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Kava

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Everything posted by Kava

  1. Your scores are pretty good and you will have over two years of research before application time, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. Those scores shouldn't limit you on at least half of those schools, especially if your letter of recommendations are strong. However, if you have time and money to spare, retake the exam. I found the ETS official GRE guide to be most helpful in significantly increasing my scores - I answered and read all the review questions in addition to the practice exam questions.
  2. Kava

    San Diego, CA

    I'm from the San Diego area, and I really like Hillcrest. It's small, but the culture/food/walkability is great. Little Italy is also a good area for the same reasons, but I personally would like living in Hillcrest especially if you are going to SDSU. Also, I feel safer in Hillcrest at night (admittedly I haven't been to Little Italy at night in a while) because there are still a lot of people on the streets and restaurants are open pretty late. As far as cars, it depends on where you'll be living. I don't remember Little Italy having a lot of houses for rent, so I'm assuming you guys are looking for apartments. Some apartments don't have parking lots downtown and if they do, not three spaces, so you'll have to find parking on the streets (might be hard at times). This also goes for the Hillcrest area, but your apartment/house might have a place to park. I know friends that have rented a parking space in both Hillcrest and the downtown area...it can range from $100-200 a month per spot.
  3. I am also having a hard time making my decision. I'll be waiting until the deadline too. Which schools are you torn between?
  4. Deferment is typically for students that are completely putting their graduate studies on hold for personal/medical reasons, not for someone that wants to try out one school first. I'd be shocked if they would allow you to do that. If you don't like the private school, you can reapply the next application cycle - that's usually how it's done.
  5. I'm thinking about cancelling my next one or two visitation weekends. I visited three programs already; I would be happy at any of them and two have very strong chemistry programs. Have any of you cancelled a visitation weekend after making arrangements? If so, what did you say? Both schools already paid for my plane tickets, so I feel bad about bailing out at the last moment.
  6. I agree with what everyone is saying, don't stress about it. I'm surprised your friend said it would be construed as weird, I've received similar emails and I don't really pay attention to them. Also, I think a lot of people in the US (especially students) are used to different cultures. For example, in my ~17 person lab we have at least 6 people from different countries (where English isn't their first language) and at least another 5 people with parents that did not grow up in the US. Don't be afraid to be you, I think it is wonderful!
  7. Kava

    Seattle, WA

    How is the public transportation from Capitol Hill? Are the buses reliable/on time? I don't want to have a car, so taking the bus will be the way I'd like to go. I would also be putting late hours (until midnight maybe later) on campus. Are there buses that run this late? If not, does the university provide other options. For example, another school I'm considering has free or really cheap car service to drive you home if it is past when the buses are available - like a safe ride program.
  8. It would be nice for a little more information because I am also a bit surprised that you are not getting any acceptances your third time around. What have you done to improve your application each round? Did you do more research, get a job in your field, ask professors and other people in your field to review your CV and SOP (not just friends - sometimes they don't know how to give constructive criticism). Getting your masters first might be the best way to go, for some programs it isn't. You've had a couple years, were you able to publish? Are you only applying to "top tier" programs and how many schools? Since admissions are never guaranteed, I wanted to make sure what my plan was if I didn't get into a program. For example, my backup plan was to either volunteer part-time in an academic lab or apply to a formal post-bac/PREP program, work my ass off and try to get published before the next round (which would also strengthen my letter of recommendations), retake my subject GRE, and maybe take one or two more graduate level courses. What is your plan?
  9. As zapster mentioned, it depends on the program. For example, for the physical sciences it is very rare that interviews are conducted (all of my acceptances were without interviews). However, in the life sciences, humanities, and social sciences it seems to be common.
  10. I've spoken to a couple professors who told me that option was available to me if I decided to move in the summer. It seems that a lot of professors will take in one or two incoming graduate students if they have funding. Also, some schools have summer programs for incoming graduate students. I am strongly considering starting in the summer, it'll help me get my foot in early and get comfortable in a new environment when I don't have to teach. Part of me would love taking the summer off, but I don't think it is financially possible.
  11. Does anyone know about Vanderbilt? I saw the stream of rejections, but I still haven't heard anything. Even if I'm accepted, I'm sure it would make a difference at this point since my visitation schedule is already full. I just want to know their decision since I put a lot of work into my applications. I think most of us already have a good idea of which school we are going to attend, but I hate having outstanding applications at this point. Does anyone else feel this way??
  12. Will any of you guys decide on a graduate school without visiting? I plan to visit all/most of the schools, even some of the "lower tier" programs because I can't imagine making such a big decision without meeting the faculty/students and checking out the facilities.
  13. I agree, that's what I am planning to do even though I was accepted into a couple of my top programs. Since I like all of the programs I applied to, I am going to try to be open-minded during my visits and not focus on rank or "prestige". Ultimately, I am going to pick what feels the best for me...I don't want to be miserable for the next 5+ years. But it all depends on what YOU want and what you can handle.
  14. I see a lot of Vanderbilt rejections going out, I haven't heard anything yet though. It only seems like they are sending out decisions to international students though (except for one). Has anyone been in contact with the admissions department?
  15. Same here. Will you be going to the visitation weekend? I know it's pretty late (April 5-7), were you hoping to have your decision made already? Are you visiting all of the schools you were accepted into or only your "top choices"?
  16. Congratulations on your acceptances! I also was accepted into the UIUC chemistry program. Will you be able to do any of the visitation weekends? Regarding UIUC, your tuition, health/dental/vision insurance should be covered - this is usually the case for most chemistry Ph.D. programs, although I don't know if it is different for international students. Also, Urbana-Champaign cost of living is SO much cheaper than almost anywhere in California. I met with a few graduate students there and I have a friend currently attending, and all of them say that they live very comfortably with the ~24K stipend. I guess some grad students are even able to buy their first condo/home. Anyhow, for most chemistry graduate programs in the US they don't want you to stress about being able to afford graduate school. They pay just enough or more so you don't have to worry. They would rather you focus on doing research 10+ hours a day, and not have to worry about finding funding elsewhere. If they say fully supported, then you should have it all covered (minues maybe a few hundred a year for miscellaneous expenses).
  17. I'm also waiting on a few schools, but I'm not sure I am going to visit all of them even if I am accepted. I'll be missing at least every Thursday-Sunday block in March. Luckily, I don't have many classes, but I'm still going to miss my Thursday class. I'm more bummed out about missing time to do work in the lab.
  18. I turned in my application pretty late, so they emailed me at the end of January that my application was forwarded to the admissions committee. I haven't received any other emails.
  19. I might mean you're accepted, on the waitlist, or they are still deciding on your application. If you weren't rejected yet, it's a good thing.
  20. It looks like three people posted on the results page that they were accepted, but it also looks like UPenn sends a lot of their acceptances out in Feb. I applied there too, so I hope to hear from them soon. Does anyone know when the visit dates are for UPenn?
  21. I didn't apply there, but my friend received an acceptance email yesterday.
  22. Check the website under the status link. I was worried too, so I checked the website yesterday and it showed that I'm offered admission into the program - I'm not sure why I didn't get an email. Also, I checked with the department and they said that the official offer letter should arrive shortly.
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