lyrehc

I would summarize your writing sample into 1-2 paragraphs. Sometimes the committee divides up an applicant's packet into different pieces.

I would probably just send the most recent. It's still a good score and once you hit that range unless the program is like USC and trying to weed people out for even the smallest reasons it should meet the requirement.

If the scores will be there in time I would send both as long as the locations will take them.

NCA and ICA for sure.

Is anyone going to NCA? If you are the grad fair is a great way to get a feel for potential programs. OU will have a booth and also host a party.

I have not seen one.

1. You want to have your own area of focus and not be too similar to an advisor. If you can work within the constraints of political comm (my area, btw ) then you should be fine. I know that my program expects that students will have fairly broad interests or shift from one interest to another, so as long as you aren't focused on rhetoric you'd be fine to apply here. Others may have different policies. 2. For fit, it really depends. I'd say for one you want to attend NCA and meet grad students/faculty from programs you're interested in if at all possible. Look at faculty info at the schools you're interested in, but keep in mind that someone who may not interest you may end up being a great fit or vice versa. I adore my advisor, but I never ever considered her when I looked at schools. Read work by faculty you might want to work with. You can send emails - having an in-the-program advocate is a good thing - but don't worry too much about it. Also, talk to grad students about their experiences. In my program it is rare for a faculty member not to be your advisor if after your first few months in the program you decide they are the best fit for you. 3. It depends on the program. I have an MS in Emergency Management and zero publications. I've never attended a conference, although I will be at NCA this year. Lack of publication did not hurt me. 4. It depends on the program. It isn't a bad thing, but some programs are more worried about research than experience, while others care more about experience than research. 5. For most programs I think it matters more that you explain how that specific program is the best fit for you.

Difficulty varies from semester to semester. There really is an ebb and flow to it. If you focus on having a good work/life balance you may find yourself doing better than other students in the program who haven't learned that valuable skill. Grad school is preparing many of us for academia, and in R1 institutions we will have very similar demands on our time (just shaped differently), so learning how to make research/studying work for you will in the end be invaluable.

I would list it. My husband is applying to PhD programs this fall and he is including the MA he didn't finish. It's part of his history. If there is concern on your part about not finishing you can use your statement of purpose to explain "I attended seminary until I realized that my vocation lies in another direction." Nothing more really needs to be said. (If you went to Bob Jones or another college/university that might be viewed askance you *might* consider being more detailed in explanation, but even in faith-based circles not everyone knows those schools.)

I don't have any further advice, but I hope you can figure this out.

I don't know why he's not responding. Maybe because you're interacting with his wife he thinks she may be better suited for the recommendation? I would not tell your LOR what to say. If you trust them to write the letter, let it go.

I think a LOR from the MD would be fine as long as you also have faculty recommendations.

Don't you have anyone who you visited with in office hours? Someone you spent time with? Someone who taught a class of >30 who you did well in?

You could send both scores. That demonstrates improvement in the weaker areas, plus shows that you may have had an off day (we all do).

You need someone to remember you. The school may not realize what grade you got, or even care. The question is your capability and how someone assesses your ability to be successful in their program. Some professors grade really hard - they have no way to know. Or you might have gotten 89.9% instead of 90.0%. The letter grade changes but you (along with your abilities) are more of a constant - although people evolve so that isn't 100% correct.

I would mention her. I would also mention that the POI connected the two of you.

My mentor from my undergrad wrote letters for both my MS and PhD programs and he gave me a B-. I think the actual grade is less important than the relationship I have with him and how equipped he is to assess my capability as a student. And, since I got into the programs I applied to I don't think it hurt anything.

There are jobs out there. It really depends on your research. One of the schools I seriously considered was Mississippi State. They are definitely not top 20 but their faculty were very approachable when I contacted them. And for me, in part how I'll be trained is just as important as the school I attend - because my research can make up for "inferiority."

What is "pretty good" for AWA? If you went from a 5 to a 4, I'd send the 2nd one. If not, If AWA was at least 3.5 I'd still send the 2nd, but after that I don't know.

Here's the deal with Comm. The vast majority of schools, including community colleges, offer public speaking and introductory courses. Because of this it is still very possible to find a full-time position and gain tenure. Unfortunately, many of the full-time, tenured positions expect their faculty to focus on teaching. This means that if you hope to research and publish your chances are lower than if you want to go somewhere and "just" teach. In the past few years in my department we haven't had anyone who wanted a job not find one after graduation. Some chose to go private sector, but they still found full-time, rewarding employment that they (appear to be) happy with. HTH

From what I've heard Kansas offers good funding packages. If you'll consider UNM I don't think KU is much further away from the Denver area.

Are you planning on having a quant focus or a qual focus long-term? (or mixed methods?) Some programs will be very strict about lower quantitative scores but others only care if you hit the 150 minimum as long as everything else is strong.

It comes down to choices. Becoming friends with fellow students will open doors for research collaboration which depending on your field *may* be important when you've graduated. Research may open other doors. Only you can decide what is more important in the long run. If socialization *is* important to you, then stopping research is just like stopping anything else you can obsess about. You set boundaries - I will leave the lab a ____ time (and then actually leave). I will not go to the lab before ____ time. I will spend ____ finding ways to socialize with other students. I will spend ___ time studying.

Just be sure that both of the strong letters are actually written and sent. I decided to submit an extra reference because the graduate advisor for my master's program is very disorganized. I knew that if he got around to writing a letter that it would be good but didn't trust him to send it. He flaked and that extra letter made sure my file was complete and able to be reviewed.

I would ask your friend to tell them she knows you. She has control over recusing herself from an interview if the organization considers it a conflict of interest whereas you only have the control of showing up for your interview.