Monochrome Spring

I'm pretty sure we're all capable of copy-pasting the prompt into a word editor that provides a spellchecker. Also, that time-out only slows you down, as you have to re-log-in. But no one said that you have to type out your whole answer in X amount of minutes and only write it in that application box. The internal application essay is not some evil entity. Sure, it's not the most convenient, but it's really not a big deal. However, I will agree with you that many ask questions that you've already answered in your SoP; and that is annoying. I will also agree with you that character/word limits are difficult; but they are something that you deal with for the rest of your life for the sake of keeping things standardized and short enough for committees to process quickly.

Forward your letter writers the email so that they understand the importance of getting them in asap.

I've posted this before in another thread: Powerprep1 158/160 V/Q Powerprep2 160/160 V/Q Magoosh predicted 155-160 Q; did not take Magoosh verbal Actual 164/164 V/Q

Just FYI: MSU Plant Sciences departments are sending out invites starting December 16th for anyone who turned in their materials before December 3rd. Official deadline for application materials is December 15th.

"Oh, you want to go to Michigan State University? Why not University of Michigan?" "Did you know it's cold in Michigan?"

Some programs don't do interviews. Also, a lot of posts in the 'Results Search' are from spring '14 admissions. : )

Virginia Tech.

What is your research interest/focus going in?

great time

I doubt you can change anything now, but you can try emailing them.

I don't want to think that they would nitpick that, but their scanning software may decide otherwise. That's adding more space to your proposal, so it could be viewed as an unfair advantage. Nothing you can do now though. I think that they notify disqualifications in December.

Look up CVs of researchers in your field, specifically those closer to your experience level, and see how they formatted their CVs.

Like hardas said, you have to send the entire score report. Your programs may only count the top score from each, but they will see all of the scores.

Even as an undergraduate, I address my research advisors by their first names as soon as I feel like we have an open line of communication for projects, and as long as there are no hostilities. You can also see what other students in your program or cohort address the professor as. I say that yes, it's fine to address the professor by his/her first name in the future.

Your GRE scores are: 37th percentile quantitative and 53rd percentile verbal. Check if your programs have minimum GRE cutoffs, because you don't want to waste time and money applying if you don't make those cutoffs. Your quantitative score is especially low for sciences, so you might want to look into studying and retaking (if you have time this application season, or applying for next application season). I recommend the Manhattan 5lb GRE Prep Book for quantitative, especially if you need to relearn a lot of the basics and learn how to answer GRE-style questions. I can't say if you need to retake the GRE, but I would highly recommend it (again, if you have time this application season, or applying for next application season).

Your scores are: verbal 24th percentile and quantitative 45th percentile. To be completely honest, regardless of if you're in a hard science or in the humanities, those scores are pretty dismal, especially if your programs have a GRE minimum cutoff. It seems a bit late to retake it, and with scores that low, a month of studying may not be enough to bring them up to where you want to be. I would ask your programs about how heavily they weigh GRE scores in your application to make sure that it's worth applying this year. If you don't make the minimum cutoffs, you don't want to waste your time and money. But, if your programs don't weigh the GRE heavily, applying may still be worth while. In terms of retaking and submitting new scores: Programs will look at your most recent (or highest) scores if you send multiple. But if they don't accept late scores, they will look at the scores that made it in time for the application deadline. If that's just your first scores, those are the only ones that will be counted.

It might be that part of your application goes to a general graduate admissions group and another part of your application goes to a department or sub-department. I've had this problem on a few of my applications now, and it seems to be that different parts of your application go to different groups. I wouldn't answer with "please see statement of purpose", because if that group does not have your statement in their package, they aren't going to be able to evaluate it. Also, even if they do have your statement, it's more work to have to find it in your statement than to see it printed in the designated area. Just answer all of the questions, even if you are repeating yourself.

You should have a few pre-prepared generic paragraphs about your previous research, personal history, etc. that you can use for most of your application essays. But you should write a few custom paragraphs for each program, explaining why that program is a good fit for you and vice-versa. That means that you will discuss your more specific research interest at A's program, but you will not talk about that research interest for a program that doesn't even offer it. Do not, do not, do not use the same statement for every program without customizing it to explain why that program is specifically going to benefit you, how you will benefit the program, your research interests relative to professors at the program, etc.

"I've already picked out the apartment that I'll live at when I go to [X] university. It's only a [Y] minute walk to campus and there are 2 different bus routes close by."

They will provide you will scratch paper and pencils when you are taken to your computer station. They will also give you more, if you use all of yours up. But I found that the amount that they gave me was more than enough.

From what I understand, GRE scores in the sciences are used primarily for 1) weeding out the lower end of the applicant pool with minimum score requirements and 2) nomination for fellowships. Given your high stats other than your GRE, I don't think that you need to worry about not applying to those programs. You have to keep in mind that GRE scores are not the only factor in your application. If you are really worried about score cutoffs, you can email those programs and ask if they have a minimum GRE score.

updated profile information (please see first post on page 3, as well) Undergrad Institution: top 10 public research university, top 40 overall US universities Major(s): Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity Minor(s): N/A GPA in Major: 3.52 cum. / 3.70 upper Overall GPA: 3.56 uni. / 3.75 with CC Position in Class: Top 16-20%, possibly cum laude Type of Student: domestic female GRE Scores (revised version): Q: 164 (89%) V: 164 (93%) W: 5.5 (97%) B: not sending Research Experience: ~0-current years senior honors thesis - tropical plant ecology literature review on major theory in biodiversity maintenance field work in spring at major research plot presenting results at uni. UG conference submitting thesis to uni. UG research journal possibly submitting manuscript to peer-reviewed journal ~1.5-current years undergraduate research assistant - plant ecology meta-analysis leading to publication in peer-reviewed journal in winter presented preliminary results of publication research at uni. UG conference submitting abstract to present at major research conference ~1/2 year undergraduate research asssistant - plant floral morphology ~1/2 year undergraduate research assistant - plant cell wall protein analysis Awards/Honors/Recognitions: - Uni. honors program - Uni. dean's list - Phi Kappa Phi Pertinent Activities or Jobs: ~6 years tutoring experience - high school, junior college, and university - core science, core math, and Spanish Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: - possible research experience and publication with abroad course in tropical conservation in winter - possible senior honors thesis - volunteering as reader for high school research proposal contest in spring ~current years volunteer as high school mentor leading restoration projects ~1 year (to present) volunteer with local habitat restoration group ~1 year (to present) volunteer with Society for Conservation Biology ~1/2 year volunteering with uni. arboretum Special Bonus Points: - well-known PI at both of my current research positions - postdoc I work under personally knows 2 of my POIs - made phone/skype conversation with all POIs Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: N/A Applying to Where: Michigan State University - Plant Biology PhD University of Maryland College Park - Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics PhD University of California Berkeley - Integrative Biology PhD Stanford University - Ecology and Evolution PhD University of Pittsburgh - Ecology PhD

You can leave that section blank and I don't think that'll it will hurt you. You can include information that you didn't include in your SoP, like projects in your major courses, a list of courses you are taking that aren't on your transcript yet, a small description of a unique activity that didn't fit in your SoP. But don't try to fish for things to add there, just for the sake of adding them.