Hatem

I'm applying for a masters of biology,however I'm dealing with my masters application as if it was a Phd application.I'm trying to be specific into my research interests as I'm currently pursuing a research project.I don't know if the admission committee deals with masters application more easier and less strict than Phd applicants.Anybody knows?

I have the same concerns and I have been emailing schools asking for clear explanations. For your first question,it depends on the school/department,Some schools need both while others are satisfied by uploading your transcripts unitll you are accepted then you must send your official transcripts. For your 2nd question, 2 schools said it explicitly,send us unofficial / photocopies of your transcripts and if you got admitted,then you MUST send us the original official hard copies. Actually,every school has its own rules,email them and see.

Yes! I'm applying to terminal master in biological sciences and all the schools I'm interested in stated that I should contact professors whose research interests appeal to me.Moreover I should mention my research interests in my SOP.

If this is the case with most POIs,then why should we email them? I have heared that some schools ask prospective students to mention in their online application POIs they have contacted.While other schools urge students to contact POIs.

I myself don't know if I would stay interested into my POI research topic after 2 years from now or I would find another more interesting one in another lab.

I mean If I contacted POIs now "in september/october 2011" while I'm applying to their programs and if I got accepted I will attend their school next year "in september/october 2012".And of course I will spend the first year studying core courses and lab rotations.Then I will join my PO lab on "sept/oct 2013".These are 2 years from now.

I was thinking of this issue in the last few days.How could a potential advisor decide if he/she would need grad students into his/her lab after approximately 2 years.If I contacted a POI now telling him/her that i'm applying now to join grad school in fall 2012 and asking about joining his/her lab in fall 2013.Is this reasonable?

I was thinking about this idea in the past few days.I wanted to arrange similar words into groups and intended to do it alone but was anxious about wasting a lot of time and effort.I find your project practical and I hope to join it.

Thanks everybody for your comments and advice.

I lost my motivation too. I even thought to postpone my application to 2013 instead of this season.At least I now know that I'm not the only one who's facing this lack of motivation.

Thank you

Would you please tell us the title of that book or add a link of it ? Thanks in advance.

I would like to know what if I didn't contact potential professors?would that decrease my chances to be accepted?

Um...may be " PhD applicant or potential graduate student "? any other ideas?

Isn't it supposed that "contacting prof letter" be as brief as possible.just few lines?

me too! Actually I wasn't surprised when I saw my score on the screen on test day as I practiced on ETS powerprep few days before the test and I got nearly the same score.

I have searched in Amazon for the Nova's math book for the revised GRE but got no results.It seems they didn't release a new edition.But I think you can use the old book for preparation to the revised GRE as the content and topics are the same only 2 question types are added.

Really?! Are you serious?

Congratulations Is your master degree would be fully funded? and what's after?would they accept you into their Phd program.

Cool! I will take it on June 28th,when will you take yours?

I live in Egypt!

Was it a research section or an experimental section? I have read that the GRE can display 2 unmarked sections that won't count to your final score.A research section and an experimental section.In case of the research section,the test tells you the coming section is a research one.However,in case of an experimental section,you won't even know whether it was part of your test or not.

I have registered to take the current/old GRE 2 weeks ago.I will take it on June. Yes,scores of current/old GRE are still valid for 5 years.ETS has stated that on their website.They also explained that grad schools will still receive scores for both old and new GRE for a period of time untill all the scores of the old GRE get invalid.