[Ocean/Marine Sciences 2014?]

Anyone applying to graduate programs in ocean or marine biology/sciences for 2014? Doesn't seem to be that many people in this field on gradcafe, so thought i'd start a thread where did you apply, and has anyone heard anything back yet??

[Keep A Word Drop A Word]

iced coffee

[Anyone applied to Florida State?]

Yep, same thing.  I say give it a week, and then maybe contact them about it.

[Keep A Word Drop A Word]

American flag

[Keep A Word Drop A Word]

heart break

[digital signature -- I typed it out before being done -- Help needed!]

I would contact the school, asap! Just mention what you said above and that you accidentally submitted your app without the personal statement attached.  They will most likely just have you email it to them and they will attach it to your application. Good luck!

[Anyone applied to Florida State?]

I did! I had the same issue where I submitted my app and it said my transcripts were not recieved, although I sent them in a couple weeks prior.  I contacted admissions at the time and they said they wait until after your application is fully submitted and processed (make sure you pay the fee!) before matching up transcripts with students, to save time and effort since many students will submit their transcripts and end up not thoroughly applying.  It took me a couple days, maybe a week tops, to show that my transcripts were in on the online check page.  Good luck!

[Personal Statement Tips? (NOT Statement of Purpose)]

I've just finished up my SOP for UW, and the application has an optional personal statement.  I want to include a personal statement, but am having a lot of trouble finding resources/examples to help guide me in the right direction.  There is a lot of SOP advice floating around, but does anyone have any useful words about writing a personal statement?

 

The prompt states to talk about educational, cultural, and economic opportunities and disadvantages and how these experiences have affected the development of your interests, career plans, and future goals, and I'd having some problems with the latter part of the statement.   Everyone has personal experiences, but I'm not sure how to tie things into how it has affected my career goals.  Any advice would be appreciated!

[Could anyone critique my SOP - Applying for Ph.D. in Biological Sciences]

i'd also like to swap and review!

[anyone willing to review my statement of purpose?]

my first application deadline is in a week, and was wondering if anyone would be willinging to privately review/edit my statement of purpose? its for a masters progam in biological sciences, but i'm looking to work with faculty in the marine biology field.  constructive criticism welcome and I'd be willing to trade and read yours too!

 

thanks in advance!

[Could someone take a look at my SOP please? For a M.S. in Marine Biology program.]

You can message me as well! I'm also applying for my masters in marine bio

[Application fee waiver?]

i've reached out to all the schools i plan on applying to ask if they offer fee waviers (i suggest everyone do the same, one school waived an $100 app fee with no questions asked!) and one university (which is actually my top) said to send a detailed description of my plea to their director for consideration.   i come from a single parent/low money household and am a first generation college student in my family, but is this the type of stuff they want to hear? I don't really want to give them a sob story to get pity, but I am not sure what else they are looking for.  its a $50 application fee, so a waiver would help tremendously (considering GRE scores and transcripts are already $45 per school).  has anyone else been in a similar situation?

[app. asks me to list my top 4 schools I'm applying to....its my 4th...be honest?]

i would personally lie and put it as my top, or top 1 or 2 as you mentioned.  otherwise its pretty much telling the admissions committee that "your my last choice and i would only really go to you if i don't get in anywhere else."  just like a job interview or any other application, that obviously is a very big turn off.  i believe that when applying to a school you should make every effort to make them believe they are your top choice, otherwise why would they want to spend the time and money considering you if they think you are going to reject them in the long run?

[Resume for grad application? Lab skills?]

great ideas, thanks so much for your help!

[How to have a witty introduction without seeming childish?]

i've been agonizing over the introduction of my SOP for days.  I'm trying really hard to go in a direction other than the typical childhood story or quote introduction, but it is very difficult!  i'm trying to be more witty and creative, but i'm afriad that this may come off as childish or immature, especially since i'm trying to keep my intro as short as possible.  any thoughts on being creative yet remaining professional, or advice for a creative introduction in general?

[Resume for grad application? Lab skills?]

Hey I was just wondering what exactly people tend to include on the resume they upload if your grad app asks for it.  i'm applying for a masters in marine bio and my resume is current broken up into related experience, achievements (where i have a conference i presented in, awards, and my TA position listed) and skills.  a grad student i currently work with took a look at my resume and recommended taking out skills (which had a couple juvenile microsoft office related things) and adding research skills instead, and listing the lab skills i know how to do.  has anyone else done anything like that, and specifically listed lab skills?  I've also been crazily adjusting margins to get my resume to stay on one page, do you think 1 page with a couple lines on the second page would be bad?