nutmehg

I'm not sure but I go to UWO and was having trouble accessing one of our online teaching sites today that everyone uses- it was a problem that IT was looking at. Not sure if it's related but I would try again or call them! January 7th should be the end of January 7th.

Woops scratch that, just got word of another rejection- they had to postpone the grad position one year so it's more that the project couldn't go on and I could apply again next year...meh.

I haven't hears anything official back yet!! I got rejected from one school, but didn't actually send in an app to the school, just the POI. I have one unofficial acceptance but getting worried because that was two weeks ago and I still don't have the official yet. I too, officially hate the weekend! I just want to know already... /venting

Yes...unfortunately I just discovered the results page recently. Yet another thing to obsessively stalk for results!

Depends what you're going for- some of my departments didn't even have deadlines until mid february (one not til march 1st!) so its perfectly normal to hear back sometime in the middle to end of march. In the meantime, the wait it driving me crazy!

Thank you so much!

I have already drafted an SOP for a few other schools, but none of the prompts specifically requested weaknesses/ an explanation for a gap year. I am applying for programs outside of my undergraduate major, which I know is a weakness but tried to emphasize the strength of that in my SOP- is it fine to leave it like that or do I need to actually mention a weakness? Also- I graduated in May and had a temporary related job until mid-September, but now am just working retail. I simple reason I didn't apply to grad school is because I thought I'd be able to get a year or two of work experience first- turns out that's not happening (need the MS to get a job). No big reason why I took a year off, was always planning on pursuing it but I wasn't sure specifically what I wanted. I guess it has given me time to evaluate that- should I just say that? Here is the essay prompt: "Please outline your reasons for wishing to undertake graduate study, and comment on your plans for a professional career. Describe the strengths and weaknesses of your preparation for graduate study in your proposed field. If there are gaps in your academic career, please address them."

Anyone have ideas for something nice to do for your LORs once it is all done? I was thinking of giving them handmade cards but want to give them something else too for all the time they put into helping me. What did you do for your LORs?

Trying to get as much feedback as possible on my SOP- needs to be 500 words max, applying to environmental/ecology programs. If you could give me some feedback that would be great! PM or comment and I can email or PM it back. I am happy to return the favor!

One of my LOR's has asked me to provide him with a draft letter that I think would be most helpful to me and send it to him to rework. Any tips for this, like samples of good LOR's I could draw from for format, etc? I have NO idea what makes a good LOR, format, or what info to even include. Any tips or links would help! Thanks!

I think it depends on the program- I'm applying for MS positions and still emailing POIs, because a few responses have been "I won't know if I have funding until January so email me again then." It can't hurt- but again most of the things I'm applying for don't have deadlines until February, I'm not sure how it works for neuro!

So I just got off the phone with a potential POI- I think it went well but I'm not sure. So it basically started off with him asking me about potential projects I would like to work on, my interests etc. It only lasted about 10 minutes- we talked a bit about projects his students have worked on, he said he will email me an interesting paper that just came out, and told me to keep thinking of ideas for potential projects. He also asked me if I could visit so we can talk face to face after the holidays- I am in New England while the POI is in Canada so it would require some travel, I hesitated at first and just said sure I'll just have to look into making travel plans. The application isn't until march so he said that we should keep the conversation going through email and keep sending him project ideas. What do you guys think? I really need some feedback! He was definitely the most engaging and nice POI I have contacted thus far. Thanks!

Who else here is applying in this field, and what has your experience been like? I'm trying to apply for a Wildlife Conservation M.S., but contacting POIs is becoming very tedious. So far I've only had one phone conversation with a POI and she gave me the go ahead to apply (but application info won't be up until January), 2 who are iffy/not sure if they have funding, and the rest have been no-gos or haven't replied yet. And I've emailed about 13 people. There are a few postings up on the Texas A&M wildlife board that I might go for but I'm having difficulty finding open slots , and I feel like I need to email my LOR writers soon! Anyone else having the problem of needing to email for LORs but not quite positive of everything you'll be applying to? I'll be trying to send out as many emails as possible in the next few days!

Thanks everyone!

No idea, but I am applying to similar programs that range from early Feb to March. Still trying to figure this application process out though. Good luck!

I'm a bit behind compare to you guys, but most of my apps are due early Feb. Taking the GREs in 2 days and still finalizing a list of schools to apply to, emailing professors and all that good stuff. This month is going to be a scramble!

I got this response back from a potential POI today: Dear [nutmehg], Thank you for your message and interest in our graduate program. We have many shared research interests and you have some great credentials. At the moment, I am uncertain about whether I will be accepting student next fall. You could certainly apply to our program and if a position becomes available, I would happily consider you. Regards, Professor X Is this good? Should I email another professor at that department if he's not sure? How should I respond?

I am a recent graduate with a degree in Sociology, looking to apply for an MS, and was wondering if anyone has been in the same boat? My minor was in environmental studies and so I've taken various courses in different science departments, and I'm looking to apply to Environmental Conservation/Natural Resources programs for Fall 2013. I'm at the stage now where I need to contact professors- the only problem is, a lot of advice on here says to bring up your own research when contacting potential advisors, but I don't have any independent science research experience. I've done extensive sociological research papers where I focused on environmental issues, but not from a scientific approach. I have about a year of animal husbandry experience at an aquarium and with research animals, but it doesn't really relate to any of the work the professors I'm interested in have done. Any advice on this? Second question: when getting references, does it matter what field they are in? I worked closely with two professors on sociological/environmental research papers but on topics not directly related to what I'm pursuing. I also was close to a creative writing professor, but would asking her for a recommendation be a completely terrible idea? Do I need a science specific recommendation? Thank you so much!