<p>every single one of my 10 applications started out the ethnicity part of the application with “Are you hispanic?”</p>
<p>Hard to believe ethnicity plays no role in admissions if that’s the first question on the application regarding ethnicity… And I absolutely agree with seniorspring that affirmative actions is everywhere. You are fooling yourself if you don’t believe it.</p>
<p>@langerhans: congrats! which program?</p>
<p>OHSU (Oregon Health Science University) interview via phone today. Interviews are in Feb…this is for the biochemistry department on their main campus.</p>
<p>UNC Chapel Hill invite via phone, e-mail came right after. So excited!! It’s going to be a great weekend.</p>
<p>@virions, thanks it is the immunology program.</p>
<p>Some one on gradcafe posted a Northwestern IGP invite. Keep the hopes up if you’re waiting on a decision from that program!</p>
<p>No one has heard from Rockefeller yet have they? So I doubt you should assume a rejection just yet.</p>
<p>Thanks, since my last post I got an Iowa interview as well. Feb 23-26 (Microbiology). No date to confirm by, just “as soon as possible”. 2/4 of mine have had specific dates so far, which is really nice for planning sake. I think a 1 month notice should be plenty of time, though it is not as soon as possible, and I definitely don’t want to keep anyone waiting.</p>
<p>I’m new to this thread. I take it no one has heard back from Stanford Biosciences or from UCSD anything (Bio, BMS, Neuro…)? I am waiting on those programs and am freaking out. </p>
<p>For the ethnicity discussion. I do not want to argue at all, just thought I’d put an fyi. If you are an ethnic minority, it isn’t going to trump you over all other applicants. However, it is like a “hook,” just like a high GPA or a publication. My program directors have told me that and I’ve seen people that are ethnic minorities with less impressive stats get into great programs over someone with awesome stats that wasn’t a minority (all of which were my friends, so no hating there). It’s why they have created NIH MARC, NIH RISE, etc.</p>
<p>@kiwilove the “hook” thing is a really good way to put it regarding ethnicity.</p>
<p>also… there were postings on gradcafe about UCSD. One got an interview for MCB and the other for “biological sciences”. No word from Stanford though.</p>
<p>I just saw the Gradcafe postings. Thanks. Yeah, Stanford knows they’re one of the best so they can just drag their heels as always. Plus, they’ve established their interview date and know that all of us will plan around it. Jerks.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to prolong this discussion, but just my two cents: obviously ethnicity have a contribution to your application, but I think what everyone is saying is that it is a much smaller part of your application in grad school admissions compared to undergrad admissions or applications to summer research programs. Professors on the committees are looking for people who will be competent workers in their own laboratories and will be able to contribute to the program by bringing in funding, publications and getting faculty positions after graduation. They also need people who’s research interests align with those of the faculty. So certainly ethnicity is considered, but if you think anyone gets admission who isn’t a good fit for the program, skills or interest-wise, then you’re deluding yourself.</p>
<p>Congrats on everyone who’s getting invites this week! I have a feeling next week will also be a lucky week for everyone!</p>
<p>@kiwilove, Agreed about Stanford. And their application was super expensive!!</p>
<p>@greenertea couldn’t have put it better myself. I just wanted to point out that ethnicity is considered to some degree after someone said it’s not considered at all.</p>
<p>and regarding stanford’s app fee… my friend’s adviser told her that stanford has the highest application fee because they can lol.</p>
<p>Although I haven’t seen anyone else on this board who applied, I received an interview invitation for UT Houston (MD Anderson) GSBS cancer biology program today. Can anyone comment on this program? I know MD Anderson is a major force in cancer research, but since I haven’t seen anyone post about it, I was wondering if anyone has any info about it.</p>
<p>and unfortunately for many im sure, asians are not usually considered “traditionally underrepresented minorities” and therefore gain no advantage, and sometimes even a disadvantage.</p>
<p>and unfortunately, to whoever asked before i have heard from ucsd biomedical sciences, but only for the first visiting date and they have a later one which they did not tell me</p>
<p>kiwilove;</p>
<p>i heard back from ucsd bms last week, interviews are 2/9-12, 2/23-26</p>
<p>The NIH funds a significant number of these programs, and in the past few years there has been a big push to encourage underrepresented minorities–as determined by the NIH–to pursue careers as research scientists.</p>
<p>I’m fairly certain programs that depend on NIH funding (such as large, public research institutes) get extra money/benefits for having minorities in science. I’m not so sure about the private schools.</p>
<p>Stanford’s application fee was ridiculous–considering how much money they already have. I got a fee waiver but I had to write a couple of essays for it.</p>
<p>okay… i am absolutely stunned…</p>
<p>i got an interview for stanford’s Biology home program…</p>
<p>interview is on February 29th – Saturday, March 3rd</p>
<p>I don’t know what to do with myself… holy ****.</p>
<p>Same here. I just got an e-mail for an interview with the Stanford Biology home program. That’s crazy because we were just talking about it.</p>
<p>@jayeyesee, congrats! See you there I guess.</p>
<p>Congrats to both of you! Hopefully they’ll make up for the app fee w/ caviar at your dinners or something!</p>