thegraydude
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Posts posted by thegraydude
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That sounds a little bad. Usually, the letters that arrive for your competitors are all 'glowing' and so I have heard that even a neutral letter can prove to be detrimental to your chances of admission. I would suggest you switch this person if you can. If that's not possible, all you can do is send polite reminders to write the letter, and hope for the best.
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Well, since a moderator warned me, I have now taken my SoP off public view. Those who wish to critique it, please let me know and I will PM you a copy.
P.S: Cookie still available!
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Having read the pinned posts about SOP advice, and after getting personalized responses to my questions from the good folk here at GradCafe, I am now done(?) with my SOP.
I took special care proofreading the document before uploading it for comments, because I have witnessed some uploading erroneous early versions of their SOP here. I think it is improper to ask for comments on SOP when you haven't done your homework about what is needed, and uploading it for review when it is littered with spelling mistakes!
In any case, I did as much as I could before uploading it for comments. But being a non-native English speaker, if there are some nuances in my writing that you notice, please bring it to my attention.
Particularly, I have the following questions:
- As an international student, what fellowships could I say I will be applying to? I have heard adcomms love to hear about those?
- I explained my unrelated MBA in a paragraph. I felt it should be addressed. Do you agree?
- I specifically avoided mentioning any faculties; I mentioned the group of researchers I would like to work with instead. (Notice the 'COM' for committee and a 'center' that I mentioned). Is that ok?
- It is currently around 1200 words, I would like to bring it to 900-1000. Which parts would you say I should prune?
- Do you notice anything detrimental or pretentious? (I have tried being as humble as possible)?
- Is there anything I failed to mention?
Here are the links:
[ Page 1]: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_5qSHSxdgWvaF8zTVVRZUVpb0k/view?usp=sharing
[ Page 2]: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_5qSHSxdgWvd0ZTbGlKNTZaRkk/view?usp=sharing
[ Page 3]: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_5qSHSxdgWvM0lPTkRTWEx1TE0/view?usp=sharing
Sorry for some redacting; I hope it isn't very distracting. Please use magnification function up top to magnify text.
P.S: I am giving away cookies for constructive criticism!!
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Thank you guys. I ended up creating a pretty standard SOP (I mean no pretentious words). It doesn't sound fake and I think I like what I came up with. I will upload it here soon for some comments from you guys.
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I just read this statement off a prominent grad school's website, in an advice given by a grad school student there. He/she did not explain any further. So I turned to the good folks here at gradcafe.
I was disappointed after reading this advice. Now, I don't mean using a thesaurus for every word to the point where the text becomes indiscernible, but I wish to use some 'nice' words in my SOP as I know they are taking this to be my best writing sample.
What is the protocol on using big words in SOP? Is it going to make my SOP incomprehensible to the adcomm? But then, isn't the adcomm comprised of erudite professors, and wouldn't they be able to fluently read such language? Do I need to cutback on such words in fear of appearing grandiloquent in SOP?
I am applying to Computer Science, PhD programs. (Are only arts major students expected to use such language? Because I read an SOP by an arts major student and frankly the language was so convoluted, I couldn't understand a word)
Note: I used some "big" words in here on purpose to give you an idea of how I am thinking of writing my SOP ("big" words-wise). Let me know what you think.
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You are right. I can't have it both ways. I will let the admissions staff know about considering my application for both, and hope for the best.
Thank you so much for your help TakeruK and CrucialBBQ!! I feel a lot more confident about what I need to do!!
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One of the programs I have been talking to this year told me that students who are denied into the Ph.D. program are automatically considered for the Master's (funded) program and that students from the Master's program can move directly into the Ph.D. with a little bit of petitioning if their advisor thinks they are ready to do so. He also explicitly stated that applicants applying to the Master's program who indicate that their ultimate goal is a Ph.D. have the greatest chance of admittance (assuming their applications were acceptable for admittance, of course).
Thank you for this information! I appreciate it!
I believe that indicating you are willing to do a Master's first is not a sign of settling, but instead a sign of serious intentions as long as you clearly state that earning a Ph.D. is the ultimate goal. I think it would say a lot about the seriousness of your intentions if you are willing to travel from India to the U.S. to earn a Master's degree.
One thing that might hinder you is that you already have an MBA and an MS.
I would suggest that you apply to Ph.D. programs and indicate in your SOP that you are willing to accept a spot in their Master's program if offered but that your ultimate goal is a Ph.D. It only takes one sentence.
It depends on the person in the adcomm considering the application. He/she might consider me "desperate" for entry into the university (as I already have two masters), and view this as a sign of me being diffident about my PhD application.
I think it would be better not mentioning this explicitly in my SOP (I don't want to take a chance), but mentioning it to some clerical staff in my email to the admissions department. That way, the adcomm won't find out about it while considering my PhD application, hopefully.
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However, you can always email the department admin staff to ask the question and the conversation probably will not be sent to the admission committee. Also, you can use a different email address and not identify yourself if you are really worried.
I sent them said email. Here's their reply:
"We can put a note in our system to have your application file moved to the MS admissions review in the event you are not admitted to the Ph.D. program. After you submit your application, it would be helpful if you send us an email reminding us that you want to be considered for the Ph.D. program first and if you are not admitted to the Ph.D. program, you would like to be considered for the MS program."
So I guess this route is safe? I just don't want the adcomm to find out about this.
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Sometimes the application asks you if you would consider a MS program if you don't get an offer for a PhD program. From talking to other graduate students, I find that the unfunded MS offer comes on its own if they want to offer you a MS admit. However, if you are worried about not being considered for the MS program if you don't get into a PhD program, you should ask each specific program ahead of time whether or not you should send in a separate MS application, or if you should indicate you are applying for both MS and PhD program in your application etc.
I fear that mentioning explicitly anywhere on the application, that I could be considered for an MS as well, would make my PhD application appear "insincere". I want the admissions committee to consider me a serious PhD applicant, not someone who will take anything you throw at him.
Also, if the admissions committee realizes they could get me in without funding as well, then, I fear, they will offer funding (PhD) to someone else who is looking exclusively for PhD, and look to hire me into paid MS.
So explicitly bringing to the adcomm's attention that they could get me into MS as well, will be detrimental for my chances of a funded PhD, I believe. Wouldn't you agree?
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The short answer is yes. In some fields (fields that offer unfunded masters), sometimes schools will first make all funded PhD offers to students that it has space/money for, and then offer unfunded masters programs to some of the remaining applicants. It's unlikely this will happen if the program you are applying to does not offer terminal masters degrees at all.
These schools do have an MS program in the same field that I'm applying to PhD for. So considering that, would you say I would be offered to be enrolled into MS if rejected for PhD?
Do I need to intimate them in some way that I could be considered for MS, if not for PhD? Or do I just need to sit tight, and they would make this offer -if available- on their own?
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I have two Masters degrees from Indian colleges (MBA & MS). I am in the process of applying for PhD. Some universities I am applying to advice to write to professors and then mention the conversation in the personal statement (to show commitment to the program).The professors have been either not responding or giving one line replies '..it is unlikely that I'll be taking students for Fall, 2015'.I am beginning to doubt my chances of getting into a PhD. The admissions are not just hard, but it also seems like a lot depends on chance.Since I really want to get into grad school this fall, I was thinking of applying to both Masters and PhD programs. Is there a possibility that my application would be considered for both MS and PhD?
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My professors who wrote letters for me can be flaky-- they're making me use Interfolio to send out their letters, and one of the guys still hasn't written his yet! It's driving me nuts. Not to mention that each school has different requirements, so keeping on top of that is rather stressful...
That's the worst part because I have the same problem. What is in my hand, I have done on time. But depending on 3 other people for something so important, is a nerve wrecking experience. Yes professor, please take your time. It's only my life on the line here.
I have never experienced such stress in life.
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The only time that it would be advisable to automatically send in a financial statement would be if you are applying as an international student as such students are required to provide financial statements for immigration/visa purposes. - Admissions Advice Online
Yes, I am an international student. But I'm applying for PhD, which will mostly likely be fully funded. I realize immigration's might need it after I'm admitted but do I need to produce during application time?
If there are other PhD students over here, please let know if you submitted a financial document during application process.
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It helped me. I guess it depends on the type of questions you get on the test?
Yes, it's good practice. Don't mean to bash Barron's or anything, I just meant it's best if it's supplemented with a stronger quant book.
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I am applying for PhD. I'm not sure whether I need to give them a financial statement or not. I have emailed them about it, but these schools are taking their sweet time in replying.
Meanwhile, could you please let me know if a financial statement is required to be submitted along with the application before the deadline? I was thinking it wouldn't be required since most PhDs are funded.
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I have been solving Manhattan and official ETS quant material and then I picked up 'Barron's 6 practice tests' book. My score went up 6 points in math consistently in all the tests.
Then I asked a friend who has taken the GRE before and confirmed Barron's quantitative is misleading. It will make you believe that you are well prepared only until you take the actual GRE and are surprised.
I want to point out Barron's data interpretation is specially easy and straightforward.
Don't know if this will help anyone, but yeah, if you're solely relying on Barron's for your quant, please be warned (or should I say "admonished"
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"Apply earlier (avoid the last six weeks before the deadline)"; A website gives this advice to those applying to grad schools.
Does it matter? I'm from India, and to be honest, my application will reach them in the last week before the deadline. And for colleges having the December 1 deadline, my GRE and TOEFL scores will reach them around 22 December.
I emailed schools and asked, they said that's fine as long as the transcripts get to them before the Dec 1 deadline and the scores get to them before Jan 1. I am guessing somewhere around mid January, they will start application review process.
What I want to ask is that does sending in late applications hurt my chances of getting in? Does it give a bad impression? Why does the website suggest to apply early?
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Hi,
I am applying for PhD, Computer Science in a niche area of security.
I see schools listing PhD in computer science with focus on information security. I see that they are taking applications for Fall, 2015.
Should I apply right away after seeing this information off the website, or do I need to actually ask the relevant faculties whether they are looking for PhD students?
I am afraid if I blindly apply to programs based on information on website, I might not even be considered if they don't 'actually' require candidates this Fall, 2015. That would be a waste of an application. I have heard faculties going on 'sabbatical' and not taking students at all (which the website wouldn't mention, of course).
What do you guys think?
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This is what UC Davis says.
In case of PhD applications (Computer Science), is getting LOR from 'Professor' necessary?
I have two assistant professors who are willing to write a good LOR for me. The third will come from an employer.
Is this bad that I don't have a 'full blown' professor recommending me for doctorate?
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I have the same question. Someone please address this.
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Hello,
I will be applying in Fall, 2015. PhD in Computer Science.
Now, the way it stands, my humble assistant professors from a non-English speaking country, have never written LORs before. They are asking me about what to expect.
I would enlighten them, except, I don't know myself.
They want to know:
- What to expect? Multiple choice questions about me? Yes/No questions? Are they expected to write paragraphs describing me?
- In case a paragraph describing me is required, do they need to be ready with a draft? If yes, how long?
- Other than mentioning that I excelled in classes and labs they taught, is there anything else they need to mention to improve my chances?
- Can they copy-paste the same paragraphs about me for LORs to different universities?
Could those of you with LOR experience help me in answering these questions?
Also, is there any way I can see some sample online LORs of universities in the US?
Thanks!
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Sorry, I am not knowledgeable enough in your field to know how to categorize these magazines. To be honest, I don't even understand many of the words on the front page of these sites!
Alright, no problem. Thanks!
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Usually, one lists peer-reviewed articles under "Publications" in their CV and if they list non peer-reviewed publications, then they are usually indicated as such. For example, it's pretty common to see subsections for peer-reviewed publications and things like conference proceedings/presentations in grad student CVs.
For senior grad students and beyond, it's not that rare for people to list additional types of publications. For example, some professors write books (textbooks as well as popular science books). Many people also write outreach type articles or make other publications that are not peer reviewed academic journal articles, but are relevant to their field in some way. In addition, more and more academics are writing academic blogs and other online publications and I think this is a good thing to include as well. I don't see things changing so drastically that a peer reviewed journal article would stop being the "currency" of scientific output, but any type of academic writing is something worth including.
So, in my opinion, you should definitely include these 6-7 relevant articles. I would separate these from your peer reviewed publications (or do whatever is the norm in your field). I don't know what subheading you might use, because it depends on the nature of these articles! If you want something super general, you can call it "non peer reviewed publications" or "Other publications" but if you can write a more informative subheading that would be better!
Thank you so much! That's a cogent reply to my questions!
Also, my field is 'information security' and the magazine articles I was talking about are published in:
www.pentestmag.com
www.hakin9.org
http://resources.infosecinstitute.com/
I don't mean to impose, but could you possibly let me know what heading I could put them under?
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Hello,
I am applying for PhD positions in Computer science.
My deadline is on Dec 1. I just created a CV. I don't have many publications in 'peer reviewed' journals. I just have one in an average journal (not grandiose like IEEE or Elsevier)
I do have 6-7 relevant articles published in common magazines (industry magazines, not scientific). Should I list them under 'publications'? Or make a separate heading for them like 'magazines'? Or should I not include them at all, in fear of sounding pretentious?
Thank you.
Professor says I should make an email account in his name and upload my own LOR; he will confirm it if asked
in Letters of Recommendation
Posted · Edited by thegraydude
So my professor is super busy (what else is new), and I created a draft of LOR that he could just read and upload to the website. Now, he says he may not even have the time to do that. He goes on to ask me to make a 'Gmail' account in his name, give it to universities, and upload the draft (that he approves) as it is on these links. He says if he is asked, he will confirm that he uploaded it.
I don't like the sound of it. However, the idea of being in control of my LOR in such a way, appeals to me. But I don't want to be in trouble either. My question is what is the probability of universities finding out about this?