gelologist

I don't Reno is typically active at this time. There's only one year where people heard early and it was an invite to a visit weekend. Most results seem to be early March. I did talk to my POI, he said the committee had ranked applications, I think it's now out to profs to review them and sort the order. That email was like 1.5 weeks ago? I imagine it takes ~2 (3?) weeks for review, another 1+ to pull up offers etc. Just speculating, but I find it at least reassuring to think that I shouldn't have heard anything yet (does this count as being in denial? )

If it makes you feel any better, I've been in at Wisco for a few weeks now, and I'm still "pending," and at Rice I've got both a letter both via email and via SNAIL MAIL, and the website still says "under review" hah

Putting this here because while the lol's are great in this thread, it hurts to see a lot of easily avoided email troubles. To that end: If you use Gmail, there's a setting where you can give yourself an 'Undo' button after every email you send, for a period of up to 30 seconds. Nice way to grab back that email when you realize you spelled something wrong, forgot an attachment, or typed the wrong POIs name...

@TakeruK thanks, I've heard similar about the university stuff there from a friend in the History program there. @carlsaganism not to bash, but that belongs in a PM, dude. People aren't always comfortable sharing personal info publicly. Let everyone remember to be respectful of privacy etc! otherwise, trying to sort out a visit, will report back if anyone is curious, but other insight is still welcome. Thanks in advance!

You could search the results board for past details. I did, and found this: No results for SMU Geo were earlier than 24 Feb (1 accept), 2 in March (1 A, 1 R), and 1 R in May. But I was quick, and might've missed some. I didn't apply so can't say anything more, sorry. A couple weeks sounds like *at least* 2-4 in my mind, though; the beginning of semester is always slammed for profs. where did you apply this time around, and for what (ms/phd, field)?

I feel for you. My first app cycle around, I also applied for only master's. Between a mediocre application and the sequester (it was 2013), I had no success. That includes a phone interview where I was explicitly asked if I wanted to change my app to a PhD from MS. I said 'no' because at the time I didn't know if the research life was what I wanted, so I basically knew right away that I was going to get rejected. That said, the point of all this is to say that I applied again and did a MS, and I think it was really the best thing for me before now applying for PhDs. Sure, it's hard to hear you're wait listed, but only you know what's best for you. Would the opportunity cost, focus, time, etc., that gets sunk into a PhD have been worthwhile to your endgame when all is said and done? I think that's something important to keep in mind. Plus, I think there's something to be said for the confidence that comes from "finishing a MS successfully" instead of "dropping out of a PhD program with a consolation prize MS," but that's just me.

This is greatly helpful! Right now I'm in a pretty small master's program, so being able to turn around to other students either to be a sounding board for professional ideas, or social buddies is pretty important. I've heard pre-tenure faculty have it rough there. Luckily my advisor is well-established, and has been there ~15 years; I don't see them leaving soon. But so long as pre-tenure faculty challenges don't bleed over much into relations among people in the dept, especially grad students, it sounds like it should be okay. Obviously, I'll know more after a visit, but it's good to have some insight; thanks! Yeah I'm from the northeast and have been. It's a good area. Sadly, I have no idea if no email means rejected. Columbia/Lamont, for example, I know sends out a wave of first acceptances but then has more later. Harvard could be similar, or maybe they just do one round, I don't know. Sorry; wish I could be more helpful!

Well, official letter came from Harvard EPS today! Even though i knew before from my POI, it's still a surprise. That said, I've heard mixed reviews about the program there. Obviously the name is great, but because I haven't gotten a chance to visit yet, could anyone shed a little more light on the atmosphere of the dept there? I'm interested chiefly in knowing how the grad student dynamic is, and whether there's good synergy among faculty.

Word is first round of Harvard letters come in the next week or two. Seeing as Columbia has been on a similar timeline in years past, I imagine first words for them comes out soon too.

Sorry, just wanted to be sure no one saw me as the one to sit on a high horse saying, "what's so hard about the GRE?" Because I get there's other factors involved, including things like income, prior history, disabilities, etc. But hey, if you do have another offer, especially if it's funded, I don't see why you'd turn that down just for another crack at the GRE! Don't forget in the year between this cycle and the next, you'd have to do stuff to stay up to date and relevant and productive so that an adcomm would think it was a worthwhile year off, no?! That said, I do agree a bit with @GeoDUDE! (below), in order to be leveling, the GRE doesn't go into higher level things as much as it could, so there's also a limit to complaining. And this ^. SO MUCH THIS. I've actually been fortunate: I already got an acceptance 2 years ago to a master's that I'm finishing up, and I already have some offers this year for PhDs to start in the fall! I CAN'T COUNT HOW OFTEN PEOPLE (INCLUDING ME) HAVE SAID THAT DOING THE MASTER'S WAS WORTHWHILE. It's helped me outrun pretty awful grades (3.14 ugrad GPA, C's in the major classes, including a D+), all while really maturing, getting a handle on why grad school is for me, what I want to do, and what are some really worthwhile and current problems in the field to study (and including in my SOP). I can't stress enough the value of a master's. Whether your problem is low GPA, you're not sure whether academia is right for you, etc. Master's degrees, I think, are unfairly written off as "middling" degrees for those who aren't "committed" to a PhD. I really hope anyone reading this in the future feels reassured about deciding to go with an MS program because it's the best fit for them; I can say from experience that it DOES NOT HURT. Don't slog through a PhD only to hate it, or drop out early, or.... Do what's best for you, it at the very least can help you get a leg up the next time around.

Thanks for this! Yeah just because my background in this person's field is slim, I'm afraid I'd go and ultimately be less interested than I am now. I've just been making sure there's an exit plan if that happens; obviously, I wouldn't accept any offer unless I genuinely thought I was okay staying with them through the whole PhD. Will keep everyone posted what happens!

I don't mean to knock you down a peg, really! But I have seen some studies that suggest there is a correlation between the GRE and completion rate for PhDs. Whether that correlation is stronger than the link between test scores and income etc, I don't know. But I don't also necessarily fault schools for trying to weigh each student against the other applicants, if only to make themselves feel better about "guessing" which kids will do well. That said, I did well on the GREs, so (a) I'm probably a little biased. But (b) I still got rejected from everyone my first app cycle because of a mediocre GPA and SOP. Various factors go in; I think after an initial screening, SOPs count A LOT, especially since most profs have mentioned my bad grades in UGrad and, after I try to explain a little, follow with "well, people mess up, and one off thing on the app alone is forgiveable." But YMMV, just offering a slightly different perspective.

Thanks for the insight! To resolve this, yeah it wasn't a "bad" thing. I contacted my first POI and they said I'd likely be waitlisted if I held out for them. They had actually encouraged the second POI to talk to me; I've since expressed some interest in their work (it's hard to say I'd commit since it's a decent departure from what I currently do in the MS program hah) and we'll see how it plays out! Worst case I don't get in either way, otherwise, I guess if I'm in, I'll hopefully visit and get to see more of their work and if the new direction is something I'm going to do. Saw Princeton, UO and UT get posted! Also, any results yet from UCSB? Saw an interview a while back.

Thanks for the input, both, really! This is with UC Davis. I've heard this could happen at places like Lamont, just didn't think it would happen to me Because the prof's (hereafter POI2) initial email was pretty vague, I went ahead and asked if this meant my application was no longer being considered by my POI, what projects POI2 had ongoing, and whether I could collaborate with POI. The reply from POI2 said that while I'm still being considered, I'm apparently not a first choice right now. POI2 also sent along some details on research, and said collaboration is possible, but it's unlikely I could pursue my stated interests because of the funding source ($$ would be from NASA for cosmic stuff, I applied for more igneous stuff). The dilemma is that I really like the sound of the program, and I find this new avenue kinda intriguing, but I'm unsure whether to go for it. I have little to no experience in it and, though it's somewhat related to my current research**, it might entail a significant career shift to cosmochemistry from volcanic processes. Also, POI2 said "if you're interested, I'll admit you and have you visit," so I'm caught with the #firstworldproblem of either having a chance at admission for a different research direction, or waiting it out for my POI and possibly not getting in at all. Part of me says to go for it, but I'm also worried that if I don't like the work when I get there (e.g. after a first paper/master's size project), I don't know that I'd be able to move laterally within the dept (back to the first POI) to finish off. Anyway, thanks for any and all help guys! -- ** @GeoDUDE!: I'm already, I think, pretty aware of broader research topics, not even in my area; my current master's has helped with that. So the dilemma arises already knowing the utility of POI2's research directions and how it's all related, it's more being shut out in the future from my current interests that unnerves me.

So I just had a weird thing happen: I got an email from a prof saying, "I know you didn't list me as your primary advisor of interest, but would you be interested in working on some research problems (tangentially related to your listed interests) with me? Your app drew my attention." Does this mean I'm no longer being considered by my primary POI? Or is this just another interested prof? I would really like to get in to this school, but I also don't want to say "yes" and then try to switch labs to my initial POI once I'm there. (Is the latter generally frowned upon, btw, or does it happen?)

I think on-site events are usually built around chunks of time where you meet profs, and students in lab just to get a feel for whether it's a fit and so they can make sure you'd slot in nicely with the group there. Or so based on my relatively limited experience. Expect to be frequently asked about your ongoing work and research interests, otherwise it's just chatting with people trying to be friendly, and generally being Earth nerds

NSF geology proposals are due in january, i think this sometimes has to do with profs having applied for $ and saying "sure apply" but then if they don't get a grant awarded they don't actually have the $ they hoped they would to take on someone new. Everyone (I think) feels it's dry and shitty after they submit heck, I know I started re-touching my SOP after starting to worry if it was any good, and then got my first acceptance the day after haha. Wow, super specific; how'd you end up on that?! I have the opposite problem: I had a full-day interview at a school today, and my POI and I got along really well but both laughed when we realized I might run into the problem of not graduating on time since he and I have so many ideas for things to do.... *lol shrug* Glad to see some people coming out of the woodwork to revitalize conversation here earth nerds ftw!

I think it's pretty standard that people contact POIs ahead of time, and generally the prof will say if they're looking for (and can support) a new student. So, similar to @GeoDUDE!, I only applied where profs said they had money. Not necessarily, I know of plenty rising 1st year grad students (they applied senior year) who've won the NSF GRFP, for example. I also heard on one occasion that it might be easier as an undergrad because as a grad student, you're held to a somewhat higher standard. But that's unconfirmed. Unrelated, @columbia09 are you in grad school (MS) and those are last app cycle's results, or have you already heard back from Stanford, Rice, etc.? Are you looking to apply again coming up? (PhD)

Hey congrats!! don't forget to post results on the boards for reference by future generations, and so people can celebrate!

I'm a little confused why you did this but more pressing I think is: did you say you were doing a master's on your application?? Schools expect you to have finished a degree to which you're working by the time you enroll, if you stated it was in progress. (In other words, having the master's was a plus and was part of the reason you may have been accepted over someone else.)

Ugh haha I'm doing the same this weekend after a UC Davis Skype chat on Friday :grimace:

Sounds like you got one....?

Good stuff, thanks for the update, and welcome back to the forum! @geographyrocks

Not even a rejection but still funny: "UW-Madison, accepted: Do NOT attend this program!!!!" lolwut?

KAUST was for Spring 2016, though, I think (hence the results being posted so early). Same with that UAF result. Also, just wouldn't it would be great if schools could have webpages like this for updating app statuses? http://isitfridayyet.net