very competitive to get into. It sounds marketable, but not many people know about it. Secondly, my goal has always been to gather as much knowledge in my area, and now that I've been introduced to epigenetics I'm really excited to keep working on it. Also, in doing my masters I've worked with undergrads and high school students in the lab, teaching them. I've found I want to be involved in teaching science. It's vitally important.
 
My master's program allowed me to get experience on my OWN project. Despite my lab experience I'd never had one, just helped out with others'. Also, I realize that I could indeed do grad-level work, despite my lackluster undergrad performance near the end. I also developed good relationships with faculty and gained experience working in field I thought was interesting, rather than just whatever lab job I could find. It has been expensive though, so I will be paying student loans off for a long time. Some chastise me for this decision, but I had little choice in the matter if I didn't want to be a lab slave for the rest of my life. I would recommend this path to others having difficulty with rejections, but keep in mind it is costly. If you can, perhaps look for a lab tech job and get free tuition by being an employee (easier said than done). My point being, however, that it's not hopeless for you if you don't think you're that competitive but know you're capable.
 
Now it's essentially down to a decision between staying at Arizona vs going to Purdue. Purdue is a better ranked university, with lots of really good faculty, many epigenetics labs, and plenty of funding in those labs for me. Arizona has the advantage of allowing me to continue working on a project I'm already familiar with, and I know isn't a dead end, with a PI who is very supportive and other faculty that I really get along with, plus the fact that my coursework will transfer in from my master's. Purdue has minimal coursework requirements and several faculty are very interested in me though. A tough decision for sure, especially since our lab at Arizona has much less funding and I'll likely have to do more teaching and apply for grants myself. It may come down to deciding if I really want to pack everything I own in my car again and drive back to essentially where I came from, haha.
 
Sorry for the novel, but it might help someone out there. Good luck!

Apparently I was being totally irrational. It's a good feeling to finally have a destination. Moving to the desert in the middle of the summer sounds rough! However, it's nice to get admitted somewhere finally!

Hello all,
 
I'm about 2 years removed from my time in EL, but I did all 4 years of my undergrad there and can say a few things about the city. Probably nothing ground-breaking, but the perspective of a Spartan may be helpful.
 
Transportation: CATA runs the MSU buses, and connects to a station in the middle of campus. The MSU bus lines are very convenient, and you will become accustomed to taking them. The campus is literally the largest by sheer physical size in the US. Parking can be an issue, passes are expensive, and spots on the interior of campus are hard to come by. Plenty of parking on the outside of the campus, but it is a giant block of a campus. Not spread out over the city. So, taking the bus or biking is often the best solution.
 
Weather: If you're moving to the northern midwest from somewhere warm... I'm sorry. You'll be in MI. Expect below 0 F weather several times December-February. Generally, summer may not be "hot" in terms of raw degrees, but it's going to be humid. The joy of being surrounded by the great lakes. It will still get up to 100 F on occasion in the summer, yes, with high humidity.Generally, it stays below 90 though. Autumn and Spring are wonderful, very comfortable. Winter doesn't bother me, and mid-MI actually gets much less snow than other parts of the state since it's farther inland and gets less "lake effect snow". You'll become familiar with totally unpredictable weather due to the lakes. There's a certain charm to the unpredictability. I'm a Michigander and I'm used to it.
 
Campus: Most of it is tree-covered. Literally, a giant park. You'll love it, I promise.
 
People: Michiganders are kind of odd compared to what preconceptions about midwestern people usually are. Decades of high unemployment and a depressed economy have taken away a lot of "the friendly midwestern feel." We're perhaps a little more "east coast" than you may think. Very much a "what have you done for me lately" sort of feel. EL/Lansing is a pretty liberal area of the state. This doesn't mean that we aren't friendly, just not in the profusely polite sort of way. The students pretty friendly and definitely feel that they share a common bond. The student environment is generally a cooperative one, rather than a competitive one. If you shout "Go Green!" you will always get a "Go White!" back... regardless of where you say it around town. The students have a reputation as crazy partiers. This is only as true as you want it to be. It's a university with 45,000 students. Some are serious about school, some aren't. The same as anywhere else.
 
Sports/Campus Activities: MSU football and basketball is a huge boon to the local economy. The football games usually are sellouts. Basketball ALWAYS is. The fans are diehards. We were always quite mean to the opposing teams as well. Very much standard Big 10 in that respect. They usually get great entertainment at the Wharton Center as well (broadway plays, symphonies, etc.)
 
Nightlife: Most of the campus bars are dives. I like that sort of thing rather than clubs. They have those as well though. Food is affordable, drinks are usually cheap. Michigan has an incredible beer selection.
 
Housing: Rent is cheap, but the nicest places are taken really really early every year. 6 months or so before move-ins. The area north of campus is actually a nice area. As opposed to most "Student ghettos"
 
Lansing has some rough areas, but EL is quite a nice town. I have no complaints from my time there. Loved every minute of it. I can answer any questions you might have.

Apparently I was being totally irrational. It's a good feeling to finally have a destination. Moving to the desert in the middle of the summer sounds rough! However, it's nice to get admitted somewhere finally!

Dad - "Don't worry, you'll get in somewhere"
 
Me - "Well, I didn't"
 
Dad - "You should contact where you went to undergrad. They should be helping you get in!"
 
Then I attempt to explain how that isn't their job... (Father doesn't have a B.S. so it's not entirely his fault he doesn't understand how the system works I suppose).
 
Also,
 
Professor writing letter of recommendation - "Why are you applying to that program? I thought you wanted to get a PhD. It would be a big disappointment if you had to pay for school. I'm sure you'll get into a good program." (good thing I didn't listen to him)
 
Parents - "You should apply to this program, they sent some information to the house." - not realizing that ETS sends out my info and tons of pointless crap gets sent to me
 
Scientist at work that hated his PhD program - "People with a B.S. end up making just as much money in the long run." (not really, since he makes triple what I do)

Dad - "Don't worry, you'll get in somewhere"
 
Me - "Well, I didn't"
 
Dad - "You should contact where you went to undergrad. They should be helping you get in!"
 
Then I attempt to explain how that isn't their job... (Father doesn't have a B.S. so it's not entirely his fault he doesn't understand how the system works I suppose).
 
Also,
 
Professor writing letter of recommendation - "Why are you applying to that program? I thought you wanted to get a PhD. It would be a big disappointment if you had to pay for school. I'm sure you'll get into a good program." (good thing I didn't listen to him)
 
Parents - "You should apply to this program, they sent some information to the house." - not realizing that ETS sends out my info and tons of pointless crap gets sent to me
 
Scientist at work that hated his PhD program - "People with a B.S. end up making just as much money in the long run." (not really, since he makes triple what I do)

Thanks for the words of encouragement, guys! I'm going to be looking for some more masters programs over the weekend, though, in Biochem or Molecular Bio they are few and far between. If that doesn't work out then it's time to find ways to boost my application.

Thanks for the words of encouragement, guys! I'm going to be looking for some more masters programs over the weekend, though, in Biochem or Molecular Bio they are few and far between. If that doesn't work out then it's time to find ways to boost my application.