runjackrun

Well, I can't say I've applied for Geography, but I did apply for UCSB's Masters of Environmental Science and Management program and the wait is KILLING me. Especially with the recent stretch of arctic weather we had in the Midwest, UCSB is emerging as one of my top choices. Good luck with the Geography program! Let us know how it goes and hopefully someone else on here is able to talk more about the Geography application process!

I had a long weekend off work and was stuck in the apartment due to miserable weather, so I had plenty of time to think about every possible (usually the worst case) scenario. I applied to two professional degree programs for which I am a long shot, and two MS programs where I feel my credentials are on par with the school but I'm not sure a professor will take me on. I'm more worried about getting accepted to one with no funding and having to decide whether the cost of the program is worth it. Anyway, I have a three-tiered wellness strategy for if/when none of my graduate options pan out: 1) Network my way into a new job. Immediately. 2) Get a new apartment that allows dogs, because I'm going to need some cuddly adorableness to get me through the pain of rejection... 3) Chocolate. Chocolate for like, three years. I think it's a solid plan.

I think you are right--those who get decisions in February probably have some other factors on their application. I also think the "January" note could have been for FES in general, which would include PhD or MESc applicants who are taken on by profs. So all of that is to say, we're probably best to just expect something in March. But that doesn't keep me from checking multiple times every single day...

Hi again, cloutma! I'm in the waiting game as well. I attended an FES event in the fall and I believe I heard them say MEM applicants COULD find out as early as mid-late January, but I think that is pretty uncommon and it is typically March. This is going to be brutal... How do you think your video interview went? I wasn't wild about mine, but my gut says "I didn't totally bomb it" so I'm going to count that as a good thing. I don't think the questions were tough, but the format was so awkward. Even after doing the practice I felt like I was caught off-guard. Oh well. Anyway, I'm super nervous, hoping for the best, bracing for the worst, and wishing everyone on here good luck. I welcome tips on how to keep my mind occupied for the next 9 weeks without going to check my e-mail/FES application portal every 5 minutes.

It showed up on my application status page after I submitted, but I also received an e-mail maybe an hour or two after submitting the application which included some instructions for the interview. Hope this helps!

Good luck to everyone! I submitted the application and am still waiting on one last letter to come in. For some reason the video interview is making me nervous, even though they say repeatedly it should not. So I'm probably just going to sit down this weekend, relax, and get it out of the way. It's one of the last steps before I am totally done with applications and I think I will feel a great weight off my shoulders once it is finished. Then we count down the days until March...

Cloutma - Your guess is as good as mine on the personal statement. Mine is also written, but I also have questions and doubts. My biggest struggle has been deciding whether to talk more about my goals and aspirations vs. my experiences and past. It seems like they want the former, but it's really hard to talk about your future plans without talking about your accomplishments so far--and even tougher to cram it all into 600 words! I came across this awhile ago and, given that it is exactly 600 words, I am rather convinced it is a personal statement (though I shouldn't assume it is). Might help to see a sample that was successful though? I wouldn't give it too much weight (don't know all the details), but it's something to generate ideas: http://www.dougdagan.com/index/Why_FES.html

Savingtehplanet: I concur, strong profile! I would love to have your GRE scores (actually, everybody who has posted their's on here has fantastic scores). I'm happy with mine and they are well within the range for FES, but I feel like having really top scores would be a nice bonus for my application. Alas, I'm not willing to shell out another $185 to re-take the test. Good luck to both of you!

Recommendations are tough. I met with two of mine last night to "officially" request letters and meeting with my third tonight. They are really great mentors and I'm lucky to have them. I never know how much it matters if the letter-writers are in academia or not. One is a professor, one is a former professor who I worked with on research and had for two classes but is no longer a professor (left for a very prestigious job in state government), and the third is also in government and very respected plus a former boss and research mentor of mine. I've heard some say most, if not all, letter-writers should be academics, but I'm hoping for a professional-type degree program like the MEM this won't be as significant? I wouldn't fret too much over the letters of recommendation. I could be totally wrong about this, but I don't think it is as critical that your letter-writers be well-known in the field or by the university to which you are applying (though it might not hurt). It is more important that they can speak to your character and potential for success. If your letter-writers say great things about you, that says more about how you work with faculty and experts than if you happen to "know the right people." Additionally, it sounds like you were a very diligent and ambitious student at a top school; your professors likely picked up on that quickly and you may have more luck with recommendations than you expect, even if you don't feel as though you've fully cultivated the relationships. I'm always pleasantly surprised to hear that I've left good impressions with professors simply by performing well in their class, expressing interest in the subject matter, and attending office hours. All of that said, it is definitely stressful, and downright uncomfortable asking busy professionals to take time to write letters. I'm not a fan.

That's a good point about the video interviews. They probably just want to make sure you can present yourself appropriately and aren't totally crazy! Still, I can't help but think I will be more nervous during that than I would be during a regular face-to-face interview... I'm on the total opposite end of the spectrum on the prerequisites. I've got a million social science/qualitative methods courses, but I'm scraping the bottom for biology and math. Hoping I have a respectable enough background to prove I can be successful in the MEM program, and also praying two years of work experience will provide a slight boost to the application. So far I have been pretty pleased with the application process. The toughest part for me has been getting that darned SOP under 600 words!

Hi everyone! I'm joining in on this discussion, as the Yale MEM program is my number one pick for Fall 2016! There are so many strong applicants to Yale FES and this thread has just confirmed that. Great profiles, cloutma and hikarusymphony! Does anyone know how heavily Yale FES weighs the pre-requisite courses during the application process? I have considerable coursework that could count toward a few of those requirements, but I'm a little weaker in biological sciences and math (doesn't help that since I took AP Statistics in high school I can't say I've technically taken "college stats"). I've got classes on my transcript that may work, but they are usually higher level classes that had a significant biological science or statistics component. I know that's confusing, but I was wondering if you get desk-rejected if you don't meet all of their suggested courses? I was also wondering if Yale MEM does interviews? I read in the application that there is a quick video interview component (which will totally freak me out because I'm painfully awkward on video) but it seems like that may be it? I haven't heard much else about the process. I have a million more questions, but all of this is to say that I'm looking forward to getting the apps in, commiserating with you all throughout the waiting process, and hopefully having it pay off for all of us in the spring! Good luck everyone!

Hi everyone, I could use some advice here. I took the GRE a little over a year ago and posted a 162 V/160 Q/4.0 AW. At the time, I was relatively satisfied with these scores (except the AW, but I think I have garnered sufficient accolades in writing to offset that). Now, I'm looking into PhD programs starting Fall 2016 and Berkeley has caught my eye, particularly for Environmental Sciences with a focus on hydrology/water sciences and public policy. The rest of my application is solid, though perhaps nothing STELLAR. 3.99 cumulative from a Big 10 school, some (and hopefully more!) valuable work experience, hoping for one publication, plus a writing award from my university for water policy-related research. I'm confident that I can gather strong recs from professors/professionals and put together a solid SoP. I definitely do not intend to be one of those people posting to pseudo-complain about my GRE scores. While not necessarily exceptional, I know they are very solid scores and I am grateful for them. I'm just wondering if it is worth retaking them or if 160+ is enough eye candy for Berkeley or other top programs. If we're being honest, I was somewhat surprised to get them (they were higher than my practice tests and I didn't feel that confident in the Q portion) and while I know I could maybe study a little more and do better, I'm also feeling a little burnt out when it comes to standardized testing and would love to avoid shelling out another $185 for a re-test. That said, a strong ACT opened a lot of doors for me when applying to undergrad, and I'm wondering if it is worth knuckling down and doing it again with the GRE. Any wisdom out there?

Hey everyone, Just came across this thread and, rather than starting a new one, figured I would seek input here. I'm also interested in environmental policy degrees, most likely a PhD. I did my undergrad at a Big 10 school in Env. Science, Policy and Management, with a pretty significant focus on policy and planning as well as hydrology. I'm wondering what some good NR policy PhD programs are out there. Berkeley has caught my eye, but I'd like to find a few other options if possible. Most likely applying for Fall 2016 and accumulating some valuable work experience (or attempting to, at least) in the mean time. I'm new to the site, so any feedback is greatly appreciated. Also feel free to PM me for more info.