persimmony

So I have a Duke interview Feb6-8 (thurs-sat) and just got notified I was invited to Boston University to interview. They have two dates available: Jan 24 and Feb 10. It would be a full day of activities so I'd have to fly in the day before and out the day after. I would normally choose Jan 24 but my boyfriend's annual company getaway is that friday through the weekend. I already said I'd go so I'd feel pretty bad if I had to cancel. Which leaves Monday, Feb 10. I could interview at Duke through saturday and fly out from North Carolina to Boston on Sunday, and interview the whole day Monday. I'm afraid I might get worn out, but on the other hand I might be on an energetic interview roll? Does anyone from previous years have experience with interviewing back to back?

Duke asked me to pick 10. I started running out towards the end.. Is your BU invite for the PiBS? Which date did you choose? I wonder if choosing earlier interview dates = better chance of admittance..?

The 3 research interests I checked were: Development & Regenerative Biology, Stem Cells Cell Signaling & Gene Regulation Cancer Biology & Hematologic Disorders Mostly focused on stem cells though in the "why have you chosen boston university" section.

Interview invite via email from Boston University PiBS! Dates: Jan 24 or Feb 10. Hmm...boyfriend's annual company getaway falls on Jan 24 and if I were to do Feb 10 I'd have to fly directly from Duke to Boston. Getting busy, I don't know how some of you applied to 10+ schools!

First interview invite from Duke via email! Developmental and Stem cell bio program. See you there mike0982!

I saw this option on a few of my apps. One of them suggested using the space to explain poor grades (GPA, GRE). There was another app that didn't have a space to upload a CV, so I used the extra space to list my publications and poster presentation. Mostly though, I left the area blank for other apps.

Undergrad Institution: Large state university. Not very research oriented. Major(s): Biology Minor(s): Chemistry, Physics GPA in Major: 3.57 Overall GPA: 3.65 Position in Class: Not sure. Type of Student: Domestic, female, asian GRE Scores (revised/old version): Q: 159 (75%) V: 161 (87%) W: 4.0 (54%) Research Experience: 1 semester as a Research Intern in my undergrad. A little over a year at my current Lab Researcher position in a stem cell lab, which is what I want to study. 3rd author paper submitted last week, a 1st author paper in preparation. Awards/Honors/Recognitions: 2 semester Dean's List Graduated cum laude Pertinent Activities or Jobs: I was a lab technician in an analytical environmental lab for 4 years before I got interested in research. Worked with a transmission electron microscope to analyze x-ray crystallography patterns of asbestos structures from samples brought to us by clients. Not research, but still lab work so I hope it counts for something. Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: NA Special Bonus Points: One of my recommendation writers is a well known scientist in the field. She's a faculty member at one of the schools I'm applying to and also has connections to a POI at another university. Applying to Where: UC Denver - Biomedical Sciences Program CU Boulder- Molec, Cell, and Dev Bio (MCDB) Univ Wisconsin Madison- CMB Duke - Dev and Stem cell bio UC Irvine - CMB Cornell-Weill - BCMB BostonU - CMB

I've been getting pretty mixed responses from searching online about whether or not it's good to contact faculty at prospective grad schools for a PhD. So far, I haven't contacted any but I've listed professors who's studies are in line with my interests in my statement of purpose. Weill-Cornell has a section in its application titled "Faculty Contact" and below it asks, "With whom have you consulted or corresponded on the Faculty of the Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences concerning graduate study toward an advanced degree?" Then there is a space where you can list up to 3 faculty members. So should I contact faculty I'm interested in working with? What do I even say?

I'm looking at Duke University's PhD programs, particularly the Cell and Molecular Biology, as well as the Developmental and Stem Cell Biology. It appears they are umbrella-like programs, wherein a more specific PhD is awarded. I've been working in a stem cell lab the past year and would like to pursue it further into my graduate school studies. Most of the other schools I'm applying to don't have a stem cell program, and I'm not really sure I would want such a specific PhD anyway so I'm applying to Molecular&Cell bio programs. My question is, if I'm highlighting my stem cell research in my SoP and CV, would it be strange not to apply to their Dev and Stem cell program in favor of the CMB? I could apply to both but I heard that's frowned upon?

As far as my contribution to the papers go, I feel like I had a large role. I embedded, sectioned, and stained experimental and control tissue. Then I imaged them and compiled all the data into Prism, producing graphs that are in the paper. Like I said, I am my PI's only technician so we worked side by side in some experiments like flow cytometry, or I worked independently. As of now, I'm still having trouble narrowing down the huge number of PhD programs. I don't necessarily want or need to get into the top programs. Really, my top choice would be UC Denver because of its proximity to home, and it's ranked at only 68. I emailed the woman in charge of the program and gave her my stats, and she told me I was right in line with the accepted class. I probably shouldn't apply to UCSF if my chances are slim to none. Could you recommend any other schools that might be more lenient to someone of my experience?

Thanks for the reply! I do have plenty of cash to spare so I'll probably apply this year and cross my fingers.

First of all, I graduated in 2011 from a mid-sized public state school that not many people outside the state know about. Majored in Biology with minors in Chem and Physics. My overall GPA was 3.65 and major is 3.5. I'm taking the GRE next week, but my last practice test score was 162V/167Q so I'm not too worried. What I am worried about is my research experience. I have 1 semester from my senior year where I worked as an intern in an immunology lab. I was only there ~10hrs/week so I can't say I had a major impact on the research; mainly I did some cell culture and flow cytometry. No analysis of the data. As of October 2012, I joined a stem cell lab where I am my PI's only technician. I've gotten a lot of valuable experience thus far, and work independently, though I don't create my own projects. By the time I apply, I'll have one or two papers in review in which I am a second author. With the economy as it is, I know that admittance has been tougher these past few years; that said, will I have a decent chance at acceptance? I want to apply for a PhD to biomedical sciences umbrella programs. I plan to apply to 5-7 schools of varied ranks.

I'm just concerned about my chances of getting into a molecular bio program when my experience is in cell bio (I also did a 1 semester internship in an immunology lab). Also, would 1 year and 1 semester be enough research experience? No publications.

1. I can either continue working full time in my non-research lab while volunteering 10-15hrs a week in a molecular bio lab at the university I want to apply for a PhD (in molec bio) 2. Accept a full time research position in a cell bio lab at a hospital/research institute. The schedule won't allow me to volunteer in the molecular bio lab, and I'd be paid much about 8k less in salary compared to my current job. Which experience would make me a better candidate when I apply next year? Does it matter much if my research isn't in the field I want to get a PhD in?

I've already graduated and I have one semester of being a research intern during undergrad under my belt. I've been looking for positions in academic research labs, but haven't had such good luck. I have been working in a lab for the past 4 years, but it isn't research, and at this point I'm thinking I should just volunteer in the dept. I want to apply to (molecular bio) for about 10hrs a week until I apply next fall. Will that be enough experience to get accepted into grad school for a PhD?

Well I was a research intern at an academic lab for 1 semester, and I've been working in an environmental lab (not research) for the past 4 years. The lab I have an interview in is not necessarily the dept. I'll eventually apply to, but I'm leaning towards the academic position... now to do well in the interview.

I'm in a position where I have 2 job interviews: both research positions, one in a large academic institution and the other and a large biopharmaceutical company. I know the biopharm will pay at least 8k more per year, and I do eventually want to go into industry after getting a PhD in molecular bio or biochem. However, academia would allow me to network more and I want to apply to that school anyway. Would industry research be viewed negatively when I eventually apply for my PhD?

I'm beginning to look into PhD programs for Molecular biology or Biochemistry, and I can't seem to find any info on acceptance rates for schools. Can anyone lead me to the right track? I'm particularly interested in UC Denver programs, but would also appreciate info on higher tier schools.