<p>I only got accepted to a Bio PhD program at Rutgers, but with no funding...the amount of tuition I have to pay for the first year is the same amount of money that I borrowed for all 4 years of undergrad!!!</p>
<p>I was thinking of sending Rutgers a "rejection letter" and then apply to a few Bio M.S. programs for the Spring semester, but if I don't get a GAship or something...I don't know what to do. I applied to so many lab tech jobs, and either I never got a response or they decided on someone else with more experience (someone with an M.S.!!!).</p>
<p>I'm trying to find a job for the Fall before I start on the M.S. in the spring (if I get in), but I have no luck. Even for simple jobs, they told me I was "overqualified"! You would think a B.A. in Biology from a popular school would land you a decent job.</p>
<p>Any advice on this situation? I could re-apply for the following year, but there aren't any jobs!</p>
<p>Don’t go for the unfunded PhD. Because Rutgers is a respected university, I’m shocked that they won’t support their students. It means that either their research has no/little funding, that the university is in trouble because of the state budget, or that the university is trying to turn a PhD program into a “cash cow” – all really bad signs. If the last is true, your PhD will mean much less than it would coming from another school.</p>
<p>Apply to NIH for a position. I understand that they hire recent college grads in research positions. Also, if you live in NJ, there are tons of pharmaceutical companies in the area, so you should try them. Unfortunately, the current recession will make it tough to get any kind of job. </p>
<p>Where did you go for undergrad? Is it possible to work part-time with one of your profs while also working at a better paying job?</p>
<p>Most places won’t take you as a lab tech for only 6 months-- they want a year or two commitment to make it worthwhile. You’re probably better off teching for 2 years and applying to slightly higher tier PhD programs during the second year.</p>
<p>I thought you needed teacher certification or something to get a teaching job, and no professor would pay me to work for them unless I was a grad student or lab tech. I think I might apply for an M.S./M.A. in Bio, and then when I’m done apply for a PhD. No matter how you put it, I still need a job…I have loans to pay off, among other stuff. This economy sucks, and I’m in NYC.</p>
<p>I would not be eager to pay for an MS in bio - many PhD program may not want to take transfer credits (mine, for instance, usually will not) and so it may just be a waste of your time, and put you further in debt. I’d say keep applying for tech jobs. I graduated in '05 and it took me until October to be hired as a tech in NYC. I also tend to think that teching for 2 years will look better on a PhD application than having a masters, and some schools will allow you to take courses for free if you’re an employee, so you could also get some advanced-level coursework on your CV.</p>
<p>i meant (and said) to work as a lab tech, not teaching. Most phd programs don’t care if you have a masters- as aldo says. The extra research will help your application more than a masters, plus you are more likely to get into the place where you are working as a tech, and most top schools don’t have masters programs.</p>
<p>Wow, sounds like a bad situation. I can’t imagine paying money for a Phd program. I understand that the job market is quite tight and getting a job as a tech might be daunting, but take heart in the fact that like me, some five thousand lab techs all around the country are leaving their jobs to start grad school within the next couple of weeks. Furthermore, new faculty members are being added at universities across the country in anticipation of the beginning of the academic year. Finally, the NIH is in the middle of the process of plowing an extra 10 billion in stimulus funds into its 30 billion annual budget, so some labs (my former one included) have tons of new funds that have to be used to support people and no idea what to do with it.</p>
<p>thanks to all those who responded…if anyone else has any ideas, feel free to post one. I guess patience is all I need. I’ll keep applying to lab tech jobs. Hopefully, I’ll get in somewhere before reapplying for the PhD.</p>