rising_star

Depends. Do you want the adcom to know about your mental health? Is your ADD under control now or is it likely to cause an issue in the future? If you bring it up, you may have adcom members wondering if it will happen again...

If you've been asked to state a clear topic, then do that. Don't worry about how it might change after coursework (the adcom and your POI both know this is a reality for everyone they admit). Do what you've been asked to do. And, make sure you demonstrate that the program/university has the resources you need to do whatever project you outline (library resources, research centers/institutes on campus, appropriate faculty for your committee).

lifealive, after class is only a good idea sometimes. It all depends on the time of your class. As a TA, I often led back-to-back discussion sections, so it wasn't possible for me to do office hours immediately after, except after the last class. Other times, I couldn't do it after class because that was lunch or when I had class or because I was in the last slot of the afternoon (after which students go to work, athletic practice, etc.). TakeruK, you're nicer than I am! I never set office hours by a poll! I do try to have them multiple days of the week, with at least one day in the morning and one day in the afternoon. I find that spreading it out gives students options, which helps.

Arav_Dawnbreaker, that means you're in. That whole "You will receive the official offer very soon" means that you will be receiving an official acceptance very soon.

Don't worry! It definitely happens. As argon214 said, it's a sign that they are extremely interested in you! That's a good thing. Besides, at the end of your PhD, when you're applying for academic jobs, you'll get rejections within a week of the deadline sometimes. That is a sucky feeling since it means they weren't interested in you at all. So, enjoy it while it lasts!

If the bitterness and "know-it-all"-ness you express here is in your job application materials, then I can't say I'm surprised you're having trouble finding a job. While it's okay to rant against the system, you should be careful because employers may not want to hire someone that is so negative.

I think some programs stopped doing interviews in recent years because of financial pressures and the cost of flying people in, providing food and lodging, etc.

jim, I'm not sure that comparing not being able to find a job as easily as you would like to systematic and institutionalized racism/sexism is the same. Given your background in sociology, I would think you would know better than to make such comparisons. But, in an effort to be helpful, I'll note that I and others have provided you with resources you can use. And, if that's not enough, perhaps you can go to Adrian College and get a second bachelor's? http://www.higheredjobs.com/Articles/articleDisplay.cfm?ID=603

I don't know about witnesses as I didn't push the student for more details about the situation.

The problem with that, uhurulol, is that blaming a hectic work schedule likely reads as you making an excuse for getting a C.

Yes, they did. And the professor is still employed by that institution. I believe the student was told they must have misinterpreted the question or something.

Jim, there's really nothing helpful about thinking about the greed and the mixed messages or the differences between the 80s and now. What you need to do is try to figure out how to succeed on the job market. You may want to tap into your alumni network. You may also want to do informational interviews via LinkedIn to figure out how to better market the skills you have. The website VersatilePhD may help you with figuring out how to translate your experience into the skills employers are looking for. If you feel like you weren't "afforded" the right resources, figure out how to tap into them now instead of just complaining about it.

It's not bad at all. People will just think your writer made a mistake (typo).

Not all professors are sensitive or even understanding. I had a trans* student who prefers gender-neutral pronouns and openly says so. They told me that another professor had asked them, during class, who they had sex with and what they had in their pants. In class. The level of inappropriate there is something I can't even begin to describe. In other words, what telkanuru said.

You don't have to visit. I went to a PhD program that I'd never visited. BUT, I had previously met my POI in person, exchanged a bunch of emails, and talked via phone with current students of the POI in that program. Based on that, I was confident that it was a good choice, though obviously I would've liked to visit. I only visited programs that paid for me to visit, which my PhD program doesn't do (plenty of demand for their spots without having to do that so they just don't). That said, there are other programs that I visited and realized I couldn't attend once I got there. Sometimes you get a feeling and just know that something isn't right for you.

Given the economy and its current state, no one is promised a job anymore nor should anyone be expecting one to materialize for them. 100 applications isn't that many in these circumstances. I would keep applying for market research jobs (quirks.com comes to mind as a resource for those). For nonprofits, take a look at idealist.org to get some ideas about what's out there. For local nonprofits, you'll probably need to check the newspaper, Craig's List, and their websites to find job postings.

Skim through old posts in this forum and you'll find some answers. The basics is this: make sure your audio and video work (do a test beforehand), make sure you're somewhere quiet, make sure what they see in the background is appropriate (so no crazy posters behind you), dress nicely (makes you talk better and more professionally), and be prepared to discuss your research interests and how those intersect with the professor you're speaking with. Good luck!

You won't be the first to have done it. In my field, some departments grant both master's degrees and PhDs but, to move between the two programs, you have to re-apply (same as all the external applicants for the PhD program), get rec letters, etc. So, in that case, all three of people I got letters from for PhD programs, which included my MA department but also 6 letters, wrote letters on my behalf, including that I planned to continue working with them if I were to stay. In the end, I went elsewhere for my PhD but it was fine to get letters from them. If you've worked closely with that person and they're qualified to comment on your ability to succeed in graduate school, then you need a letter from them in your file. Don't worry about the fact that they also work at that school as your POI. For all you know, that POI may not be on the adcom and thus may not be making the decisions.

I would include all of those things. They show a wide array of skills, which is good since you'll likely be drawing on those to succeed in the program. Good luck!

Not quite sure I understand the question. What do you mean by "weaker"? Do you mean lower ranked? Worse placement for graduates? Weaker fit for you? If the fit and funding are good, and you're okay with where your PIs place their graduates, then that matters more than the official program ranking in a lot of ways.

Oh, what about the program at Oxford? There's a MPhil there in something like sustainable development.

It's definitely possible. I went from a humanities undergrad to graduate work in the interdisciplinary social sciences and it wasn't a problem. It's mostly about explaining your interests, how they came about, and what you expect to do with them in the new grad program. As far as the writing sample, I wouldn't necessarily bother trying to write a whole new sample that somehow convinces them you know what anthropologists or historians of science do. They know from your transcript that you don't have that experience. Instead, I would give them the best piece of academic writing you have, which hopefully is more than a close reading of a text. Good luck!

Your gap year shouldn't be a problem. I'm jealous of your work with Story Corps though!

It shouldn't leave a bad impression. Not everyone will be able to meet their preferred times because of flight availability (for example, I grew up in a small-ish town in the USA where there are only a few flights in and out each day). They understand that and will probably be glad that you made your own lodging arrangements, which saves them the effort of doing so.

It would depend on the specific schools. You would probably have to apply again, like someone applying to start in the bio program in the first place. And, your credits may not all transfer. My experience has been that only 9 units (3 courses) could count toward the new degree if you were to transfer. Given that, your best bet is probably to go into a bio program if that's where your interests lie.