Help!!!

[diamedic17]

So I was wondering if anyone had any insight. I applied to 6 programs:

UPenn--CAMB (MVP)
Cornell--Infectious Disease/Immunology
Drexel--Microbiology/Immunology
Einstein--Biomedical Graduate Studies
Penn State--BMMB (Biochemistry, Microbiology, Molecular Biology)
NIH OxCam

I've been rejected from Cornell so I am going to assume UPenn and NIH will reject me as well (however I have not heard anything official yet). 

I have already interviewed at PSU and I will be interviewing in January for Drexel. I have not heard from Einstein yet.

First, with 2 years research experience and a first author paper submitted, 162Q, 155V, 4.5 AW, and 3.77 GPA in Cell Bio/Organic Chem...Do I have a shot at Einstein? I can't find any statistics online as to who they take.

Second, assuming I get an interview to Einstein and all 3 schools that I will have interviewed at accept me...what program would you take and why? (If Einstein is your choice please give a 2nd choice as well in case I don't get the Einstein interview) Note: I want to work in biodefense with the CDC or USAMRIID in the long run.

Third, Penn State said at the interview that they sometimes offer "signing bonuses" in order to bring recruits in early. Do most universities do that or is this something that only PSU does?

All that said, if the NIH or Penn contact me for an interview, they will be my top choice beyond a shadow of a doubt unless they don't impress me at the interview but I assume that they would.


Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!

[ion_exchanger]

I can't offer much help to you. I will say that you shouldn't assume that Penn and NIH won't accept you just because Cornell didn't. Graduate school admissions is much different from undegraduate admissions. Looking at Einstein on petersons.com, they have an acceptance rate of 20%. The individual programs are not reported.  

 

Your stats and research experience might be more of a fit at Penn or NIH. Also, as far as schools, I personally know someone in the NIH ox/cam program and she loves it, but you really cannot make a decision until you attend the interviews. That's where YOU decide if the school/area/academics/professors/etc. are the right fit for yourself. No one else can really make that decision for you. Each of these schools will give you a great education.

[diamedic17]

@ion_exchanger....thanks so much for your thoughts...it makes me feel much better that i might actually get an interview at Penn (which is my top choice besides NIH)...while you say I might be a good fit for NIH i'm still not gonna hold my breath for them because it is EXTREMELY competitive and even though I think i'd excel there I know there are a lot of other people that would excel there too that have better stats than me.  plus no classes are required with that program because they assume you have enough background from prior schooling which leads me to believe that they want more people with masters degrees than bachelor's.  regardless i'm going to be ecstatic if i get into any of the programs because they all seem great.  Penn State was actually on the very bottom of my list before I interviewed there and they impressed me very much.  I will say that it will be a very difficult decision no matter what!!   Thanks again and Merry Christmas!!