Averroes MD

Thanks for the input, both of you!

Do PhD programs expect that one of your letters is from you faculty adviser? I've not used mine much and instead relied on someone else. I wanted to officially switch to this person but could not since this person was from another department/school within the university. Will not having a letter from my official supervisor be a red flag?

Thank you all for the excellent feedback. Much appreciated!

For PhD applications, I think I have a really good writing sample to use (worthy of publication, I think--but not yet published), but it's not related to my proposed PhD thesis. It's still within the general field, but it is in a wholly different time period. So, my question is: how important is it that the writing sample corresponds to the thesis topic? Or, can the awesomeness of my writing sample overcome this?

Very helpful input. Thank you.

Why do you say that? Didn't like Cambridge?

Is research by adjuncts regarded as less "authoritative" than by tenure-track professors? By "less authoritative" perhaps I mean "less well-regarded."

On that note, are the auto cite websites ok to use, like autobib, etc. ?

Thanks for your input. I will actually apply next year for PhD/Dphil. Hoping for the best!

I'm wondering about this. What are other peoples' thoughts about having a professor introduce you over email?

It's more about fit and luck than strictly about numbers. Also, it's about personal statement and compelling story. Therefore, apply broadly to the peer institutions--as the poster above mentioned--and you will stand a good chance of acceptance to one or more of them. Good luck.

How long are LOR's supposed to be? One page? Two pages? The longer the better?

Thanks for helpful replies!

So, I've hit it off with this one particular professor, and I plan to apply to study under him for a PhD. I'm taking one of his classes right now, and I meet him in office hours frequently... Since our interests align very well, I have plenty to talk to him about. I could see myself seeing him every week in his office hours. But, I may run the risk of overexposing myself if I go every week... I'm thinking every two weeks is good. What do you think?

That was a super helpful post. Thanks!

Really? Most? What's the percentage? Just curious.

Great, thanks for the input! I still have one more question on this, so sorry -- But, is there any need to take a language placement test for a primary language in which you've taken multiple advanced level classes in? Is it strongly suggested to take such a test before applying for the PhD, or no big deal? A separate question: do PhD programs make PhD students take a language placement exam in a primary language where you've already shown strong ability in through coursework? I'm assuming this varies from program to program?

Oh one more question: let's say you are taking language classes between the time of applying and starting the PhD, including say Middlebury immersion program the summer before the PhD. Any way to list this or you can't really list it since it's theoretically in the future?

Great, thanks!

So you didn't mention level, i.e. intermediate, advanced, etc.?

Just curious: in your PhD application, how do you list your languages? Is there a scale of some sort that you use? And what is the proper way to list it on your CV? Also, would you include information about what language courses you are taking or intending to take in the fall and spring semester the year before you start the PhD (which you won't yet have a grade back)? Thanks!

Being married and going to school is not a problem, so long as the non-school person is flexible with where to live and what not. The real education-killer is kids. Or so I've heard.

Could you change it to 1.5 spaced? That might help significantly. I always end up going over page limits, so I just reduce to 1.5 spacing and never had a problem before, so long as it is a PDF.

Make sure to email them during their business hours, around 10 or 11 am... or alternatively early afternoon... So that they've already gone over all their last night emails and yours comes as "1 new message"... higher chance of getting a response then.

This is a good point. Right now, I am just weighing my options. Thanks!