[CV vs. Resume]

Here's a helpful MIT pdf

http://web.mit.edu/career/www/guide/cv.pdf

[Non-relevant work experience on CV?]

A CV is definitely about academic relevancy. I would say you can include clerical jobs in academic departments, but that's about it. Keep skill/hobbies/interests to a minimum, if any. Do list any philosophy or poli sci societies you may be in.

Others may suggest differently, but I did include a short list of relevant courses in my education section. Though now that I'm in grad school, I deleted that part.

[GRE scores say "percentile below"]

I guarantee it is not a trick question when asked what percentile your scores are. Report what is on your score document.

[Need advice, course deficiencies]

I think you should continue with your applications. To me it seems pretty common for many schools to NOT offer more specialized plant courses, and I bet there is a first year grad class in any program you would go to anyway. Just try to make it clear in your SOP that you do have knowledge and there were no course offerings.

[9 graduate students. Isn't that too many for a prof to mentor?]

So one hour for each student per week is a norm. I wonder if this is even enough to for the update on the student's project progess and mentoring.

I have so far had 1 hour meetings every week and do find updates rather long winded, but I also send my advisor emails throughout the week when I think of questions or find relevant papers. This keeps the conversation somewhat focused. Granted I just started and haven't finalized my project; I'm still at the "What the hell is this? Can you explain this?" stage. I figure once I am analyzing data, the meetings will be quite focused.

[GRE preliminary results not amazing, not sure what to do]

I agree with the above post. The Quant section is tricky in that all Math, Physics, and Engineering college majors are held to the expectation that they get 770+. As an international student, I think your Verbal score is very good (80-something percentile, right?), so if you retake and get similar you shouldn't have to worry there.

Usually, the GRE scores are not the end all be all, but with an engineering field and as an international application, you are probably going to be held to a higher standard in the Quant section.

[Fellowship VS RA/TA]

And I'm not quite sure how a fellowship contributes more to getting a post-doc. A lot of it depends on what you do as a TA/RA and what you do as a fellow.

Obviously, a later position is contingent upon the quality of your work, but a fellowship has the added bonus that you have more time to focus on your project. You can also get through classes more quickly if you don't have to spend time TA/RAing.

Also, OP, some fellowships are only one year, so you would probably get some TA/RA experience later on anyhow.

[Scores for GRE Bio Subject test]

I think it can often depend on your subset scores. Which one out of the 3 would be most important to your field? I got a 72% overall, but a 90% in ecology/evolution so I think that spoke well enough of me to not give me any problems.

[SOP formatting and CV questions]

My SOP was single spaced with a space in between paragraphs. I thought it looked cleaner than way. 12 point font, Times New Roman.

Definitely formulate your CV with research/education as the focus; a CV is not really a job resume. I suggest googling some samples for a format.

[TA Troubles]

You totally have a right to be pissed and should go to the professor who teaches the course. Carelessness in labs is a no go.

[Choosing a thesis topic]

I felt the very same way until about 3 days ago when I finally just picked something. I recommend getting your hands on some textbooks on your field so you can get the context of what you're reading in the literature. That was my problem anyway; a lot of the theory was just new.

Do just try to talk to professors with similar interests. Stop by their offices or drop them an email.

[Grad classes]

I'm not in geoscience nor did I take any grad classes as an undergrad. However, I think if you can find the time next semester, go ahead and take something you think/know would be relevant for your future work. Once you get to grad school, everything you don't know is going to hit you like a ton of bricks, so any background knowledge you bring in with you will be helpful. I wouldn't, however, go overboard in the next semester and take only grad classes.

[Mailing Address]

I received all decisions by email and snail mail came later. Also, most places will give you a decision in Jan at the earliest. I did hear in early December from a school with rolling admissions, but that would've been their last adcom meeting until the new year.

Either way, I think you'd be safe to give your campus address. If you really want and don't mind though, just have your parents call whenever you get mail if you need to know immediate (which I don't blame you for! )

[Leaving after one semester. Suggestions?]

Go with your gut and leave. No money will get you nowhere, especially in biology. I'm positive there are a lot of labs doing work in conservation and they can get you funded.

During reapplication, just be sure to clearly state why you left. I don't think any adcoms would hold it against you.

[Low GPA, High GRE, Research Experience]

After glancing at U of Miami's website, it seems they most heavily weigh recommendations and contact with their faculty. Now's the time to start emailing who you are interested in working with. Otherwise, I don't think your GPA or GRE will wow the committee (though your Quant is high, which I think is most important in the sciences, so no worries there), but if your research experience is strong and your recommenders make that clear, you should have a good chance.

[Low GRE Angst]

I also vote on a retake, only to avoid the initial sweep of applications. You'll be up against many top applicants with 600+ verbal scores, so you'll want to be in that grouping. Good luck and let the boards know how it goes.

[Due dates]

I told all of my recommenders the hard deadlines, but insisted (as pleasantly as I could) that I wanted all of my materials in by such-and-such date (which was about 2 weeks before the first hard deadline). At least in my situation, coming across as organized helped keep everyone else on schedule, even my professor renowned for turning everything in late.

[lackluster first week]

Did anyone else have a first week of grad school that did not live up to expectations? My advisor is gone for two weeks, so I've had no good thesis brainstorming, and my labmates went out last night without me (seriously lame).

I'm just bummed and want to wallow, anyone is welcome to join.

[Will tenure soon be dead?]

By that logic no grad student should ever work with an untenured professor, as they could not get it at the review. No guarantees there either. However, a lot of students work with young professors and do fine with it.

Well, good point. But with everyone on renewable contracts, the risk would just be that much more prevalent.

[Exercise Routines]

I'm looking forward to joining the gym again. I like being told what to do by a trainer in the morning (definitely a morning person here). I don't want to be thinking while working out - I prefer being in the zone.

I'm just hoping the gym at OSU isn't perpetually packed.

[Will tenure soon be dead?]

Not a fan of the 5-7 year contracts. What about us wee grad students who would be left with no advisor or forced to switch when our first advisor is on their last year? No guarantees for their renewal.

[Do LORs HAVE to come from profs?]

Art history + museum? Sounds like peanut butter and jelly to me. I don't see how a letter from your internship supervisor would be a detriment. As long as they can say "yes, KP-WI is fantastic and took her job seriously" how could that be bad? Museum workers and curators often run in academic circles, so I don't think you'll have anybody on a committee thinking curators are of "outsider status". They want to hear from people who know you and your work, and part of your work was in a museum.

[Do you feel like there are two academic worlds?]

Ok, now I'm confused. What is a "state" school? Which of the following are state schools: Michigan, Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UMass, Wisconsin, UIUC, University of Washington? Because last time I checked they were all "state" schools and are all in top 10-20, for various subfields.

By the way, once again, at least in CS, there are a lot of college professor jobs that require very little or no research at all. These are the jobs at liberal arts colleges, community colleges, etc. The course load is quite a bit heavier, but all you do is teach.

Think University of Michigan vs Michigan State University. The former finds its own funding while MSU is funded largely by the government.

[Poor Analytical writing score]

With your verbal score so high, I doubt it's worth a regrade/test redo. However, there are minimum scores for applicants to be nominated for some fellowships. For example, the University Fellowship I got at OSU has a min 4.0 writing. But those can be waived if the nominators still write in your favor. AFAIK, the score mins are not hard and fast rules.

Whatever you end up doing, your SOP is far more important.

[When to Apply to Programs w/ Rolling Admissions?]

I sent in my app to a rolling admissions program the same time I sent the others (November). Wait until your next semester starts so the program will at least know what you're taking. Wait longer if you think the fall semester will go well enough to give your GPA/transcript a boost. Otherwise, you don't need to send another transcript until you choose your final school.