Kimmo

Only one out of the many programs I applied for even asked about criminal records, and that was probably only because it was associated with a medical school/hospital.

Mind posting what number you got a call from? I got a few calls the last few days but I don't pick up unless I recognize the number. And my voicemail is broken.

Thanks

Graduate programs in my field have rotations the first year of study. So it would be difficult to make a substantial amount of progress on the project I wrote about in my application. This would also mean that my adviser would change several times. Do most fellows not use the GRFP their first year? It would be very nice to get funding starting June 1 of this year so that I could do an additional rotation this summer. My institution probably will not fund me until Fall and I'd prefer to just come in to my PI's lab this summer with funds rather than having to ask him.

The grad students aren't really the ones deciding if you're admitted or not. And these visitations are at least as much for you to judge them as for them to judge you. Just remember that.

Thanks for your reply!

Earlier this month I received an interview invitation which I've accepted. More recently I've received an invitation from another school for the same time. (These programs do not have 2 weekends set aside for interviewing as some programs do). If I had to choose 1 school to interview at, I would interview at the school that sent out the invitations just now and cancel the interview I've previously scheduled. How should I go about handling this? Should I ask one (or both) of the schools if alternative plans could be made? I'm not sure if that will seem rude. Or should I just tell the school that I've already made plans with that I will not be able to attend at that day? For that interview, I made the flight reservations and can get a refund, so the school won't lose money.

The first time I took it I had an extra quantitative. The second time I took it i had an extra verbal. I preferred the extra verbal. It seems less tiring.

So I re-took the GRE today and used my 4 free slots to send the results out to schools. I still have other applications though. When will I be able to send them online? 'send additional score reports' page doesn't show my new test date (although it did show it the day before I took the test). I'm hoping my schools receive these new scores by Dec. 1st. Hopefully that's not unreasonable?

I took the GRE today and scored worse than every practice test I'd taken. Poperprep score (I took this before studying or reading anything about the GRE) V: 650-750 Q: 750-800 Kaplan (taken after memorizing the Kaplan 500 words, and some from Baron's words) V: 620-720 Q: 750-800 I also took a paper-based practice from a book released by ETS with roughly similar results. Score from the real test: V: 460-560 Q: 730-800 So it seems like I've wasted many many hours memorizing words and trying to prepare, when I could have walked into the test not having done as much as a single practice problem and scored the same, if not better than what I received today. Guess I'll be retaking this in November, or as soon as they allow me to retest--60 days?

Taking the GRE tomorrow, I wish I would have known about this weeks ago!

I did check into it and they require paperwork sent in at least 6 weeks before testing. If I would have known ahead of time they had such inflexible policies I would have done so, but it's too late now. So it seems like I'm either going to have to sneak my medical supplies in my locker and potentially waste several hours if they notice and decide to invalidate my test or risk my health by not trying to take in medical supplies.

So they allow you to keep your cell phone in your locker? http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/test_day says they aren't allowed in the test center at all. Hopefully that's not enforced? because it means I'd probably be able to keep my glucose meter in my locker which would be a huge relief.

Not likely

They do not allow food in the testing room, but is there a break area where I can store food? I'm diabetic so I'm taking a risk by going without food for so long, especially when I cannot even keep my glucose meter in the break room. I wasn't aware that they were so strict on this until I registered, at which point it was too late to wait more than 6 weeks (their estimate) to get all the paper work submitted and approved for something so simple.