jujubea

Yeah - he's just telling you - something major has to have changed. And you've done it! So get your application on! And in your response, I would say, "Great, thanks! A lot has changed, so I do look forward to reapplying." Instead of saying nothing at all. That gives him a heads up that you're not wasting their time, but that your application will actually be different.

How hard will it be to get a job as a professor after getting a PhD from a low-ranked or non-ranked university? What should I do during grad school to make myself more competitive after graduation?

I was told by admissions decision makers that my graduate GPA would definitely help my application - and I wasn't even in a degree program.

Congratulations NOLAmath

Yeah, I'd recommend against applying to anything like a "safety" school for grad also. But as to your question, just get more experience in the field(s) you're applying to. Depending on your intended major(s), that can look like: taking relevant class(es); volunteering for a relevant cause, organization, or in a relevant capacity regardless of the cause; doing research (in a lab, as an assistant, independently, or even helping out at a lab); tune an older paper up and turn it in for a conference; look for guest lecture opportunities; get a relevant certification; read more about your field(s) so you can craft better SOP's; directly approach professors in the nearby school and ask them what you could do to improve your application for next year. Outside of that you could also: find better LOR writers; improve your GRE scores; get better at writing, or teaching, or researching (whichever matters most for your schools); cast a new net and find additional top choice schools you may have missed or discounted previously; ask trusted professors or academics for advice on improving your SOP. If it's your dream, don't give up! This was a great exercise for me, because I have fears about this also - now I know what I would do!

Congratulations Iris and Bowie!!!

What ashiepoo said. Also what iphi said, if your institution does that (none of mine do).

Yep - what laulipop said.

You have frequent punctuation and spacing problems. You also have frequent minor grammatical errors (the most frequent ones being the improper use of, or lack of use of articles like "a" "an" and "the", as well as disagreement between single and plural nouns and verbs - I would work on that). Also some tense errors. Some general awkward and incorrect phrasing. Your analysis itself is decent enough. Your vocab is fairly varied, except the repeated use of "depression and fatigue," an easy trap to fall into (using the prompt's words over and over). The essay follows a clear structure and your analysis is mostly fluid, without looking too closely. It's not too short. I'm no expert, but maybe a 3.5 or 4.0?

Why does that link redirect to this thread? Sounds like you already made a decision, but I would NOT remove the social obstacles you've faced because of your identity. IMO, that can be an avenue for showing how strong of a person you are. Also, with the depression and anxiety, if you show that you have managed it, overcome it, or otherwise not let it overtake your life, you are showing some serious cojones. Just my opinion. Because the suicide is so new, I wouldn't go there, because (shoot, you know this better than I do) the grief cycle can take on such varying lengths and forms. Potentially leading to what Dr. Feldman warns about in her reply.

Disclaimer: I don't know anything about your field or Scripps. But here are some ideas and questions that might help you make some progress: Is your undergrad major the same as your intended major for Scripps? Perhaps you could take another course or two which are more specialized for your grad focus, either to boost your GPA, or to show Scripps that you can get A's in the field while also (working? researching? whatever you're doing right now). How are your rec letters? Why do you have the 3.4 GPA? What was your last two years' GPA? How does your 3 years of experience compare with others in the field - is it pretty standard coming out of biomed undergrad to have that experience? Whether that kind or that amount? What's better, stronger, or more unique about it? Maybe emphasize that.

I think it's a great paragraph - you've tied the example in neatly and insightfully to your major, so it's appropriate. In fact, this is going to help me look at my own professional experiences in a different and hopefully stronger way for my own statements - so thanks!

Woohoo! One down, two to go. Wow, if I had known it feels so good to submit one, I would have done it sooner!

No it's the actual department's guidelines on the department web page! It's probably a double-space versus not double-space issue.... Thanks for answering!

A school's website guidelines say the SOP should be between 3-5 pages. The Grad Program head honcho for the same school said in person that the SOP should be no more than 2 pages... I'm inclined to go off what I learned from the head honcho... do you agree? And why the discrepancy?

I'm hungry for breakfast now... (seriously) I like your narrative style, it is personal but not overly casual in my opinion. You also seem to do a good job of showing your familiarity with the subject, and of making sure the essay is tailored for the delicious Waffles school to which you're applying. As the poster above mentioned, there is something a little bit long-winded about it, but I do not know what Waffles' SOP guidelines are. I have also been told to mention research interests right up front in some of my SOP's. Although in another one, I was told to first discuss my background, and then my research interests... which admittedly feels more natural, and is more in line with what you've done here. Anyway good luck. Your interests are important and your background will make any cohort lucky to have you in it. When you're all finished, I'm a stellar (actually professional) proofreader, and I'd be happy to check for minor errors before you hit "submit."

I think you're going to be fine, based on your last two responses. Sorry, still not definitive, but my two more cents. For what it's worth, I'm submitting all three letters from the same place - it's my most recent academic experience (I've been working a while), and I'm just helping them not overlap on specifics/examples. I also worked/studied at this place under multiple roles. Some programs allow a fourth optional letter, and I may try to get an undergrad ref for those.

Thanks Duna!

Thanks - yes - much of my "research experience" is not "recognized", it's just experience doing research (of many different kinds and depths - some classes, some conferences, some working for xxx author, some independent studies, several 20-30 page original research papers [for much of this I was in undergrad and had no clue about publishing, so didn't ever think to try then]). But for one of the SOP's in particular, a major part of it is to emphasize the research an applicant has in her/his background, and his/her "preparation to do research" in grad studies. Thank you for the feedback so far.

I had been planning to do kind of what you mention, but my programs specifically ask to mention research experience and preparation in the SOP.

Methodology is pretty important in my case. The schools I'm applying to each employ faculty with different (though overlapping) methodological strengths.

Hi all, I have a new question, and thought I'd poll the people in the field before starting a mass new thread. How would you prioritize research experiences to fit in your SOP's? I have too much research experience to fit into most of the guideline lengths (or perhaps I have been too long-winded in describing it?). Do you favor the most recent research? The most diversity of methodologies? The deepest research? I have a handle on which aspects of each project to highlight according to the programs, but how would you decide which research experience to leave out or cut out entirely if there is too much to go into?

UCSB 12/1

Congrats, MJA and mihir!