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Hope4Society

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  1. I can't agree with this enough! I've been accepted to several of my top choices, and I really think that being a non-traditional student (late twenties; decade of post-bach research, management, and life experience; etc.) made a huge difference in terms of defining my research focus, and honing those skills (field, statistical, and otherwise) that best inform that focus. I also think time away from academia increased my confidence and allowed me to develop skills that aren't really attended to in undergrad, such as managing a team, budgeting, and networking across different fields/disciplines. Sure, you can head a club---and that's great---but the real-world impact may be negligible. That time also helped me discern what I really wanted from a program, as opposed to just hoping that someone would pick me. I only applied to top-tier programs because I wanted all of the attributes that those schools could offer: Research 1 institutions, dedicated research dollars, multiple profs in different fields studying things I am incredibly interested in, and the opportunity to gain international exposure. I'm not sure if I would possess the same level of confidence/awareness if I were a traditional student. I also can't stress enough the importance of contacting POIs long before the start of the application season in which you'll be applying. You'll be able to discuss their current/future work, your interests, and learn more about the program when they're (slightly) less stressed re: applications. All things being equal, I would argue that fit/experience/recommendations far outweigh more technical factors, such as GRE/GPA. I think it's really important to keep in mind that this is a job interview, more or less. You're really not applying to be a student, but to advance the interests/reputation of the school's brand, your advisors' work, and the contribution of your own work as you succeed in the field. Very best of luck!
  2. There were 24 invited to UCLA's social interview weekend. I think they admitted half of us.
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