sophie anne
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Posts posted by sophie anne
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Not sure how to edit my old post so I'll just repost this here:
Undergrad Institution: Small, prestigious liberal arts; known as a "strong" geology program
Major(s): GeologyGPA in Major: 4.00
Overall GPA: 4.00
Position in Class: Top
Type of Student: Domestic
GRE Scores (revised):
Q: 164
V: 156
W: 4.5
Research Experience: 4 years of research experience, on campus at my school, which led to multiple national conference talks; research off-campus at a internationally recognized laboratory, which led to an honors thesis and 1 publication thus far; research off-campus at a second well-known research institution, with publications pending.
Awards/Honors/Recognitions: National scholarships (NOAA Hollings and Goldwater) and multiple competitive smaller fellowships, dean's list every semester, other awards within my department/school
Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Tutor and TA for geology classes
Special Bonus Points: Several of my research advisors are well-known and respected scientists in my desired field, so I'll have great LORs
Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Lots of volunteer work/teaching experience related to improving participation of minorities in STEM
Applying to Where:
Caltech - Geology - Geobiology - Rejected 02/12/15 in a (very kind) email from my POI
MIT + MIT/WHOI - EAPS - Geobiology - Rejected 02/07/15 in another nice email from my POI
CU Boulder - Geology - GeobiologyUC Davis - Geology - Geobiology
Penn State - Geosciences - Geobiology
Princeton - Geology - Biogeochemistry - Rejected 02/12/15 in a generic email from the Dean of the Graduate School (Boo, Princeton, boo!)
Brown - Geology - Biogeochemistry - Accepted 02/11/15 in an email from a POI, with official materials to arrive in March
At this point, I'm expecting rejections from the other three as well but it isn't over till it's over.
The offer from Brown is great (funding guaranteed for 5+ years) so while this process has certainly been a reality adjustment in just how competitive these programs are, it's been a success. The research fit may not be the best at Brown, though, so I'm left making the decision between taking this offer now or taking some time off to improve my qualifications and try again for MIT/Caltech in the future...
I do have a job as a lab tech lined up for next year so I'm considering deferring Brown even if I do decide to accept their offer.
Best of luck to you all, and let my results be a lesson that admission to these programs is not always just a result of your qualifications, research fit and whether the POI wants you... even if all of these things fall into place you may still end up with $600 in rejection letters! So definitely make sure to have a backup plan! Ugh
- idiochromatic and GeoDUDE!
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Just got an acceptance from UW! Well, this has certainly been the opposite of last application season for me...
For anyone reading this several months down the road who may have not been accepted anywhere this application cycle: let my experience stand as proof that getting shut out one season does not mean that you will necessarily experience the same thing next season. As long as you spend your in-between time productively, strengthening your application material and developing relationships with POIs, there will be hope for your grad school career. Don't give up!
This is so comforting to hear, since things aren't looking good for me this time around. Congratulations! It's wonderful that your persistence paid off; you clearly deserve this!
- teddybrosevelt and laocoön
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A few schools accepted me in march, so fear not.
My POI at Caltech just confirmed for me that the AdCom didn't recommend me for admission, but also said she had already initiated an appeal to reconsider me for admission (apparently she was hoping to have good news for me before I emailed to ask... no such luck haha). So, I'm in a weird almost-certainly-rejected-but-maybe-not limbo right now. Fun!
I emailed my POI at MIT today, so I should know soon.
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MIT sent out visiting weekend invites recently if anyone was lurking on that.
So that's Caltech and MIT off the table. Looks like I might be back here next year trying for round two
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I am that person. To clarify, it was GPS and I was notified via email/phone. I am under the impression that Caltech GPS has finished recommending students for admission (there is a visiting weekend in a couple of weeks) and will send out official notifications at some point in the next few weeks (disclaimer: I do not know this for sure). Not sure what that means if you have yet to hear from them. If it helps, Caltech is the only planetary science program that I have heard back from so far - I am also under the impression that things are a tad later than usual at some places. Good luck!
Thanks for getting back and clarifying! and congrats!!! Is Caltech your top choice?
Well, I'll just operate under the assumption that I won't be going to Caltech. That way, if I get a surprise, it won't be of the disappointing variety
Not sure whether it would be appropriate to email/call and ask- what do y'all think? -
Hey everybody! Anyone got news from Caltech GPS or any other planetary science program?! The suspense is killing me, Smalls! If previous-year notification dates are any indication, I'm running out of luck for Caltech!!!
Good luck to everyone!!!
Nothing from Caltech. So, yeah. Let me know if you call or hear anything... There don't seem to be any results for Caltech GPS on the results search so they may be running a little later than usual with decisions.
One person posted earlier in this thread that they got accepted by Caltech but it's not in the results search, and they didn't specify that they applied to GPS, so unless they come back and clarify I wouldn't count that as anyone having heard from GPS.
I've just decided to wait patiently for my overpriced rejection letters
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To darkstar and teddybrosevelt (haha I love that name btw): My UT status says the same thing. Checking it 3 times a day seems to have no effect. Hopefully we will all hear good news soon!
FWIW, I thought I would share my first acceptance of the season. Got an email from my POI at UNM at the end of last week with an offer of admission to the MS program! He told me the official letter would be coming later, but wanted to let me know the good news...which was really nice of him! They are guaranteeing 2 years of support via TA position. Though I was originally hoping to go directly into a PhD program, I am insanely excited nonetheless!
Good luck to everyone and I hope the next few weeks are filled with positive news
Congrats!
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FWIW, POI at Boulder says to expect unofficial news late next week, so if anyone else has a faculty contact there you might expect the same.
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BTW, I was thinking all day today about grad school apps, and stressed with my workload... and just had this nagging idea of getting rejected all day. So my boyfriend just brought me a cup of hot cocoa and said
"You're distressed. Here's a hot beverage. "
Sounds like a keeper!
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Maybe schools are running a bit late this year...
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Did anyone here apply to Boulder?
Yes. I believe that the adcom should be finishing their first pass at the files this week, and they will then be reviewed by your POI/potential advisor. (per an email from my POI)
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I know that Brown hasn't met yet. My POI said during my visit that he wouldn't have any official news for me until mid-February so I wouldn't be too worried, ellen_ai.
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Seriously. Today I started with the self examination -- why did I apply to this place and not that place? Why didn't I contact this professor over here? Why did I leave this part out of my SOP? Why didn't I sign up for Magoosh to try to improve my GRE? It is going to be a long few weeks.
Yup. All of this.
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I'd rate highly your chances. Yes, being able to speak with your POI may help establish an impression which will be useful in drafting letters of support to the graduate admissions committee (if they become interested in recruiting you). Candidates applying to highly competitive programs like MIT's, will have similar (if not better) credentials. Amongst all application requirements, I find relaying your intentions, aspirations, and motivations through a face-to-face session to be pivotal in securing admission.
I also noticed you are not applying to Scripps. Is there a reason why? It is worth a shot with your credentials.
I'm assuming that I'm on the low end of MIT and Caltech credentials... those are definitely my "dream schools"!
It's my understanding that schools will often have students they are considering for admission visit during January and February, is this true?
I already have a visit planned to Brown for January, and I'm hoping to combine that with an MIT visit too, since I've never been on campus there before. The thing is, it's just not in the budget to fly to California on my own money right now (I live on the east coast), so phone conversations are the best I can manage unless the schools end up helping with the costs...
I'm not applying to Scripps because there isn't an advisor there who does research I'm particularly interested in, and because I don't need another "reach" school on my list. It and several other schools were on my initial list, but this is the pared down, interest and budget-driven list of schools. If I could apply to them all... but alas, money
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Credentials looking very good! I think you'd do well for the upcoming application season. Have you been in contact with any POI?
I've been in contact with every school over email, and with all three of my potential MIT advisors face-to-face (two of them bumped into me at a conference where I was presenting, and the third is actually a friend who I've known since I first started with geo four years ago).
Every POI I've contacted via email wants to talk over the phone, but working out scheduling for that has been near-impossible this semester. I'm hoping that we'll be able to talk during January, after this (very crazy) semester has come to a conclusion. Fingers crossed that doesn't hurt my chances too much
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Undergrad Institution: Small, prestigious liberal arts; known as a "strong" geology program
Major(s): GeologyGPA in Major: 4.00
Overall GPA: 4.00
Position in Class: Top
Type of Student: Domestic
GRE Scores (revised):
Q: 164
V: 156
W: 4.5
Research Experience: 4 years of research experience, on campus at my school, which led to multiple national conference talks; research off-campus at a internationally recognized laboratory, which led to an honors thesis and 1 publication thus far; research off-campus at a second well-known research institution, with publications pending.
Awards/Honors/Recognitions: National scholarships (NOAA Hollings and Goldwater) and multiple competitive smaller fellowships, dean's list every semester, other awards within my department/school
Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Tutor and TA for geology classes
Special Bonus Points: Several of my research advisors are well-known and respected scientists in my desired field, so I'll have great LORs
Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: Lots of volunteer work/teaching experience related to improving participation of minorities in STEM
Applying to Where:
Caltech - Geology - Geobiology
MIT + MIT/WHOI - EAPS - Geobiology
CU Boulder - Geology - GeobiologyUC Davis - Geology - Geobiology
Penn State - Geosciences - Geobiology
Princeton - Geology - Biogeochemistry
Brown - Geology - Biogeochemistry
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You see your estimated V and Q scores before entering the schools where you want to send scores to, but you really might as well just send them to all of your "free" schools unless your scores are really abysmal. For the range that you're in, I agree with GeoDUDE that CU Boulder is probably worth a shot especially if you have an interesting background. The estimated scores sometimes change after the fact, and like prospecting said, you won't get the writing scores until up to two weeks afterwards.
Good luck on the test! Don't let all of the security measures freak you out too much.
I took the GRE in August, 2014.
2015 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results
in Earth Sciences Forum
Posted · Edited by sophie anne
Thanks GeoDUDE! I really appreciate your thoughts on the matter.
It seems that you and I are pretty much on the same page about the decision here... That it's more important I am happy with myself and the skills I'm gaining than the specific research focus of my advisor and thesis.
Most of my work thus far has been in geobiology (with a heavier emphasis on the biology side) and my job as a lab tech would be as a geobiologist with one of my current research advisors. That advisor feels pretty strongly that Brown is "too paleo," but frankly he's a biologist and not a geologist so our viewpoints tend to differ. He's pushing for me to take the year with him to publish in some high impact journals and reapply to the more competitive schools on my list.
Thing is-- funding at Brown is surer than it seems to be at Caltech, MIT and Boulder... and that's nothing to sneeze at!!!
Mainly, I want to have a really candid discussion with my POI at Brown to make sure that he thinks we can tie in my biology background to a really interesting project. I got accepted to the joint program with the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, so this really could be the best of all worlds with a strong geo department and access to a great biological research institution.
What I'd really like to do, I think, is take the year to finish up my current research and get some publications and defer Brown until the fall of 2016 (if my advisor will let me do that) because the skills and publications I'd get during this year in-between would definitely make me a more experienced scientist and probably a better graduate student. Also, the lab tech position involves some Arctic field work soooo that's more than a little tempting!
So the question becomes, what will I do if Brown says no gap year and I need to either turn down the acceptance or reapply next year?
Ahh... At least I have a decision to make. Like you said... either way it ain't too shabby!
ETA: Yes, I've visited Brown and met both of my potential advisors (one at Brown in the geo dept and one at MBL) and I loved it! I really think I would be happy there. The grad students were people I immediately felt at home with, and I really liked the other professors I met.