Student Perspective: Daniel Chitwood
Graduating Class of 2009
Undergraduate: University of California, Davis
George A. and Marjorie H. Anderson Fellow
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
I almost didn鈥檛 apply to the School; the history of Cold Spring Harbor Lab鈥擬cClintock, Hershey, Delbr眉ck, etc.鈥攚as intimidating. Yet, after a year now as a student, I realize this reputation is what drives the intensity of the science here. Expectations are high from the beginning. The classes are demanding, the interaction with faculty exceptional, and the constructive criticism for improvement constant. The Lab鈥檚 meetings, seminars, and diverse research continually challenge the way you think about biology and multi-disciplinary collaborations between labs are common. The research itself is of high-caliber and vigorous.
The School鈥檚 best qualities, though, are anything but intimidating. Classes are small (six to ten students) and most students live together their first year. Friendships form fast and getting to know your classmates is rewarding. The Lab, too, is small and the familiarity with everyone that works here makes Cold Spring Harbor鈥攕urprisingly鈥攐ne of the most unimposing places you鈥檒l ever know.