TheCuriousPrimate

I am starting in a couple weeks and I am 22 years old.

Hey! I applied for Fall 2015 and will be starting grad school in a couple months. I figure I could comment with what I learned during the application process. I had a list of about 20 school that I decided I would research. I narrowed it down to 3 programs, 1 PhD and 2 Masters. I was accepted into one masters. What helped in my decisions of which schools to apply for was if I wanted to live where that school was, could the program help me achieve my career goals, was it a quality program, how much did it cost, and finally if I was accepted would I want to go there? 3 school did limit my chances a lot. Around mid April I had 2 rejections and was trying to come up with a backup plan while I waited for the 3rd. I was fortunate enough a week later to get in however many of my friends weren't. I would advise having backup plans and understanding that not getting in isn't the end of the world. Although you seem really prepared and I'm sure you will get in. I applied with a 3.64 GPA (4.0 in my major) I had GRE V:155 Q:153 A:4 I was really worried about my writing score because I heard that was really important for my major. I did have an internship and a presentation at SWAA which I think really helped. For my SOP I pent months preparing it. I had a clear and unique goal in mind with some suggestions of how I want to execute it along with what I hope to accomplish with the info. I didn't make it so specific that it couldn't be tailored to my advisors though. I also researched 2 or 3 professors at each school that I wanted to work with that had similar research interests and included examples of how there work would complement mine and how I look forward to working with them. I also provided what I could bring the school. They want to know what you have to offer. I asked for letters of rec months in advance but of course I made sure I stayed in contact and sent out reminders when needed. I sent each professor a document that had: C.V., SOP, the school's address and info, my gpa and accomplishments, the school's program info and what they have to offer, copy of my writing sample, and transcripts. This was to help them write LOR without causing a hassle. My biggest challenges were that even though I started early I didn't turn my applications in until later in the application period (still on time) but I think that by then they could have already chosen students. The program I was accepted into I applied 4 weeks prior to the deadline and I think that helped show my punctuality as it had to be mailed in as a hard copy. My professors all sent my letters of red in on the last possible day which I unfortunately had no control over. Since you've bren out of school for 7 years I would just make sure your CV includes all of your relevant work and I think that will definitely stand out. It's hard applying to programs straight out of school because you lack experience and they worry you will change your mind, they won't have that fear with you which is really good! For those of you applying to programs straight out of undergrad as I did, make sure you have a publication or some sort of experience in your field. It helps a lot! I had one meeting for a PhD program with the head of the department and when he saw me he blatantly told me I was too young. That at 22 I need to get a masters or work for a few years because no professors would work with someone my age and it was too much of a risk. So just know to go in prepared to defend why you think you are ready! Good luck!

Hey I'm from Fresno Ca and am moving to Fullerton soon. What are some cheap apartments that are in walking distance of the school? It's 3x cheaper in Fresno so the cost is going to be hard for me to get used to. Is anyone else moving to this are?

Hey there! I just graduated from Fresno State with my bachelors and we are not a hardcore party school but there is definitely partying at the sororities/fraternities and the cheap apartments. I lived at North Park and that is because they are dirt cheap and I had few options financially. There were some roaches, some loud neighbors, some car thefts nearby, and bad management. If your budget is higher then $350 I would suggest anything in Clovis or North Fresno. Those will run you from $400-$650 depending on how nice and where you are( assuming you get a 2 bedroom and split). If you get your own apartment it will cost you more. Pretty much you need to be at least a 5 minute drive away from campus and towards Clovis or towards Herndon Avenue. The opposite directions are the bad parts of town and you may find your car missing or broken into. Good Luck!