BU March Decisions?

[Thayer]

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I also got this exact vibe.

My interview with him was interesting. He tried to tell me that the nickel ion exchange I used to purify proteins in my research worked because the histidines I put on the proteins were NEGATIVELY charged....😱 Histidine is NEVER negatively charged in physiological conditions! The freaking nitrogens in the histidine chelate to the nickel, but it isn't negative.

I didn't know what to do. I tried to resist him, but he insisted he was right, so I let it go. Later I wrote him an email with 3 paragraphs of foreplay and one that stated how I may have "misrepresented" something regarding my research, and proceeded to tactfully explain that it is simply chelation and not a charged interraction.

Kinda went on a tangent, but yeah....I don't think he'll try to contact me either. He almost seemed disinterested with me throughout the whole interview. At least I nailed the ethical questions I think. I just hope this whole fiasco didn't leave the wrong impression .

I'm really paranoid so I'm trying not to give out too much identifying info on the off chance that admissions officers prowl sdn but I had a very similar experience.

I missed 2 questions which I could tell he would count against me (even if his overall impression was positive) and I fumbled to the answer on another one.

For one of the questions I missed:
He asked me what demographic in the US was the most likely to go without health insurance. My guess was people who are lower income but don't meet the minimum required to qualify for medicare or medicaid. He didn't say anything so I tried to justify my answer with information (from NYT articles and other sources) I had read about the healthcare system in preparation for all my interviews. He let me go on for 5 minutes before saying, "no" and telling me I was incorrect. It was sort of a slap in the face. 🙁

My worst interview performance was definitely at BU.

 

[sendwich]

Anybody hear from / know anything about Dr. Michael Holick?

Congrats to all those that got in.

he's a pretty nutty guy. i worked with him briefly and had him as a prof. very very smart.

 

[sendwich]

Congrats, Malla. 🙂

I guess this means bad news for me.

why? 😕

 

[VivaPortugal]

I'm really paranoid so I'm trying not to give out too much identifying info on the off chance that admissions officers prowl sdn but I had a very similar experience.

I missed 2 questions which I could tell he would count against me (even if his overall impression was positive) and I fumbled to the answer on another one.

For one of the questions I missed:
He asked me what demographic in the US was the most likely to go without health insurance. My guess was people who are lower income but don't meet the minimum required to qualify for medicare or medicaid. He didn't say anything so I tried to justify my answer with information (from NYT articles and other sources) I had read about the healthcare system in preparation for all my interviews. He let me go on for 5 minutes before saying, "no" and telling me I was incorrect. It was sort of a slap in the face. 🙁

My worst interview performance was definitely at BU.

He asked me the same question. I guessed "lower middle class" and cited the same reasons you did. He then proceeded to tell me that it was recent college grads.

 

[VivaPortugal]

he's a pretty nutty guy. i worked with him briefly and had him as a prof. very very smart.

He seemed very smart, which is why I think I let him push me around about the negative histidine. I was also well aware of his Vitamin D research and his controversial stance on sunscreen, etc. I have nothing but respect for him, and he seemed rather pleasant. I'm just worried about my interview because it seemed as though the things that went wrong couldn't have been avoided.

 

[CptCrunch]

why? 😕

I also interviewed with Dr. Feinberg, but I did not receive a call.

 

[Thayer]

He tried to tell me that the nickel ion exchange I used to purify proteins in my research worked because the histidines I put on the proteins were NEGATIVELY charged....😱 Histidine is NEVER negatively charged in physiological conditions!

I think I'm with you on that one.

I took biochem (with Dr. Offner, she's wonderful!) last year so since it's been a while and I'm a little foggy on the subject. But isn't it as the pH increases amino acid side chains become deprotonated making the overall charge on the molecule "more negative"

For histidine (and correct me if I'm wrong) wouldn't it have to be very basic solution to have a negative charge? 😕

> and yeah, he gave me the same answer about 19-25 year olds

 

[sendwich]

He seemed very smart, which is why I think I let him push me around about the negative histidine. I was also well aware of his Vitamin D research and his controversial stance on sunscreen, etc. I have nothing but respect for him, and he seemed rather pleasant. I'm just worried about my interview because it seemed as though the things that went wrong couldn't have been avoided.

Not that I know him personally or anything but I got the impression that he likes to "push" his students (applicants too, i guess) to see how far they go but doesn't cross the line (ie be mean). as long as you gave a fair answer, don't worry too much about it. 🙂 👍

 

[VivaPortugal]

Yeah, to make histidine negative, it would have to be so basic that it would just denature the protein most likely.

 

[sendwich]

i have a feeling i'm either waitlisted or rejected. 🙁 there's no way i'm one of the 17 (or th 10 from my class).

 

[Thayer]

Yeah it sounded like you were in a difficult situation since you knew your research so well and you knew you were right.

It's hard to go against someone intelligent and self-assured. Especially, someone who has a say about your fate. But I'm with sendwich, it sounds like you were respectful about it and he does like to push his students hard.

My friends keep telling me my interview might not have gone as badly as I thought and that some interviewers just like to put the heat on to see how the applicant reacts. The same thing applies for your interview I'm sure. I bet it went better than you think. 🙂

 

[DrCurious]

i have a feeling i'm either waitlisted or rejected. 🙁 there's no way i'm one of the 17 (or th 10 from my class).

why do you say that, im sure u will get good news tomorrow 🙂

 

[Thayer]

i have a feeling i'm either waitlisted or rejected. 🙁 there's no way i'm one of the 17 (or th 10 from my class).

🙁 why do you say that sendwich?

This makes me sad. I feel like we're all in this together now. I want everyone on this thread to get accepted.

 

[Malla]

Thanks everyone for the congrats and all of the SUPPORT along the way! The last few weeks would have been rough without you all!!! 😀

I am sending out good positive thoughts for you all and hoping that you all hear good news tomorrow!!! Hey, we may all be classmates next year!

 

[sendwich]

why do you say that, im sure u will get good news tomorrow 🙂

thanks for the encouragement, DrCurious. 🙂 it's just that this grad program at bu is uber competitive and it seems like a lot of the kids do really well (or so i think, i haven't asked around for gpa or anything, so it's hard to know where you stand). theoretically speaking, kids from 3 gms classes probably applied (l2 years ago, last year, current year) so just speaking in terms of probability, it's pretty small. dah, i need to stop comparing. 😕

 

[sendwich]

Thanks everyone for the congrats and all of the SUPPORT along the way! The last few weeks would have been rough without you all!!! 😀

I am sending out good positive thoughts for you all and hoping that you all hear good news tomorrow!!! Hey, we may all be classmates next year!

so sweet. thanks Malla!!! 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

 

[sendwich]

I feel like we're all in this together now. I want everyone on this thread to get accepted.

so do i!!! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DrCurious]

i am predicting another sleepless night for myself 🙁😱

 

[Thayer]

it's just that this grad program at bu is uber competitive and it seems like a lot of the kids do really well (or so i think, i haven't asked around for gpa or anything, so it's hard to know where you stand). theoretically speaking, kids from 3 gms classes probably applied (l2 years ago, last year, current year) so just speaking in terms of probability, it's pretty small. dah, i need to stop comparing. 😕

GPA isn't everything though....BU has already turned away lots of qualified applicants with high undergrad gpas and mcats. And I have a few GMS friends who applied to BU, had good gpas in GMS, and didn't receive an interview.

Your GMS gpa isn't the whole story of who you are as a candidate. And I know that the GMS profs fight for every GMS kid. They know what they put us through and they respect us for working as hard as we do.

Have faith, sendwich. We're all rooting for you. 🙂

 

[sendwich]

GPA isn't everything though....BU has already turned away lots of qualified applicants with high undergrad gpas and mcats. And I have a few GMS friends who applied to BU, had good gpas in GMS, and didn't receive an interview.

Your GMS gpa isn't the whole story of who you are as a candidate. And I know that the GMS profs fight for every GMS kid. They know what they put us through and they respect us for working as hard as we do.

Have faith, sendwich. We're all rooting for you. 🙂

THANKS THAYER!!! so encouraging!!! AHHH!! 😍😍 you guys are awesome!!! 😍

 

[FON86]

my friend just got his acceptance call today FYI

 

[Thayer]

i am predicting another sleepless night for myself 🙁😱

DrCurious you can't keep doing this to yourself. You need your sleep!
I don't even think I could manage 2 sleepless nights. I'd just crash eventually. You gotta be more like this guy: 😴 He's all nice and snoozey.

THANKS THAYER!!! so encouraging!!!

Just doin' my job, just doin' my job. 🙂

 

[Thayer]

my friend just got his acceptance call today FYI

Do you know who your friend's interviewer was?

 

[VoiceofReason]

Good night and good luck everyone. How cool it would be to meet some of you at BU in the fall. 😎

 

[coral]

Anybody hear from / know anything about Dr. Michael Holick?

I had Dr. Holick as well and agree that we will most likely have to wait until tomorrow to find out our decisions. It sounds like both you and Thayer reasoned out your responses, and I had my share of challenging research related questions as well, so let's hope our answers carried us through.

Congrats to everyone that has been accepted!

 

[chevaliermalfet]

Well guys, it's been a day. Best of luck to you all who haven't heard yet, and congrats again to malla and the other acceptances. Acceptance or no, we've tried, and we should be proud of ourselves for that. So many never even got this far because they just gave up. We've stuck with it, and played the game out to its bitter end. If nothing else, hopefully there is contentment to be found in that.

Good luck everyone, and catch y'all on the flip side.

 

[Karina 07]

Gosh. I guess we'll all have a good idea of where we stand within the next 24 hrs... even less. So strange to think this is all coming to an end.

 

[epidemic8675309]

I had emailed my interviewer earlier tonight (asking about my admission decision) at 11pm expecting to hear back tomorrow morning...

...but Dr. Fujii emailed me right back at 1am and told me I am in!!! (apparently he's been swamped with clinic this week- hence he hadn't called)

But oh ****! and i was planning to sleep! good luck everyone else!

 

[mdgolfer84]

Congrats to everyone... Wow a lot of people are hearing from our little thread here... I just hope the good luck continues..

 

[epidemic8675309]

new USNEWS med school rankings just came out...

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/med/brief/mdrrank_brief.php

 

[in4mant]

anyone interviewed with dr. o'bryan (physiology and biophysics professor) and heard back????

 

[jeepney]

i was really close to emailing my interviewer this morning, but didn't want to put him an awkward position in case i am getting rejected. it would suck for both of us if he had to email back, "sorry, but..." 😱 i will stick it out and wait. one more day, right?

good luck to all of you. this process really sucks and i hope you guys get a spot somewhere, if not at BU. *hoping and praying*

 

[epidemic8675309]

nevermind

 

[WobbleDNA]

I know it's late for you east coasters, but even here on the west it's past 1am. Can't seem to shake the anxiety! Insomnia coupled with the biggest day of my life in about eh, 10 hours.... anyone else out there completely unable to sleep right now??

 

[epidemic8675309]

I know it's late for you east coasters, but even here on the west it's past 1am. Can't seem to shake the anxiety! Insomnia coupled with the biggest day of my life in about eh, 10 hours.... anyone else out there completely unable to sleep right now??

i'm east coast and still up... but need to pass out soon... finding out i got in via an email at 1am has kept me mad the past few hrs. but must pass out now...

p.s. anyone know if/how many merit scholarships BU gives out a yr?

 

[austindavid1]

Well, guys. I guess today is the day. Can't wait to hear how everything turns out for everyone. Best of luck to you all!

 

[Walter Sobchak]

Hi guys, although I haven't posted on this page much I was hoping you could lend a hand. Like many I haven't received a call from my interviewer. Do you think I should email him and politely ask him if a decision has been reached?

Whats the worse that can happen right?

 

[AzuraDragon]

I emailed my interviewer, but she forwarded the letter to Dr. Witzburg. Is that a bad sign? 🙁 🙁 🙁

 

[csujon]

are you serious?

 

[AzuraDragon]

Yeah. Yay for frustration!!!

 

[csujon]

I wonder if there is a memo going around, telling interviewers to forward all similar emails to Witzburg, due to all of the people posting and reading this thread emailing their interviewers. AzuraDragon I wouldn't read into anything until you get a definitive answer.

 

[VoiceofReason]

This has to be the thread with the most good fortune that I've ever seen 🙂 so many acceptances. You guys should check the upenn thread, now theres a cesspit.

 

[wannaB]

Wow... that is pretty infuriating. I don't know why an interviewer would pick on an applicant's last remaining nerve like that. (He or she must know how anxious we all are these days).

 

[NikoNLS8]

How many students per interviewer do you think there are?

 

[epidemic8675309]

This has to be the thread with the most good fortune that I've ever seen 🙂 so many acceptances. You guys should check the upenn thread, now theres a cesspit.

oh i totally agree on the cesspit thing- I'm one of those who got the damn "regular waitlist". I totally agree with Witzburg when he said he despises waitlist- with them being the most inhumane things every invented.

 

[DrCurious]

oh i totally agree on the cesspit thing- I'm one of those who got the damn "regular waitlist". I totally agree with Witzburg when he said he despises waitlist- with them being the most inhumane things every invented.

Ok now Im up. Finally fell asleep.

I guess I now wait? BU take me please.....

 

[Karina 07]

oh i totally agree on the cesspit thing- I'm one of those who got the damn "regular waitlist". I totally agree with Witzburg when he said he despises waitlist- with them being the most inhumane things every invented.

Last year, Witzburg made a comment that he had only a very small stack of applications on the corner of his desk, but then it turned out that they had waitlisted EVERY SINGLE PERSON (on sdn, at least -- but since that's a ton (I forget, 20?), that's pretty indicative).

So don't put too much faith in that. Lying bastards.

 

[sendwich]

anyone interviewed with dr. o'bryan (physiology and biophysics professor) and heard back????

he's not really good with email. he might call you.

 

[sendwich]

😀 😀 🙂

i'm east coast and still up... but need to pass out soon... finding out i got in via an email at 1am has kept me mad the past few hrs. but must pass out now...

p.s. anyone know if/how many merit scholarships BU gives out a yr?

WOOOHOOO CONGRATS EPI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!👍 👍 👍 🙂 🙂 🙂

 

[sendwich]

I emailed my interviewer, but she forwarded the letter to Dr. Witzburg. Is that a bad sign? 🙁 🙁 🙁

i wonder why'd she do that??? 😕