<p>@ hoyaphd or anyone else that knows; I am going to NYU for an interview tomorrow, and it’s the first time I’ve ever been to the campus. I’m pretty much set on accepting U of Mich PIBS’s offer, but I am curious to see what NYU has to offer for genomics and systems biology. Can anyone who has already participated in the interview at NYU let me know how the process went for them, and how the general academic attitude was?</p>
<p>@Renyulb28
NYU just spent I think around 20mil on a new building next to the Silver Center dedicated exclusively to the new Center for Genomics and Systems Biology. I think the new building is supposed to open up over the summer, it was under construction while I was there. They also hired 4-5 new faculty in the department for the upcoming year. The department is expanding significantly and had research very aligned with my interests. These were my main reasons for choosing NYU over UChicago. Interviews were relaxed, I enjoyed them.</p>
<p>Anyone else decide to go to NYU GSAS in the fall?</p>
<p>does anybody have thoughts on Case vs. Tufts? I am going into Immunology (which is under Path at Case, where I’m admitted to their umbrella program), they both seem to have great research (to me) that’s interesting, and although Boston is Boston, I thought Cleveland was really great too when I visited.
so…any ideas?</p>
<p>Anybody accepted to NYU’s biology department but wanna go somewhere else plz let them know! This schools is my second waitlisted school I really wanna go…</p>
<p>Hey all! I’ve been reading so much about NYU and it’s getting me excited-- hopefully the Center for Neural Science (CNS) program is just as good? I was recently accepted and it’s my top choice, but I haven’t visited yet. I’m planning on visiting next week to check out the campus and the people before I accept their offer. Does anyone else have thoughts about the NYU CNS program? Did anyone here attend their open house last month?</p>
<p>People I know who interviewed with NYU CNS really liked it (I didn’t, I interviewed with Sackler and didn’t like it, personally, but they are very different, imo). I know someone I interviewed with was having a hard time deciding between NYU CNS and Princeton, and said that they really, really, liked NYU (compared to Princeton, Berkley, Stanford, UChicago and prob some others). I also know a grad student there who seems to like it a lot.</p>
<p>@safetypin00 that’s good to hear! I’m getting so excited about the possibility of accepting their offer!</p>
<p>I *am * still waiting to hear from Boston University, though. Applied to the Anatomy and Neurobiology program through the BU School of Medicine. Apparently my app is still under review (called last week to find out), but it’s getting down to the wire here! So frustrating.</p>
<p>@Pharmagirl: Are you going to the Second Look weekend?</p>
<p>How easy is it to transfer from Harvard BBS to another DMS program? Even though my research background and interests are in immunology, I applied to BBS thinking I’d try to be more open-minded and maybe explore some specific side interests I have, like noncoding RNA. Throughout the interview process, though, I’ve come to realize that I want to do all my rotations in immuno labs (my interviews that got me the most excited about research were with immuno faculty). I’ve heard that you can theoretically rotate and do your thesis work in any life sciences lab through BBS, but it would be nice to get a strong immuno background through required coursework and be part of a smaller, close-knit cohort.</p>
<p>I imagine it could get pretty difficult to switch to a different program, especially given that a) BBS and Immunology are not united under some umbrella, and b) Immunology has probably already planned out the profile of its incoming class. You should probably talk to administrators in both programs about this, though.</p>
<p>Also, IIRC, BBS only requires one specific course for all its students (the literature analysis one), so it seems like you could take all the Immunology-required classes as a BBS student without necessarily having an exorbitant courseload. Unless a bunch of Immunology courses are restricted to Immunology students, of course…</p>
<p>^The latter is true – many of the immunology courses are small paper-discussion seminars restricted to immunology students. Not all of them are, though, and I imagine they might be amenable to an interested student specifically requesting to join a class.</p>
<p>It really is possible to rotate with and do your thesis in any life sciences lab at Harvard. I did rotations all in neuroscience labs (some only affiliated with the Program in Neuroscience), and when I joined my lab, my PI was not affiliated with BBS. There really aren’t any extra administrative hassles – it’s just the same as joining a BBS lab, except that you have to keep your advisor up to speed on graduation requirements/PQE structure/DAC format.</p>
<p>That doesn’t solve the problem of wanting to be part of a smaller group of first-years. But once you join a lab, you tend to be less close to your PhD cohort and more close to your lab.</p>
<p>Got into Vanderbilt IGP! Yay!</p>
<p>I am really happy for you guys! I have loved reading all of this good news!!</p>
<p>I’m deciding between mt. sinai and emory university for PhD programs in microbioloogy. I’m interested in virology? Any advice in choosing a program/university/location/reputation in virology?</p>
<p>In terms of virology, Emory is better. I remember some Emory’s faculty are from CDC.</p>
<p>Anyone accepted at PennState but not planning to go there, pleease let the dept. know!! It’l be a huge favour to those in the waitlist!!! thanx n good luck :)</p>
<p>Hey! Long time lurker; thanks to everyone who posted their experiences and assuaged our mutual neuroticism.</p>
<p>I’m having a horrible time deciding between UCSF and Stanford neuroscience programs. Even professors at both schools say the programs are as directly comparable as they come. I know that standard (and correct) response is that faculty research interests matter most, but I’ve got faculty at both schools that I’d be thrilled to work with who have space. What I’m looking for is a comparison of program and institutional differences, if anybody has any advice! Things like the culture, the quality of the program’s administration, and the utility of the name in landing you a job (perhaps even nonacademic) after graduation?</p>
<p>Thanks sooo much to anyone with input.</p>
<p>neurodec:</p>
<p>Have you tried contacting the faculty? I found out some of the people I was interested in working with did not have the funding for a student, so that made my decision pretty easy. I basically just told them I was interested in their research and if they could tell me more about it. They usually indirectly tell you if they have space or not.</p>
<p>Never mind, I don’t know how to read. You already stated they have space.</p>
<p>They have space, but have you checked to see if any of the faculty you are working with at either school might be likely to move on in the time you would be there? IE, if they are not yet tenured, will that decision be forthcoming during your time there? If so, is the chance that they might NOT stay worth taking??</p>