Biology PhD Fall 2009 applicants

[gradcafegirl]

What are your stats?

General GREs in the 600s, cumulGPA=3.3, MajorGPA=3.8, 1st author abstract, 1 year research.

My stats aren't that impressive, but I believe it was my LoRs and SoP that stood out. Also, I was very enthusiastic in interviews.

[overman]

oh well, great to see this topic for biology phd. here s my profile =)

International student

Cancer biology and virology with study in industry, UOB (UK)

Predicted degree classification: 2:1

1 publication

Too many rejections so i m not going to list here. Now hv accepted the offer from UCL doing developmental biology, hv declined the offer from cardiff (neuroscience)

[clx]

Great to bump into this thread...

MCB Student@UC Berkeley

Status: International Student

GPA 3.86, GRE Verbal: 530 (67%!) Quantitative: 800(94%) AW: 5.0

2.5 years of research, no pub, 1 conference

On merit fellowship

Applied: U. Chicago Mol BioSci, Harvard, UNC BBSP, Berkeley MCB, UCSF Tetrad, UCLA Access, MIT Bio, Caltech Bio, Cambridge, Stanford, Toronto

Reject: Harvard, Stanford, Cambridge

Interview: Chicago, UNC, Berkeley, UCSF, UCLA, MIT, Caltech

Reject after Interview: Berkeley(!)

Acceptance: Chicago, UNC, UCSF

In the wait: UCLA, Caltech, MIT

Completely MIA: Toronto

I'm actually eager to know how many people have received acceptance/rejection from MIT Bio yet. Any info?

[wakuwaku]

Hiya, I've been lurking on these forums for a while now, and figured it was time to contribute.

Here are my stats:

Born and raised in California, but currently an undergrad at the University of Chicago, pursuing BA in Biological Sciences with specialization in neuroscience

-2.5 years research experience in neurobio lab; working on honors thesis project

-3.8 GPA; GRE: 790 Verbal, 800 Quant, 4.0 Writing (yeah, idk)

Applied:

UCSD, Neurosciences

UCSF, Neuroscience

UChicago, Neurobiology

Caltech, Biology

NIH-Cambridge-Oxford, Biomedical Sciences

Accepted:

UCSF, UChicago, Caltech, NIH

Rejected:

UCSD Neuro (but I got an interview with their Bio program and am still waiting on a decision)

I also might choose to defer so I can go to Japan next year to do research at one of the RIKEN Institutes, but I don't find out about that until May.

[Morrius]

Graduated in 2003 from WPI, BSc in Biology, 2.6 GPA. (Don't ask.)

GRE Verbal 670, Quantitative 770, Writing 5.5

1.5 years working at Harvard Medical School, 3 years at Mass General Hospital with 2 publications in prep

Applied to

Tufts (Interviewed and rejected)

UMass Medical (Rejected)

Brandeis (Interviewed and rejected)

Georgetown (Interviewed)

SUNY (No word)

BC (Accepted)

I've already signed on the dotted line to attend BC, and I have to admit, it's a little intimidating. Are there any other BC students out there? The interview session was good, but I have a nagging feeling that I'm missing a piece of the puzzle.

[sleepingkitty]

Alright, I am now on hold with USC PIBBS!

[ndufour]

Hey there Morrius, I'm at WPI right now--first time ever encountering another WPI student (former or otherwise) on these forums. Just like to add to anyone still waiting on UCSD, I called there admissions office (again) and was told that my application (which I submitted within the deadline) is STILL under review...it's been four months, and I'm going stir-crazy. Arrrrg.

[Morrius]

You have my condolences, ndufour.

[sleepingkitty]

still on hold... wanting to cry...

has any body heard from usc pibbs???

[Astaroth]

I'm not sure what's worse.. waiting for an initial reply, or waiting for an admissions decision after interview.

I can't focus on work at all, I should be writing my project report.

[Morrius]

Good luck, Astaroth. Brandeis is crazy competitive. Three years in a row I applied, got interviewed, and was rejected.

[Astaroth]

I haven't actually heard back from Brandeis at all, it's UVM I'm waiting to hear from. But thanks anyway!

[sleepingkitty]

Here is the beautiful part about UCSD, there biology programs are joint at SDSU which is where I did my undergrad.. kicking my self about not applying there!

[Astaroth]

I actually had a brief chat with Sandy Bernstein, who organizes the SDSU/UCSD joint PhD program. He was commenting on how incredibly competitive his program is, let alone the UCSD program itself. He's a very pleasant man and was very kind to speak to me about applications! My supervisor is a close collaborator of his.

[sleepingkitty]

You are right, UCSD/SDSU is competative!!! However, I did research for faculty involved in the program and would have been a good applicant for that program. Numerous faculty would have vouched for my spot, they saw my intelligence and knew me. The one thing I need to do is get a better verbal GRE score for the next round of admissions. Because my score won't cut it.

BTW, how do you all get good verbals?

Still crossing my fingers that USC will have a spot for me! If not I figure out my next step towards PhD.

[Astaroth]

It's all about flash cards! You can learn hundreds of words using flashcards in the space of a couple of weeks. Make sure you are well-trained as to how the test is structured and what the rules of each type of question are, and you should do fine.

[ymmit]

Applied: Harvard, Caltech, Stanford, Michigan PIBS, UCLA ACCESS

Interviewed and Accepted: Caltech, Michigan, UCLA

Attending: Caltech Biology!

wakuwaku- I might have met you at Caltech- where are you thinking about going?

Anyone else going to Caltech Biology please let me know- I'd love to make some new friends.

[wakuwaku]

Hi ymmit, I was at the Jan 29-30 interview weekend at Caltech. Congrats on your decision! There's some great science going on there, but I'm from NorCal and I couldn't bear to betray my homeland. I'll be starting at UCSF Neuro in fall 2010 (deferring one year because I got a Fulbright grant to do research in Japan).

[ndufour]

You got a fulbright? congrats! congrats to both of you interviewing/getting into/attending caltech!

[clx]

Admitted to Caltech! (Less than an hour ago) Where are you from ymmit? I'm from UCB up here.

[ymmit]

thanks, ndufour.

wakuwaku- congrats on your Fulbright and your decision!

clx, great to meet you! I am a senior at MIT (Cambridge, MA) right now. Very excited about moving to So-cal. Have you decided on Caltech too? Are you in the Biology program, or BMB?

[adamm111484]

Hi ymmit, I was at the Jan 29-30 interview weekend at Caltech. Congrats on your decision! There's some great science going on there, but I'm from NorCal and I couldn't bear to betray my homeland. I'll be starting at UCSF Neuro in fall 2010 (deferring one year because I got a Fulbright grant to do research in Japan).

Congrats on the Fulbright. I was a Fulbrighter in 07-08 doing research in Panama. It's such a great program/experience!

[clx]

ymmit - I'm almost sure on going to Caltech (Biology) - but I need to let the euphoria rush settle down a bit, and then make a decision when I'm thinking with a clear head. It's kind of overwhelming for me, I can still feel some of my muscles twitch from the notification i got not too long ago.

[ymmit]

Oh wow, you really JUST got accepted, huh? Congrats! I wasn't sure if you were Biology or BMB because the folks that went to my weekend (Feb 13?) all heard back in mid-March. They really made you wait... :?

Let's get in touch once you make your decision!

[clx]

ymmit: So you're with the crowd... I visited all by my own in March, lonely and there's only interviews (very nice people btw), a good lunch and reimbursement forms. Something technical on my lab's part messed up the application materials so that they have to schedule a separate interview, not to mention that my international status prevented them from making an early decision.

Now that I'm thinking rationally again, what did you feel at your crowd interview? Do the people seem active and satisfied? Any rumors on the funding issue and layoffs? =) I think the probability of me going to Caltech is still over 95%, but extra input will be nice.