Undergrad years ruined by covid and the hassles brought

1) The course laboratory course you mentioned is valuable experience and is something you should mention in some way when applying to grad school.

2) On coding, it is valuable for pretty much any research work. If you’ve read a scientific paper and seen the graphs/charts/etc those are often the result of coding. Do some research (ask professors/grad students, look on internet) into seeing what language is commonly used by researchers in your field. If they don’t point you in a definite direction just start off learning Python. Your university may provide you with free LinkedIn Learning access, through which you can access courses that will teach you how to code using various languages. If this isn’t an option you can look around for free resources on YouTube. You don’t need to become a computer scientist or a statistician, as being able to “do a little bit” can go a long way. Additionally, it’s something you can list on your CV/resume.

Also I forgot to add. Start looking at some NSF-REU opportunities. If you can snag one they are pretty nice gigs (10 weeks, food and housing, stipend). An REU could end up being a ticket to being a grad student at the same university.

The most important things for getting into a science / engineering PhD program are your alma mater, GPA and GRE score. (I have no idea about arts programs, but since you mention research, I assume you're doing science or engineering.) In terms of alma mater, you don't need to have gone to MIT, but you should preferably be attending the flagship university in your state, or at least a good state university. If you're not, your GRE will be much more important. For GPA, you should be in the top 5 to 10% of your class to get a TA / RA at a top 10 school. If you're not "good" at standardized tests, practice the GRE until you can get a good score.

Research experience is critical if you are applying for fellowships like NSF, Covid or no. You'll be competing against kids from "open" states, so you're probably out of luck if you have no research experience. If you're a junior, though, you still have time. Find some research experience.

When applying, go and look at the research all the professors are doing at the university you want to attend, and contact two or three whose labs you think you would be a good fit for. If you meet GPA / GRE criteria, they'll circulate your application, and profs will have the opportunity to pick you up for an RA. This is very important and can make the difference between being funded or not.

Personally, my opinion is that if you are admitted without funding, you should skip the graduate degree and go to work. You can always apply again in a couple years. If you are admitted with funding, I see no major drawbacks in doing a graduate degree. You can always quit with a Master's if you realize it's not the path you want to follow. But you do need to be thinking about the career this is leading to. And "professor at top university" is probably not super realistic unless you are a superstar.

Jeff Albertson wrote:

I have gone to sporting events, movie theaters, and dozens of restaurants this year. I’ve spent just as much time with my family and friends as any other year. You’re believing everything the media tells you to.

No one is afraid. The virus is not affecting anyone as badly as FOX and CNN want you to think it is.

I live in Singapore (so don’t watch American TV) and can assure you that life here is worse than you can possibly imagine for me and my family. For 20 straight months it has been a $10,000 fine and revocation of my residency permit if I don’t wear a mask from the moment I step out my door until after I return home. Singapore is on the equator and has 80% to 90% humidity everyday. Mask wearing is like water boarding only with sweat.

It has decimated my business. We sell to the Fortune 500… leads come from trade shows and networking done at trade shows. All trade shows have been canceled. International travel was completed shut down for nearly a year. It’s open now but with quarantine requirements on both ends regardless of Vaxx status (add 3 to 4 weeks per international trip), which isn’t recognized from country to country anyway. I have had to fire more than 50 people. Make no mistake, I’m not afraid, never was, I’m pissed.

carmine9 wrote:

Schools closed. Playgrounds too. Great,

Businesses locked down and destroyed. Wonderful.

Tens of millions of people opposed to forced jabs locked out of much of society and vilified, Sweet.

Millions dead from a virus made and leaked by Big Pharma and from the jab they have foisted on us. Gets no better.

Sports shut down, theaters shut down, restaurant too. What could be better.

Stay home, see nobody, be afraid, watch TV. What a wonderful life.

What a baby. Turn off FoxNews and get a life. Quit being controlled.