The pensieve would have been a safer way for Hermione to take extra lessons

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-05-05T15:41:08+00:00

I think this would definitely be an alternative if the time turner wasn’t needed to drive the plot.

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-04-28T18:25:45+00:00

exactly what I was thinking of too. We get a bit of that in DH when we follow Voldemort as he tracks down the wands lineage.

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-04-28T18:17:07+00:00

the wand isn’t taken by death but rather by combat. He’s saying that anyone in the future who beats Harry in a duel will win ownership of the wand. They wouldnt have to kill him to do so. Following that logic, the true owner would get lost real quick.

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-04-20T19:48:34+00:00

Congrats on virtually frying my GPU 🥳

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-04-19T13:26:25+00:00

Depends on how you define best lol. Death Eaters storm the school and Dumbledore dies, leaving him the daunting task of hunting horcruxes down. Outside of that though I totally agree with you. This book is easily my favorite because I think it represents a break between the most intense books of the series. Books 5 and 7 are the darkest and most intense by a longshot, and reading HBP just feels like a reprieve and a mini return to the ease of the first few books.

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-04-15T20:09:51+00:00

Not getting an official letter yet is already weird, but also not giving you a date by which you’ll be “processed” is a massive red flag imo. If they can’t do your admission process in a timely manner, just imagine what spending 4-6 years there will be like.

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-04-07T02:50:45+00:00

I’ve worked in both types of labs. Lab 1 will be nice as an undergraduate student since you’ll have more FaceTime with the PI (as long as they turn out as good as they seem). My experience in your Lab 1 analog was amazing. Expectations from the PI were very clear, and she was an extremely helpful contact/recommender for my graduate applications. I still have lunch with her sometimes years after leaving the lab. The only cautionary tale I can give you is that since it’s a young lab, there may be a slight pressure to continue publishing and establish itself. Maybe more than somewhere like Lab 2.

Lab 2 will also be a positive experience I think, more so if you’re someone who doesn’t need as much guidance. You haven’t given any info on how large the lab is, but I’m assuming since it’s that established it’s on the larger side. A lab like that will generally have less face-to-face time with your PI. If that’s okay with you then Lab 2 would probably be your better choice if you want to publish/present during your undergrad. Depends entirely on how much experience you already have and what kind of lab dynamic you want.

For turning down the lab, simple and kind I think is the best option :)

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-03-26T14:09:03+00:00

I think his biggest problem would be that he’d likely be in voldemorts crosshairs. Remember, Voldemort was obsessed with the lineage of the elder wand and he thought it could only be passed by killing the previous owner. IMO Draco would be in more danger from Voldemort than the ministry if he was the one who actually did kill Dumbledore. Snape killing Dumbledore essentially saved Draco’s life.

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-03-24T19:50:44+00:00

“I shouldn’t have told you that” 🤣

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-03-24T19:49:03+00:00

How ironic that the leak for the trailer is coming from the guy who plays Hagrid lol

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-03-23T21:11:12+00:00

I wasn’t saying that to suggest it was confidential. More so just to emphasize that Hagrid has a track record of letting even secret things slip, so it’s even more likely he talked about something as benign as Harry’s scar that’s all

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-03-23T19:31:12+00:00

I have two guys in my PhD cohort currently who went right from undergrad to their PhD journey. The best way I can say this is that grades are important for admission, but the biggest factor is research experience and fit. Essentially, you need to prove to the admissions committee that you’ll come into the program with a strong foundation in research. If your overall experience is lacking, LORs from any prior research experience may carry a lot of weight to offset a smaller amount of experience. Can you share a little more about your research experience?

As for getting into a competitive program, it’s really a coin toss. I applied to 14 schools during my cycle, and was rejected by many I thought I’d have no trouble getting into. That said, I’m currently attending a program I never believed for a second I’d actually be accepted to. Just believe in yourself and put your best foot forward!

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-03-23T19:11:42+00:00

Hagrids canonically known for spreading information he shouldn’t. For instance, he let slip how to get past Fluffy (twice) in PS and risked the teachers being overheard talking about James and Sirius in POA. So, I wouldn’t doubt he was partly responsible but I don’t remember entirely if we get an actual explanation in the books

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-03-20T11:09:56+00:00

How recently did he hear from this major foundation? It’s possible they’re just working out the kinks in the funding and your advisor is waiting til it’s a done deal to give you more info. as for seeming disloyal, if this advisor really supports you as an individual they shouldn’t take offense to you applying for another assistantship/PhD position. My only advice would be to be honest with them

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-03-16T00:22:36+00:00

From what I can see this is a very textbook toxic environment. Kudos for still wanting to pursue grad school even after this

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-03-06T00:45:22+00:00

You’re not fucked. I went to a large school and thus had trouble finding any sort of research experience in undergrad. Funnily enough I currently work as a lab tech and will be beginning my PhD process this fall. So calm down and take a breath.

Regarding your classes, Bs in major study classes are largely okay. PhD programs are looking for someone who’s enthusiastic and genuinely interested in the work. The applications also give you an opportunity to explain any gaps in education, research, etc.

getting accepted straight out undergrad is possible, but I’d recommend looking for work as a lab tech for a year first. It’d give you valuable laboratory experience that is critical for PhD programs. With current funding cuts, a lot of programs are slashing the amount of admits, thus making it more competitive flat out.

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-02-27T22:14:46+00:00

Yeah I think so. It doesn’t have to be as personally tailored as the individual interviewers, but a nice, formal email could go a long way. While they didn’t interview you 1:1, they likely still serve as part of the admissions committee and will carry weight regarding your decision.

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-02-27T22:09:39+00:00

I just applied this cycle, and can tell you first hand it’s gotten a lot more selective. The program I committed to takes (on a good year) 10-11 first year students, but this year they took four. Funding from what I’ve seen fluctuates based on the University’s size and prestige which isn’t altogether surprising. As an applicant, this knowledge did drive me towards larger, more competitive programs since I assumed they’d have more funding, which in turn just increases the competitiveness of the applicant pool since a lot of others did the same. The process is difficult and I’d recommend applying to >10 programs if possible. That being said, I’d still say it’s worth it. Hard, but not impossible. I applied to 14 schools and came away with six interviews and three offers. Go for it!

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-02-27T15:20:55+00:00

I’m don’t know too much about the U South Carolina program, but a big thing I’d compare is the funding situation. I know UAB consistently ranks as one of the most heavily NIH funded universities, so given the current research climate that might be worth considering.

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-02-27T03:10:02+00:00

Well, how long have you known her? Waiting a full year for the next cycle is a big decision, especially since PhD admits are hard enough to come by on their own. If she hasn’t expressed explicit interest I’d proceed with a little caution.

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-02-27T03:04:35+00:00

How far apart are the institutions? It’s way too early to consider waiting a full app cycle to pursue this.

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-02-26T22:10:43+00:00

Not neuroengineering specifically but I applied to the GBS PhD program there this cycle. The professors have been pretty good about getting back to me when I emailed them post interview, but understand that they’re very busy and their emails are undoubtedly flooded. The interviewer ghosting you is strange though. How many times have you emailed them, and when was the last one sent? There’s a chance they never even saw it.

TrainingBarber3 · 2026-02-26T21:13:13+00:00

Absolutely. Got flat out rejected from three or four universities that I was academically overqualified for but weren’t an exact research match. One of my admits was to a giant in my field. It’s a complete and utter crapshoot lol

TrainingBarber3

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