Since we are almost at the end of the summer application/decision game. To help future applicants who might stalk this thread (like I did in the past), I think it will be good to answer these questions?
What programs did you apply to? Which ones did you get in? Better than last year? What are your stats? Is this your last summer in undergrad?
I'll go first
Below are the programs I applied to. I know it's a long list, but I'm an international student in an absolutely no research institution (I learned how to use a pipet at a summer internship, yeah it's that bad, we boil water during bio lab lol). Point is I applied widely cause I feel like I'm very disadvantaged, especially with being international.
Listed in order of when I submitted my application
1) princeton 01/15 - waitlist - accepted
2) wustl biomed rap - ACCEPTED!
(first acceptance, I was too excited)
3) daad - reject
4) nyu - reject!
5) JHU - waitlisted (never heard back, didn't contact either since I already accepted an offer)
6) Mayo Clinic - reject
7) Gesrstner sloan kettering - REJECT (first reject lol)
8) MIT MSRP - Accepted - MIT bound!!!!!!!!!!
9) upittsburg SURF - rejected (yesterday)
10) UTsouthwestern - waitlisted (asked to be taken off)
11) UPENN Undergrad student scholar - reject (regret spending 20 bucks to express the application)
12) UMadison SROP - rejected off the bat (ignored US citizen requirement)
13) Arkansas INBRE 02/23 - Accepted
This application cycle was so much better for me than last year. I literally had panic attacks while I was writing my personal statement this year because I thought I won't get in any where considering that last year I applied to FIFTEEN and got into ONE! at my home state (hardly any competition). My advisor ended up hooking me up with a program, which I ended up going to. I worked in the Marine Biological Lab in Woods Hole, MA and trust me that was the best summer everrrr!!!! Everything outside of lab work was spectacular. I had fun lol.
This year I wanted to focus more on doing substantial research work (all work, little play), shooting for a publication. So I'm very grateful I got to choose and reject great programs.
Now to my stats.
Like I said earlier, I'm international student, I'm a junior at a super tiny (less than 700 enroll) HBCU, double majoring in biology and chemistry. Cum 4.0 GPA. I did research last summer but it was environmental science (nothing to do with what I was applying to this year). I did go to an embryo/cancer lab during my free time though. I found a mentor there who ended up being one of my letter writers.
I started volunteering in a lab at the major state medical school in January. I'm doing biochem research on lung cancer stuff (fun things).
I believe I had GREAT recommendation letters. I read one I got from my program coordinator last year and I had tears in my eyes. It was beautiful.
What I did differently?
For my personal statement, I took a totally different approach, to be honest I think my PS sucked last year which is why I did't get in anywhere. My advisor thinks its liability issues (I was 17 last summer).
Also, I used got recommendation letters from diff. people this time, so I had a pool of about 6 letter writers and just varied the depending on program requirement. Last year I stuck to two people. I don't think it mattered though, cause set of different people wrote for all the ones I got in.
Sorry this is long, I just wanted to be as detailed as possible. And yes this is my last summer as an undergrad
BTW for anyone trying to register for MAY 2015 MCAT, AAMC just opened a bunch of seats in almost every state.
This is a really, really good idea. Maybe it'll help future applicants see that it is super competitive and super random (on our part). Programs are looking for specific types of people, so you have to find 1 that you absolutely know fits you, or take the time to apply to more than 5.
PROGRAMS:
1) Harvard Amgen Program (accepted March 5, 2015)
2) University of Oregon SPUR (accepted March 6, 2015)
3) University of Pittsburgh SURP (accepted March 19, 2015)
4) NYUsoM SURP (waitlisted February 25, accepted March 11, 2015)
5) Cold Spring Harbor (rejected March 2, 2015)
6) Jackson Laboratories SSP (rejected March 31, 2015)
7) Yale University Sackler/NSF REU program "Convergent Research at the Interface of the Biological, Physical, and Engineering Sciences" (rejected March 26, 2015)
8) University of Tennessee NSF REU in Microbiology (rejected March 30, 2015) *NOTE: I did this one last year and emailed my PI to tell him I accepted Harvard. so that's why this was a reject, not a reflection on my qualifications for this particular program*
9)Stanford University SSRP/Amgen Program (rejected March 11, 2015)
10)Columbia University Amgen Program (rejected March 11, 2015)
11) University of California - San Francisco Amgen (rejected April 23, 2015)
12) University of California - Berkeley Amgen (Alternate, rejected March 30, 2015)
13) Colorado State University Molecular Biosciences REU (rejected April 20, 2015)
14) Brandeis University Cell and Molecular Visualization REU (no notification)
15) University of Wisconsin - Madison Integrated Biological Sciences Research Program (IBS-RP) (no notification)
16) University of Kansas Molecular Biosciences REU (program was cancelled)
17) Albert Einstein School of Medicine Biomedical Sciences SURP (no notification)
18) Ohio State University Molecular Genetics REU (no notification)
About me:
I am a junior in biochemistry with genetics and microbiology minors. My goal is a PhD in molecular cell biology. I currently work in a Drosophila genetics/cell biology laboratory studying the effect of heterochromatic spreading on obesity. Last summer, I studied the diversity of facultative anaerobic bacteria in the mouse gut microbiota in relation to malaria susceptibility.
Stats:
Cumulative GPA = 3.73
Science(/Major) GPA = 3.93
Large Midwestern university known for its science and engineering
Letter writers were my current PI and the one from last summer
I have taken extremely advanced coursework in biochemistry/genetics/microbiology, including 6 graduate courses to date (virology, biochemistry I (proteins/metabolism), biochemistry II (membranes, nucleic acids), molecular signaling, immunology, molecular genetics). I also have a heavy background in chemistry, physics, and math (took quantum mechanics, chemical thermodynamics, Classical (NOT trig-based) physics I and II, and up to differential equations)
I've done 3 poster presentations.
1 publication that seems to be perpetually under review.
Personal statement
I chose to include sections in my "interests and career goals" that related to papers I read. I used them as examples of research that interested me, but I made sure it sounded like I actually read the paper. A lot of sophomores/juniors have little experience reading papers, but because of the graduate coursework, I have papers coming out my ears. I think this signaled to programs that were looking for students who are research-oriented that I was one of those people. I am a girl, but NOT an URM or financially impaired. I don't have any sad stories or magical childhood moments, so I decided to stay away from that trite method of writing. I decided they probably care more about my commitment to research and ability to plow through failure, so I also let them know that my current work is independent, as if I am a graduate rotations student. I am responsible for designing experiments and also fixing them when they inevitably fail. And when they asked why I wanted to go to their program, I focused on research. Not everyone can pull this off if you aren't that scientifically literate or are on a tight schedule, but suffice to say I'll be doing it again come September for graduate school.
I know I applied to a lot, but it's free and all these programs are looking for someone different. Its seems so random to us, but I really do think they are looking for specific traits. For instance, Program X may be looking for women with a passion for chemical applications to medicine while Program Y is looking for diverse students who have experience in bioinformatics. And think about it this way, if a program is looking for 5 student who are ____ and 5 student who are ____, the vast majority of the 1000 applications will be cut. I just really hope graduate school is easier to get into!
