oopalfrootz

For the benefit of anyone wonder, I used the Princeton book. Other than the general GRE a couple of weeks before, I'd never done an American-style test before, and was not used to it at all. I still got (tbh) a very good mark on it. You definitely need a book, because it's a stupid exam that tests your book-learning rather than your chemistry skills. I would recommend that one.

1. There are no shortcuts. No one's going to jump out and tell you which profs to apply to. Search through every last one, eliminate the ones that don't suit you quickly, then have a more detailed look through the rest. Get it down to 3 or 4, and have an idea in your head of which you would prefer. But make sure that idea is flexible for when you get new information! 2. Yes, send your CV - why not? Also as zapster said, include a tailored cover letter - tailored to each prof, not just the department as a whole. That's the best advice I can give... up to you whether you take it or not.

I definitely agree: wait until you're there and can talk to your supervisor in person, and you have a rapport going. 'No one likes a surprise' would only come into play if you decided to tell them a month beforehand! At roughly the same time, contact HR or who ever deals with these things to ask about how they can help you.

UC Irvine is in such a ridiculously beautiful area. I still miss it all the time even though I only visited for a couple of days, and ultimately had to turn them down (it was a very close decision, though). I don't know about the other unis, but unless you're loaded you'll have to live in campus housing at UCI - and it's likely you'll have to share. The apartments are gorgeous though, and spacious - at least compared with UK unis' offerings; I'm not sure what US ones are like typically. The views are amazing, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and living rooms are all large, and they are all I would say absolute maximum 20 minutes' walk away. Even the professors all live in their 'professor ghetto' owned by UCI. If you end up picking accommodation there, I'd advise you to get in as early as you can. Particularly if you're like me, and do better without sharing a flat. There are very few apartments you can get to yourself.

I got mine a while ago. You should let them know you may not be able to get a visa if you don't get it soon... they appear to be unaware, else heck knows why they wouldn't have got it out to you. Call the international office rather than the department?

I had my interview a few weeks ago in London: I was in the building for about 5 hours but the actual interview was about 2 minutes. He didn't ask to see any documents (advise you bring everything you can, though), and asked where I was going and what I was studying. I think that was it! They say take £4 for retaking your photograph, but it actually cost £7! I had to redo mine because the white background somehow appeared blue.

^ I'm international; no one wants to fund me!!

Hi! I can't drive, as I've never had any need before, living in a city where it literally is much quicker to cycle. Or sometimes, even to walk. I'm hoping to learn this summer for when I go to the States in August. I currently have a UK provisional licence, and I had like one motorbike lesson ever which was disastrous - I'm hoping a car will go better. Questions: is it easier to pass in the US or UK? (I'm serious!) I'm kind of worried because in the city where I'm going to, they all drive so politely it's ridiculous. I'm vaguely scared that I will drive like a maniac British person and it won't be okay. Should I try and pass the test over here and get an international drivers' licence? I'm not sure whether I will stay/go back to the US after my PhD, but it is likely. Perhaps I'm better off getting a US licence to start off with? Will it mess me up totally if I start learning and get confident in the UK, then have to switch to opposite sides of the road when I get there? It's scary because I have about a month in which to learn, and no idea whether I'll be any good at it. Then when I get to the US, not much time at all. Also, it sounds slightly racist but I don't mean it like that - I would rather learn in the UK than with an American instructor, at least till I'm confident. I feel like it is likely to be different, and I'm going to be freaking out (probably), so I'd rather have someone I can sort of feel at home with, if you get me. The same sort of thing as why some women ask for female instructors (I'm considering doing that too). Thanks guys

In the past for my J-1 visa, I (as far as they were concerned) paid for myself. It was totally fine. I just showed them a letter from my bank saying how much was in my account - a bank statement is fine too, but I had that handy. Will post up here how my interview (tomorrow) goes, if anyone's interested.

You don't need a ticket at all. My F-1 visa is for a nominally five year course, so they're obviously not expecting me to come up with a plane ticket dated 2018. In fact, official advice is to wait until you have your visa before buying plane tickets in case you're not granted one.

They are all awful. Totally, utterly awful - at least compared to the UK. Expensive as hell and will suck your soul out if you let them. Advice: DON'T go to Radio Shack. They totally lied to my face: when I bought a SIM + plan there, the woman told me the $25 on my receipt was for a data plan. In reality, she hadn't sold me a data plan at all, and was charging me $25 for the SIM card!!!!! SIMs are usually free in the UK so I didn't even query it! Daylight robbery. Just don't ever go there.

Hellooo! I'm a current undergrad there. Yes, the interviews are horrific, and yes, they're meant to be, but you're not supposed to answer the questions in an instant (this isn't America). You are permitted to sit and think for a few seconds, you know! There *is not* an answer guide set out. They're looking for how you think, not right or wrong. There are resources that give you an idea of undergrad interviews at Oxbridge available - grad interviews aren't much different in style, apparently. Throw away all your ideas about undergrad classes and exams and think about the Oxford interview as a chance to discuss, learn and show your worth. God, I sound like an admissions tutor, but I think it's the best advice. I had a great time in my undergrad interview. Enjoy it! (Also, I recommend this department. It's a very different style from the US. Some people prefer one, some the other. Hope it goes well!)

I'm heartbroken to be saying no to my second choice. Because in some ways, it would be better - it's just overall, my first is the stronger choice. Damn, though.

butterscotch - they're very fast. Mine came within a few days (somehow), and I live 3000 miles away. If you haven't received one of them yet, could be a postal issue, so contact the uni directly?

I didn't think the NMR waiting times seemed at all bad at Irvine. Bearing in mind that *ahem* some unis typically have queues of 48 hours to book NMR time, and insist you use irritating autosamplers from "routine analysis"...