peachypie

esotericish the word you are looking for is adversity.

@rbear91 it is totally fine. ETS is strangely expensive and slow for being purely electronic huh?! It is super frustrating but I wouldn't be concerned about the official ETS. Schools know that ETS sends out in batches and sometimes even once the school has them it can take a bit to be updated in their system and also updated to reflect in your application status page. Just relax, I would bet that by the end of this week/early next week it will be "complete". Also I don't think any schools would hold you against that. I even had a school that claimed they never got mine and asked me to resend them long after the deadline and I still was accepted.

Probably what you would like to do with a PhD.... academia? industry? teaching? consulting?

I haven't heard anything about a rental car, but they typically reimburse you the government per mile reimbursement or simply gas. If you get a rental car you may end up spending more than if you were to fly if you are going to be gone for a few days and putting a couple hundred miles of driving in. Again as mentioned above, there is a reasonable limit they will reimburse. Even for flights I have heard that they in some cases (even big, well known schools) will not pay more than X dollars for your flight. Just a reminder that it isn't all free, in some cases if you end up incurring more charges than they see reasonable they will only reimburse you to a point. If you get interviews at all those places are you going to drive to all of them? If that is the case you may want to see if you can use your car. Usually interviews are Thursday-Saturday/Sunday.

I'd say 4-5 hours would be a flight. I think within two hours they would expect you to drive. I think once you get above that you could discuss the option of flying or driving whichever you prefer. I know some people who drove 4-5 hours for an interview, but I believe they had the option to fly. For some coming from a place that doesn't have a major airport but isn't that far it would make sense to drive since the process of a connecting flight may take longer.

They want you to respond ASAP for obvious reasons (they need to put together flights and accommodations for you) however most will tell you the absolute last day that you can give them a yes or no. A lot of schools advertise when they have their invite/recruiting weekends so you will know if there are any potential conflicts. I had certain schools that were more interested in than others, so those ones would get the Yes and the others I would schedule a second date. Some schools give you only one weekend and if you have a conflict then you can ask for a second one, others will tell you that you can choose between weekends (it depends on the size of the program). You will want to be at the first/primary visit for your top ranked schools. If you are holding out hope for a specific school and the deadline to notify another school of your decision to interview is nearing, I would reach out to that program and ask when invites will be sent out or when potential visits will occur. They also understand that you have more than just one school.... DO NOT MAKE a reservation to interview with the idea that you can just cancel. A school in this scenario will sometimes put a "cancellation policy" that if you opt to not come after saying yes, you will be charged for the flight etc. Also it means they may lose a potential applicant's ability to interview since you took a spot. This is considered poor form to cancel on one school for another, just as it would be to cancel a date with someone since someone hotter came along. Before committing to an interview I would suggest figuring out which schools are the more important schools you want to make sure you can make. Then do research online to see if they post 1. when they notify for interviews and/or 2. when the typical recruitment weekend is. If you have an offer come in from a school and they are below a school on your interest list and you have no idea when your more desired school is doing the visit, then it is acceptable to reach out to an admin or dgs to see when the interview weekend is and possibly ask if invites have already been sent out. This would go along the lines of "Dear so and so, I am still quite interested in your program and have received offers to interview at another school. However, prior to committing to an interview at another program I wanted to make sure I may still be available in the event that your program extends an invitation for me. Could you let me know when you hope to hold your recruiting weekend, and if you have an idea of when these invites will be sent out?" Something like that. Again I'd only send this if you are nearing the deadline for another school and you have a hopeful one that you would prioritize over others. Many schools are willing to work with you if you have committed to another school. So...don't be worried if you say yes, just explain the situation and see what can be done. It is always best to interview during the official recruitment weekend, but it is not 100% needed and it doesn't mean you will have less of a chance of getting in. As you go through your interview and application season remember to be tactful and polite to those organizing this and remember your fellow applicants who may really want an invite somewhere too. Try to be aware that others are also vying for a spot so don't sit on something you aren't serious about. I will also say for accepting I tried to accept within a week of completing all my interviews. I knew there would be those on wait lists and the sooner I said "no" the sooner they could make an offer to someone else. So try to be kind to all of the other applicants and programs as you go through this exciting but nerve-wracking process!

@nutellarain I interviewed mostly east coast and Midwest. Nothing on the west coast. Nicer boots are just fine! I think you COULD get away with dark jeans but my motto has always been it is better to be slightly over dressed than under. I would say that maybe 30% of girls wore heels. Heels were not super popular since most interviews will include a good amount of walking, even on interview days you will go across campuses to meet with different PIs (at least I did at literally every interview). So they always say...don't wear heels don't wear heels. Well I'm short and I prefer heels and I can walk in them, so I did. I had no issues but no one will judge you for not wearing heels. I'd say a good pair of flats would work just fine. My issues is that I'm shorter and hemmed all my pants to a length so I committed to heels. My biggest comment would be: get something you feel comfortable in and will like wearing. I bought new outfits and new heels (broke them in ahead of time) but for me I had a number of interviews and that became my uniform. I really had like 3 go to business/business casual outfits and from January-march I got a lot of use out of them. I also got a number of compliments from other recruits on my interview outfit, you'll want to feel your best because that confidence comes across in your interviews.

Don't be surprised if you hear for some schools (esp the December 1st deadlines) before the holidays. I know some of my classmates who submitted early heard back within a day of the deadline passing. So..... as of tomorrow, it can be at any time. I'd be happy to answer some questions about lady scientists for interviews. I believe I answered pasteltomato once this season thus far but if you have more specific questions I'd be happy to help. In general, interview day was a suit day (pants, blouse, heels, and a matching suit jacket). The other days were any kind of dressier pant (not jeans or khakis) with a sensible heel or flat and a blouse/sweater, or oxford. I also always had a pair of jeans and boots with me for travel days as well as for graduate student only events such as tours of the city or such. I can post more if necessary.

The 8.5x11 is in fact a default standard paper size in the US. Thus I think it can be assumed that those who do not specify, expect a similar size. Oddly I think my (US) official transcripts are a larger paper size than that. I'd try scanning your transcript at like 95%, decreasing the size a bit so that it can fit on 8.5x11 (make up for that .2 inch difference in length).

I would not put that in your application, nor is that what your applying to university is looking for in an external funding. If you are worried about getting into a PhD program, have money to spare, then maybe consider applying to a masters program. It will allow you to improve your application profile for a PhD if this round of application does not work out in your favor. You should be focusing on how to improve yourself as an applicant as your number one priority right now.

I'd agree that your GPA is not one that should categorize into masters only; however, many of the program deadlines for PhD are about to occur...so it may be a bit late to the game to switch now and alert your LORs (if they hadn't already submitted). I don't think you will get rejected on that basis alone, unless you make it evident that you have only the desire to work those one or two professors and they happen to be both be full. I would say that your SOP at this point and if you interview, that, would be the deciding factors on whether or not you get in. If you make yourself sound too rigid in interests or whatnot then no. Do you really want to go get a masters? Or are you getting one to help you prepare for graduate school? I ask only because it means you will need to pay for your education when you may be able to not enroll, work for a year and gather some experience to apply next fall. ? if your end goal is PhD but you feel its your grades holding you back (shouldn't be), and/or you need experience then I'd look for a job and apply next fall for a PhD program. If you really want the masters, obviously go for it! But based on your phrasing, it sounds to me like PhD is what you would like and is your ultimate goal.

I didn't know people did this, seems kind of foolish in my opinion. If I saw someone tweaking their degree (because you often have to show evidence of a degree at some point when being hired), I'd wonder what other things they tweak in their CV or resume that can't be proven. Also some places do a quick search of your degree, and it may flag up as a degree that isn't listed as part of the institution you claim. I just feel like its going to bring up more questions than is necessary, your projects and involvements in your degree as well as your expertise should speak to your specialized skill set.

I'd check the results search to see specific results by your institution/programs from previous years. Other than speaking to someone on the admissions committee or a admin/dgs there is no way to know for certain.

CV's are not limited by the 2 page limit as resumes are, so if you have a lot of relevant experience and/or publications and posters you are free to go over that. My old PI had a normal cv in the 100+ page range. It is acceptable and becomes normal. For my CV when I have specific work places I have maybe 1-2 sentences on the type of work or projects I worked on as well as a few of the skills or techniques that were employed. I kept it relatively brief, the more important or longer time spent at a place the more space I gave it, assuming it was relevant. I used 1-2 sentences of explanation and then bullet points of information for each. Again, though I didn't live and die by 2 page maximum, however, my resume is no more than 2 pages and I essentially just use my up to date CV to edit to my resume.

Keep busy, if you are in school or working just try to focus on that and make goals within that to keep you occupied. Find something constructive to do (read a book, binge watch on netflix...ok not super constructive but a great time sink!), etc. Hang out with friends. the good news is with a lot of holidays around this time is you can be easily distracted and taking time off with family and friends.

I'd only apply once you are legitimately ready to attend the program, this isn't like medical school where a one year defer is something that happens frequently. I think most schools wouldn't even allow you to do that without saying, you can apply again but we aren't holding a spot for you. Also I'd take the time to gain some great experience, get some solid letters of recommendation from your graduate (MS) professors and whatnot. this will only strengthen your application, assuming you do well. It gives you a chance to spend the next year proving you are an even better applicant than you were before. You'll gain more maturity, more experience, better feel for graduate school, inherently you'll probably write a better SOP. Just take the year on what you are doing now and excel at it and apply as you go. People will interview over skype if they can't afford to fly you back internationally. They will make it work as will you.

Well, you may want to start with why you have that GPA. Is there a reason? Any way you can highlight how you may not have done great in courses but you can apply knowledge and work well in the lab?

at virus guy....I'm sorry to say that i think your Quant score is going to kill you. Regardless of not holding high esteem of the GRE going into that percentile as a science applicant is rather abysmal. I don't know how your small state school stacks up in the field, but though your GPA is fine, your GRE calls that into question. I understand its hard to do research and apply/study for the GRE but in graduate school part of the success is in finding the ability to succeed under non-ideal conditions (first year includes, taking class, rotations (in most cases) seminars, lots of primary lit reading etc. You have to make time for everything and figure out what you need to do to get the grades/experiments done in such a way that you can succeed. AKA TIME MANAGEMENT. don't offer "i was focusing on my research" as any kind of excuse. If you can take it again and submit before scores are due, do it. I think with most of the school's you have listed, that gre Q is going to hurt, not just your reach schools. If there is no time than I guess submit and hope for the best.

My SOP was perfectly 2 pages, maybe one or two were edited so that it gave me an extra line. I had a flow that went as such: what I'm interested in doing (pursue a PhD), why I got here...this includes my background, previous experiences, explains why this is the direction I find an interest/passion in and how I want to take that to the next level. then I transitioned into what interests me, specific to the program I'm interested in, the PIs I would like to work with or have research similar to my interests, as well as what kind of general inquiries that propel me to do research. Explained how the program would allow me to grow, benefit in reaching these goals. explain how I would add to the program. Summary and concluding statements affirming my interests and desires to attend the program. I would say I spent maybe 15% on intro/conclusions, 35% on background, experiencees, 30% on future and program specific and 20% on specific references to the program, faculty and how it integrates with me. I would say cutout the field specific stuff and papers. summarize that into addressing what types of things you are interested in and where you want to take the field. I'd mention the NSF application. Do you have it? if you have been awarded the NSF then definitely highlight that, if not...it will fall into the area of well good but not guaranteed. Id really focus on the two big things of your SOP imo which should be 1. Your background and 2. Your future. talk about what got you here, what skills you have, how your skills and experiences aid in the pursuit of your next step (PhD) and what makes you a good fit for them, as well as they are a good fit for you. That is the stuff that should be the emphasis of your SOP over anything else.

I think if you have a good example of solving a problem, troubleshooting, I'd make a mention of it. I believe I referenced some challenge to a technique that i was able to work around and I can assure you that such examples in SOP or mentioned in an interview are a benefit. in the sciences especially they want to know that when you get faced with an obstacle or challenge you don't just fall apart and give up on it. You have to show you wont be easily discouraged since...any grad student at some point will encounter a situation where there is going to be an obstacle that shuts things down for you. You have to show resilience and comfort in that scenario. don't search for an example but a quick reference to overcoming a challenge would be great.

I'd wait a year.

For interview invites: I got mostly emails, and some phone calls. For acceptances/offers: I got mostly emails and some phone calls with an official letter either via mail or for download electronically. However I did not apply to any of the institutions that you are applying to and I am in a different field. I would expect most of it will be via email. Rejects of course also will come almost exclusively by e-mail.

Here is how to get to and use the off-site gc. go to: http://client00.chat.mibbit.com In the Connect box select: Rizon Nick: select the nickname you'd like to go by in chat Channel: #gradchat Please remember this chat is NOT monitored or affiliated with this forum. It is a site that those of us who regularly used the chat on thegradcafe.com prior to it being shut down, created to keep open an avenue for chatting in real time. Please be respectful and feel free to join in and ask questions or give advice or seek advice in a real-time chat setting. Though it is grad-oriented it is not all grad school chat so its a great opportunity to commiserate and/or celebrate with your fellow applicants or graduate students. There are currently a mix of attending and applying who regularly join the chat.

They may. I do not believe that any of my recommenders were contacted but one of my classmates had one of her recommenders contacted since they had a few questions before making their final decision. Not sure if it matters based on masters or PhD but you can anticipate that if they have some questions they'd like answered they may contact them. Highly unlikely though, and it sounds like it is more of a case by case basis.

I would go with A. You want someone that can speak well to your abilities and performance. I am a bit confused however why you say personal as in...this has not been a professional working relationship? Based on the fact that you are doing research with them I am assuming it means your connection is via your research. Maybe you could clarify that since I would never classify my relationships with my PIs and whatnot as personal.