a fragrant plant

Can fellow grad students (especially female) share your experiences of becoming parents when you're doing your PhD? What's the most difficult part?

$735 for 9 schools excluding GRE/score report/transcripts. The total must be between $1200-$1500. It's really outrageous.

Thanks! I've changed it!

I know, sounds like a cover letter isn't it?

I'm pretty sure that there is a post on the forum titled "How do you end your SOP"? I used the search function to search for it to no avail. Please pardon me to initiate a new post on the same topic. So how do you end your SOP? I have two versions and I don't know which one is better. How to write a powerful ending without sounding too much of a cliché? version 1: The opportunities to _____ make YOUR UNIVERSITY'S Anthropology Program an extremely attractive place to launch my academic career. version 2: The opportunities to _____ make YOUR UNIVERSITY'S Anthropology Program an extremely attractive place to launch my academic career. I am confident that my childlike curiosity and professional dedication to anthropology will be an asset to your department.

Professor is not only a (job) title, it's also a rank. The official title of a PhD holder is Dr.; not Professor. I had an instructor at community college who wrongly proclaims that he's a Professor. But no he's not a professor. You're only a professor when a school gives you that title and rank. So in your case if Irvine Valley College refers Dr. Chandos as Professor, he's a Professor. I also have a letter of recommendation written by a president of a community college. He doesn't have a PhD but he has a master degree in Education from an Ivy.

If I complete my applications on time I'll make her some blueberry muffin this Tuesday.

There are two text boxes for you to paste your essay but they strangely ask the same/similar questions. For example the "Statement of Purpose" prompt reads: Please describe your motivation, academic preparation and aptitude for graduate study at UC Davis. You should describe your academic plans and research interests, your specialization within your academic field, your research experiences and your career goals. Then they have another text box called "Future interest or goals". The prompt reads: Please describe your future interests or professional/career/artistic goals. Please limit your response to 2,000 characters (including spaces). Now, should I talk about my professional/career goal in the statement of purpose? If I do I won't have anything to say in the second box!!!! Really need your help!!!!

That means if I don't get in this year I'll need to buy a new set of GRE books to study for the new test. Damn you ETS!

Good News, but are you sure that the extra words will be shown when they print out your statement of purpose?

Thanks glasses, please see my reply to coyabean. That's exactly why I avoid "poorly educated".

Hi coyabean, thank you for your input. When I wrote "lower educated" I wanted to convey the opposition of "highly educated". "Poorly educated" did not come across to me as the appropriate expression in that context. Do you think "less educated" will be a better word choice? What do you think of "intervention in one's body" v.s. "intervention to one's body"? Many thanks for your input! I really appreciate it!

I think it's perfectly fine to have a community college faculty to write you a LOR to his/her program. However, do you think this professor know you well enough to write you a good LOR? Do you need a LOR for admission to communtiy college?

A proofreader read my statement of purpose and made a few changes. Bascially she loathe people using passive voices, overlong sentences and "odd" wordings that seem natural in my discipline. I don't know if I should amend my SOP according to her suggestions. Can you please have a look at the two versions and let me know which you think is better? My proofreader is not an academic so the changes she suggest make perfect sense to me. I just don't know if I should follow. Please share your opinions. *Issues with passive voices (please note that this is the first sentence of my SOP): my version: My interest in XXXX is influenced by my mother and deeply rooted in my family traditions. Proofreader's version: My mother and our family traditions have deeply influenced my interest in XXX. *Issues with wording: 1. My version: lower-educated people v.s. Proofreader version: poorly educated people 2. My version: intervention to one's body v.s. Proofreader version: intervention in one's body 3. My version: faculty members in XXX's anthropology program v.s. Proofreader's version: faculty members on XXX's anthropology program Alas, English is a super tricky language.

I have already sent her a thank you card immediately after she submitted the LORs. I want to give her a small gift for Christmas. I like the idea of home baked cookies. I'll see what I can make! Thanks!

Your Q is lower than your previous attempt. But your V jumped from 460 to 510. You sure this is called bad? I guess it depends on your field.

Thank you for all of your input. I took your advice and reword it: • Anthropology paper. (Forthcoming) Conference of Awesomeness, University of Happiness, Jan 00, 2010.

I'm not sure how I should word it. Here is what I have written: • Anthropology Paper. Will be presented at the Conference of Awesome Anthropology, University of Happiness, Jan 00-00, 2010. "will be presented" just sound so strange. How do I reword it? Many thanks!

although I'd love to receive flowers as gifts, I don't think it's something for her. She is a frequent traveller so I don't think she has time to look after plants

sigh, all of the schools i'm applying to are not free.

i'm meeting her next week for coffee/lunch and i'd like to give her a small gift to thank her for her support (she submitted 9 LORs, read my SOP and most importantly, being supportive all the way). you know, i think a small gift in the festive season would be nice. any gift ideas? *she's in her 60s.

Yes, UC Davis has this strange 5000 characters thing. If you have to fill a box then it will be 5000 characters including spaces.

Dear all - after reading your comments I wrote a paragraph on my career goal. The thing is that I am really insecured about it. Anyone mind reading my career goal paragraph (or the whole SOP) and give me some feedback? Please let me know and I'll PM you. Thanks so much in advance!

The career goal question is so tricky. It's very hard to do well. Is it possible to skip the career goal question? I worry a tenuous statement would ruin the overall tone of my statement of purpose. BTW - the departmental guidance on SOP reads: While information on your past work is important, it is most relevant in explaining how it led you to focus on the problems that currently interest you. The admissions committee is primarily concerned with learning about your current and future research interests. the application prompt wants something more comprehensive: - describe your reasons for applying to the proposed program - your preparation for this field of study and research interests - future career plans - and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study.

I am surprised to learn that many of my fellow applicants are applying straight out of undergrads. That means some people are starting their PhDs at the age of 21/22. That seems so young to me! Well, if I get in next year I'll be starting my PhD at the age of 26. To me it's the perfect timing. How about you guys?