anthrosoul

I am absolutely hopeless when it comes to math so I felt the need to enroll in a course. In addition, I am the type of person who really benefits from learning in a course format. I really like having a structure to guide me. What book of practice tests did you use (if you dont mind me asking?) and I will look into Magoosh. Thanks!

It was not at all my intention to leave the GRE until the last minute. I had originally planned to take a GRE prep course over the summer and to take the exam soon after but a lot of life things happened that prevented me from doing so. I also ended up falling into a strained financial situation and my university offers a "discounted" GRE prep course that, unfortunately, lasts until the very end of November... so now I'm stuck taking the GRE in early December I'm usually pretty paranoid about things like deadlines myself so, trust me, this situation has not left me at ease. Especially because I was hoping to take the GRE at least twice since I SUCK at standardized tests. // end neurotic rant.

Would the end of October really be that bad? I suppose if there were issues.... this just worries me because plans I made to take a GRE class over these summer months fell through and the last thing I could find was a GRE course that ends on the last week of November so I'm going to have to take the exam early December... :/ My deadlines are January 1 & 2

I think you just need to make a decision and stick to it. As the queen of indecision, trust me, I know how hard it can be to do this.... But just remember, there is always room for change. From what I gather, this is also your first application cycle - even if you get rejected everywhere, there is always next year AND next year you will be applying with experience and way more information than now. In addition, if you end up totally miserable at a PhD program, there is the option of leaving and trying to go elsewhere. I just recommend that you find schools where a faculty member, ideally members, have overlapping research interests with you and then start eliminating places through whatever criteria you see fit until you are left with a few. Good luck! Thanks for your insight, I'll research it further and may apply there next round. Perhaps I'll send some of the faculty an email introducing myself and telling them I am interested in applying in the future.

I believe that this will all be a good learning experience and I'm sure you are right! I've been talking to professors from undergrad, grad students from my undergrad institution as well as grad students from Cornell and Yale. I have yet to reach out to professors because, honestly, they intimidate me. Regardless, I've asked some of them if there are other programs they think are worth looking at and I've started making a list with that information. The indecision is real! I've been going back and fourth for months about were to go and if I should even go... eventually I just made a choice to apply to my top two and stick to that. I'm 99.9% certain I'll get rejected and am curious to know how I will handle it. lol.

I already looked into U Georgia and might consider it more during the next application cycle. As I said in my initial post, since this is my first time applying and it is right out from undergrad I, truthfully, do not expect to get in anywhere. I decided against U Georgia for this "test" round because of locality. While I've heard really mixed opinions on how much to consider location when choosing a graduate program, I think it is important -- especially since I have options (in regards to environmental anthropologists being scattered throughout the states).

Wow, after reading over these threads for the past few years (when I decided/realized I wanted a PhD) it is surreal that I now get to be part of it. I am applying this season myself, though only to two universities. Since I'm applying straight out of undergrad, I don't have high hopes for admission because, quite frankly, I don't think I have the sufficient experience necessary (no publications, no conference presentations, no tangible experience in my niche). Nonetheless, I wanted to apply to my top two programs of choice (Yale and Cornell). I'm interested in environmental anthropology, particularly questions of experience, narrative and climate change.

I literally didn't even know that some apps were already open, I thought most opened in August. Either way, your productiveness puts me to shame. Hope you get in somewhere awesome though!

That is a lot of great advice! Thank you! Would you mind if I PMed you for more info?

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Thanks for the luck stranger!

I'm sorry you were so isolated by your peers during your application process I don't really have anyone to actually talk to about this because the "friends" I did have weren't really very encouraging of it or they just didn't really seem to care, but that is a totally different discussion haha. I guess it's almost the opposite response that you got. For me it's more of an "oh, you really think you're good enough for grad school?" Too late! I've seen the higher GPAs, the people who have published/presented and have waaaay moooore research experience than me. Or people who seem to be really close to faculty and thus probably have the most amazing LOR. I keep trying to talk myself out of it but then I think about my ideas for my project and I want it. I'm neurotic enough as it is so this is just going to drive me insane.

I feel like there is a lot that I just don't know in regards to the process. I feel like I'm not good enough or smart enough or "ready" yet. How are you doing? Less panicked than me I hope.

I'm stressed out about it. Don't know anyone else who is doing it and feel a little crazy not being able to talk to anyone about it.

Do you guys know how Stanford's program compares to UC Berkeley's Energy & Resources program? Where are you getting your admit rate information from? There are several programs I am considering at the graduate level at Stanford and am having a very difficult time finding the admit rate.