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"Please help me with my mid-term"
 
Funniest joke ever. For real. Check chegg.com or something, dude.

Hello guys,
Please help me with my mid-term, I know a lot of you guys are very intelligent.

1) What is primitive accumulation? What does it tell us about the relationship b/w the state, violence, and private economic power? 

2) What is accumulation by dispossession? What are some contemporary examples of it ? 

Yeah, I think it'd be fair to have a "other work experience" section at the end of your CV and list your employment there. It's probably not going to help much and also not going to hurt -- it just might answer someone's question of what you were doing with your time, though likely it wouldn't matter if you didn't specify your non-academic job either. 
 
In my field students often have their own websites and you can find links on the "people" page of different programs. If that's not the case in your field, you could use google. Find the names on the department website and then use google to find out if they have a website. If possible, try and find people who are just beginning the program and not ones who are further along to get an idea of what CVs of accepted students tend to look like, but I'd look at more advanced students' CVs for a better idea of the accepted format of the CV. It'll require some work if it's not just listed on the website, but I think it's worth it. 

No. This is not a place to ask for homework help. Go somewhere else.

No. This is not a place to ask for homework help. Go somewhere else.

No. This is not a place to ask for homework help. Go somewhere else.

I didnt know people expect help with their research on thegradcafe forum as well? Have you tried reading journals? like scientific journals?

I didnt know people expect help with their research on thegradcafe forum as well? Have you tried reading journals? like scientific journals?

I didnt know people expect help with their research on thegradcafe forum as well? Have you tried reading journals? like scientific journals?

Hi,
I am writing an IB extended essay on the factors (pH, temperature, concentration of reactants) affecting the rate of metabolism of fluoxetine (secondary amine). The primary metabolic route is via demethylation (by oxydation) but I can't conduct any experiments with it since it is classified drug and moreover an experiment would need a use of an expensive enzyme (CYP2D6). Hence, I'm trying to oxidise another secondary amine to yield formaldehyde and a demetylised primary corresponding amine by using PDC. Here's my two problems:
Does pyridinium dichromate (PDC) oxidise formaldehyde?
Does PDC oxidise the methyl groups in secondary amines only? (or does it oxidise some other groups as well?)
Could you please provide the source for this information?
Thanks a lot
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

1000Plateaus, I am very sorry that you are in this painful situation. It is very difficult to hear unfavorable assessment of your abilities and to realize the implications of having a unfavorable review from your supervisor and second reader. What follows may be hard to read and I apologize in advance, but after you calm down a bit you may want to seriously consider your professors' opinions of your potential to succeed in graduate school. From all I can gather from this post and your previous one, there was never any serious blowout between you and your supervisor -- the main problem seems to be your ability to do up-to-par work at a reasonable pace. (Yes, I understand that some of the blame for that is on your supervisor for letting you take on what turned out to be an over-ambitious project but no, I don't think there is any reason to think your supervisor was maliciously setting you up to fail). You took three years to do a two-year degree and you had to basically write your whole thesis from scratch after the first submission was rejected. You may have finally brought it to a satisfactory level for a masters and you were therefore allowed to defend, but that does not entail that you can or should continue on to a PhD program.
 
It appears that both of the people who know your work best think that you should not, and they will not write you strong letters of recommendation. I think you should respect this choice, or (as you are contemplating doing) work very hard to change their mind and persuade them that you deserve their support. As it stands, if they do not believe that you can make it in a PhD program, you cannot ask them in good conscious to write such a letter. They will have to lie, or the letter will not be good; from their perspective, it's their name on the line: they are vouching for you and your success, but they don't believe in it. Beyond that, if they are in fact correct, they are doing you a favor in telling you their honest opinion from the start. Certainly, the delivery was lacking and hurtful in your case and I am sorry that you had to go through that. But not everyone who wants a PhD can be successful at a PhD program. It's better to know that now than to waste several years before either dropping out or finishing the degree but failing to get a job. I honestly don't know if this is true for you, but sometimes you simply have to tell students the hard truth instead of letting them just struggle along and waste important years of their lives on an impossible mission. 
 
As I said, I don't know if what your advisor said was a fair assessment of your work at all. Either way, it's important to view it as an assessment of your ability to do the training for a certain job, not as an assessment of your personality or person. There are extremely bright and successful people who would struggle in a PhD program because the requirements are set up in a such a way that it does not play to their strengths. That doesn't make them any less accomplished, you just need a very specific kind of personality, abilities and strengths to make it through, and only a (small) portion of it has to do with your intellectual abilities. Maybe that's something to consider. If, on the other hand, the assessments of your professors are simply wrong, I wish you all the best in your battle to attend graduate school. I think your approach is the healthiest one: do your best to prove that you are able and willing, and earn the letter and the trust.

I am really depressed with my life. I screwed up in college a few years ago. Because I am diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, it was extremely difficult for me to take 12 or 15 credits each semester and get good grades in all of my courses. Now, I am 27 years old. I went back to school part-time to finish my Bachelor's degree and I am getting straight As. I am majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Biology. I am interested in various topics including biological anthropology, osteology, population genetics, forensic anthropology, neuroscience, psycholinguistics, animal behavior, primate evolution and anatomy, prehistoric archaeology, cultural anthropology, tribal art, sustainability, environmental issues such as deforestation and climate change, and public health. I have strong blogging skills and I'm proficient in PowerPoint. My GPA is only a 2.55 overall and a 3.1 in my major. Unfortunately, it is too late for me to raise my horrible GPA because I am a senior with 108 credits. I am planning to graduate from college in the spring of 2014. I feel like I want to kill myself. I think that graduating from college with a 2.5 or 2.6 GPA is the end of the world. I will never get a job or get into a Master's program. Employers will judge me by my horrible academic record and won't even give me a chance to prove myself. Also, most jobs in the Anthropology field require at least a Master's degree and I will never get into graduate school with a 2.55. I live in NYC. I am dreaming about working for the Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of the American Indian, a primate conservation center, a nonprofit organization dealing with environmental health and sustainability, or becoming a professional travel blogger. I think my mediocre GPA is going to stop me from achieving any of those goals. My low GPA will haunt me until I die. I will never become a productive member of society. Should I commit suicide by jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge? I really feel like I'm useless and I don't deserve to live anymore.

We are talking about science program(s) that generally requires money to get pricey materials, instruments, or tools -- no matter if you are doing bench work or computational work. I hardly ever heard of an unfunded PhD Chemistry program in the U.S. who is willing to take someone that is willing to pay for his/her own expenditure that includes tuition fee, let alone stipend. Abundance of schools doesn't make a program easier to get in -- to a point where the general minimum requirement can be abolished (as pointed out by some posts above). I'm not saying that you can't get into programs with a sub-3.0 GPA (in fact, I know someone who had a sub-3.0 GPA and is now in the 4th year PhD at Scripps), but you are also competing with other international applicants who are beyond 3.0 GPA, whether with or without incredible credentials. [This discussion is solely based on the GPA problem.]
 
Self-funded MS program can definitely be an option if money isn't an issue. But your plan B doesn't seem coherent with your plan A, which makes me wonder how deeply interested and passionate are you to do research on " nanomedicine, nanomaterials, and nanotechnology" for multiple years.
 
 
 
I really doubt that there are STEM PhD programs would "only calculate the last 2 years of coursework into the GPA". True, some schools may tolerate applicants who did poorly in their early years in college, but that doesn't mean they do not consider them. Many factors will be considered when one reviews an application, but obviously, GPA is one of the first filters (if not actually the first) among all the factors.
 
As for the OP, why don't you fully prepared yourself (including your GRE, SOP/PS, LOR) before you bring this question up again? I just thought that people who are very determined to do a PhD in any field would be extremely prepared for that, even if he/she has to take a little detour.

This is because in the Canadian system, most science students are expected to complete a BSc, then a MSc, and then a PhD. The MSc and PhD programs are distinct/separate from each other and it's not unusual at all for a student to completely change project, supervisor, or even schools between these programs. In fact, even if you stay at the same school, on the same project, with the same supervisor, you would have to submit all of your transcripts, LORs, essays, etc. all over again, since you count as a new student in a new program. Sometimes, some programs will allow strong students direct entry to a PhD program or fast-track a MSc student into the PhD program after their first year.
 
To the OP, I think a 2.6 GPA is definitely too low for the big Canadian grad schools. I know that UBC has a campus-wide minimum of A- to be admitted by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, for example (if you're good, the department can fight for you, but the difference between A- and 2.6=B- is pretty large!). I think your chances will be better if you apply to places where people know you and can look past the low GPA since they know that you're capable of good work! For example, consider applying to work with your old supervisors and/or at your own undergrad school. In Canada, the "don't do your grad work at the same place as undergrad" stigma is much less since there are much fewer schools. Also, you could do a Masters and then go elsewhere for a PhD too. You probably also had collaborators that saw your good work, so maybe contact them to ask if they would consider you as a grad student!

Don't overthink it. Just do this during the next seminar you attend together:

I'm so sorry, GradHooting, for your troubles. You sound like a terrific, talented, level-headed person, and I wish you luck. I know how hard this process can be. Last year, I was rejected from every graduate program I applied to, and I spent nearly eight months searching fruitlessly for relevant work. I have an great record, an MA, and experience in my field, but I just couldn't find anyone willing to give me a chance.

This poem, by Sheenagh Pugh, helped me to get through the year:

Exhibition

He's playing trick shots to entertain
the crowd, because the match finished early.
And why was that? He was comprehensively
hammered, that's why; he didn't win

a frame. Now it's all going well:
now it doesn't matter, he can knock
them in from anywhere. There's a wisecrack
from the audience; he looks a bit pale,

small wonder, but he's right in there
fighting back, turning the laugh, as if
no-one just hurt most of the life
out of him for some hours. He's a master

now, showing them how to do it,
the skills of which most of us just dream,
courage, class, humour. That's the game
in the end, and he's a player all right.

It's infinitely easier to get into a great program or to get a great job, than it is to get rejected completely and repeatedly and still behave with grace, humor and hope. I have been blessed recently to begin a new job and to be accepted to an excellent PhD program for the coming fall. I'm grateful for these opportunities, but I'm proud of the way I behaved before I had them. It would be wonderful for the graduate programs and jobs to recognize your worth, and for you to find a place where you can be happy and useful. But mostly I hope you are able to find pride in your situation and to know that, if you're strong enough and gutsy enough, it, as much as anything else, really illuminates your true worth. All my best wishes! This will not last forever.

The programs I applied to are:
1. Baylor College of Medicine Interdepartmental Program in Cell and Molecular Biology (my final choice)
They're ranked in the top 20, now, and take 14-17 students per year. Major points for this program is that I loved the atmosphere; it is in the middle of the largest medical campus in the US (with 6 schools right there and several hospitals) and is actually interinstitutional, working between schools in the area, not just interdisciplinary. The students seemed very supportive of each other, and though there is competition to publish, they're actively mentoring each other. The faculty were also great. Another plus is that you're done with classes and your proposal defense within one year, so you can really hit your research hard. Oh! And no teaching requirement, which I was bummed about. This program is changing its name, though. FREE Application
 
2. University of Florida, Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences
This program is in the top 50, ranked 36ish, and they pull in a huge class, more than 25 students each year. There were lots of interesting projects, and the area is beautiful. The students didn't know each other was well, but I think students could be successful there. $30 application
 
3. Washington University in St. Louis (WashU/WUSTL) DBBS
Ranked in the top 15, but they get tons of applications. They have some of the best research facilities in the midwest. Entrance into this biomedical sciences program is competitive. I didn't interview. FREE Application
 
4. University of California, San Diego, (UCSD) Biomedical Sciences
Also ranked in the top 15. This is also very competitive, and I received an interview off of the waitlist after I'd made my final choice. I've been to the campus, and it would be an incredibly fun place to go to school if you could be outside all the time. It is expensive to live here, so you'd almost have to live in student housing. $75 application
 
5. University of Washington, Seattle: I applied Immunology, but they have Molecular Biology
Very competitive. They had hundreds of applications for just 3 immunology spots this year. They're ranked very near the top... but I was not impressed. $85 application fee
 
6. University of Utah, Molecular Biology
Unsure on rank, and this was originally going to be a "backup" school, but they have some impressive faculty doing really cool stuff, especially epigenetics, which I like. I turned down their interview, but these guys are very quick to respond to e-mails, etc. FREE application.
 
I didn't apply to other high ranking programs like UCSF because my GPA and GRE were too low, and UCSF requires subject GRE. If you like the program, though, consider taking the subject GRE on top of the required general GRE.

It troubles me that someone who has had (what seems like) a ton of research experience like you wouldn't know where to apply.  How about your research interests? What journals/authors are you following? Wouldn't your research advisor(s) inform you of prominent researchers within your research interests? Where do you see yourself living happily for 5-6 years?... Do some homework before asking this  kind of super generic questions, please.

It troubles me that someone who has had (what seems like) a ton of research experience like you wouldn't know where to apply.  How about your research interests? What journals/authors are you following? Wouldn't your research advisor(s) inform you of prominent researchers within your research interests? Where do you see yourself living happily for 5-6 years?... Do some homework before asking this  kind of super generic questions, please.

I'm shortlisted for donating an organ.  I have discussed this with my PI and hes being supportive.  I believe everyone should.  I'll keep you and your baby in my prayers

I'm shortlisted for donating an organ.  I have discussed this with my PI and hes being supportive.  I believe everyone should.  I'll keep you and your baby in my prayers

I had over 4.5 years (2 from undergrad and 2.5 from Masters) of research experience before I applied for PhD programs.

I think 1.5+ years should be okay.

You also want to stay in the same lab the whole time, unless it's rotation. Because it would make you look real bad when Admission Committee evaluating your application, it would make them think that you either:

1) hard to work with
2) lack of commitment
3) someone doesn't know what he wants
4) lack of maturity
5) inconsistent

Your chance might be higher because you have a Masters degree depends on if it was thesis-based or course-based. You could 1) volunteer in a lab for a year to gain more hands-on research experience or 2) work as a technician in a lab or a company, while work your personal statement and GRE exam

I'll be doing an intensive abstract algebra program at Cornell for the 8 weeks before I need to be at grad school.  They will be using the same text as my PhD program, so I'll have a nice jump start on one of my courses this fall.  Best case scenario, we cover enough material this summer that I can pass my algebra comprehensive exam before the year even starts, freeing my schedule for another class.  Even if it's not enough to pass the comp, I'll still be a lot more comfortable with the material this fall.  It would be absolutely worth it just for the coursework alone, but there is also a research component, lots of networking opportunities, and it pays well enough that I'll be able to afford new furniture for my apartment in Baton Rouge.
 
Down time would be nice, but this program is too beneficial to turn down.  Having spoken to a past participant, it's also a lot of fun.

You've talked a lot about the available faculty and what they bring to the ranking and implied dedication of the programs, but, at the risk of sounding repetitive, what about their relevance to your interests?  If one school only has one faculty member with research that really interests you, it probably isn't going to be your best choice, even if there are a lot of other professors in the general subfield.  On the other hand, if one of those schools has many faculty that you would be interested in, that might be a better fit.  When you think about individual professors, there's more than reputation and even more than publication potential to consider: if you go to a great place with great new faculty but don't love the specifics of your research, you're going to make your life difficult.
 
With all that in mind, you're really the only person who can decide which school is more enticing.  If commitment to bringing in new blood is important to you and you can see yourself working with the new professors, there's your answer.  If you like that there is active growth in the department but the people coming in don't fit your specific interests, you might need to think more about which thing you would prioritize: prestige or personal potential.  Most people would probably say to go for the personal potential with a balance of rank and interest, but if you are a person who can be happy doing any type of work in their general field and flourish under pressure, than maybe prestige is your better fit.  Even then, though, current ranking vs. observed dedication is a tossup that you have to decide.

For those whose home countries are faaar away and air tickets cost an arm and a leg (like mine), keep an eye out for conferences in the area. It's much more doable that way ;-)