sjoh197

This ^^^

Not helpful in any way... but that really sucks. I don't think I'd be able to do it. Too stressful lol. Good luck.

All of my LOR's said yes. They all knew what I wanted before I met with them, even though I didn't directly ask. What other "favor" could an undergrad really want? :) I think a good idea is to literally ask them "Would you be able to write me a GOOD letter of recommendation?" rather than just asking "Can you write me a letter of recommendation?". This prevents any of your professors from writing you a so-so letter just because they didn't want to say no, because c'mon, they're human too. No person likes to say no to something like that and they might just say yes to avoid any embarrassment. The "GOOD" would allow them to decline on the premise of "not knowing you well enough" or whatever. Then if they say yes you know it will actually be a decent letter. Being the kid of a professor, they are a lot less scary You'll do just fine, and if they seem to like you and did well in they're class/whatever, I doubt they'll say no.

I approached mine with an email... asking more or less if they had time to meet with me for a moment... I had a favor to ask... blah blah blah. Then I asked them in person, and had my resume, transcript, relevant material already printed and sorted out for if they said yes.

Re-applier here... Undergrad Institution: Louisiana St. UniMajor(s): GeologyGPA in Major: 3.4Overall GPA: 3.04Type of Student: Domestic FemaleGRE Scores (revised/old version):Q: 159 (75%)V: 165 (95%)W: 4.5 (80%)Research Experience: 1.5 years of lab work, research, publication figures Geochron - zircons § Laser Ablation/ICPMS of hand-picked and mounted zircons at the UCSB Laser Ablation Split Stream facility. Depth profiling of thin rims to determine time constraints on local shear. § Superimposition of laser ablation data rims over Cathodoluminescence imagery. § Himalayan/Zanskar-Region map alterations and corrections in Adobe Illustrator for publication. § Stereonet projections of field data for publication. § Compilation of LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon data into publishable geochron table formats. Thermochron - micas § Thin section identification and analysis of Calc-Alkaline samples to determine the quality of the samples for potential of micas. § Sample preparations for testing of illite crystallinity using X-Ray Diffraction analyses. Included billets, breakdown, gravitational separation, and centrifuging of <2μm particles. § Heavy liquid separation of zircons using Lithium Metatungstate and Frantz magnetic separation. § Micron size separations (< 0.2 μm -2 μm) of illite/muscovite crystals, using a centrifuging method for . Awards/Honors/Recognitions: 1 departmental undergrad poster contest... 3rd placePertinent Activities or Jobs: NoneAny Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: NoneSpecial Bonus Points: (Such as connections, grad classes, famous recommenders, female or minority status etc...)Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I live in houston... can't leave. My daughter passed away at the end of my freshman year. I didn't meet the admissions requirements in my applications last year, but now I've brought my gpa .2 points and meet their minimums now. I've also got recommenders that know my situation now, and have a much better SOP Applying to Where:UH - thermochron with Peter Copeland

If you are not a native speaker... I assume you are taking the toefl? (I don't really know the rules on that) That score would matter more than the verbal gre. If you've taken this test twice already... you're already out 400 bucks minimum. Perhaps your time and money would be better spent on the rest of your application? If you really think that you could improve your scores a lot by the end of the month, then by all means study hard and go ahead, but you already had 2 months to study for your second attempt and now you have less than a month for another attempt. Perhaps you should focus on really nailing down a superb SOP, Lor's and good contact with your potential POI.

How much did you actually communicate in person with option one? Despite being big in his field and such, can he write you a strong letter? I wouldn't worry about how busy you perceive him as being, because he is indeed likely very busy. But lor's are part of the job description of being a professor lol. Perhaps you should just ask if he remembers your work and could write you a good letter. I'm not really sure about the other two. I believe in rank only, the tenured professor would hold more weight... but the instructor knows you much better. I never had to make that sort of decision. Sorry.

Eh... I took it in stride. I apologized for being nervous and tried to just talk as normal as possible. It's easy to get worked up over these people, as they hold your future in their hands, but as the daughter of a college professor, I've seen the other side and they are usually just regular people who want someone that is truly interested in what they do. (That doesn't always stop me from getting nervous though) The only other "advice" I have is to maybe treat this less like an interview and more like a conversation. Is this someone who you can communicate with? Do you like their personality? Does your sense of humor seem to align? etc. (For someone you will be working very closely with for years, these things can be important.) Good luck with your meeting.

This happened with me in August, as I live less than 10 minutes from the Uni that I'm applying to now. We talked a bit about his research and he asked me some basic questions about the overarching subfield that he works in. We toured his lab, and he explained a lot of the equipment he used, and again asked me some basic questions to gauge my interest, knowledge, and personality. Just be relaxed. Don't let your nerves make you say anything stupid or forget basic stuff. My POI introduced me to another professor there and he was telling me about this research he was doing in Nepal on the recent earthquakes... and while he was talking he folded up a piece of paper into a representative fault and casually asked where the most stress would be located. In that instant I forget everything I have ever seen or learned about any fault or tectonic process ever. So don't do that. Also... there is nothing wrong with asking if they have any advice for you. I did, and it was extremely helpful. I sent a thankyou email the next day reiterating my interest with working with them and thanking them for taking time out of their day to talk with me.

A lot of the automated programs also have a "reminder" link. You could provide the info now and send a reminder in november when he/she will be back.

I had a professor that was very good friends with my advisor, and often joined us for our weekly small group readings and discussions. While we talked quite a bit in these discussions and were quite friendly, I only ever took one class with him and I got a B. It was mostly graduate students and I was taking a full course load, doing research, and working part time for my advisor on a separate project. He was more than willing to write me a good letter of recommendation, despite my B. Not that my story should or will influence your decision....

If it is a skype interview... I don't think the interviewer is really going to be looking at your pants.

I would only take it again if you think that something is going to change. Part of the GRE is the pressure. If you are having anxiety problems, you may be able to talk to a doctor, therapist, or even learn some self-soothing techniques, but even then you'll be $600 in the hole and might not see any change again.

If you are really worried about... a call to the admissions office would be in order. It's a simple question that they could likely answer.

The above paragraph and the below paragraph are kind of fluffy and both state "I want to go here for a masters which will open up a bunch of stuff for me". Cut this down to one single paragraph that is short and to the point. By this point, the committee has read half a page and hasn't learned anything about why they should choose you. You need to really emphasize your research, skills, and fit in this sop. I would also transition the above and below paragraphs into one paragraph. Find a bridge.

That makes sense... and it is amazing how many people will try to coax you into eating things you can't. I just started making everything myself and rarely accept food from others. Eating out isn't usually bad because the servers don't want you to have a reaction to their food.... bad for business. I also can't properly digest any sugar alcohols or alcohol itself... and that is the hardest one to get people to understand. I just started saying I'm the designated driver to avoid the ... C'mon, just one drink.

I also can't eat wheat, among other things. But instead of Celiac's I have a specific compound that my body doesn't digest, so it acts as sandpaper through my intestines. I get very sick. I understand dietary restrictions are very serious, as I do have them, but mine are not an actual allergy or autoimmune issue. If you have an actual allergic reaction, there's nothing wrong with just saying that. But to the above poster, I don't like it when people say they have allergies if they have some other dietary issue because the reactions can be exceedingly different, and there are a lot of people out there that say they are "allergic" to something when they're not. They take the credibility out of the people who are actually allergic to something, even if it does make them sick. Cinnamon is a Migraine trigger for my mom... she absolutely can't eat it without get violently sick, sometimes to the point of going to the ER... but she doesn't say she's allergic. I can't eat wheat, but I'm not allergic, so I don't say I am. It's just a pet peeve of mine.

I have pretty interesting dietary restrictions. I don't really know how your autoimmune issues work as far is your food is concerned (sorry for the ignorance)... but if it isn't actually an allergy, I would avoid saying that it is. I prefer to just say that I have "dietary restrictions" for health reasons. Its always best to be as honest as possible. But if it is an allergy, than no problem.

I remember you from one of the GRE threads... mostly because of the Watermelon. I have a 3.04 now, but had a 2.85 when I applied last year. I had a bit of a legitimate reason for my crappy gpa, as my daughter passed away while I was in college, and then I failed out of a semester. When I applied, I didn't really ask anyone for help, and didn't emphasize my struggles, mostly because I was embarrassed and didn't like to talk about it. This year I asked for a lot of help. 1. Your GRE was okay... not awesome, but not bad. 2. You need really great LORs and SOP. These are what determine situations like ours. 3. Try to really nail down some people at the institutions you are looking at to back you up during admissions time. I went and visited a POI, toured his lab, learned more about his work... and I think it made a huge difference. 4. Apply to less competitive schools... even if they're not the tier you wanted to go to... better to go than not go at all.

Also... eat good food before you take the test. Its 4 hours long and you don't realize how hungry you will be at the end.

I just had to re-ask my advisor for a letter, because I didn't get in last year, and I am reapplying this year.... talk about embarrassing. I think you are just nervous about the outcome of your application. Do you have back-ups that might not be as prestigious, but could still write you a decent letter? If so, just bite the bullet and ask. Make sure to have a nice tailored email, saying that you understand how busy they are, but that you respect their position in the field, and how much a letter from them would mean to you. Also, a letter from a prestigious, renowned in the field writer that was written in haste because they don't have any time to write one for you is not necessarily the better option.

I saw mixed info in their admissions info... So I asked my poi his advice directly on how I should apply, and he said if phd was my ultimate goal, I would have the best chance applying straight for phd. So that is certainly an option, although I imagine it is generally more difficult admissions wise than just applying for an ms.

I have to stay here at least until my partner earns his PE, which isn't for another 3 years. I have no plans on staying here long long term. I hate it... lol. After grad school, we would certainly try to move.

My undergrad focused on geochron. The poi I talked with works on ar and u/th he thermochron. A lot of his work has been in the Himalayas, which is where my undergrad advisor's work, and my work, was focused on. But this poi is not the same person that I considered working with last year. My interests greatly changed away from oil and into the type of research I was already doing in undergrad. I decided I didn't want to go into industry, and instead want to stay in academia or research. I don't have the credentials to get into Rice, no matter how you look at it. I just don't cut it with the competition. I at least have another chance at UH. Also, not a lot of my interest at Rice. I hadn't really thought about asking my poi for more help. I visited him about a month or so ago and talked with him, asked some questions, but now I'm struggling to get everything right. My SOP is certainly giving me trouble. I'm just not sure how to structure it anymore.

I am reapplying this year to UH for a PhD on the advice of the potential advisor I met with. A little about me. I applied last year to a few schools... but I only had 1 semester of geology behind me (I was a bit of a late transfer, but 17+ hours of geology classes a semester and very unfun summers let me finish the program in record time). When I applied last year, my gpa was pretty bad, 2.85. My daughter passed away 2nd semester in college, originally engineering, and I failed out of an entire semester, dropping my gpa to a lovely 2.07. I've now finished my degree with a 3.04, so I'm at least above a 3.0 now. My geology gpa is about a 3.5. I have much better LOR's now... its hard to get good letters in 1 semester. Also, one of my letter writers is somewhat involved with UH, and the people there know him well. Should I mention that I've already applied in my SOP? Does it look incredibly stupid to apply to the same university twice? I live in houston now, about 10 minutes from UH and leaving for another university that is less competitive is not a possibility. What else can I do to boost my chances? If I can't get in this year, there really isn't a future left for me in this field. Any advice would be appreciated.