Bearcat1

Does it say that you need a final degree certificate if you haven't graduated yet? I have a certificate that states that I completed my MA, which I was given the day I submitted my thesis, because official diplomas won't be available until next month. Could that be what they want? That's my only idea...sorry if that's not helpful. I don't know what your field is, so it's possible it could be something specific to that. I would call or email the DGS and ask. It's a perfectly acceptable question, especially since you went to a foreign university.

Can you call him during his office hours, when you know he'll be around? Since he was your advisor, I agree that it's important (and also strange that he isn't responding).

I think it depends on the field. I've seen a few posts saying it's not necessary, but I'd say in art history it's a must.

I'm feeling the same way...I am working on a writing sample for the only three (of nine) programs that wouldn't take my entire thesis, and then I'll be done. I need a project that takes up all my free time, and hopefully keeps my mind off of all of this through February!

I haven't addressed teaching in any of my SoP's, but it is on my CV under teaching experience and a teaching award I received is listed there as well. I have asked about teaching opportunities at each of the programs when I've spoken by phone or email with my POI or the DGS, and in some cases that has led to a conversation about my teaching experiences that I hope will be remembered favorably during application reviews. My advice would be to briefly address teaching where it's specifically requested, but not to waste space otherwise. Unfortunately, one's ability and/or to teach doesn't seem to be important for being awarded a teaching assistantship, so I would put more emphasis on things that are given more weight, like your research goals and "proof" that you will be able to hack it in grad school (or however that is subtly worded on SoP prompts).

Most MA programs don't expect you to pass a test immediately like a PhD program would. I know many of them will allow you to take "for reading knowledge" courses or a certain number of semesters of language and even then sometimes that's all you need, rather than an additional translation exam. If the websites just say that you need to be proficient in one language, contact the DGS and find out the specifics. I got my MA from a terminal program and some people finished their language requirement the last term of the first year.

Your GRE scores are really, really good, and if you finished strong, I think your chances are really good. From what I've heard (from professors) they are mostly concerned with your major grades and the last two years. Getting a D in some kind of required math or science course isn't going to hurt you. And you've done great things since then, so you've shown that you're capable of more than your freshman grades show. And, like everyone says, your letters of rec and writing sample count for much more than the numbers.

You mentioned wanting to apply and he encouraged you to do so. So yes, you discussed your application with him. And since you went to his talk, it might remind him of your email exchange to have that on the application, which should be in your favor. I agree with iowaguy, however, that more interaction is better. And if you found all the info to answer the questions you had on the website, then better to come up with additional questions to continue the interaction. They don't necessarily have to be things you really want to know. Or, next time maybe an email with a "thank you, found all the information I needed on the website but if I have any further questions during the application process I'll be in touch" would work so it doesn't seem like you're not interested.

Since you are local, your initial email could just explain your research interests and ask to arrange a meeting on campus. All of your other questions can be brought up in person (which I think is less awkward than trying to write out what you want to know). And although I agree with iowaguy that your POI for a master's isn't quite as important as for a PhD, I think you should know what the program has to offer and if you feel like it's a good fit. And if a program accepts terminal master's students, then they should be open to meeting them.

Yes, that's probably why, but there is so much to think about, it's really ridiculous. One of my friends joked that if you can do all the application-related things you are supposed to on time, they should just give you the PhD. I would email them now, then, and acknowledge that you cut it close and be apologetic? Or maybe just call, even though you know they hate that? I think if you are apologetic and accept responsibility for asking a bit late you won't come across at all like a "presumptuous anxiety ridden baby."

I've been thinking about the same thing. I sent a spreadsheet with all the due dates for the programs to which I'm applying, but that was weeks ago. Most of the applications have a place to resend the requests to recommenders, so I was thinking of writing something like this: Dear So-and-so, Just a quick reminder that the first of the application deadlines for the programs to which I'm applying is coming up on December 1st. I know the requests were emailed a while ago, so if it would be helpful for me to resend them please let me know and I can do that right away. Thank you again for your help with the application process; your time is very much appreciated. Sincerely, Me I have fairly close relationships with all three of my recommenders, but that could be more formal if necessary. I figure the point is to remind them because I know they probably aren't paying close attention to due dates like I am, and it's very likely those emails will be a pain for them to go back and locate, so I'm hoping straight to the point is a good approach. I'm also hoping that once I remind them of the December 1st deadline, they'll just send them all and I won't have to do that every week(ish) for two months.

I'd give them at least a week and a half to two weeks. Send a second email with the original at the bottom, and just say you are following up on your first email because you know they are busy. Something like, "Dear So-and-so, I'm emailing regarding the request I sent two weeks ago for a letter of recommendation. I know you are busy and your inbox is likely inundated with emails, so I wanted to check in again to make sure you received it." Maybe even give them a "if you're too busy I understand" if you can word it so it doesn't sound too pathetic (I haven't been able to figure that one out yet) so they have an out if they need one. I had to email a couple of POIs twice and this did the trick; I got a response the second time, with a very sincere apology from both about missing my first email.

I'm not sure about mentioning the professors for your field; for mine, I mention who I want to work with and why in each of my SOPs. (Disclaimer: my field is a bit obscure, so it might not be obvious to readers who I want to work with.) If the programs you are applying to expect (or you think they will) that you will get a PhD there, then you shouldn't mention only wanted a masters. Just let them think what they want and then decide what's best for you after you get an offer.

I have a rather specialized topic and I was advised by two professors who are helping me edit that I need to explain everything because the people I'm applying to work with may or may not be on the adcoms. So my writing sample might be read (judged) but people completely outside my area of interest, who therefore don't know what I'm talking about. I think the stuff that's common to philosophy is fine because you can assume that everyone reading it will be familiar with those concepts. But anything that's highly specific to a specialized area should be explained, at least enough so someone outside that area can still get the gist of the work. I hope that helps! I feel your frustration on the opposing reviews from those helping you edit.

That's tough. Do you know what she meant by that? Did she mean it in a negative way? (I can't imagine what that would mean, but I don't know a whole lot about social work.) Do you have someone else you can ask who knows you as well? And also keep in mind whether she will find out from other recommenders that you asked her and then didn't use her as a recommender. That has the potential to cause problems. I think, if you think her recommendation will be good, then just go with it, since she's already said yes. You'll save yourself the headache of asking someone else and worrying about her being upset. I understand where you're coming from, but I think in the grand scheme of things if her letter is good then you get it and then you don't have to deal with her again and it will be less stressful than starting over with someone else.

I don't know about political science specifically, but I don't think your undergraduate GPA wouldn't be a problem since you've done well in an MA program. I've actually had two professors (both very highly respected in their fields) with a similar story, although more due to lack of ambition and not so much a legitimate issue like yours. I would explain in your SOP (very briefly) that your poor grades as an undergrad were due to an illness, but that you stuck it out instead of taking time off. (That, to me, seems pretty commendable.) And you should also talk about how your internships and research have helped you to become more focused. All of that shows growth away from the poor GPA. Again, not being a political science major, I don't know about your situation specifically, but your resume sounds pretty impressive and it's clear just in your short post that you are highly capable and that your UG GPA isn't a reflection of the kind of scholar you are now.

I have completed several applications that require three recommendations, but allow up to four. If you come across that, you can use all of them.

I emailed three programs the same questions (do images and bibliography count) and they all said yes. One of my recommenders said to change the footnotes to complete citations and dump the bibliography altogether. Or you could dump what you can, and call it "Select Works Cited" so the readers know it's been cut. You could also email the DGS's where you're applying and hope they have a different policy; it would make sense that that wouldn't count, since the page limit is (I assume) to limit the amount of reading necessary and no one has to read your works cited. So this didn't really answer anything. I would ask and hope that they don't count.

I don't think it matters that you worked on something for your MA thesis and want to change focus for your PhD. I don't think the adcoms are looking at your writing sample to figure out whether you are already good at what you plan to do while there. They want to see that you can conduct research and put together a coherent argument. If you can show that with an excerpt of your thesis, I vote for that, but definitely say it's an excerpt. (But first and foremost, I like fuzzylogician's suggestion to ask if you can submit the whole thing.)

While the health insurance is certainly a valid concern, I don't think anything should rush you into grad school. It's definitely something you want to be ready for, because it's a lot of work and you need to be in the right place mentally. That being said, maybe you'll find you don't need the full four years you planned? Or, can you find a job during that four years that provides health insurance? I think the latter would be your best bet (and generally company insurance policies won't exclude coverage because you have a preexisting condition).

I think you use 3.97 because that's what your transcript says. Don't account for how it's done other places, you calculate it like they do. Don't short change yourself. If an A+ is worth more at Columbia, they are probably harder to get than an A+ that's only worth 4.0 points. And, at a glance, you don't want anyone to try to match what you put to your transcript and think you screwed it up!

I don't know much about statistics programs, but in art history, which is heavy on writing, the writing score doesn't seem to matter. And I've never seen a minimum writing score listed anywhere. I know at my previous institution, funding from the graduate division was based on GRE scores, but just the verbal and quantitative combined score, without any regard for the writing score. You could always (even with a "fake" email so as to remain anonymous) email the DGS of a program or two where you're applying and ask. They may not know but it never hurts to ask, especially under a pseudonym! Your other scores are great, though. Do your apps require a writing sample? If so, that will make clear what kind of a writer you are and should trump a score based on some weird, made-up scenario (mine was about the medical effects of snoring!).

That is excellent advice, and should be number one. My research is a little outside most everyone's radar, and I forget that even though most archivists don't know about it, they can be a wealth of information for less obscure things. Plus, people like to talk about what they know, and making friends with the archivists never hurts (I've gotten photocopies of things that weren't supposed to be copied, and had items pulled from other people's stacks that way).

A couple suggestions, which may or may not be useful depending on where you are going. First, know what you're looking for. Or at least have an idea. A lot of the people who work in archives aren't even aware of a lot of stuff they have, so if you know what to ask for, it will be that much easier for them to help you find it. I have taken pictures while I'm there, then organized the photos in order into a PowerPoint, which I then convert to a PDF so nothing can get lost or out of order. It works pretty well, and then of course you still have the individual pics to refer to. When you take pictures, include the front and whatever kind of title page you can (or the box they came from, etc.), so you know where things came from, and, this is the biggest thing I've screwed up, make sure you get the page/folio number in the pic. If you have to take pics out of order, make a note about it so the order makes sense to you later. And maybe write down where you located the materials within the archive so that you can easily find them next time (or know where they were, in case they move). This is all based on foreign archives, and I hear in the US things are much more organized, but hopefully this will help a little.

If you order your scores through the ETS website, although it costs $25 for each score, you can just pick one test date to send. I have no idea what it looks like when you send them through the test center the day you take the test, so it may be different, but if you like one set of scores better, it might be worth the money to order them yourself.