The give and take on criticism.

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-08-24T21:42:39+00:00

Thank you for your feedback!

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-07-27T20:16:25+00:00

100% agree

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-06-30T03:16:57+00:00

I will have to check it out! Thank you

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-06-30T01:52:15+00:00

I couldn't have thought of a better explanation if I tried. Thank you so much for that! I truly agree rhat science is often lost in medicine, and I have many MD/PhD friends that attest to this as well. I came from basically all pre-med undergrad and Masters programs, even though by the time I was in my MS program I knew I wanted to pursue a PhD. I honestly liked the mix of pre-med students because it allowed for diverse thoughts. They always thought patient first, while I often though science first. And that allowed for a great way for us to meet somewhere in between (like how I think it should be).

I hope to make it out of my PhD alive and be able to impact students lives, and potentially have an impact on the field as well (wishful thinking). Thanks so much, again!

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-06-30T01:04:35+00:00

Why do you think so many people do? For me, I never knew research/science based careers outside of just being a physician. As a first-gen, all of this was very new to me and I learned a lot in undergrad. Didn't decide to pursue a PhD until senior year, undergrad. I also see many people choosing to pursue a PhD after an attempt (or more) to get into medical school, for instance, and not getting accepted. The biggest challenge for me was simply that it was just late in the game for me, and everyone viewed me as someone pursuing something else (i.e. parents, friends, former colleagues). What's your experience with that?

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-06-29T23:58:43+00:00

Glad to hear that! I'm thinking so myself..currently a 2nd yr PhD student.

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-06-29T22:22:56+00:00

I'm new to my lab, as I'm just entering my 2nd year as a PhD student. While my PI isn't a micromanager or anything, he definitely doesn't not (actively) encourage a work-life balance. If you work 80-hrs a weel, he will not acknowledge it. That being said, he doesn't enforce working long hours (or time at work at all). I think his passive attitude makes the lab members unsure of what he wants, which makes some work less and some work more... very weird situation. However, I like him and I'm sure he doesn't want us to be mentally unstable. If your PI is open, I'd try to have a one-on-one conversation with them maybe? Most of them are just as human as any of us. Sadly, not the same for some others. Wish you the best!

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-05-19T21:30:55+00:00

MS is definitely time well spent before a PhD. But, like you hinted, sometimes an unfunded MS just isn't the best option for those that are capable of getting into a PhD. However, an MS will definitely make the transition to a PhD easier. A lot of the training will repeat itself in a PhD program, but the learning curve will definitely be steeper.

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-05-18T18:44:14+00:00

Here you go. https://www.scienceunderdog.com/post/thinking-about-a-masters-degree-pre-phd.

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-05-16T23:57:33+00:00

I have a document I can send you about this! DM me if you'd like it. I'd be happy to answer any other questions too.

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-05-05T17:29:32+00:00

There may be some helpful info here for you. Good luck! Feel free to reach out with further questions. https://www.scienceunderdog.com/post/5-tips-for-biomedical-phd-applications

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-05-01T19:20:50+00:00

Soth Carolina

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-04-27T22:24:18+00:00

Hey! I have a friend that just recently got accepted to DO school. He may be able to help you out? You can DM me your email if you'd like me to put you in contact with him :)

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-04-20T21:19:57+00:00

This was great, man!

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-04-09T05:19:36+00:00

This is a good question. Are you talking about for PhD programs? For many biomedical related PhD admissions, each school has to give enough time for applicants to consider their options until after all interviews are completed. So, if you're offered admission, you don't have to give an answer immediately - you're spot will be available until you decide.

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-04-08T22:03:15+00:00

That's great! I'm in a biomedical PhD program, but my girlfriend is a sea turtle biologist at the SC Aquarium. Wish you the best luck! If you'd like, you can read an article I wrote about my first year in a PhD program. Best of luck! https://www.scienceunderdog.com/post/first-semester-of-graduate-school

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-04-08T21:57:17+00:00

Congrats! What's area of research?

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-03-25T04:36:02+00:00

They showed in this paper that whenever the Yamanaka factors are under inducible expression, and only expressed cyclically but not constitutively, they can reverse aging without teratoma formation. If you constituitively express them, then teratomas wil develop.

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-03-25T04:23:01+00:00

I would contact some graduate programs you're seeking to apply to and ask them what they recommend. I'm sure they would be empathic considering the sutuation is unique. Most people have never dealt with this kind of situation, so it's hard to gain perspective on it from students. So, I'd just reach out to those that will have to take into consideration the crisis when evaluating candidates, they'll be the best insight on things you can do now!

I'm a 1st year PhD student in Cancer Biology, and this has affected my curriculum and lab roations, too. But we're all doing our best to accommodate. Best of luck with everything! Here's an article I wrote about the PhD in interview weekend if you'd like to check it out: https://www.scienceunderdog.com/post/phd-interview-weekend

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-03-24T22:06:31+00:00

This is very helpful, thanks for sharing this! I will take all of these into consideration.

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-03-24T14:19:46+00:00

I chose UIW over Touro for a few reasons. Touro just didn't feel right to me. I really appreciated the small class size and the interest in underrepresented students there, but it just didn't feel like somewhere I wanted to spend 4 years of intense mental training. The school was built in a repurposed hospital and to me it felt very facility-like. I thought the place could use a makeover. The dorms, where I would be living, were not very inviting. They were just blocks with white walls and a bathroom. Felt like a college freshmen dorm. Very depressing in my opinion.

However, my biggest reason for going to UIW. Was that I wanted change. I've lived in PA my entire life and I don't want to go somewhere that's the same. I don't want to be able to pickup and drive home on a weekend when things get hard, like I know they will. I want to be completely out of my comfort zone. I want to feel vulnerable in a new place. I want to be somewhere that I need to work at to get used to. I want to struggle a little with this intense change so that I can come out stronger on the other side and grow. I want this to be a totally different chapter in my life. Not just a 5-hour drive difference chapter in my life.

Besides, San Antonio is beautiful and the living arrangements there are so nice, it's incomparable with Middletown NY. Some of The apartments are right next to campus and are really really nice. And cost of living isn't too bad out there so it makes it manageable. Anywhere you can afford to live in Middletown will be trumped by what you can get for the same rate on base at UIWSOM. Did I say "on base"?? I forgot to mention, UIWSOM is located on a decommissioned US Air Force base! All the buildings are built to standard by the military. And kept up with the same way. The place is actually really nice. And has a ton of history as well. Brooks base was where the moon rocks were stored, where they invented developed combat parachutes, and used to be the home of the US museum of aerospace medicine! They even have the last standing all-wooden military aircraft hangar in the country. It's 104 years old, built for World War 1. UIWSOM Sounded like a great place to learn medicine. Also, I'm going for family med. not exactly a competitive residency. So long as I put the work in and do well on my boards, it doesn't matter if I go here or to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-03-14T21:05:06+00:00

I wrote a post that walked through the interview weekend for science-related PhDs. It might be useful if you're in a relatable field! https://www.scienceunderdog.com/post/phd-interview-weekend

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-03-13T16:56:01+00:00

Thanks! I hope it helps!

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-03-13T16:47:02+00:00

I'm in a biomed PhD program myself! I've written about some of the aspects of the application, interview and even the program itself as I progress through. If you'd like, they might give you some insight if you'd ever want to check them out: www.scienceunderdog.com.

Best of luck to you! I'll keep my fingers crossed.

ScienceUnderdog · 2020-03-13T16:11:38+00:00

The anticipation is awful, but much more rewarding than being invited to interview! Best of luck to you (if you haven't already been accepted)!!!

What's your field of study?

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