Monochrome Spring

EBE student here!

I'm working on my NSF GRFP app, then I'll finish editing my essays for each program. I'll have all of them in before Dec. 1. I've already started all of my apps and sent GRE scores and transcripts.

I thought we had to use 12pt font?

It does matter, to an extent, where you went to undergrad. You are correct that a lower GPA from a more rigorous school may hold as much weight as a higher GPA from a less rigorous school. The balance between those two is probably up the adcom for the season though. It will also matter how strong the department from which you got your degree was, as well. For example, someone applying from a top ranking SLP undergraduate department will hold a fair amount of weight, especially if he/she did research in that department.

Manhattan 5lb is very good for quantitative, but weaker for verbal. I recommend getting the 5lb for quant and then focusing on reading through more advanced material on your own for the verbal, versus buying a study guide for it.

I did a topic sentence for each paragraph, then supporting sentences, then I concluded each paragraph with insight. In conclusion is fine probably. I probably said something similar, like finally, or overall.

(I scored a 5.5) I didn't make a point to use "GRE words" in my essays. I DID make a point to follow the same format as the sample essays on the ETS website that received a 6, make my essays at least 5 paragraphs, and plan my argument beforehand. For planning, I just wrote a 1-3 word description of each paragraph on my scratch paper, so that I knew where I was going. If you aren't good at the style of writing in the GRE, practice. That's all there is to it.

Update to my GRE scores: AWA 5.5 (97%) No biology subject test retake.

When I was getting my first research experience, I was working 5 hrs/wk in one lab, 5 hrs/wk in a second lab, and 6 hrs/wk at the arboretum. But all of that was to have a range of experiences to built up my CV for applying to a better undergraduate lab position. At a research university, it can be hard to get a good undergraduate research assistant position, because you lack experience. So, I did a variety of work the quarter leading up to when I wanted to start research in a lab that I would be willing to dedicate 10+ hours to each week. I had to do the grunt work and it wasn't necessarily what I want to research in graduate school, but I had a more competitive application for my current lab. That said, now that I'm in that main lab, I definitely agree that you need to dedicate more time to one than a little time to many. I do 10-20 hrs/wk in this lab now, and see a big difference in my relationships with my labmates and advisor.

The Manhattan 5lb book for the GRE is pretty accurate in terms of difficulty, at least once you get to the end of each chapter, where the questions are harder. Each chapter starts with the easiest questions and then gets progressively more difficult.

I'm 3/4 white and 1/4 Thai, so I mark the white and asian boxes, or mixed if it's available. Just because you look dominantly white doesn't mean that you aren't also those other races.

Magoosh's vocabulary e-book helped me the most. I saw a lot of their words on the actual exam. The e-book groups words in such a way that it makes them easier to learn. e-book flashcards

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

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: N/A B: 750 (75%), retake in September Research Experience: ~1 year (to present) undergraduate research assistant - plant ecology leading to publication in winter presented preliminary results of publication research at uni. UG 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 ~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 current research position - 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: See signature

You need to retake the GRE. If your schools have a GRE score/percentile cutoff, I'm almost certain that the verbal score will take you out of the competition. How long you should study is completely dependent upon your study style and how quickly you learn the concepts. I recommend looking at test prep providers and seeing which fits your style best. Then, go with one of their paced study plans. Also, working 8-5 doesn't mean that you can't study. Many people study for the GRE while doing schoolwork, part-time jobs, and internships. So, you need to find time either after work or on the weekends, and prioritize your studying.

I would put the research experience on your CV and put the year as 2014 (expected). This way, you can show that you are going to do this research. Also, I feel like your application is strong, at least in terms of numbers. Maybe contact some of the professors at the programs that you want to attend, and ask their opinions. Good luck!

I would go with what each application asks for then. For example, on UC Berkeley's application, they ask for my current university GPA, then they ask for a cumulative GPA where I include CC courses.

It will depend on your application. Some applications only allow you to upload 1 file, in which case you need to combine your pdfs. If you can upload more than 1 file, you don't need to combine your transcripts.

It varies by school. This is based off of my experience thus far: You have a cumulative college GPA of 3.3, but your classes from high school are not going to be weighed as heavily as those that you are taking at your current university degree. The two physics courses that you took should count more heavily than the community college, since they are summer school toward your uni. degree. The application will have a spot for GPA for each university, and the adcom will decide how they want to weigh them. In the end, your grades for your major courses are what will be the most important. Don't worry about what your "true" GPA is unless you are asked to calculate it yourself; in which case, ask the specific program how they like it calculated. Also, are your physics courses included on your main uni transcript, since they are being used for your degree? That is something to look into.

Who has had a POI help with the NSF proposal in the past? (Or is planning on this?) What was the interaction like: how often did you talk, how much say did he/she have on the project, how helpful was it, etc? And what are the benefits of having a POI help you with the research proposal?