GeoDUDE!

Would you consider taking a few night courses at your local community college or university? I suspect a couple geology courses (and maybe more chemistry or physics if you want to work for a petroleum company) would make for a little bit easier sell to programs. I think at least some of the schools you listed have more PhD-centric programs--they mostly aim for PhD students, even if they nominally offer an MS. If you do find a program that will accept you for an MS as a terminal degree, you will probably not be funded, so you'd need to pay tuition, which can be very pricey as an out of state student. While extracurriculars/hobbies are nice, I don't think anyone cares much for grad school, except perhaps as they demonstrate some other quality like leadership or ability to do independent research. Test scores are nice, but the least important aspect of a successfull application. Your personal statement and prior research experience/papers will be much more important. If you have not done laboratory or field research, perhaps you can volunteer with a local lab for a year or two?
 
Answering your questions specifically:
1. "Am I delusional here, or do I have a chance at some of these?"
As GeoDUDE! pointed out, these are top-tier geology schools, so your chances aren't as good as they could be if you can demonstrate research potential.

2. "What happens if I apply but I haven't taken any geo courses? "
You are unlikely to be accepted, but this all depends on the specific program and advisor, so you can target places where this will be less important. Conditional acceptances for graduate school are not something I've heard of. A bridge semester is highly unlikely. A MS is already very short, 1-2 years, and largely filled with coursework and research. There is no time to be playing catch up, and no one wants to pay for the extra time that takes--even if you are paying your tuition, the PI or department still has to sink a lot of money into you to cover research and overhead costs and will be losing money on you.
 
So in summary, I think you can make this happen if it is really important to you, but you need to play the long game. Applying this season is not likely to pan out.

That's even longer then I send, I send about 6 sentences and stick a 1-page version of my CV with the message. Its something along the likes of.
 
 
Hello I am X, going to X, and my current work is X. I am interested in pursuing PhD at your program, because i found the  "specific result" from "specific" paper (they wrote) interesting, because it means "some slightly meaningful insight".  Are you taking on graduate students that work on X? 
 
Thank you for your time,
 
Name.
 
 
 
I've gotten very good responses from that email. You don't need to be long, you just need to show them that A)your worth it it isn't spam and C) you think about problems that are being solved in his lab/your field.
 
 You would be surprised at the number of PhD applicants that haven't done a literature review on their POIs. 

That's even longer then I send, I send about 6 sentences and stick a 1-page version of my CV with the message. Its something along the likes of.
 
 
Hello I am X, going to X, and my current work is X. I am interested in pursuing PhD at your program, because i found the  "specific result" from "specific" paper (they wrote) interesting, because it means "some slightly meaningful insight".  Are you taking on graduate students that work on X? 
 
Thank you for your time,
 
Name.
 
 
 
I've gotten very good responses from that email. You don't need to be long, you just need to show them that A)your worth it it isn't spam and C) you think about problems that are being solved in his lab/your field.
 
 You would be surprised at the number of PhD applicants that haven't done a literature review on their POIs. 

Please don't do that. Professors are very busy people, and I doubt they would actually take the time to read and respond to an unsolicited email like the one you've described. Instead, you can use this introduction email I wrote last year as a template for you to create your own. 
 
 
Subject: Introduction and inquiry into your research at Awesome University
 
Body:
 
Dear Dr. Awesome,
 
I am a senior chemistry major at Wonderful University in Somewhere, State. I have had the opportunity to work on ## summer research projects throughout my undergraduate career. In the summer of 1969, I worked under the direction of Dr. Cool Guy and completed research in the field of hard chemistry: the project was titled "Look at all the awesome chemistry I've done." In the summer of 1970, I worked under the direction of Dr. Super Fun and conducted research in the field of really hard chemistry: the project was titled " Look, I did some more awesome chemistry." Both projects have exposed me to the trials and tribulations of research and strengthened my resolve to complete research at the graduate level. Thus, I plan to obtain a PhD in some kind of chemistry.
 
While researching possible graduate school programs, I came across your website. I believe my research interest in some kind of chemistry with medicinal and industrial applications aligns with your developing research areas. I was quite intrigued with your research focus on blah blah and blah. Do you have any new research projects in your group that you would like me to be aware of? Will you be accepting graduate students into your laboratory next fall? Is there anything else you would like for me to know about your research group?
 
I am in the midst of completing my application to the chemistry graduate program at Awesome University, to start on my path towards earning a PhD in some kind of chemistry. I would be delighted at the opportunity to learn more about your work and, perhaps, work with you in the future. Thank you very much for your assistance. I look forward to hearing from you via email at your earliest convenience.
 
Sincerely,
Your future grad student

Take the derivative of x(t)i + y(t)j + z(t)k with respect to time. You'll notice that i, j, and k are unit vectors, in their respective dimensions. Since i, j, and k are not time dependent, they can be pulled out of the derivative. So according to the the addition rule you get:
 
d/dt(x(t)) * i + d/dt(y(t)) * j + d/dt(z(t)) *k, this is the velocity of the previous equation. As you can see, it has both a magnitude, which can be obtained from the scalar values in the equation and a direction, which can be obtained by the summation of the three terms itself, as vectors.
 
What perhaps many intro physics classes do, is, when first teaching the kinematic equations they take out the directional unit vector because things are only examined in one or two directions.
 
The method you suggest for finding a magnitudes direction is entirely false: There is no way to find direction from magnitude, or magnitude from direction. A vector, as hopefully you know consists of coordinates in how ever many dimensions the space you are operating in:
 
1 Dimension:
i = [1]
 
2 dimension:
i = [1,0]
 
3 dimension:
i = [1,0,0]
 
 
As you can see, all three vectors describe the same direction, but they are not all living in the same space (1 space , 2 space, 3 space). When working in 1 space, its sort of arbitrary to specify the vector, as the direction will be in either + or - 1 space. But once moving into 2 space, or planes as they are more commonly referred to, you have 360 degrees of rotation and thus it is important to specify the unit vectors and their corresponding magnitudes.
 
Let me know if you have any other questions.

That Q score is abysmal, disregarding any major considering the math required for the GRE is at hardest secondary school. While structural engineering, in class and in practice is one of the least quantitative engineering, that score would probably get your application automatically rejected by software unless you have an IMMACULATE supplementary package. Seeing as you are international, your application must be much better than that of a domestic student; There are plenty of domestic students with less than desirable test scores that they would rather take than an international student whom did not perform well on the GRE. This is just the case; international admissions is tougher. You realistically need to get a 162+ on the quant for a top 10 program... but I would shoot for even higher.

That Q score is abysmal, disregarding any major considering the math required for the GRE is at hardest secondary school. While structural engineering, in class and in practice is one of the least quantitative engineering, that score would probably get your application automatically rejected by software unless you have an IMMACULATE supplementary package. Seeing as you are international, your application must be much better than that of a domestic student; There are plenty of domestic students with less than desirable test scores that they would rather take than an international student whom did not perform well on the GRE. This is just the case; international admissions is tougher. You realistically need to get a 162+ on the quant for a top 10 program... but I would shoot for even higher.

That Q score is abysmal, disregarding any major considering the math required for the GRE is at hardest secondary school. While structural engineering, in class and in practice is one of the least quantitative engineering, that score would probably get your application automatically rejected by software unless you have an IMMACULATE supplementary package. Seeing as you are international, your application must be much better than that of a domestic student; There are plenty of domestic students with less than desirable test scores that they would rather take than an international student whom did not perform well on the GRE. This is just the case; international admissions is tougher. You realistically need to get a 162+ on the quant for a top 10 program... but I would shoot for even higher.

Do you have a question? It sucks when you don't get the results you wanted.

That Q score is abysmal, disregarding any major considering the math required for the GRE is at hardest secondary school. While structural engineering, in class and in practice is one of the least quantitative engineering, that score would probably get your application automatically rejected by software unless you have an IMMACULATE supplementary package. Seeing as you are international, your application must be much better than that of a domestic student; There are plenty of domestic students with less than desirable test scores that they would rather take than an international student whom did not perform well on the GRE. This is just the case; international admissions is tougher. You realistically need to get a 162+ on the quant for a top 10 program... but I would shoot for even higher.

When I started, I did the whole attempting to mark in as few sittings as possible thing too.
 
Then I sound that I was going crazy. And that students whose assignments were towards the end of the pile showed a correlation to lower grades
 
So now, I make conscious efforts to space them out.

hi,
 
i have ms in industrial engg,with gpa of 3.5/4,one publication,decent reccomendation,quant 780,verbal 720,where should i apply for phd
 
so that i surely get
 
thanks

Go for reading comprehensions(RC) first, then try to solve other questions,RCs are not so much vocab based.

rank information from timeshighereducation
I am in a dilemma here. So basically I have applied to few colleges in Australia and New Zealand. ( I am of BCA background from India. ) I applied for Master in Information Technology (Professional) and got offer letter from Deakin University (ranked 351-400 )waiting for other universities with their reply which includes Monash university ranked [99].
Also on the second thought I applied to Master of Computer Science from Victoria University (Sydney study center) ( cannot find the rank www.vu.edu.au/vu-sydney ) awaiting for Wollongong (ranked 301-350 ) reply
Now My question is If I get offered MCS what shall I do. Should I choose MCS from low ranked university or go with MIT with High ranked university.
I love computers hardware software everything. I like both CS syllabus and IT syllabus. But I want to know the answer on the basis of getting a high salaried job in Australia right after the completion of the program.
I crossed the ranking and reputation on topuniversities.com and still the question remains the same as theres same almost rank different between the universities.

Thanks for the reply mate.  I got offer from Deakin for IT (351-400 ) and Victoria for CS but Victoria University, Sydney is not even ranked. mate. "Victoria University (Sydney study center) ( cannot find the rank www.vu.edu.au/vu-sydney ) "
 
So would like a fast reply. Thanks. I want to know the answer on the basis of getting a high salaried job in Australia right after the completion of the program.

What is your physics gre score? That is infinitely more important.

I'll second the idea that it's vital to have a PI who knows you and pays attention to you/your work, for the exact same reason as above: LoRs. 
 
And not just LoRs, but helping you network/find post-docs and open faculty positions. If you're just one of a mass of grad students, they won't be helping you on as personal or, likely, as dedicated of a level. If they know you personally, there's an extra push to help you find jobs and recommend you to people they know. 
 
I'd also say it's important to have a similar relationship with other faculty in the department/on your committee. 

oh man..... I don't think you can ask him for a LOR period.... I guess you should mention it in SoP and tell your POI. I dont know..

Will you be working with models in the future that feature differential equations? If so, I'd think that taking an introductory course and maybe even a PDE course would be beneficial. If you take a good linear algebra course and an introductory differential equations course you should immediately start to see a lot of connections. An analysis course would help with understanding the particulars of the PDE course. A numerical analysis course could (should?) feature schemes for solving those PDEs.
 
So, in other words...
 

the real answer is take as much math as possible.

the real answer is take as much math as possible.

Is cambridge really that much more prestigious than ETH Zurich ? There was a time where ETH was the greatest institution in the world, think 1900-1920. Isn't that were Albert Einstein got his PhD ?
 
I think I would choose where I would be happiest. There is no wrong decision. If the money makes you happier, ie leading to a higher quality of life, then do that. 
 
The world is yours, take it. 

Credentials, like the ones you have, only go so far. You are obviously a very smart person, because you have excellent grades and have a Very strong subject GRE. 
 
I assume that you want to go for a PhD, which is great, with the exception that your credentials only give you a stage in which you can speak from and not an acceptance. Your SOP and the supporting LOR are infinitely more important than the rest of your application. Generally, people with strong Statement of Purposes(SOP) have strong grades, there is a correlation, but you must make an argument to the admissions committee that your vision of the future, in terms of addressing problems that need to be solved in your field is one that will benefit the department and the field symbiotically. 
 
If you can do that, and the research fit is great, then I have no doubt that you will be accepted into almost every university you apply to.  Someone who has less research experience, worse GPA, and a lower GRE score can EASILY surpass a student like yourself if their Statement is controlled, precise vision that goes in line with the department and their LOR are connected and strong. Doing this is the hardest thing about graduate applications, because getting an A a class is hardwork, but its mechanical. A statement of purpose lets the department know how creative you are.

Credentials, like the ones you have, only go so far. You are obviously a very smart person, because you have excellent grades and have a Very strong subject GRE. 
 
I assume that you want to go for a PhD, which is great, with the exception that your credentials only give you a stage in which you can speak from and not an acceptance. Your SOP and the supporting LOR are infinitely more important than the rest of your application. Generally, people with strong Statement of Purposes(SOP) have strong grades, there is a correlation, but you must make an argument to the admissions committee that your vision of the future, in terms of addressing problems that need to be solved in your field is one that will benefit the department and the field symbiotically. 
 
If you can do that, and the research fit is great, then I have no doubt that you will be accepted into almost every university you apply to.  Someone who has less research experience, worse GPA, and a lower GRE score can EASILY surpass a student like yourself if their Statement is controlled, precise vision that goes in line with the department and their LOR are connected and strong. Doing this is the hardest thing about graduate applications, because getting an A a class is hardwork, but its mechanical. A statement of purpose lets the department know how creative you are.

Credentials, like the ones you have, only go so far. You are obviously a very smart person, because you have excellent grades and have a Very strong subject GRE. 
 
I assume that you want to go for a PhD, which is great, with the exception that your credentials only give you a stage in which you can speak from and not an acceptance. Your SOP and the supporting LOR are infinitely more important than the rest of your application. Generally, people with strong Statement of Purposes(SOP) have strong grades, there is a correlation, but you must make an argument to the admissions committee that your vision of the future, in terms of addressing problems that need to be solved in your field is one that will benefit the department and the field symbiotically. 
 
If you can do that, and the research fit is great, then I have no doubt that you will be accepted into almost every university you apply to.  Someone who has less research experience, worse GPA, and a lower GRE score can EASILY surpass a student like yourself if their Statement is controlled, precise vision that goes in line with the department and their LOR are connected and strong. Doing this is the hardest thing about graduate applications, because getting an A a class is hardwork, but its mechanical. A statement of purpose lets the department know how creative you are.