mike0982

Coming for a Ph.D in Developmental Biology! I will probably live on campus the first year just so I don't have to do a housing hunt from afar. I'll probably try to get together with people and rent off campus after the first year (I need to have a pet!)

I GOT IT!

Did multiple people see the message or just one person?

Its just the main fastlane page. It usually comes up the morning before the award list is posted, but last year it went up just a couple of hours before the site went down. Keeping my fingers crossed for a similar scenario this year.

lol this bitch

This is the exact same wording as the message for Sunday "FastLane will be unavailable from 12:01AM ET to 8:00AM ET on Sunday, March 23 for scheduled maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience."... dun dun dun

Hey sunpenguin, I noticed you committed to a program that wasn't Harvard OEB, did you ever hear anything back from them? I've at least had some communication with every other program I've applied to, but it has been radio silence from OEB. Congrats on making your decision!!! What a relief that must be!

AHHHHHHH! Just got a phone call, I'm in at Stanford Dev Bio!!!!!!!!!!

Yes! For Dev Bio. I'm really excited

First acceptance at University of Washington MCB!!!!!!!!!

Is it appropriate to ask a PI about their mentoring style during an interview? (i.e. how often do they like to talk face to face with students, how they handle the process of paper writing, how available they like to make themselves to students, etc?)

For the few Evolution/Ecology types here: I got an interview from University of Arizona EEB today!

Stanford Biosciences interview! Developmental Biology Department. So stoked!!!!!

I'm doing the same thing! Except I'm starting at Harvard OEB feb 2-4 and coming to Duke DSCB feb 5-8. I'm nervous to do them back to back, but those are the only dates for both programs. See you at Duke!

Jan 22-25 or Feb 5-8. I requested the earlier date

Just got my second interview!! University of Washington, MCB

First interview invite from Duke Developmental and Stem Cell Biology!!!!

Undergrad Institution: Flagship State Research School Major(s): Biology Minor(s): Chemistry GPA in Major: 3.94 Overall GPA: 3.92 Position in Class: Top 5% Type of Student: Domestic GRE Scores (revised/old version): Q: 730/157 V: 590/159 W: 4.5 B: 860 Research Experience: 3.5 years in same lab (2yrs as undergrad 1.5 as tech) in evo genetics/evodevo related. 3 pubs 1 1st author, 1 2nd author, and 1 mid author. 1 conference talk, 2 conference poster, and several research presentations in school symposia. Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Several Scholarships.. idk what's important here? Pertinent Activities or Jobs: 6 TAships in both lecture and lab classes Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Special Bonus Points: Will have strong letters and my boss is exceptionally well connected in several of the places I'm applying Applying to Where: Broadly I'm interested in evolutionary genetics and evodevo Berkeley - ESPM & MCB (I think I heard that I can only apply to one Berkeley program though is this true?) Harvard - OEB & MCO U. Washington - MCB Stanford - Biosciences Duke - Developmental Biology U. Arizona - EEB U. Illinois UC - ECB U. Montana - OBE So I feel pretty good, but my question is I feel like my GRE general scores stick out like a sore thumb on my app and I don't want to get screened out before my app is even looked at. Is it worth it to take the GRE again?

Hi guys! I just thought I'd give a quick update. I met with the perspective PI today and she was absolutely perfect! I got to chat with her about some of her current projects that I hadn't heard about, I got to ask her about applying to her program, and I even got to ask for her advice on my current research. She said that she did have room for graduate students and she even said she strongly prefers students who have taken a little time off to those who come fresh from undergrad. Aside from all that she is pretty much the nicest lady ever and she was so easy to talk to. Now I just have to make that decision to apply this cycle or to apply next cycle. Hard choice. Thanks for your input

Thanks for the advice so far guys. So to follow up a bit, I agree that waiting to see what she has on her plate (current projects, grants etc.) is a good idea because she may not even be taking new grad students this cycle. My concern is that my meeting with her will not be until late september. If everything goes well and she has space available this year than I will probably apply, if not I'd probably wait another year like I intended to. If I do decide to apply this year though won't late september be too late to contact other people of interest at other schools I would apply to? I don't want to contact them now and say I'm not sure weather or not I'll be applying this year or next. Advice?

Hello everybody! I’ve been lurking around here for a few months and something has come up recently that I’d like everyone’s thoughts on. I am a recently graduated biology major and I am currently still working in the lab where I did all of my undergraduate research in evolutionary genetics. My PI informed me that one of his friends (aka the PI that is my number 1 choice for grad school!) is coming in to town in a couple weeks to give a seminar and he asked if I would like some time to meet with her, so of course I said YES! After the excitement wore off it was replaced with some anxiety. You see, I recently decided that I want to take another year off before I go to grad school and just work some in the lab, TA, and hopefully get in some travel/relaxation time. I’m worried that, even though I’m really excited to potentially work for her, that she might think that since I’m waiting until next fall to apply that I’m not dedicated and thus, not an asset to her. So I guess I have a few questions for you all: 1. Should I just consider applying this fall (I have taken the GRE, have LORs lined up, and I have picked out the programs I’m interested in applying to, so it is feasible)? 2. For those that took more than one year off did you find it rewarding? How did you explain that this was the right choice for you in interviews or informal meetings? 3. When I meet with a potential advisor outside of an actual interview what questions should I be prepared to answer/what questions should I ask them? (Do you think she will expect me to have project ideas?) Thank you in advance for your input!