Monochrome Spring

It's like skype, but multiple people at once, for larger meetings. And it's free. Don't forget to vote on the poll on the first page, so we can find a time that's best for everyone.

Is anyone studying for the bio gre too? Or just general?

Sounds good.

Study too, if everyone else wants. I would like to start studying this weekend.

I guess this would just be for this particular weekend so we can talk more "in person" about a regular meeting time. If that's okay with everyone else. I don't mean to hijack this thread.

http://doodle.com/umekgdq3sbwaeguh I made a doodle poll for Pacific Time, so just adjust for your own timezone. We can go with majority availability?

I'm down for tinychat. We need figure out a time though.

Maybe we can post practice test scores so we can mark improvement with different resources?

I'm currently using the Manhattan 5lb book of questions for general GRE study. I'm doing 1 chapter a day. Then I'll do a couple practice tests and see if I need to study some areas in more detail. I've looked at the Princeton, Barrons, Kaplan, etc. But I just wanted a book of practice problems.

I'm taking my bio gre in September and general gre in October. I'll join a study group.

Are you submitting a paper application? I thought that it would be online. If paper, I would recommend plain paper. I don't think that letterhead is necessary. If you want to get fancy, maybe use a slightly thicker paper?

If you have the time and money to retake it, I would. If it would inconvenience you, I wouldn't worry about it. It's not a huge factor in most programs. Just consider cutoffs for any school you're applying to.

I use a general introduction about my stats and my research experience, and I use a general conclusion asking to keep contact. But then I customize everything else and relate my research experience to their interests, and talk about future plans specific to their program. Hope that helps.

The departments are ecology and evolution, plant biology, and forestry. My field of interest is tropical forest ecology, so not *very different between the departments. That sounds good. The professor I'm in contact with is actually my first choice, and he is the one that recommended the other professors, mostly for a graduate committee. I'll email the first professor, then see what the protocol for multi-departmental applications. Then, I'll email the other professors. If I can't apply across departments, at least I can ask them about being on a graduate committee.

One of the universities that I am interested in applying to has a bunch of faculty that I'm interested in. The problem is that they are spread across 3 departments, each having their own application. I can't afford to apply to 3 programs within the university with 1 professor each. So, my question is: has anyone encountered this issue before, and if so, how did you tackle it? I was thinking about emailing a professor that I've already been corresponding with at that university about it, as well. I know that each school will have different guidelines, but I'm just looking for a general idea of what I should do.

I'm trying to remove my desire for the flavor, too. Hence the tea. But, I'm making progress. I'm down to 2 cups of coffee each day with a tea in the afternoon.

I drink coffee, and I wish I didn't. I started in elementary school, and have progressively moved up to half a pot (6 measured cups) per day on average. If I don't have coffee, I can get crippling headaches now that prevent me from doing any work until I get my fix. I'm trying to find substitutes with less caffeine to slowly wean myself off of my addiction.

Only apply to schools that you would be willing to go to AND ENJOY. (As well as you can foresee that is). Your graduate school will be your home for a very long time, so you need to feel like you fit in there and enjoy the work that you are doing. (I am applying to 4, maybe 5, if I can find another school that I like enough to give my free GRE scores to.)

You don't need publications to get accepted. A large proportion of admitted students only have research, but no publications, so don't worry about that. I think your qualifications look good. Make sure to get good letters of recommendation and write a good SOP, as well. Good luck!

I would choose Sac, because it's close to you, you can form connections with people in the program and area, and I think a thesis stands out more than an exam.

Even if a website is not required for your application (and I doubt it ever is), it is an additional helpful resource that allows you to elaborate in more space. The larger adcom committee most likely won't look at your website. But, once you are past the initial phases of the adcom, the individual professors choose who they want to take on in their labs. A student who has a website will have more information to offer. A professor can look at the website in his/her own time, versus a larger adcom. (The professor I recently spoke with already looked at my site, and it's pre-application.) You can call it "unfair", because you added more resources than the standard application asked for. Or you can call it resourceful and driven to take the time and effort to make a good website. A website shows that you aren't afraid to put your research in the public view, and shows that you are serious about displaying all you have to offer. Additionally, a website allows the professor to click hyperlinks to your publications, organizations, programs, etc., which is a feature unavailable on a printed application. In the end, you don't need a website. But it's not unfair to create one and show the adcom. You can get in without a website, because your work should speak for itself. But a website can also be a way to explain things in more detail and advertise your work (within and outside of the admissions process). Also, I view the website as something to show professors when you contact them about admissions, not something that you expect to be an option in the application. Leaving a link to your webpage in your email signature is a great way to get noticed by different faculty. I think we should all just agree that: - A website is not necessary, but it can be helpful - You should spend time on the parts of your application that are required, before optional parts - A website is most helpful in the latter parts of the application process or while contacting professors early on

Yes. Include an annotated transcript of sorts. I'm including one with my applications. I have taken quite a few courses that are listed as "group study" or "independent study", which are actually seminars for my field, practicum coursework, or internships. Graduate schools would have idea about that, unless you let them know. If there isn't a place to add additional information for your particular school, consider making it an extra page of your CV, just for the application. Or, consider adding it in your SOP, if you can make it clear without taking up too much space.

The way I see it is: I'd rather be disheartened during practice and grow from it, rather than be disheartened during the exam.