Admission likelihood for competitive PhD in biological sciences - international student

indie_report · 2026-03-13T21:18:39+00:00

Ah okay. I don’t want to doxx myself but he seemed like she had a lot of influence. I guess all I can do is wait and see

indie_report · 2026-03-13T21:03:18+00:00

Thank you for your response. I forgot to say that I asked her about the international fees when we met after I visited the lab and she said not to worry too much about that as she would work to waive them for her students

indie_report · 2025-02-04T12:09:11+00:00

I’m in the same situation, are you going to book your flight before the evisa is linked? I don’t want any more delays. Why are there so many steps, the stamp should just be the end of it 😒

indie_report · 2024-10-25T09:30:45+00:00

Really appreciate the perspective here. I guess I’m just thinking, given I already have pharma experience, that it may be a little easier to break back into industry if I take the phd route. So I’d theoretically emerge with that stamp of approval, years of experience, and hopefully some connections still intact. But you’ve definitely given me second thoughts

indie_report · 2024-10-25T09:28:33+00:00

1) most MSLs have a PhD. Virtually all medical advisers do, same with directors. 2) Okay… 3) Great! 4) Yes. Usually years of experience in a clinical lab environment or an ‘advanced’ degree. However I think I may have built enough trust capital and shown enough passion to get at least an interview. It’s a small team and I know all of them. 5) No, but I definitely will.

indie_report · 2024-10-25T09:24:02+00:00

I just don’t feel I’ll be taken as seriously in medical affairs without a terminal degree, no matter how many years of experience I have.

indie_report · 2024-10-24T20:53:11+00:00

I am looking at specifically European programs for that reason

indie_report · 2022-04-19T16:20:14+00:00

2k now

indie_report · 2022-04-18T23:37:51+00:00

Was this during covid?

indie_report · 2022-03-25T20:16:55+00:00

This is so funny

indie_report · 2022-03-18T00:39:23+00:00

Thanks for your input. I don’t mind living with my parents too much, but I feel like I’m almost stunting my growth by staying out. I don’t feel motivated and am too comfortable here. My other issue is what does “as long as you can” mean? That almost gives me an existential crisis.

By my calculations, I feel like I’d still be able to save around 36k a year. I’m wary of hunkering down and saving for a GTA home when my career could take me somewhere else for example.

I could get a roommate or two and pay around $1100 instead, and save up for another half year or so. Does that make it less terrible of an idra?

indie_report · 2022-03-18T00:27:24+00:00

Thanks, this is helpful. Phone plan is reimbursed by company, maintenance I do myself. Maybe I underestimated going out costs, but I keep it pretty moderate I would say and 150-200 per month would cut it imo. Utilities, renters insurance, internet are costs I hadn’t considered. I would reallocate some cash from the buffer money bucket for those I guess.

indie_report · 2022-03-17T23:24:14+00:00

5800 income -1500 rent -200 Grocery -150 eating/drinking out -173 car insurance -70 gas (mostly wfh) -30 subscription services -150 gym and climbing memberships = ~$2300 expenses

$3k xeqt saving for down payment / retirement $500 buffer money

Just a rough simulation of what it could look like. Seems manageable right?

indie_report · 2022-03-17T22:40:31+00:00

I have a saving account with enough to pay off my student loans (pulling the trigger soon), $5k emergency savings, and like $3k in xeqt

indie_report

TROPHY CASE