vvvd

Thanks cmykrgb

Hi there, A few months ago, I applied to UC Berkeley's (UCB) ecology PhD program. I thought that now all that was left to do was to await UCB's response. However, a recent conversation with a friend (PhD, Engineering) got me wondering as to whether I left stones un-turned. Granted, his advice might not be applicable to my case... Can anyone offer thoughts on the following: (1) Is it bad that I have not met with my prospective mentor? I contacted my would-be mentor well before applying to UCB. He responded (via email) that I have an impressive background, that I should apply, and that we could talk by phone after his travels. Then, after his travels, he wrote: "Apologies I haven't had time to connect on all this - it's been busy. These possibilities [research options] are intriguing - I suggest you apply and indicate interest in my lab. Then, if I receive your application among those highly ranked by the admissions committee, we can follow up and dive more deeply into possibilities and the potential fit of your interests/aspirations and my lab and funding." l took this at face value... but am now having second thoughts. Should I have been pushing to meet/talk with him before he sees my application, despite what he wrote? I recently emailed him to ask if he'd be at a conference that I might attend, but no response. (2) Should I have met with the Dean & the Department Head? Some folks think that I should be meeting with these people, telling them about my research plans, persuading them that my research would be a great addition to their program, showing them that I'm already finding funding, and making sure that they remember me. But, if I have no project plan yet, is this even applicable?... (3) Why do so many people tell me that I can raise my chances of getting into a PhD program if I find grants in advance? After I got my MS in biology, I've been working as a field tech on seasonal jobs, but none of these projects are "my own." I'm not a regular employee at a university or organization, so I don't see how and with whom I could put together a project and apply for grants in advance of applying to a PhD program. Am I missing something? Are there organizations that would actually award would-be PhD students money, even if they don't have a project plan yet? Any thoughts about these questions that are tormenting me in my sleep would be appreciated

He-he, you'd think searching the direct translation would work, but I haven't been able to find one. "Decivilized" is close, but I was wondering if there's a noun form (describing a landscape feature, kind of like "fallow" can sometimes be a noun defining unused agricultural land, in my understanding).

Hi there, Can anyone recommend a good reverse-dictionary (where you find a word via its meaning)? As part of my resume building effort for my grad application, I'm translating documents into English. I need to find an English word that describes "abandoned land" or "land that used to be settled, but no longer is, and is being taken over again by nature." Similar to the noun form of "fallow", but not in the agricultural sense. Does such a word even exist in the English language?

I think you're right! And thanks so much for the advice regarding abbreviations.

Thanks again. It's hard to believe, but the exact phrasing that I'm looking for (i.e. "a PhD in environmental studies, policy, and management) appears only twice on UC Berkeley websites, and one of those times doesn't count because it's in a heading (where everything is capitalized) In the other one, the degree name is not capitalized. However, the degree name is capitalized in all other phrasings (e.g. Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (ESPM) Graduate Program). And I haven't seen it written in lower-case letters when it is followed by the acronym. So I think I'll be capitalizing it. ...but you're probably right that this issue will be the least of the Admissions Committee's concerns

Thanks so much. That second link really helped. I'll be writing, as you suggested, that "I have a master's degree in biology." Even though this goes against the suggestions in the second link (and your own preference, as far as my initial question was concerned), it still seems that I should capitalize the field of study in the following sentence: "I am writing to express my interest in pursuing a Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (ESPM) at the University of California, Berkeley." ...would you agree?

So, I've written my Statement of Purpose and Personal History Statement for a Ph.D. application. But there is ONE issue that I can't figure out, in writing these essays: Do I have a Master's Degree in Biology? Or a Masters Degree in Biology? Or perhaps a Master's degree in biology? Or maybe a master's degree in biology? Or is it masters degree in biology? If anyone could help me out with the proper spelling of this, I would be grateful!

Hi there, What program are you applying to?

I could try to help with your statement of academic purpose, although I'm no expert on musicology. Are these essays best swapped via personal messages? Anyone else out there willing to help? There's gotta be biologists roaming this forum!

Hi, are there any friendly folks out there who could review/critique my SOP and Personal Statement? They are less than two pages each. I'm applying to UC Berkeley's ESPM PhD Program (basically their equivalent of a Conservation Biology program). I've been tempted to use an online SOP critique service, but don't know if those can be trusted. And I haven't found anyone (professors, career advisors, etc.) at my alma mater who would critique this for me in time for the deadline... am getting a bit anxious, but not loosing hope that help can be found somewhere It would be nice to have a fellow-biologist look over my drafts with a fresh eye and, at the very least, share their thoughts on whether/how the essays can be streamlined a bit. Thanks in advance!!!

Hi, are there any friendly folks out there who could review/critique my SOP and Personal Statement? They are less than two pages each. I'm applying to UC Berkeley's ESPM PhD Program (basically their equivalent of a Conservation Biology program). I've been tempted to use an online SOP critique service, but don't know if those can be trusted. And I haven't found anyone (professors, career advisors, etc.) at my alma mater who would critique this for me in time for the deadline... am getting a bit anxious, but not loosing hope that help can be found somewhere Thanks in advance!!!