ScreamingHairyArmadillo

You lost weight? Well I gained. Not much (5 lbs), but I've worked hard to lose weight in college and don't plan on gaining it all back. I'm also back home and gonna start jogging again, and finally have time in my next semester schedule to work on cardio. But no, my physical changes are not as marked as yours. Get back to being healthy!

I've got a pretty normal semester, really. Fitting Models to Data: Maximum Likelihood Methods and Model Selection (a biology class) Statistics for Engineers and Scientists Evolution (finally, it fits my schedule!) Advanced Greek and Latin Elements: Biomedical Terminology (I'm hoping this will be ever so slightly helpful in my upcoming life of knowing a gazillion scientific names, even if it is medically focused) Microbiology OR Parasitology Edit: Continuation of senior research (oh boy, how could I forget?) Ever since the data modelling class opened up (it's new this year) I could shuffle around some classes, which opened up a slot for parasitology. It would be way better than Micro because it's much smaller (discussion vs. lecture). It seems a lot more grad school appropriate. However, by the time I realized this it was full, so I'm waiting on getting permission to take it.

To me, biology = casual, but Yale = business. Can't go wrong with business casual? I think you should be fine with dress khakis/slacks, nice button up or sweater, and minimal makeup and jewelry (but I've still worn interesting jewelry - some don't care, for others it can be a small conversation piece - or just avoid it entirely). As far as questions, definitely have a few prepared (and don't be afraid to ask the same questions to multiple people). What are the facilities like, how is funding, do you have collaborations, what are you currently working on, what sort of seminar series are there. Googling will also bring up a few sites with helpful lists. Also, like fuzzylogician says, make sure to have a short spiel about yourself. What you're interested and what you want to do with it is a good starter, as your interviewer will probably then ask what have you done in research etc etc. I tried to break up my responses that guide their next questions as I don't like going on and on by myself for minutes on end. But honestly, it just flows. Just make sure to pay close attention to them when they describe their current research so if there's a lull you can ask more questions and keep it going. I did have one awkward pause with a faculty member, but I saved it when I finally thought of something to keep him talking. Oh yes, and congratulations! You'll have a lot of fun.

I think this is the key here. You should contact to double check, but they are on the list of CGS. Otherwise, just let them know you are waiting to hear about other offers and will get back to them as soon as possible (though you can wait until April 15 if you feel like it).

I have definitely blown off this semester while working on my apps - even after they were done, too! My mind is just so out of it that I've found it hard to focus ever since (I've been done with apps since Thanksgiving). Right now I'm working on one last lab report, and this semester from hell will be finally over. Otherwise, I'm going to get back to reading to get my mind off things. I got a load of books about the theory of ecology (oh you know, light reading), but I'd like to make up for what my school lacks as far as a biological education goes (it's very medically oriented). Or maybe I'll just watch Lost seasons 1-5 again.

Did they not offer to help pay for travel? You might try to find out if they can help, though I know programs are scrimping on money these days. Otherwise, an interview is a very good sign! Good luck!

Isn't there a fee reduction option? Half price? I qualified, but didn't feel like going through the process of filling out a form, sending in fin aid info, and essentially having to sign up through the mail instead of online. But hell, I did well, so I don't really care now.

I'm fairly certain that if you receive a grant from NSF etc. you will not receive additional school funding on top of that. They're going to use their money to instead fund another student.

I have a feeling this could explode into a firestorm...

There are some crazy differences in postal fees. I lucked out in that I only had to send hard copies of LORs to two schools and an additional form for a specialization program. So only 7 large envelopes and 14 stamps. About $10 here. My boyfriend on the other hand sent many forms close to the deadline and a lot of his programs required hard copies of writing samples, letters, etc. He overnighted a few things, each easily $20-$60, depending on the carrier he was chose (ie how panicked he was).

$622 including GRE general and subject tests, 1 additional score report, finding out subject test score by phone (I suppose that wasn't at all necessary), transcripts, and applications. Yuck.

Everyone I met asked "So, what are you interested in?" It's best to have a clear, concise answer (I have a tendency to ramble if I don't have something slightly prepared). A few faculty asked why do I like research, what are my ultimate goals - a lot of stuff you would generally address in your SOP. Also, "What questions do you have for us?" This is the big one! Have a few lined up.

My suggestion is go into detail the 1 or 2 projects you were most involved in and/or resulted in publication. Maybe for a set up: 1st paragraph: technical goals of projects - how you were involved in making these goals - how you helped the group (or just yourself) achieve these goals - summary of results (was it successful? why or why not?) - citation if published 2nd paragraph: skills you specifically learned by being involved in research (specific lab techniques, but also working in a team, time management, etc) - summary of smaller research projects and the skills you acquired from them

Almost more unbearable than the article were some of the responses: "best article ever," "this guy is so real," blah blah blah. I recommend we all try living a little more frugally, but this guy's pretentiousness is unbelievable. He whines about not having human contact, yet thinks he can't communicate to anyone because they won't understand? Sorry kid, I read The Dharma Bums, too. Talk to my parents, who have little (and my dad who left an Ivy to lead his own, unrestricted life): they'll tell him to drive his van up his own ass.

I highly suggest you try to download PP (though I do remember a friend having trouble downloading it on Vista). Are you on a campus that you can use a public computer (assuming that will even let you download anything)? Or borrow a friend's? PowerPrep is an ETS program, so it's probably the most accurate you can get. It's adaptive like the real GRE (though isn't there a thread somewhere saying ETS is changing the format?) so there is no pdf.

I would wait until you hear back about acceptance/rejection. If you get in, email them that you would like to speak more about their current work and the program. If not, tell them you're grateful for their support and correspondence. If you still have questions about their work because it is still pertinent to your own (which is probably the case), ask a few but don't be over-the-top. You are not their student, and not really a colleague yet (even if you're in somewhere else doing similar things). Lean on the side of not annoying.

Do it! I listed myself as a student member of a society. But if you pay your dues, you might as well list them.

My bet is business casual if you're teaching, not really because of regulations but because you want to seem somewhat more professional than your students. I really think body modifications are becoming the norm (or a large minority) and people just don't care as much anymore.

Instructors don't. I've had a few as an undergrad - it's sort of confusing cos you can't just go with the short "Prof" if you forget their name.

That's strange. Did you select Fall for your enrollment term on the app? Otherwise, my advice is ask for a decision extension. They should know you're applying to other schools - tell them you want to hear about other decisions. And I would't worry about the conditional acceptance. They just want to make sure you're not going to neglect the rest of your undergrad just because you got into grad school.

I also finished my apps early thinking it would give me an opportunity to focus on this semester's work - but I can't! I just keep thinking, reading, talking about grad school and I don't want to bother with my actual school work. Of course, I can't wait until Feb/March either. But that's so long from now!

I'd like a place to ramble (other than my SO's ear). Count me in.

Opening: change to active (is the rest of your SOP mostly active or passive?) 1. less educated (or try to find out what is used most in your field) 2. on? I'm not sure of the context 3. in

I'll be 22. From what I can tell it's standard in my field to go for the MS first and then continue on to the PhD, often at a different school. I wonder if I'll be working on apps again 2-3 years from now.

Here's a blog post with a professor's point of view: http://science-professor.blogspot.com/2009/12/gifted.html However, I may bake my PI and rest of the lab some peanut butter cookies (and maybe try my hand at some oatmeal raisin, too). Otherwise, I think a thank note will suffice.