Monochrome Spring

I stop studying for the GRE when I'm burnt out on the GRE. You can't study when your brain is dead. Remember that, at the end of the day, what matters is your mental and physical health. Don't push too hard. Keep a balance.

Recommended, depending on your field, can also mean "We will use this score to differentiate between you and similar candidates for fellowships, but we won't hold it against you if you didn't take it. You just don't get the bonus points of someone who did and got a good score." Edit: Subject GRE can also demonstrate background knowledge in the field, which is especially important if you did poorly in undergrad or didn't take many courses on that topic. You'll want to be wary of the biology subject test, too. 1/3 of the test will be on ecology/evolution, which you may not be as strong at as a non-major. The molecular/cellular and organismal sections will be your strong points.

tooth fairy

The greguide tests are not representative at all of the real GRE. For example: on the greguide practice test, I was placed in the 3rd, yes 3rd, percentile for verbal. On a practice GRE from ETS, I was 78th percentile. Don't use greguide. You're better off spending money to get a book with more accurate tests.

Maybe call to see if 1 point within the cutoff will be accepted? Good luck.

While the GRE is not the most important factor in admissions, GRE score minimums are often used to weed out applicants at first. If possible, I would retake it. Maybe ask your programs what their minimum cutoffs for the GRE are, and make that your goal.

You should look into what a curriculum vita looks like, as this is what you'll most likely use as a graduate student. On a CV, you can list your publications and conferences. You should include them in your CV for applications, as well. **You can use the edit button on your post to fix grammatical errors next time. : )

There is an option to only include questions that you haven't answered before when you are setting up your practice test.

Before you decide you want them to write your LoR's, if you hesitated before, because the courses involved minimal student interaction, what makes you sure they can write a good LoR now, when it's been even less interaction since the course? Do you have any other professors that can write stronger LoR's for you? LoR's are one of the most important parts of your application.

Sorry I misread your first question. I wouldn't put a title in the actual proposal (just the section of the application). For the citations, try 2 columns with a small space between the two. That often helps me fit more in a small page limit.

There is a distinction that you (and your professors) need to make: A gap year taken to better yourself or others is not going to look poorly in admissions. It will show personal growth and/or a desire to translate your abilities to your community. A gap year taken, during which you don't do anything productive toward your field (other than for financial issues and the like), may come off as more lazy, but can usually be explained. Many professors, graduate students, and post docs talk about how candidates who have taken a year (or more) off, are generally more mature and able to handle stresses of graduate school. Of course, you can still be mature without the gap year, but the gap year can give you more experience in ways that academics can't. Taking a year to volunteer with AmeriCorps is not laziness or being sick of academia. It's a desire to help your community and gain experience translating knowledge to others' needs. The benefit of having more time for your application is great, and is not lazy, either. See if you can get something as close as possible to your desired study field while working with AmeriCorps. If that's not possible, that's still fine. If you have prior research experience, then you should be fine for your applications. Think of it this way: If you apply next year, after doing service, you'll still have the same amount of research that you would have been applying with this year. And you may already have a significant amount now. Service will only strengthen your application. I am not 100% sure I am taking a gap year. I, like you, am interested in service, specifically Peace Corps. My plan for the year is to apply to my top 3 PhD programs with all I have. But, I am also applying to Peace Corps. If I am not accepted to any PhD programs, I will begin my service in Peace Corps around the same time that I would be starting graduate school. Peace Corps is 27 months of service, during which I hope to be placed in environmental education. I feel like this could only strengthen my application, not weaken it, and I would gain experience that most people never get. You are only a senior undergraduate (like me), so you have time. Many people take time off between undergraduate and graduate education for various reasons, and that is fine. Your professor seems to have tunnel vision for academia, and he may not realize that not everyone is the same. Some people want to take time to explore service options, as well. Good luck in your service, and I hope you get accepted to a great program once you apply.

I am including a title, as well as citations. A title shows that you have formed a simple blurb that can explain what your research is all about. The title also helps the committee recognize immediately what you are trying to accomplish, and helps them remember your proposal. Citations show that you have looked into what previous research is in your field, as well as how you can build off of it. That is a large part of science, and will show that you understand more what you're getting into. You can use a smaller font for citations, so that they use less space.

I have a filter coffee system at my mom's house that makes 12 cups, so we can both drink it throughout the day. I prefer to have French pressed coffee when I'm studying, though.

GRE scores for top universities GRE scores for engineering programs GRE score percentiles You're still above 90th percentile, so you're competitive. And GRE scores are not the most important part of your application. GRE scores are used primarily for weeding out lower-end students and for fellowship ranking (that I know of). You should be fine, as long as the rest of your application is also strong.

I'm starting this thread so that anyone who is thinking of joining the Peace Corps before/after/during their graduate program can discuss. Peace Corps: http://www.peacecorps.gov/ Educational Benefits: http://www.peacecorps.gov/learn/whyvol/eduben/ Master's International Program: http://www.peacecorps.gov/learn/whyvol/eduben/mastersint/ - Do your PeaceCorps volunteer work while getting your Master's degree Coverdell (Master's/PhD) Fellows Program: http://www.peacecorps.gov/learn/whyvol/eduben/fellows/ - Do you Peace Corps volunteer work before getting your Master's or PhD degree - Apply to Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows Programs for returning volunteers

There are scholarships for a few fields of study that will give you funding for graduate applications, but your research interests have to align very well with the organization that is giving the scholarship. Other than that, some programs, like McNair, will pay for graduate applications from a list of pre-approved schools. Your best bet is the fee waiver for each school, though.

oceans eleven

You need to address both of those criteria in your essays. Generally, applicants will label a section "Broader Impacts", but the intellectual merit should be evident through your previous research and explanations of the resources available to you.

I don't think it's appropriate to have a graduate student write your LOR, so I would cross her off of the list. You could consider adding her as a 4th LOR, IF the schools you are applying to allow more than 3. I would talk to the professor from your organic chemistry course. Just be honest and ask him if he could write you a good letter. Remind him of all of the work you did, and tell him about what you've done since. He should let you know if he can't write a good letter for you, in which case you'd need a new option. But, he might be able to, as long as you set everything up well.

Good luck every one!!

I had this same problem. I had registered for late October. The scores will probably arrive on time, but I decided to play it very safe and rescheduled for September.