2014 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

[sys88]

Yea. I really didn't like the backwards thing, neither did my recommenders. I submitted my app on the 21st and my last letter went in on the 27th. I want to email/call Kenton, but I'm too chicken. I guess I don't want a rejection from there. Did they give you a choice of dates or was it one date? I'm really hopping they do it in waves. Might be my low GRE scores, but I thought my MS degree and experience would make up for that. 

 

They gave me two options: Feb 6-8 or Feb 20-23. I chose the second weekend. GRE scores shouldn't be that important, so I can't imagine that if you have a stellar app otherwise that GRE scores would hold you back. I don't really know.

[tcmazer]

I don't think that is a big enough change to make a huge difference.

 

Yeah, good point.

[sys88]

Hey guys, just got my semester grades back, got a 3.4 which raised my gpa from 3.04 to 3.07, is it worth sending schools the updated transcript/a message?

If they waitlist you I'd consider it. Otherwise, no.

[T.J]

Someone reported a Weill neuroscience invitation.  Now I'll be on edge all day, even though I applied to Cell/Developmental.

I applied to Cell & Developmental track as well. Good luck to us!

 

I haven't seen any NYU - Sackler - Developmental genetics invites so far (or perhaps not mentioned). So far it has been neuroscience there too.

 

Anybody else going to Penn state Hershey on Jan 9-11 for the interview?

[persimmony]

Second interview! UC Denver CSD program!

That's one of my top choices. I still haven't heard anything from them yet. Wondering if I should call or email. I really wanted to go to this school. I have direct experience with stem cells too......

 

I had a hard time deciding between UC Denver's CSD program or the Biomedical Sciences umbrella program (which includes CSD). I decided to go with the latter because the program admin told me that "The CSD program gets around 10-15 applications each year, invites ~6-7 students to interview, makes ~3-4 offers, hoping to admit at least one or two."

 

In contrast, the BMS has a much bigger pool so I thought I'd have a better chance. Anyway, It's a small program that invites few people so if you haven't gotten one yet I'd call. 

[yeso89]

 

 

I had a hard time deciding between UC Denver's CSD program or the Biomedical Sciences umbrella program (which includes CSD). I decided to go with the latter because the program admin told me that "The CSD program gets around 10-15 applications each year, invites ~6-7 students to interview, makes ~3-4 offers, hoping to admit at least one or two."

 

In contrast, the BMS has a much bigger pool so I thought I'd have a better chance. Anyway, It's a small program that invites few people so if you haven't gotten one yet I'd call. 

 

 I decided to go with CSD because I already know what I want to do. Also, I thought having direct experience working with embryonic stem cell and studying their differentiation would make me stand out. I didn't know CSD only interviews 6-7 people. I thought more people would apply directly to departments if they had the chance. 

[molecularneuro]

 I decided to go with CSD because I already know what I want to do. Also, I thought having direct experience working with embryonic stem cell and studying their differentiation would make me stand out. I didn't know CSD only interviews 6-7 people. I thought more people would apply directly to departments if they had the chance. 

 

I have a CSD interview. Kenton told me they invited 12 when he offered me the interview. I've heard they recruit 4 so likely to have at least 6 offers. Not sure if all the interviews have gone out. You should email Kenton about your particular situation. My experience is that most program admins are very friendly and there is no reason not to ask politely.

 

You can apply to more then one program at Anschutz. I also applied and got the interview at BSP. If you don't get in this year then you should maximize your chances by applying to multiple programs in your top choices (if they allow it).

[molecularneuro]

They gave me two options: Feb 6-8 or Feb 20-23. I chose the second weekend. GRE scores shouldn't be that important, so I can't imagine that if you have a stellar app otherwise that GRE scores would hold you back. I don't really know.

 

"GRE scores shouldn't be that important" - unfortunately the facts indicate they are important. Just look at the gradcafe results search database and also the GPA/GRE combination of people with offers in this thread - if you have a high GPA/GRE and research experience you will get an interview. If you don't then its a crapshoot - your best shot is to apply to as many mid and low tier schools and hope someone likes your app. The alternate and best way to reduce the "hope element" is to create a relationship with PIs at these mid and low tier schools and then you have a much better shot of getting an interview/offer. 

[DirtyLabCoat]

What specific program in Yale BBS

[Fun_Cookie]

Molecular Cell Biology-Genetics Development. I hope the Microbio people are still reviewing.

[DirtyLabCoat]

That's what they said when I called yesterday so I am still waiting

[musicalscientist]

Which track in MCO?

[Fun_Cookie]

Molecular and Cell Bio

[RatsWithHats]

Does anybody know if UCSD BMS is having more than one interview weekend? My invite only mentioned feb 7-8, but last year they definitely had two weekends. Don't know if they are sorting them out by interests or something... Any insight?

[DirtyLabCoat]

Merry Xmas Eve everyone!

[username1824]

I read on collegeconfidential that Rockefeller doesn't interview applicants; they just accept them based on their written application. Does anyone know if that's true?

[CanRes]

I read on collegeconfidential that Rockefeller doesn't interview applicants; they just accept them based on their written application. Does anyone know if that's true?

On the search function people were reporting interviews from the last admissions cycle, but not the ones before it.  So I'm guessing they may have just started doing it recently.

[Gram Neutral]

I got my interview notification the week of Thanksgiving, like the 25thish. I sent all my materials in by November 7th, since I had them complete... I'm pretty sure that they reviewed them as they came in (especially because their website specifically said they start reviewing in November). I've seen the Pitt interviews come out sporadically with multiple interview weekends. I'll be going 1/10

 

Okay cool, thanks. I doubt they will be reviewing anything else until after the New Year. Maybe they didn't get as many applications as they wanted since they pushed the deadline back a month. 

[username1824]

On the search function people were reporting interviews from the last admissions cycle, but not the ones before it.  So I'm guessing they may have just started doing it recently.

Bummer. Oh well, such is life.

[elanorci]

Merry Christmas Eve, all! We should all vow not to check this website tomorrow - it's one day that we know we won't be hearing any news, and I think we could all use a break from the worrying, yes? (: 

[neuroticism]

Hi everyone, I've been a lurker, but I've decided to come into the light in order to crowdsource a question.  I just got a call for a Berkeley MCB interview (a pretty awesome Christmas present, if you ask me), and the professor I spoke to had a really thick accent.  I was thus (somewhat hilariously) unable to make out the dates for the interview she mentioned, and she said they wouldn't email me til January...so I now don't know what the interview dates are.  Anyone know them?  I'm pretty sure there were two possibilities (one of which was maybe Feb 2-4?)

 

Applied (9/9): Harvard BBS, Yale BBS, Princeton MolBio, Berkeley MCB, UCSF Tetrad, Wisconsin MolPharm, UCSD BMS, Stanford Biosciences, Rockefeller
Interviews (5/9): Harvard BBS, Yale BBS, Berkeley MCB, Wisconsin MolPharm, UCSD BMS

[joehanus]

Hi everyone, I've been a lurker, but I've decided to come into the light in order to crowdsource a question.  I just got a call for a Berkeley MCB interview (a pretty awesome Christmas present, if you ask me), and the professor I spoke to had a really thick accent.  I was thus (somewhat hilariously) unable to make out the dates for the interview she mentioned, and she said they wouldn't email me til January...so I now don't know what the interview dates are.  Anyone know them?  I'm pretty sure there were two possibilities (one of which was maybe Feb 2-4?)

 

Applied (9/9): Harvard BBS, Yale BBS, Princeton MolBio, Berkeley MCB, UCSF Tetrad, Wisconsin MolPharm, UCSD BMS, Stanford Biosciences, Rockefeller

Interviews (5/9): Harvard BBS, Yale BBS, Berkeley MCB, Wisconsin MolPharm, UCSD BMS

 

Which MCB track did you apply to?

[dembugsdo]

Hi everyone, I've been a lurker, but I've decided to come into the light in order to crowdsource a question.  I just got a call for a Berkeley MCB interview (a pretty awesome Christmas present, if you ask me), and the professor I spoke to had a really thick accent.  I was thus (somewhat hilariously) unable to make out the dates for the interview she mentioned, and she said they wouldn't email me til January...so I now don't know what the interview dates are.  Anyone know them?  I'm pretty sure there were two possibilities (one of which was maybe Feb 2-4?)

 

Applied (9/9): Harvard BBS, Yale BBS, Princeton MolBio, Berkeley MCB, UCSF Tetrad, Wisconsin MolPharm, UCSD BMS, Stanford Biosciences, Rockefeller

Interviews (5/9): Harvard BBS, Yale BBS, Berkeley MCB, Wisconsin MolPharm, UCSD BMS

Congratulations! Funny, the person who I received a phone call from for their interview invitation had a thick accent too. They told me that the 2 options were Feb. 2-4th, or Feb. 23-25th. I applied to the Immunology track, though I'm not sure if there are different interview dates within the MCB department. 

 

Other note: email invitation to Tufts molecular micro today (hooray for early crimmus presents). Now let's all swear to stay away from this cursed forum for the next 24 hours or so  

[acetylcholine]

Columbia is sending out interview applications.  Hope my mentor's connection there works.  If not, guess that's two probable programs I'm not going to.

[katethekitcat]

"GRE scores shouldn't be that important" - unfortunately the facts indicate they are important. Just look at the gradcafe results search database and also the GPA/GRE combination of people with offers in this thread - if you have a high GPA/GRE and research experience you will get an interview. If you don't then its a crapshoot - your best shot is to apply to as many mid and low tier schools and hope someone likes your app. The alternate and best way to reduce the "hope element" is to create a relationship with PIs at these mid and low tier schools and then you have a much better shot of getting an interview/offer. 

 

You said, "If you have a high GPA/GRE and research experience, you will get an interview" - but you're presuming it's the high GRE that is the most important factor to that interview, not the high GPA and research experience. I rarely see a low GPA paired with a high GRE or a very low GRE with a high GPA. If the GRE is a significant factor, we should be seeing more low GPAs but high GREs being accepted to graduate programs; in searching the results forum, I have rarely, if ever, seen a combo of high GRE with low GPA and no research.