rricenator

nonononono. I tried twice. First year was brutal with the rejections. Second year, I was better prepared, I think. In my opinion, the most important components of an application are your letters of recommendation, and good rapport with potential advisors (interactive statement of purpose - work with the faculty you want to craft the right letter). Of course, choosing the right institution with the right faculty is a great prep step.

Quite the contrary, being out in the real world, working in the private sector, has if anything given me a lot of "street cred" when it comes to professional expectations of me. I am seen as someone with time management experience, maturity, and the ability to prioritize. It helps that I've worked a wide variety of different types of jobs over the years, and I think that experience has helped me apply my academics to real situations (or propose real applications in papers). Good luck!

B.S. (#2) Geosciences Accepted: Colorado State University, PhD. Geosciences (funding offer to follow) Woot! Woot!

I'm going to echo a sentiment earlier on this thread: don't rely so much on outside sources. Be yourself. Best advice I can give is to act as though you are applying for a job, and that means contacting the person for whom you wish to work (faculty conducting research, etc) and speak to them. Meet with them if at all possible to discuss your qualifications, desires, and where and how you would fit into their plans. Also to see if they have room for you (and funding). So that's one thing that helps, (writing a good, coherent SOP, and selling it to your potential advisor). The second best thing I can tell you is to nurture relationships with your undergrad faculty, and get at least 4 LOR's prepared to send out at a moment's notice to any school. Good references, and a good SOP will overcome transcripts, grades, and GRE's at almost any institution, and if the faculty wants you, they'll take you.

What is your undergrad? With a math background, or physics, you can make the jump to geophys with no problem, and yes you can be an exploration geophyscist. I recommend joining SEG, and attending an event or two. Network, make connections. (Society for Exploration Geophysicists)

I am a 41 year old married father of two, have 2 B.S.'s, and am applying for a PhD program. The stress of contemplating grad school - moving, changing work environments, upsetting the stability of my family - is very nearly overwhelming me right now. Is it just my personal ambition or is there a real chance of a payoff that will benefit my family? Will that payoff be enough to make 5 more years of juggling school/work/family be enough? I don't have those answers yet, and it's causing some tension.

Let's update this situation. In discussions with the family, we made the decision that the proverbial bird in the hand was not worth looking in the mouth (I love mixing metaphors), and I should keep the internship/permanent job after graduating with my Geology degree. Stability, reliability, and the opportunity to begin building without having to start from scratch somewhere else. Moving sucks. Especially with a family. Immediately upon the conclusion of this discussion amongst ourselves, almost as if the fates were eavesdropping, I received a follow up email from my potential advisor, of whom I spoke earlier. This email was even more positive than the last. He discussed what projects "we" could focus on when I arrive in Fall 2014 (he has a geophysics project in Antarctica!), and wants to schedule a phone call to discuss them further. He feels bad that the first project he mentioned has been shelved for now, as he thought I was a "unique fit for that project." Oh, and he also discouraged me from addressing him as Dr. Xxx, as the university has a first-name culture. Call me by my first name. Really? My current institution is that way also, but is much smaller and more intimate (25 graduates/year in this department). By the time you graduate, you have been to your professor's house and been camping together. It's normal to be informal here. So, the fence was built, but the grass beyond grew yet greener. I was asked what my ultimate goal would be, and I remain very open in that regard. Long term stable employment doing science = awesome. PhD and chance to teach and conduct research at a university = awesome also. I like researching, writing, doing field work, and presenting. I really do. I also like being a team member that is counted on and responsible and not moving, or changing my whole life. That said, I have discovered that once degreed, one can work in industry and still conduct independent research on the side, sometimes with small grant funding, and write about/present your work at local organization meetings (like the GSA - Rocky Mountain division, for instance, or the CCPA). Maybe this is what I will do. After all, my family's needs need to come first, right? *sigh*

As stated, most research is in summer. Best time to make contact is just before finals, and a week or two before fall semester starts. But it is okay to throw out that first email and your intended can read it when convenient.

Also relevant, are you hoping to get a professional degree and move into the hydrocarbon industry, groundwater monitoring, or academics? The end point is going to determine the best school to get you there. That said, I have heard OSU's petroleum geology program is respected (and often employable).

You look quite competitive from here. I have noticed many, many returning, often non-traditional students in the geosciences, and they all seem to do quite well academically. If you are looking to major in geophysics in grad school, you need a full year of undergrad physics (more is better), but most importantly you need math. In fact, it wouldn't hurt to minor in math. Institutions with geophysics programs often require a minimum of Calc I, Calc II, Calc III, and Diff Eq just for entry into a geophysics graduate program. Good luck!

That's interesting. I had thought if there were a difference, it may be between, say, more scientific disciplines and more social disciplines (humanities?). I have now undergrads in both, anthropology and geology, and in both disciplines faculty contact is not mandated, but encouraged. Not necessary, necessarily, but couldn't hurt. That said, two of my contact attempts to anthropology programs met with somewhat cordial (read: cold) responses, albeit polite. One geology program has yet to contact me back, but I have had some great responses in both, and feel it could make a difference. One professor from each discipline has expressed the desire to meet with me before my application is even submitted, and I have been invited to participate in a pilot survey that will evolve into the project I would be working on should I be accepted. I suppose its a gamble, perhaps, some places would rather not be pre-contacted, and others look on pre-contact as another way to rank applicants. Live and learn

This forum is chock-full of wonderful topics, and lots of great advice-threads. Under Applications, however, I feel like one important step is missing. And it should be the first step. Well, the FIRST step is deciding to investigate programs, to see if you want to apply. However, shortly after researching various institutions and programs to find your fit, the first step in actually applying should be: Faculty Contact Letters or something with a similar title. I think the first step in the application process should be locating faculty to whom you are posing the question "will you be my mom/dad?" Once you find a potential advisor (or a slate of them), you should really make the effort to contact them before ever filling out an application or tailoring your SOP to that specific university. If others feel this way, maybe this can be something we see set up here, and it can include the same flavor of advice as the rest of the forum, i.e. what to say/what not to say, how do I ask about x, learn from my mistakes...etc... What do you think?

I've never met a grad student yet that I thought looked dressed any differently than an undergrad (perhaps a tad more "subdued" but not "dressier"). That said, I have always envisioned myself dressing like a stepped-down version of a professor once I make the grad cut. You know, tweed jacket and such.

Taking credits as an undergrad in "Structured Research" or "Independent Research" (especially if its a science field) are the best way to pad your CV with research experience. Also, always always always bug your faculty about their pet projects and try to worm your way into them, even if all your doing is sample collecting or library research. It all counts, and it all looks good. If you do get the chance to take Structured/Independent Research classes, consider presenting your research at a Student Showcase or whatever version of that exists at your undergrad institution. Your faculty advisor, or any member of your faculty, will likely be willing to help you with this. In most cases you need a "sponsor," so that's your way in. The professor with whom you are taking the research class will sponsor you. good luck!

Second time applying for me. I agree it's not too early to get a start! This time around, first thing I did from January to March was research schools that were: 1) a good fit with my undergrad and what I wanted to study in grad school 2) were noted research institutions that offered PhD track enrollment (as opposed to making you obtain a Master's first) 3) known for complete funding of grad students through their academic careers 4) had high placement percentages after graduation, or "good outcomes" for grads, based on alumni reviews. I compiled these lists regardless of geographic location. Last time, I stuck to close-to-home schools in neighboring states. Not a great response. Second thing I did was take my lists (about 10 schools for each discipline, I have now two undergrad degrees and am applying to grad programs in each), and research the faculty, read their CV's, and recent publications, see what classes they taught, and for each one I found that I thought was a good match for me, I custom tailored a faculty contact letter. Based on faculty research, I narrowed the lists to 5 per discipline. I reached out beginning in May, trying to catch them during/after finals week but before any of them left to do field research all summer, and gave them a personal one-on-one version of my SOP, geared toward forging a connection between my research aspirations and their current projects. I asked specifically about assistantships, if there was room on their projects to take on a newbie, stuff like that. I have since been cataloging responses prior to committing to applications, since they are expensive to complete. I am wanting to find the institutions and advisors who are the best fit for me and respond most encouragingly before I pester my people for LOR's and spend money on GRE and transcripts being sent. I've had a good mix of responses so far, and it has allowed me to narrow down my potential applications. Responses range from "I'm no longer accepting grad students, as I plan to retire in 3 years" to "you're a bit early, maybe you should check back in about 6 months." good luck, everyone, and cheers!

I suppose I should have clarified a tad. Anthropology (social science) is my first undergrad degree. I applied to several grad programs in anthro last year for admission fall 2013. I was waitlisted to my preferred institution, having had excellent communication with my intended advisor, but in the end did not get in. In the meantime, I am completing a second undergrad in my former minor, Geology (physical/environmental science). I am beginning the process of applying to two groups of graduate programs, one in anthro, one in geology. I know it's early, no apps are available for 2014 yet, but it's never too early to contact faculty who may end up being your advisor. This is the source of my enthusiastic communication with a potential advisor, in the geology graduate program, and at a school I would love to attend. You are correct that all the speculation in the world is meaningless until I have an acceptance letter in hand, and that is 8-9 months away. But I felt it was a good first step. The internship/job is in field geology, it is quite fun, and there seems to be consensus amongst the old timers that I was hired to be a permanent addition upon graduation (one of them is retiring in spring). Benefits are good, pay is okay, and there is room for growth. It is local (no need to move). there are other positives. I suppose I am really jumping the gun with my speculation, but I can't help it. Thanks for your input,

So... I have an interesting issue facing me in the coming year. A) I have an internship which will likely evolve into FT permanent employment. It is not the highest paying, but is certainly decent, the work is fascinating, relevant to my major, has room for growth, the company is good to employees, the job is stable, reliable, and not subject to market whims, as my last several have been. I have a strong momentum toward graduate school. Contact with my intended advisor is unbelievably positive, his upcoming project not only has room, but seems tailor-made to my background and education, all my ducks are in a row and I have also been in contact with the faculty that would be chosen as my entire advisory committee. The PhD program is exceedingly well funded (I would have a free ride and be paid - assistantships and fellowships), the program is well respected, the research is cutting edge and important. I won't find out if I am admitted for a while yet, but the outlook is pretty good (obviously this means nothing, and nothing is truly decided until it's time). Should I sacrifice the good job for the grad degree? It would mean selling my house, uprooting my family, and moving to a new community, buying a new home, whole lot of stress and hassle. The stable long term employment seems better for my family, but would the PhD be better in the long run? In the end, I don't anticipate relying on cyber advice to make the decision, but I always welcome opinions from other people.