eastcoastprimate

Two acceptances on the results search for Yale, dated today…. I'm bio, but I know the dept there makes decisions all together within a single meeting and so bio people should be hearing back too. I'm pretty sure these last two schools of mine will both give me yeas or nays today, which makes getting through the day (at only 10 am right now) ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. Congrats to the two Yale acceptances and everyone else's acceptances so far!

So I interviewed in person at my top choice a couple of weeks ago (6 interviewees for 3-4 slots), and I just woke up this morning to an email from one of the department's incoming faculty members for 2015-2016 asking to Skype today or tomorrow. The email was worded like "the department encourages faculty to reach out and learn more about short listed candidates." I'm kind of freaking out because I thought the interview process for this school was over! I didn't get to meet with her while I was there, and I can't help but think this is either a good sign or bad sign, just not sure which. Has this ever happened to anyone after in-person interviews?

On the topic of a Master's, I applied to a chunk of schools after taking a year off after undergrad and got in nowhere - I went for a Master's, which I will be finishing this spring, and have so far got really positive responses (2 acceptances, and an interview at my top choice) this round, including programs that had rejected me last round! I didn't manage any publications between then and now, but I did have two more conference presentations, a ton of lab work, summer thesis fieldwork, and strong LORs. Sometimes getting a Master's really does make a big difference!

Thanks so much Daisy!! That's such a good point, it is always really easy for me to explain myself in writing but not so much verbally. I will definitely work on that. I hope I have good news to share when it's through!

I'm ALSO wondering how "interview"-esque these interview visits are…. should I expect to be asked a lot of questions, or should I expect to do most of the question asking? I have had a Skype "interview" for another school that was basically just me and two POIs very informally chatting about my interests, their interests, and possible project ideas. I do feel like academics use the term "interview" in a bit of a different way than in business or corporate arenas, and am just trying to be as prepared as I can. Congrats to everyone in this thread who has also received interview invites!!

I have an in person interview next week at my top choice - in the email I got from my POI, it basically said it would be a dinner with just her the night before, then a series of "meetings" the following day, touring the campus and the lab, and meeting current grad students. There was no mention of a presentation of any sort…do you think they might spring something like this on me? Like hey quick, present to us your MA thesis? Unfortunately there is not much activity at all this year or the past year on the results search for this program, so I have no idea how many of us are interviewing, etc.

I have an interview in person coming up next week and I am wondering this exact same thing!

Thank you!! I didn't even realize that thread existed, I'm still figuring Grad Cafe out

I just got an email invite to interview in person for my top choice program…….. and also am experiencing equal parts panic attack and equal parts overwhelming joy. I have no idea how to prepare for this, I have only had informal Skype interviews with my POIs, but never anything in person with multiple faculty. Does anyone have any tips or warnings? I have zero idea what to expect!

I'm in the NYU department right now and I know for sure they haven't made any official decisions yet, and MA decisions are made much, much later, so I also think it has a high probability of being fake

How do you guys feel about contacting your POI to ask for an application update? I had talked with my POI quite a bit in person and via email during the fall, and am itching to find out if I'll get an interview invite or where they are in the process, if invites have gone out, if they have a short list, etc. I keep telling myself not to do this but the waiting is so painful….

Hi everyone, just jumping over here from the results board to say I am the UIUC acceptance and the Stony Brook IDPAS interviewee (both bio anth) in case anyone has any questions or wants to know more!

Thanks! To clarify, I'm in a field where contacting a POI to find out if they are taking students/interested in you as a potential student is the norm. It's so hard to tell - I know most professors get so many emails that I'm sure these "prospective student" emails get lost in cyberspace.

Now that I've narrowed down my list of potential POIs, I've been wondering a bit about follow-up etiquette. How long should one wait after sending a first initial email before either resending it or writing a new follow-up email? A week? 2 weeks? A month? Never? I'm sure each professor is different in terms of their threshold for annoyance, but I was just curious what the general consensus is with this.

Thank you both! My field GPA was a 3.5. It helps to hear that LORs and the SOP are weighted heaviest. So much anxiety about this whole process, but it really helps to hear some input from others.

Hi everyone - just hoping I could get some feedback on an issue that seems common on these threads (low undergrad GPA, high grad GPA) but with the caveat that my BA and MA are from the same university (top 30). I have a flat 3.0 undergrad GPA, with the really "bad" grades being in pre-med classes and not in my major department (social science). I took a year off and now have a 3.9 graduate GPA in my MA, which is at the same university (highly ranked in my field) in the same department as my undergraduate major. I was wondering if I have a shot at top ranked phd programs in my field despite this low undergrad GPA, since the school being the same for both my degrees means the rigor was the same and what changed was me. Just to add, my GRE was 317/5.5AWA (98% W, 93%V, 64%Q). Since then I have added conference presentations, field experience, lab experience, but no publications (yet!) I really appreciate any input anyone might have

I got VG/F and VG/VG, with a ton of typos in the reviews. Were they half asleep when reading my stuff? The first reviewer said "no significant honors or awards, only two professional conference presentations" and the second reviewer went on about how having presented twice is so wonderful. There has to be some way for them to standardize these reviewers. This is how I feel about the guacamole scoopers at chipotle. Either you get a huge amount or basically nothing depending on who's scooping. JUST FILL UP THE DAMN SPOON AND BE FAIR!

does anyone know what it means if you only got two reviews? (first timer here)

I'm in the same boat (about switching labs) but I didn't get the award this year (I applied before switching labs)….I want to apply again in the fall and both reviewers commented on my slightly lower GPA (from undergrad). Would you mind PMing me some tips about how you fashioned your personal statement and how you think that helped make them get over the GPA thing? I'm already thinking about my application next fall… thanks!

I think I need a diaper on to make it through this.

1. In class. 2. Data analysis in prep for next week's conference. 3. Pay off all of my undergrad loans!!!!

Yes this is actually the only shining light (however dim) in getting a rejection. At least it is SOMETHING to go off of, even if it's not completely satisfying.

I saw a few review sheets (both from awardees, one last year, one the year before that) and they were definitely lacking in thoughtfulness. One reviewer actually just completely summarized this person's experience and proposal without any insight into either factors whatsoever.

After neurotically watching this thread for weeks I finally caved and signed up. This is my first time applying and I've been wondering what the procedure is regarding the application reviews… do those get sent to us separately or are they available on Fastlane once the decisions go up?