<p>I recently got rejected from my dream school for biomedical science PhD program. I have thought of 3 options:</p>
<p>1) I can accept into a school I got into, but didn't have a lab I absolutely loved. Don't get me wrong, I definitely liked the lab but not head over heels for the research.</p>
<p>2) I can wait a year and reapply to the same program and find some kind of research in the mean time. However there aren't really any places that I could still do research while not being a student in my area. Plus I need to pay my bills so I will also have to acquire another full time job to pay for those.</p>
<p>3) Take a semester off and apply for a masters program in biomedical science and then reapply to the PhD program with my masters in a couple of years.</p>
<p>Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Are there any labs around you that might be hiring technicians? Being a tech can be a great way to continue getting research experience while getting paid full-time, as long as you find a lab that’s a good fit and that will allow you to continue growing as a scientist. You could ask around your current department to see if anyone is hiring – my lab generally starts looking for candidates in March for openings in the summer.</p>
<p>Getting a tech job for a while can be a good option, however, before reapplying to your “dream” program, try to figure out why you were not accepted. Will that change with some work experience? Remember that you will be competing with the next year of applicants who are likely as strong as this year’s.</p>
<p>Whether you decide to apply to the “dream” program again next year, cast your net a bit wider the next time. Find out about other universities that have the programs you are interested in. Locate good faculty to work for and contact them. This can significantly improve your chances to get in. You might even find a really top notch potential faculty advisor in a school which is not as selective as the one you applied to this year and if you can get into his/her lab things can work out well.</p>
<p>Your first option may even be the best choice, is the financial aid package good? Are there other labs there besides the one you did not exactly fall in love with? Be realistic and determine if this university is really the right level for you. Talk to your faculty advisors at your current university and ask them for an opinion. Remember that you are not obliged to make a decision until April 15 and don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.</p>