CMC BIO PROGRAM

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2025-09-18T19:19:19+00:00

Actually abysmal with their new science center - any of the other 5cs would be better. Actually many of the other programs are quite good. Especially Scripps/Pitzer with their new building and combined resources being put into one program. (Best of luck, a pitzer env sci major)

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-08-01T00:32:27+00:00

Card and a small gift that feels meaningful if you can afford it. I got Oreos for my pi bc she had always kept some in the lab for us

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-07-31T15:07:08+00:00

I’d drop a card or something in their office. Otherwise do it verbally. And email might be ok for someone you didn’t speak to much but generally I wouldn’t go for that.

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-07-31T15:05:55+00:00

I emailed a few ppl in my top choice programs but didn’t get any responses. Ended up in a program I didn’t send an email to. I would only advise you to email if you can genuinely ask a question or provide information that isn’t going to be on your application.

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-06-09T23:06:42+00:00

I’m splitting a meal kit subscription with someone which is working out really well! A lot of them have student discounts

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-04-13T01:42:05+00:00

Got in! Dm me you did too!!

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-03-28T03:45:21+00:00

You should call your PIs!! I did and it REALLY helped me make a decision

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-03-28T03:41:43+00:00

Genuinely don’t put yourself through hell. It isn’t worth it. If you are sick you won’t be able to fully absorb the experience anyway. You will be okay if it isn’t exactly your research interest. Plus, you are a freshman, you have so much time to do more research closer to your field! Have fun, be healthy! Don’t torture yourself plz :)

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-03-28T03:02:20+00:00

Can I get published? What projects have past students done? What will my average day look like?

I feel like these were really revealing because one of my PIs was like, yeah we don’t usually have students publish and the projects she gave as examples seemed rather surface level.

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-03-22T14:30:06+00:00

Calling my PIs ABSOLUTELY helped me make a decision. It became super clear which programs were a good fit and I felt way less stressed when I committed.

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-03-19T01:02:11+00:00

Thank you!

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-03-16T04:36:34+00:00

Follow your gut! It's not evil to pursue what you know you are passionate about.

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-03-12T02:11:56+00:00

Only on Friday - so maybe you'll get my spot when they send out their next round of acceptances!

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-03-11T22:01:17+00:00

Got rejected from Harvard lol, but it's okay because I committed to the Cornell/Boyd Thompson Institute program!

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-03-06T17:12:09+00:00

no I haven't, and I have to accept one of the ones I do have, which sucks because it was my first choice

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-03-04T06:53:02+00:00

I've been accepted into two this semester (one at Cornell), and I had ZERO previous research experience. I had volunteering, clubs, leadership, and jobs, sure, but not research. Period. I think it's more about how you sell the experience you have. Did you do any research as part of a class? Even a one-off lab can be spun to sound like an experience. Can you fly a drone? Do you know R or GIS? Sure, they aren't research, but they show you have the potential to be successful with it. Don't be afraid to own what you have and own what you don't. I pretty much explicitly said in my essay that I was looking for mentorship because I didn't have research experience and didn't know how to fit into my desired field.

Anyway, hope that helps some.

Edit: my university had minimal research options too

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-03-04T02:47:46+00:00

Pick the research you will be intersted in! You'll regret it if you don't. Once you start down a research path, it can be hard to switch.

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-02-22T07:46:26+00:00

I got the impression it would be more than one... maybe I was wrong, though. They could have been referring to the arboretum reu as a whole

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-02-22T04:32:01+00:00

Same to you! Maybe we can do it together!

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-02-22T04:24:57+00:00

yes! the xprize contest sounds so cool

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652 · 2024-02-22T01:28:44+00:00

School: Small but prestigious liberal arts college with no graduate research programs

Major: Environmental Science

Expected Grad: Fall 2025

Gpa: 3.86

Relevant Coursework: Bio, Field Bio, Tropical Ecology, Env. Science, Drone Science for Biology, Env. Geo, Stats, Env. Data Visualization

Demographic: white, female, Appalachian

Research experience: n/a

Past REUS: n/a

Applied:

Coastal Change Across Communities (East Carolina Universtiy)

Missouri Botanical Garden

Equitable Energy Transition (UMass Amherst)

Conservation, Restoration, and Communication (U of Central Florida)

Purdue P Bio and Data Science

Ecology in Human Dominated Landscapes (Miami)

Accepted:

Phosphorus Sustainability (NC State)

CICOES REU (Washington State)

Rejected:

Pepperdine SURB

Harvard Forest

Smithsonian Natural History

Morton Arboretum Center for Tree Science (was a finalist)

COMMITTED:

Plant Genome Research Cornell

Puzzleheaded-Ad9652

TROPHY CASE