geographyrocks

One thing you should take into consideration with your quantitative score is how much math you took during undergrad. If it's substantial (with good grades), that may help to lessen the impact of the 150 quantitative score. The problem with your scores is that you're applying to very popular programs. CU Boulder gets over 600 candidates. Most of the other schools you've chosen get a comparable amount of applicants. What this normally means is that they thin the herd of apps using GPA and GRE. I think you should be prepared to not make that cut UNLESS you have a POI that fights for you. If you don't bring up the GRE scores, they may never even see your application. Are you applying for a Masters or PhD? I would imagine that GRE cutoffs are lower for Masters students.

From what I've heard (and read), the answer is no. Could you imagine contacting every person that is listed on these applications? It would just be impossible! As for student-run organizations, you still typically need a faculty sponsor (at least we did at my school). So I listed their name.

400 character limits are just plain evil. The titles of my research almost take up half of that. Am I doing this wrong? lol

I'm pretty certain that I had to designate the schools and commit to sending the scores before actually seeing what my scores were.

How heavily GRE scores are weighed really depends on the program preferences and how many applicants they get. Places that receive ridiculous amounts of apps generally use the scores to cut people so people with low scores shouldn't even bother applying. The exception to this is if you have a professor who really wants to work with you. Then you pretty much just have to meet the minimum set by the graduate school. However, fellowships and scholarships are sometimes based on GRE scores so it could hurt your chances of getting funding.

Darkstar: If you're curious about research or professors at UNM, feel free to PM me.

I guess it depends on how long ago you sent the email. Professors are currently getting a ridiculous amount of emails from current students, prospective students, and of course all of those administrative emails. In addition, they are preparing finals, finishing up grading, setting up make up exams, confirming next year's classes, going to department and committee meetings, and who knows what else. So in other words, they may simply have not had time to respond to your email. Also, a follow-up email never hurts. Professors at my school encourage it due to the sheer number of emails they get each day. I was talking to one professor (who I had to hunt down so I could get him on my committee) and he had over 1000 unread emails.

Hmm...since you only have 500 words to work with, I'm wondering if they ask this so they can get a sense of what YOU feel to be your most impressive qualifications versus all the other stuff that is on your CV. Or maybe they read this first before reading your CV or longer SOP?

Student who missed lab last week and didn't turn in the previous week's lab: I didn't know we had class last week (even though it's in the syllabus AND I sent a reminder email). I didn't realize we had to turn in the previous lab (even though it was stated in class and was stated in a second email). Can I turn in the lab for partial credit or do extra credit work? ---Sent 1 hour before the last lab of the semester. To sum up my long, eloquent reply: Hell, no. As a side note: this person has told me about how they're an A+ student all semester. Oh, yeah? Well, A+ students show up to class and don't wait a full friggin' week to email the instructor.

If they have a page that updates when you submit materials, I wouldn't worry about it. If you there is no confirmation that materials are received, definitely ask. I know a lot of people say graduate coordinators and office staff are over-worked during this time (and they are!), but this is something that they expect when they don't have a page that confirms receipt of materials. Also, my email got lost when I applied to my current school. If I hadn't called to confirm, I wouldn't be here. Moral of the story: When in doubt, ask!

Seeing as I have a (somewhat) insider perspective, I can tell you that the admissions process is going through some changes which may have caused some confusion when it came to sending out notices and such. However, they should refund the application fee if they aren't taking applicants. Just a tip, don't demand. Politely request. Don't burn bridges.

Did you know that when you interview for a job there is the possibility that you are more qualified than the person interviewing you? Just saying... And although it may happen at some schools, I can tell you applications ARE NOT decided by grad students at the school I attend. I can't imagine my department is that unique. Although, we don't receive the quantity of applications that some departments do. Still, I can't imagine that graduate students "decide" on who should or should not attend. I would think they get the job of thinning the herd by looking at stats and tossing any that don't meet the standards. Edit: Your poll is biased, and it's bugging the hell out of me. The downfall of taking too many stats classes...

I would get rid of anything that talks about the field rather than talks about you in the field. You could lightly mention papers such as, "After reading John Humdinker's methods on toad flies, I knew I was hooked." Your experience is what they are looking for. They might get testy if they have to read through an entire paragraph telling them about their field or why it's important. This needs to be about you, your experiences, and definitely applying for a NSF grant. I think you're crazy to leave it out. By the by: my SOP/LOI/whatever you wanna call it was 1.25 pages.

I have An Introduction to Statistical Problem Solving. I guess it's an okay book. It definitely covers the math behind the tests as I learned how to do stats by hand before being handed a computer program that will do all the hard work for you. I really get more out of reading papers that use the methods I'm interested in or googling methods than reading books on the subject though. It helps me to see how they're applied in research rather than just learning the method itself. And I sympathize with you on the poor stats classes. My first class was taught by a professor who just didn't give a crap (and was always extremely surprised when I knew all the answers. Me. A girl. But that's another story.) I had a very competent professor for my second class except he wasn't very good at teaching the material. He also had a problem with girls knowing the answers. Of course, that's what you can encounter when you go to school in the Midwest.

I have grants and papers to write, but all I can think about is how there is only one week of school left after this week. 1 week. ONE WEEK! At which point, of course, all of things that I'm procrastinating on are due. ONE WEEK!

I watch videos like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_mKY2CQ9Kk I watch surprised kitty on really tough days.

I would think that you would find a lot of programs in the Southwest. Have you looked at schools in Arizona or New Mexico?

I think the most important thing to think about is how much are you willing to suffer? I don't think anyone will blame you for taking financial security (housing job) over the one semester fellowship. But I do think this job will set you back in your degree completion timeline. Like you said, you won't have as much time for research. I know this doesn't help, but this is why most people caution against the unfunded masters especially in STEM fields. Bottom line, I think you need to take care of yourself. Which option puts the least stress on you? Also, you always have the option of dropping the housing job if something better comes along. It might be a pain in the ass (seeing as you would have to move again), but it is still a future option.

Well, this forum is a discussion on where people are applying and their stats. There are several reasons he may choose to PM instead of address the entire forum. One may be simply that he doesn't want to clog the forum with a bunch of back and forth chatter. I think the real question is, why do you care whether he PMs or addresses the entire forum? Would you like to know the information he's sharing? Or are you simply trying to imply that "something fishy is going on"? If you want to know the information he's sharing, ask him. If not, it seems as though you're just trying to start something. This is not the place for that. Sincerely, A female who received help from GeoDUDE last year. Edit: Just wanted to add that no, I am not an internet warrior. But I find your question insulting considering he's trying to help people.

CU Boulder - I only know about the rejection letter which is like 3 sentences or something and came via email. Notified around end of February. UNM - Was contacted by professor with good news (I contacted him previous to applying). Then contacted by department via snail mail (with funding offer attached). Confirmed acceptance with department. Then received notice from graduate school via snail mail. FYI-my online stuff was updated several weeks after I received notice. Notified informally mid-February with letter arriving a week or two later.

I hear USC has pretty amazing funding for their Masters in Basket Weaving program...

That blog is quite enjoyable.

Oh, thank goodness! I put my name in the header for some review sessions and just never took it out. I figured it would be handy for the reviewers when jostling a lot of papers.

Since you're going in for a Masters, it's okay to not really know exactly what you want to specialize in. I would first focus on what kind of job I want to get after finishing my degree. Also, focus on analysis techniques as these are the most useful things to list on a resume. For example, if you would rather sit in an office and crunch numbers, take more quantitative analysis classes. If you'd like to do field work, find classes that have a field work component. Wherever you go, definitely take a GIS class. The highest paying field (and still in the most demand) is petrology. Oil is money, as they say. Most of the data that has been released is showing an aging population in most geological science fields. So there will be the regular job growth (I think the last numbers I saw for hydrologists was 10%) along with replacing these people who are close to retiring. Here is a good website: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/environmental-scientists-and-specialists.htm Most geo-fields are growing so any specialty is pretty safe. As for schools, that really depends on what you want to focus on. I've noticed that a lot of EnviSci programs focus on policy or the "social" side rather than the physical sciences so you may want to look for Geoscience programs instead.

What was your focus in undergrad? Environmental microbiology is completely different than hydrology (unless you're interested in water quality of course). What science courses have you taken? What math have you taken? What questions do you have?