Monochrome Spring

The prospectus is our 2 page research proposal. The course requires a 5 page final proposal. So the prospectus is essentially our GRFP application. I don't think we're getting feedback on the personal statement.

Are you finding it helpful? Mine is a course for proposals in general, but we have a small working group for GRFP applicants. We have our prospectus due this week, but it has been helpful to hear what professors who have been on these panels think is important.

Is anyone else who is currently in a graduate program participating in a course that is specifically working on the NSF GRFP research proposal?

You should check the websites for each of these programs and/or email the graduate admissions directors. They will have a better idea of the process and can tell you if they are looking for specific GRE score cutoffs this application season.

For anyone with an iPhone, I highly recommend the Pomodoro app. It keeps a timer so you work for 25 minutes and rest for 5 minutes in between. It also schedules in longer 15 minute breaks after a series of 4 pomodoros (or 2 hours). You can put how many you want to finish in a day and it helps you visualize how much more time you actually need to work. It has been helping me keep up with reading and without getting too tired from a long stretch of work.

I think that the lack of biochemistry and organic chemistry may hurt your applications, but to what degree will depend entirely on the specific programs that you are applying to. A lot of graduate programs will list their course requirements that they want you to have taken before you enter the program. You can see if they list organic chemistry and biochemistry. Also, a lot of programs will simply have you take those courses at the undergraduate level as part of your graduate course plan if you are missing them. Definitely look at the program websites to see what they suggest. And if you can't find the information there, call the graduate admissions secretary; they usually know the requirements or can get you in contact with someone who does.

Talk to your advisor. As scary as they may seem, advisors really just want you to succeed. Talk to him about your concerns and if your worries are normal. Most likely, you're in the same boat as everyone else.

I got two letters from faculty and one letter from a post-doc who knew my research very well. It didn't seem to hurt me, but it can be field dependent. In my field, we pick the advisor we want to work with and chat with them before we apply. So I already had a rapport with the program. The letters served more to confirm their beliefs about me and double check that I was right for their lab group.

A couple off the top of my head: UC Davis UMich MSU (if you're interested in the evo program being more of a dual-degree than the primary) It also depends on what you what to study. If you want to study evolution of a certain group of organisms, then you're going to be more interested in certain programs. In evolution programs, most of the time you pick out an advisor before you apply, so you should choose the program based on advisor. You should also be emailing them to ask if they are taking new students and if you are competitive for their lab group. The evo/ecol application process is very different from most biology programs since you don't do rotations. I was calling professors and building rapport months before I made my final decision on programs to apply to. Feel free to PM me if you want to chat about the process, since I applied to a lot of evo/ecol combination programs and am currently working on a dual-degree with evo/ecol.

I can't collect substantial data for another 1.5-2 years because of field work restrictions. I read all day every day. Other than that, I just work on my proposals and a literature review. I think you're fine if you're reading more some days than others.

Since I have to do field work to collect data, being in the lab isn't really necessary for me to do work over this coming break. I will probably take a whole month away from the university to make rounds to visit family. BUT, I will also allocate a certain amount of time each day to work. Work for me will include writing proposals, reading papers, learning code, etc. For someone in a lab science that requires lab presence to do experiments, I can't imagine a break longer than 1-2 weeks. If I was doing field work this winter break (which I might be next winter because I'll have had time for field permits), I would probably not get a break at all. I agree that you should treat grad school as a job, and as such, your breaks will not be the same as the undergraduates'.

If it's a good journal, I would mention that it is under review at said journal. It can only help your application.

I make bulk rice and add vegetables/protein. It's a great go to because it goes well with so many sides. In middle school, I got the precooked and shredded chicken from costco and teriyaki sauce for most of my lunches.

I know that Michigan State University has an Environmental Science and Policy Program that is an add on to a main graduate program. You can major in something more environmental and less energy, and use ESPP to specialize in the policy aspects. MSU is also very strong in agricultural research, so they would have opportunities in agriculture that are more suited to your interests.

It's going well. My workload seems very manageable and I'm working on a few funding proposals for research projects. Being a program where I have my advisor picked out from the beginning is really nice. We've already been working together this summer and determining what direction my research should go.

Make sure that none of the programs you are applying to have a minimum cutoff for GRE scores. If you are fine for minimums, ask an admissions secretary or potential advisor at the program how much they think they your GRE scores will matter in the admissions process, as it varies with each program. You can use that to gauge if you want to retake it. I personally think that the verbal score is low. If you are going to retake the exam, you could also shoot for 80th percentile on quant. because it looks like you just need to get the harder trick questions if you're already at 70th. I have a blog post on GradCafe explaining how I studied for the GRE that might help -

I have a research course for learning how to write proposals, conference abstracts, etc. that seems straightforward and not too much work. My advisor teaches the course, so I already know what he expects and we already have proposals in revision from our personal meetings. My statistics course is for undergraduates, and I already took a similar course for my bachelors. Other than the homework, I don't see this being a big time requirement. I also have an online course for a certification I'm working on. It's also very straightforward and doesn't appear to have a large time requirement. I like that I can schedule the lectures and discussions in my own time. Finally, I am taking a 10 week short course for teaching in natural sciences. It is going to be more hands on and the majority of the work will be done in class, instead of at home. This minimizes time requirements as well. All in all, I think that my course load is light, but I wanted it that way for my first semester. I'm fortunate enough to be on a fellowship, so I don't have to TA or be a research assistant this first year. That relieves a lot of stress and allows me to focus on research proposals to get things rolling. I'm also thinking about writing a literature review this first year, since I can't collect any data in the field until summer. It'll depend on other time requirements of course, but the first semester is looking great so far. Edit: I didn't realize how different semester system is from quarter system. I took some semester courses at the community college, but forgot just how spread out they are. I get an extra month to learn what I was having to do in 10 weeks before!

I have always used paper textbooks, because I think it's easier to flip pages back and forth in different sections. Even though e-books are lighter, I think I'd still prefer a paper one for that reason. I use a kindle for my non-textbook reading, because I like the reduction in weight and having the option to switch to any book in my library anywhere I am; but I don't reference back in novels or in biographies, so my textbook issue doesn't apply. There are free electronic versions for some textbooks, so you could try that out before you dedicate yourself to entirely electronic. Also, some textbook e-versions have an expiration date, because they have a rental license of sorts. I would consider that before using electronic versions of textbooks that you want to reference back to in the future.

I wear dark jeans and a nicer t-shirt (no logos, writing, etc.). If I was teaching, I might wear a blouse instead. I don't think it really matters what you wear, as long as you don't look scummy or lazy, because it comes off as unprofessional. I wouldn't overdress everyday either, just because I tend to be more casual. You can gauge what you wear based on what other students in your department wear. It also can vary across departments. In my forestry department, people will wear shorts and an oversized t-shirt everyday with tennis shoes. Some departments may be more formal than that.

They don't list a cutoff because some applicants are absolutely stellar other than GRE scores and it would be a shame to cut them from the applicant pool because of one score. However, most applicants with poor GRE scores are not stellar in other ways and are simply competitive. So, those applicants will need to show that they have something else to bring to the table.

The only time there is a benefit to submitting earlier is when the program directly says that there is a benefit. One of my programs had an early deadline for a recruiting fellowship, but it said so on the application webpage.