Monochrome Spring

I am presenting at an undergraduate research conference for my university, and we are given 10 minutes to present. How would you break down time/number slides/topic? I was thinking: 2 minutes introduction on myself, the project, and ideas in the field 2 minutes on different theories behind what we're looking at 2 minutes on what we actually looked at/our methods 2 minutes on the results and implications 2 minutes on why these results are significant

Your advisor being well-known in Boston probably had a small impact, because people reading your LOR in Boston are most likely more familiar with him than with someone on the other side of the country. But, I don't think that's reason enough to accept you for an interview, or reason enough to reject you from a school in CA. You must have other great aspects of your application, SOP, transcripts, etc. that the committees in Boston like. And maybe you just weren't the right fit for those other programs that you were rejected from. Congratulations on your interview invites.

I tend to get 2 bags of family size hot cheeto puffs for $5 when I have finals, and I'll just eat the both in 1 or 2 sittings.

I would address it, just as you have explained here, in your SOP. I agree with TakeruK that it will make your application stronger to show that you have that experience. It will show that you didn't jump blindly into a PhD program, but now with that experience you are more ready. Maybe frame your SOP by elaborating on how now you are a better candidate for the program because you know what you want to do and have already seen other options that you aren't interested in. Keep focusing on how it isn't a weakness, but is a strength that other applicants won't have.

ice beam

19 now, 20 when I apply, and 21 if I get in the first time.

I either get the completely unhelpful "Oh, you'll get in somewhere" or "You're smart and have such and such experience, so you'll be fine". Neither of those actually helps relieve anxiety or critically improve my application. The only negative comment I get is from my mom. She likes to tell me to be realistic that I probably won't get in anywhere the first try. Thanks, mom.

I don't think that a couple withdrawals will hurt your chances, especially if the rest of your coursework and grades look good. If anything, it shows that you understand your limits and won't take on more than you can handle.

I am an undergraduate at UCD. I advise that a couple grad students get together and rent a larger apartment. It's cheaper to share a place, even if you all get your own rooms. Check the Davis wiki (Google) for reviews and images.

Talk to the other graduate students in the lab group and see if they have any work that they need help with. You can piggyback off of that to do some more substantial work of your own design. Or talk to them about designing a project and proposing that to your advisor. It sounds like your advisor is too busy to come up with something for you, so you're going to have to come up with something and get a grad student to help out.

If I'm going for a serious study session, I get a family size bag of hot cheeto puffs and pour servings into a bowl. Each serving is a reward for a completed goal, such as reading a chapter or writing a paper. I also like things like grapes, sliced fruit, english muffins with butter and preserves, and vegetables with ranch dip.

Well, the SAT has trigonometry but the GRE doesn't. That may be a reason why some people say that the GRE is easier.

I'm pretty sure you will be allowed to apply. Program requirements usually state that you need to have a bachelors degree by the fall you are admitted into. So, as long as you are graduating by then, I don't think your school standing matters. Does your program specifically say that you must be senior standing to apply?

red scare

I don't believe in safety schools either. I feel really nervous about my current list of where I want to apply (4 programs), and I may extend it to 8 if I find anything comparable. But I can't see myself anywhere else, no matter how hard I think about it, no matter how long I research other programs. Especially your first application season, I would say only apply to your top programs. Add more to the list if you don't make it the first time and reapply.

I'm still deciding which programs I'm going to apply to, so I only have 4 listed for now. I'm thinking about expanding it to about 8 by the end of spring quarter when summer starts. I can't afford to apply to more than 8 though, so I'll have to stick to that and then apply to more at a later time. For POIs, do you think that contacting them at the beginning of summer is too early? I was planning on dedicating a few hours each day this summer to graduate application/POI search/etc. and I could also use that time to visit and expand on my current research. Also, I'm looking at having 1 paper in review or published by the end of the year, a second one in manuscript prep. or submitted for review, and another experiment or two started with their manuscripts in prep. as well.

Would it look like I'm trying too hard if I put down scholarships that I got last year? They were awarded for high school achievements and for my college major, not necessarily high merit or research.

I've looked at undergraduate teaching positions, and I've looked at some in biology for the summer, but the course commitment for the quarter before that is inconvenient. And thanks for the recommendation for the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. I don't need financial support and it's a little late for the application unfortunately. I do feel badly about leaving undergraduate in 3 years, but I being forced out. I came in with enough units to be junior standing, but I wasn't a transfer. So, I'm maxing out on units in my 3 year span. I would love to stay and have another year after this to get experience and make my application stronger, but I can't. I also understand that will have a poor chance of getting in with only 2 1/2 years of university work at application. I'm hoping that my SOP will show that I really am focused on research in my field. And I have been in college for "6 1/2 years", so I have about the same experience as a transfer student in that respect. Of course, I may still not get in, so I've made a plan B to do lab/field tech work and then reapply. I'm applying for a couple summer grants to allow me to do more field research, and I'm going to spend the summer asking around for advisors and honing my SOP.

awesome opossum

I worry about senioritis when I start applying. But I'm only applying to 4 schools, so I have to remind myself that if I don't get in, my next round of grad applications will show my last quarters' work. Stay strong and keep running until the end!

Unfortunately, some advisors do consider the GRE to be very important. I talked to a professor at my university that I am considering working with, and he told me that a high GRE score matters more to him than a high GPA. I'm sure he's an exception to what's common in grad application considerations, but if I was set on working with him I would have to make sure to excel at the GRE, including the subject GRE. I'm using the Kaplan GRE study guide, but I'm mostly relying on what I've learned in my courses. As an ecology major, that section has been covered in my more specific courses. The molecular/cellular sections have been covered a bit in gen biology courses, but I'm using the Kaplan to review and cover gaps in knowledge. I have also heard of people using the Campbell text as a study guide. My biology courses didn't use it, but I have an old copy. I'm taking the test in April, and if I don't do as well as I hope, I'll probably use the Campbell to learn what I couldn't from Kaplan and retake it in October.

Thanks for the advice. Where should I start looking to get more presentation experience? I know about my University's conference and the national undergraduate conference (I'm applying to that but won't hear until after grad applications are due). Also, I know of 2 people from my lab groups who would give me a good recommendation, but if I can only get 3 from lab groups, would it be okay to get a professor from one of my courses to do the 4th? I like the relevant coursework in my online C.V. because I think it shows that I've chosen courses that will help my specific interests of tropical rainforest conservation. But I don't think I'll list those when I submit a C.V. document to grad schools since they'll have my transcript.

I am a second year Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity B.S. major, but because of previous college during high school, I am graduating in three years. So, I will be applying for grad schools (Ph.D. programs) for the 2014 year. I was wondering if anyone could review my C.V. (link in my signature) so that I can identify strengths and weaknesses to try to overcome. I have the rest of this school year and summer to build up my application more.

I took a substantial amount of community college courses during high school, before I went on to my 4-year university after high school graduation. Should I include a transcript from said community college in my application, because I am using those courses as credit toward graduation at my 4-year?