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Chai_latte

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Everything posted by Chai_latte

  1. I'm sorry to hear that. I went to a liberal arts college for undergrad, and it was the best decision I could've made. I saved the research university/Ivy for grad school. My Ivy definitely wasn't "friendly" on the whole, but I was able to find a few pockets that were very supportive (reminiscent of my LAC experience). I'm mainly writing to wish you well. I don't know that much about physics, but I do know Yale's chemistry department has some really supportive profs (maybe take a look at their physics community). I've also heard good things about Princeton, UMich, Rice, UW-Madison, Vanderbilt, Berkeley and Duke. Again, these are mainly for chem (and related, non-physics fields), but maybe this speaks to the general tenor of the science departments. These places may be worth a look.
  2. No, you can do whatever you want after the MS. It's just that admission to Stanford's PhD is not a guarantee (and may even be a rarity). Schools specify that a degree is terminal to say: you can apply to this program without enrolling in our PhD program and getting the MS along-the-way. At some schools, terminal MS kids aren't eligible for assistantships/stipends. So, look into that.
  3. Have you looked at Maryland-College Park? If it seems like a good fit, I'd add them.
  4. I think BU is the only school with a LEAP type program. I actually just watched a TEDx Talk by a professor who switched from a liberal arts background to chemical physics...so, it does happen. Since it's a rare path, I don't think (m)any programs are geared towards people with non-STEM backgrounds. But, I bet if you take the prerequisite math/sci courses at community college and then thrive in the core engineering courses at a 4 yr. university, you should have a good shot, like anyone else. Of course, you should get research experience by joining a professor's lab. That's as important as the coursework itself. There are plenty of good chemE programs in CA (Stanford, Cal, Cal Tech etc.). But, you can easily look into that after proceeding along this path and discovering what research areas interest you. The way I see it, you have quite a few more steps to go. But, it can be done.
  5. My only additional piece of advice is don't just let it sit for 5 -7 years. Interest rates can vary between years. I took out some loans that had 5.3% interest, but the following year (or the prior year...I forget) I had loans that were 6.8%. So, ALWAYS check each year to see what the interest rate is. Why sit on a 6.8% loan, when you can pay it off and replace it with a 5.3% loan the next year?
  6. My first thought was no. But, if you live frugally, save a lot each term and take out a ~$5K loan at the start of each year (that you repay at the end of each year you're enrolled), you may get the small security blanket you're looking for without bone crushing compounding interest at the end of your program. If you save a lot, your nest egg will get larger as you advance through your program (of course). Just don't take out a big, lump sum of $15-20K at the start of your program and let it sit. That's when interest can get out of hand...really quickly.
  7. I would really take those classes (and Calc 3). Students coming from traditional/not applied chemistry backgrounds will have those courses. But, since you have a school in mind, ask them. Their opinion is the one that counts.
  8. You should look at the courses that brought your GPA down. If they were the more quantitative ones, you should strengthen your background there. For that, undergrad courses (retaken and/or related ones) may be your best bet. You should also take a couple of graduate level courses to show you can do the work. Of course, you need to do particularly well on the MCAT. I've seen people get into solid med schools by following that prescription.
  9. Do you plan to practice in the northwest? If so, I'd pass on NYU (or defer)? If you are going to take on an astronomical amount of debt, you want your alumni/professor/hospital network to be strongest in your preferred region. That can make the job search process smoother and/or faster. I'm in a different field, but I'll echo a previous poster: debt is no joke. With graduate loans, interest begins accruing the day after each loan is disbursed...even while you're a student. I realize that demand for SLPs is high, but if there's even a slight hiccup with your job search 2-3 years from now, that debt can really spiral out of control once interest capitalizes upon graduation. As a prospective student, you may not fully appreciate that now. But, you will once you graduate (or approach graduation).
  10. Hi Mocha, Congratulations on such great options! I can only say what I would do: if the person at Harvard is tenured, is pulling for you and if the people in his/her lab are pleased with their choice/have enough support/graduate within a reasonable time-frame etc., I would go with him/her. You're going to be working hard for the next 5-7 years. At the very least, when starting out, you should be excited about the work & be paired with a good (and supportive) prof. I wouldn't bypass that for the security of a few labs that don't bowl me over at another school. But, I would do a lot of research into the Harvard lab (and MIT labs) beforehand, leaving no stone unturned and talking to a BUNCH of students... Congrats again!
  11. I had lurked for a year prior to joining (2012-ish). I was drawn to the discussions and results section. I wound up pursuing a non-traditional path. And, I've gathered a lot of advice along the way--from folks in real life and on this site (some of whom have posted in this thread). Having officially finished school, I'm job searching now. But, I still pop in sometimes and add my two cents when I see posts that remind me of my own (circa 2012-2014)... posts of bright-eyed, bushy-tailed prospectives/first-years who want to hear as many opinions as possible. I was grateful when people responded to my threads and helped me out. So, I guess, I'm hoping my cameo appearances here can help someone else. At least, some of the time.
  12. I can't answer the question fully, but I can tell you about my experience. I got a Direct Stafford for Summer 2015. I had to be enrolled at least half-time to get an adequate amount of money for the term. I remember expecting ~$20k, but wound up getting $14k. I can't recall the cause of that discrepancy, but I do believe you can get $20k for the summer term depending on the number of credits you register for (and still get the max for Fall & Spring). Hope this helps. You should really speak to the head of financial aid at your school; don't just talk to the person answering the phone.
  13. Since you don't think a "top 100" (or R1--research oriented university) is a reasonable expectation, I would probably strengthen my application with a thesis-based/terminal MS. At that point, you can probably look at higher ranked schools and consider research fit (you'll have more defined research interests). Just make sure you go for funded MS programs.
  14. What are the credentials that most people have in that field? Research that, if you haven't already. In most cases, it's probably just the MA in higher ed. If so, I'd just go with that. You don't realize it now, but the cost of two grad degrees can be crippling! Like the previous poster said, if you're looking towards the biz side of things, take a hard look at Stanford...or Harvard or TC (schools in areas with a strong business ecosystem). That way, in your MA or EdM, you can take full advantage of business electives, business talks and hob-knobbing with new friends/colleagues at the b-school (a decent number of b-school kids are interested in applying their skills to the education field). If I were you, that would be my path. Also, take a hard, long look at the ed electives themselves. Some of them can get surprisingly "business-like". That compounded with a few electives at a b-school and a good internship, might be all you need.
  15. I really want to add to this. This is a very important point. Many of you have already decided on/against TC, but this may be helpful for prospectives going forward. Examine your learning style. If lecture works best for you, TC (and most education schools) may not be the place for you. If you have a STEM background, you'll probably be allergic to all the discussion and sharing. You're simply not used to it. Personally, I saw minimal value in all the opinions/talking. In some courses, getting people to talk was like pulling teeth. In other courses, you wished some people would just stay silent. HOWEVER, I think "sharing" is emblematic of most ed schools today. And, if you're in MST, there's going to be far less discussion than in other departments. I took as few discussion courses as possible. I made HEAVY use of independent studies; I worked one-on-one with the head of my department--a sage in science and sci ed (~3 semesters). I also worked with an instructor in the art department focusing on creative technologies (~2 semesters). Get creative and construct the curriculum that works best for you! One good thing about TC is that you're not confined to departments or traditional courses. My home department within MST is Tech & Media (with significant work in SciEd and ArtEd). Right now, I'm working on my thesis. I'm on my way out. I have to say: I had a great experience here. As both a prospective & as a first year, I spoke to 2nd year students who recommended specific professors. So, I always signed up for the best. I got my (high paying) part-time job last year from my department's network. I got another part-time job (on campus/in my department) the following term working with a professor. I'm launching my full-time/post-grad job search using contacts from campus job fairs and our department's network. So far, so good. This is why you pay for TC. Yeah, it's stingy...with a capital "S". No, all things are NOT roses here (there are some boring classes, some crummy students, some crummy teachers). If you choose to come here, you need to do so with your eyes open & talk to your "elders" to help you navigate this place and make the most of it. Beyond applying aggressively for fellowships and grants, you can't do anything about the money. But, with a head's up, you can avoid the crummy classes and take the good ones. With creativity, you can fulfill your elective requirement with classes outside of TC (I took more science across the street; some people take business classes) and independent studies in other departments (or your own). In my department, your part-time job or internship can count for credit, if you don't get paid. Look into all options. If you're in MST, for example, you can join a lab. If you're in any department, you can do research with a professor. TC is a huge school. It's easy to get lost in the sauce, especially if you're part-time. There are people here who are quite dissatisfied (understandably so). There are also folks who are quite happy (very possible with a little "elbow grease"). This place really is what you make of it. Note: This is my second grad degree; I'm not sure I would've been as adept at navigating TC if I had enrolled fresh out of my small, liberal arts college. Good luck to all!
  16. Well, since no one has answered, I'll share my two cents. Note: I'm not in C&T; my department is significantly smaller than yours. Professors have taught all but two of my classes (the guy who taught those two classes is now a full-time instructor--he was finishing his dissertation when he taught us last year). TC is very expensive and can be stingy with financial aid. Personally, I'd have a hard time paying that kind of money for fellow grad students to teach me. This may be secondary, but one concern I'd have would be recommendations after graduation. I suppose all of your recs would come from grad students and not established professors?? One thing you should do is email the masters advisor and ask him/her to get you in contact with a couple of MA candidates. Talk to them about their experiences. That's what I did prior to entry; the tips I got were invaluable. ETA: Just as an FYI, C&T didn't always rely on grad students to teach (I'm shocked to hear that's common now). When my mom was a student there, she only had professors.
  17. I err on the side of "a bird in the hand"; you said that Cal seems really supportive of your plans. If it seems like a great fit, I'd give it a shot. The other thing you have to consider (and I'm saying this as someone who has finally paid off ~97% of her student loan debt) is debt load. Are you willing to go forward with the PhD after you're 40-60k in the hole from Harvard? That kind of debt is no joke when you remember that grad loans are unsubsidized and will accrue interest ALL while you're in school. 5-7 years of interest sure is a lot. The other thing you might want to consider is where you'd prefer to work as a professional--east or west coast? That can really tip the scales in a particular direction. Without knowing you/your situation, right off the bat, I'd go with UCB.
  18. 1) Great avatar! 2) I was about to recommend the LEAP program, but I see you already know about it. I've shifted career paths (but all within STEM, or STEM-related). Going from a humanities field to engineering is a big stretch. If you don't want the LEAP program, you'll probably have to do more than online math courses. You'll need in-person classes. How else will you do labs, learn design or complete a senior capstone project? How could you ever compete with kids who have co-op experience and lab research under their belts??? 3) Take things one step at a time. For now, don't worry about how renowned BU's program is. Just focus on getting your foot in the door. As things stand (even with 100 online courses), you wouldn't be competitive at places like Madison.
  19. I'm just a student here; I have no idea. I can tell you that there were about 65 people who enrolled my year. If you're so inclined, I guess you could ask the admissions office about the average number of applicants most years.
  20. It probably won't. I know a few people who didn't submit GREs.
  21. Stick with the well-known company. I saw your post in another thread. Your # of publications/presentations is quite good. Great recs from a great company that you've worked at for 4 yrs. will be better than great recs from an unknown school. Most people should get the masters. I really don't think you have to.
  22. I'm finishing up too, so I'll throw in my 2 cents. I'm very happy here, BUT it's not a utopia. 1) If you're a master's candidate, financial aid is tough to come by...in my department (ed tech) and in general. 2) Folks in my dept. think career services could be better. Who knows, maybe if you're in Curriculum & Teaching, or a more traditional field, it's different. 3) Choose your classes wisely. Speak to older students in your program for guidance. Not all of the classes are great. A second year student saved me when I was a newbie. She told me to switch programming classes IMMEDIATELY. The one I had signed up for was awful, like 100% horrendous. I owe her my life because the one she recommended was great. WITH THAT SAID...there are some great opportunities. Stick your neck out to take advantage of them. Get to know your profs and classmates. They're great resources and very receptive. My old TA recommended me for a summer job w/ our program head. I heard about my spring 2016 internship from two people: a fellow classmate (who is now a friend) and my advisor. One of my profs introduced me to someone who is doing exactly what I'd love to do post-graduation--who knows that person may become a mentor. Our department chair has been my independent study advisor for multiple semesters. It really helps to be full-time here. There are a lot of opportunities you miss out on when you're only here a few evenings a week. Again, talk to folks before choosing classes and register early. If it says you can register Feb 10 @ 9am, get online at 8am. The website tends to open up early, and kids in-the-know eat up all the best classes by 8:45 or 9am on-the-dot. Please take advantage of independent studies, courses outside of your department and outside of TC. Attend activities that are of interest on the main campus. There are great speakers, seminars, organizations etc. This place is generally what you make of it. Very few are 100% enthused about TC. For many, it is just OK. Let's be real; it's a huge school with a huge part-time population. It's not hard to believe that some find it impersonal. But, if you go in with your eyes wide open and get to know people (profs, classmates, secretaries etc.) who can show you the ropes, you can have a great experience. It probably helps to be in a smaller department, too.
  23. Non-thesis vs thesis: the thesis is typically preferred, but you have a strong publication record. My guess is that an alternative transcript is adequate. More than top 10, 20, 30 etc. focus on research fit/POIs. With an alternative transcript, I can see you having a shot at any of the above...provided that there's a good fit.
  24. I can't speak to admissions chances, but it's great that you have a good number of papers/presentations. Given that your UG gpa is so low, a goal of 3.0-4.0 for grad courses is inadequate IMO. I'd shoot for 3.7-4.0. With that said, when you're ready to apply, submit apps to both MS & PhD programs. Then, you'll determine whether you need to go the master's route. Since you already have industry experience, I'm not sure age will be a big factor. It's not like you were doing unrelated stuff during your time away from school.
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