<p>I just found this board, and wish I’d seen it earlier! Anyway, I am a bit of a wild-card with the whole application process, so it’d be interesting to see what people think of my chances.</p>
<p>Bit of background: I’m going into science as a second career, as I already have a JD. I was a practicing attorney in the field of intellectual property for a few years before I decided my heart really lay in microbiology/virology (and eventually discovered immunology was a second love). I graduated from a top 10 law school, and worked at a very prestigious law firm in Chicago too (if that matters at all, which I doubt it does).</p>
<p>I am currently pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in biology at Univ. Wisconsin-Madison. I went for the degree option in case I elected to return to law (it would allow me to sit for the patent bar), although that is definitely a last resort. My first undergraduate degree was a BFA (yep, I’m what they call “well-rounded”).</p>
<p>Anyway, here’s the requisite stats:
domestic applicant
GRE: 650Q (ick), 710V, 5.0AW
GPA: 3.77 overall (3.75 major)
Research: 1.5+ years in a cancer research lab, various projects, nothing that would result in a publication with my name on it (ie, I have no publications)
LOR: 1 from the PI of my lab, one from an immunology prof at my school I’ve become very well acquainted with, and a third from my academic advisor – I expect all three will be very good.</p>
<p>Schools: I only applied to five, and all to their respective micro/immunology programs. In retrospect, I’m kicking myself for limiting it to such a small number, but you know what they say about 50/50 hindsight.
U. of Michigan
U. of Chicago
UNC-Chapel Hill
Washington Univ.
Johns Hopkins, Bloomberg Sch. of Public Health</p>
<p>At any rate, I’d be interested in hearing what others think about my chances. It’s going to be an interesting next couple of months. :)</p>
<p>@Mercurial665 I’m really interested how your application process will turn out. Can you keep us updated? I don’t know too many career changers in science who had an established career. Good luck!!!</p>
<p>I guess now is the time to say that admission to top PhD programs is insanely competitive for domestic as well as international students. The economy, combined with the population bubble and increased interest in the biomedical sciences, has increased applications tremendously. Last year some programs reported double the amount of applications. The question is, as always, how many of those applicants are fully qualified. If most of them are, it’s a tough road for all but the strongest candidates.</p>
<p>Keep this in mind: if you don’t get any interviews this year, don’t give up if entering a PhD program is your dream. Spend the next year strengthening your application and researching other programs. </p>
<p>Last year at this time, the early interviews went out, although I don’t see many here that applied to Baylor, the first to offer interviews in years past. Please keep in mind that interview offers are extended from early-December (rare) to early February, with most occurring in January. Do not panic if others get interviews in December while you are still waiting to hear. </p>
<p>I just submitted my last application. I thought I would feel relieved but I feel incredibly anxious! I get the feeling the next few months are going to be incredibly long and terrifying.</p>
<p>Why wouldn’t you complete your MD then apply for PhD? A PhD in the U.S. isn’t something you can bang out in 3 years, it is going to be a long time before you can get back to the medical degree. If you only have 2 years left on the medical degree, I don’t know why you would stop now. I can’t really comment on your chances, but it is also possible for you to do even more research while finishing that degree to stand even better chances when you do apply for PhD.</p>
<p>I know what you mean, cellculture. I think I was more nervous after submission than during the entire process.</p>
<p>Does anyone know when people begin receiving interviews? I remember last year that some people got interviews (or rejections) only a few days after the December 1 deadline. Should I be as worried as I am, having not heard back? (Weill is the school I’m referring to, and it’s the one I’m the most anxious about).</p>
<p>On the brighter side of things, I received an e-mail invite to an interview yesterday from the University of Cincinnati/Cincinnati Children’s program in molecular and developmental biology. </p>
<p>Has anyone heard anything about what the top tiered schools expect out of applicants, or know someone who is currently in one of those programs?</p>
Maybe jlin84 isn’t interested in medicine but research with a medical focus. In that case, I know many people who would suggest passing on the last two years of medical school (in an MD/PhD program).</p>
<p>I’m so anxious of waiting, so improvised something to muse myself, oh… great expectations… hehe</p>
<p>In St Louis Church, there was a lady standing, praying for his son. Why? </p>
<p>The story was she had a boy, named Rock. He had a very cute dog. One day his dog got sick and he was very sad. His mother gave a piece of advice to go and see a veterinarian. Her son delayed to go initially. When he reached the vet clinic, he asked the doctor a simple question rather than a tough question, Doctor, will my little puppy become normal again? No sooner did the doctor say Hes gonna be ok, dont you worry, my little boy., he exclaimed finally Yey!!!. The problem was once the dog saw a sharp syringe, spewing out visible liquid, he gave a small bark and ran away. Rock chased his dog, and found the dog was climbing up the tree. Clambering up, Rock cut, fell out of the tree, and lay on the ground. He grasped for air. The dog jumped overhead and scuttled to the Bar K Lay nearby. Rock called LandBeer Brewery to pre-empt any potential ruckus in the bar. While Rock has gone through physical and emotional turmoil, his mother was in St. Louis church, praying for his son.</p>
<p>In St Louis Church, there was a lady standing, praying for his son. Why? </p>
<p>The story was she had a boy, named Rock. He had a very cute dog. One day his dog got sick and he was very sad. His mother gave a piece of advice to go and see her vet. Her son delayed to go initially. When he reached the vet clinic, he asked the doctor a simple question rather than a tough question, Doctor, will my little puppy become normal again? No sooner did the doctor say Hes gonna be ok, dont you worry, my little boy., he exclaimed finally Yey!!!. The problem was once the dog saw a sharp syringe, spewing out visible liquid, he gave a small bark and ran away. Rock chased his dog, and found the dog was climbing up the tree. Clambering up, Rock cut, fell out of the tree, and lay on the ground. He grasped for air. The dog jumped overhead and scuttled to the Bar K Lay nearby. Rock called LandBeer Brewery to pre-empt any potential ruckus in the bar.</p>
<p>My situation is a little unusual. I have always been interested in a MD/PhD, but I wasn’t able to get into any of the programs in the US. Therefore I came back to my home country for med school instead for cost reasons. However, my school does not have a MD/PhD program.</p>
<p>Due to the fact that I’m funded by my government, I have to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. Hence, the best time for me to pursue a PhD is during med school. My med school is supportive, so hopefully I will get accepted somewhere.</p>