2014 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

[elanorci]

Congrats, username!! 

[perfectionist]

UNC BBSP posted on Facebook that they've received a record number of applications this year. Yikes.

Edited December 9, 2013 by perfectionist

[NeuroGirl042]

UNC BBSP posted on Facebook that they've received a record number of applications this year. Yikes.

 

Yep - in the email they said it was over 1000. Goodness! Here's hoping this isn't an especially competitive season...

[tuba250]

How many students do they usually take every year?

[acetylcholine]

FINAL UPDATE because I finished all of my applications

 

Undergrad Institution: Huge public, not tier 1
Major(s): Biology
Overall GPA: 3.72 as of application time
Position in Class: Top 15%
Type of Student: Stateside female

GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 163 (87%)
V: 167 (97%)
W: 4.0 (54%)

Research Experience: 2 summers and a semester, one second-author publication pending, one poster presentation

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Golden Key Honor Society

Applying to Where:

 

All PhD

Harvard BBS - DRB

Columbia Neuro

UCSD Neuro

Iowa Neuro

Arizona Neuro

Vanderbilt NGP

[elanorci]

I had a dream last night that I got a rejection from Stanford. I think I'm thinking about this a little too much... ahh

[Orims]

For those of you that have been called for interviews: at what time did you receive your calls?

[antibody89]

Did anyone who applied to Michigan State University BMS program hear back yet? thanks

[Leuco]

Did anyone who applied to Michigan State University BMS program hear back yet? thanks

 

I applied.  I heard back on December 3rd that my application was complete, but that is it so far.  [This might not be normal: they told me mistakenly that my application was incomplete, so she emailed me back and told me that it /was/ complete, and they'd emailed me in error.]

 

I wouldn't be worried yet, though - it's still super early.

[antibody89]

I applied.  I heard back on December 3rd that my application was complete, but that is it so far.  [This might not be normal: they told me mistakenly that my application was incomplete, so she emailed me back and told me that it /was/ complete, and they'd emailed me in error.]

 

I wouldn't be worried yet, though - it's still super early.

 

Thanks!! hope we hear back soon..BTW was there anywhere on the MSU app that allowed you to list your research experience or work experience during undergrad

[Leuco]

Thanks!! hope we hear back soon..BTW was there anywhere on the MSU app that allowed you to list your research experience or work experience during undergrad

 

Erm. I talked about my research experience in the academic statement, and a bit of leadership experience in a club for my personal statement, but I don't think they gave a location to upload a resume or anything like that.

[antibody89]

Erm. I talked about my research experience in the academic statement, and a bit of leadership experience in a club for my personal statement, but I don't think they gave a location to upload a resume or anything like that.

 

I called the admission office..they said that the calls should be going out this week..

[Leuco]

I called the admission office..they said that the calls should be going out this week..

 

Oy gods.  I didn't expect this all so soon.  I think last year, it took much longer..... or I just applied to sillier places, haha.  I was going to wait 'till early January 'till I started calling.

Thanks though..... yet another reason to be terrified!

[username1824]

The people who call admissions offices and let us know when decisions can be expected are the heroes of this thread . I'm too shy to do it haha.

[mop]

Congrats on another interview! Like Melissa said, it's probably best to accept the invitation from the one you like more and try to reschedule the other. I don't know for sure this year, but historically UNC has had 3 interview weekends so you probably have some flexibility with them. 

There are going to be 6 interview weekends for BBSP, if you can't make it you could try rescheduling to one of the others. The weekends are grouped by interest area though, they try to have all the applicants of certain subfields, like neuro on the same 3 weekends or whatever.

 

Yep - in the email they said it was over 1000. Goodness! Here's hoping this isn't an especially competitive season...

This is fairly normal for BBSP

 

How many students do they usually take every year?

I've heard some PIs say entering class size BBSP admissions is aiming for about 60-65 or so. No idea how many actual admissions offers will go out.

[uvreactive]

Dear everyone else who has applied: I submitted UPitt IBGP on 12/1 when it was due, do you think I would have already been invited for an interview if they were going to give me one?

[Monochrome Spring]

Thanks!! hope we hear back soon..BTW was there anywhere on the MSU app that allowed you to list your research experience or work experience during undergrad.

 

MSU applications had the option to upload additional documents, such as a CV, through the student portal.

[uvreactive]

Here's my profile:

 

Undergrad Institution: SLAC, well-known in academia, and I think research here is well-regarded
Major(s): Biology
Minor(s): Chemistry, Theater
GPA in Major: 3.39
Overall GPA: 3.48
Position in Class: No idea, we don't do rank here
Type of Student: Domestic white female, no economic disadvantage

GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 164 (89%)
V: 165 (95%)
W: 5.5 (97%)


Research Experience: 1 month (January Term) doing molecular bio stuff volunteering at an immuno lab at Stanford, 1.5 years (in May/at graduation) in my current lab, in which I do genetics/muscle physiology research in C. elegans, and I'm an honors candidate in that lab this year

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: I have merit scholarships to my school, including a National Merit scholarship for my SAT scores

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Cell & Molecular Bio TA. I also am the teaching coordinator for our school's GlobeMed chapter about issues of health access, privilege and oppression.

Special Bonus Points: My mentor at Stanford did his Ph.D. at Yale, and my current PI/advisor went to UPenn for undergrad

Applying to Where:

UPitt IBGP

Tufts Sackler for microbio

BU PiBS

Brandeis C&M

UPitt MCB

Case Western BSTP

 

long shots:

Harvard BBS

Yale BBS

UPenn BGS

[Leuco]

MSU applications had the option to upload additional documents, such as a CV, through the student portal.

 

Ah, I didn't notice that.  I uploaded my transcript... now trying to decide whether or not to upload my CV.  The department already received my app, so I wonder if it would just annoy them at this point.... hmm.

[NeuroGirl042]

Hey everyone! I work for someone that's on the admissions committee at FSU, and she let me know that Neuro interviews will be released on the 20th, and EE and CMB will be earlier than that. Just thought I'd pass the info along =) 

[acetylcholine]

melissac042, would you just happen to know when Vanderbilt NGP's interview invitations are going to be sent out?  I am also applying to the same program.

[antibody89]

Ah, I didn't notice that.  I uploaded my transcript... now trying to decide whether or not to upload my CV.  The department already received my app, so I wonder if it would just annoy them at this point.... hmm.

 

You uploaded your own transcript?? doesn't it have to be sent directly from the school

[acetylcholine]

You uploaded your own transcript?? doesn't it have to be sent directly from the school

 

Everywhere I applied did that.  Some of them also wanted transcripts sent directly from schools.

 

I think it's for efficiency.

[Leuco]

You uploaded your own transcript?? doesn't it have to be sent directly from the school

Hmm.  I am getting all of these mixed up.  I think that I did both.  I definitely sent it, but decided to upload an "unofficial" copy, too, haha.

[Monochrome Spring]

Most of my programs required an official transcript and a scanned copy for the application.