[Driver's license]

I know this might be a little late, but my recommendation would be: get a loca driver's license. It makes your life easier! You don't have to worry about your license being accepted in other states, it is easier to rent cars, car insurance is cheaper, you can use it  as an ID.

In some states (e.g. Maine, where I got mine), it is a pain to get. It's very time consuming, but in the end I think it is worth it!

[Grad School Applicant Overall Profile: What are my chances?]

HI,

I would try to add some more "safety schools". The safety schools you posted are really competitive, and you might end up struggling to get there. If you can present your GRE again... DO IT!!! That would increase your chances of getting  accepted everywhere (your GRE scores aren't the best)

[Near-miss GPA]

Hi,

Even though lots of schools post a  "minimum GPA" or "minimum GRE", this are not set in stone. Sometimes, if you have a good enough CV, that will supersede the near miss GPA. However, there are cases where, if you don't have the GPA, your application won't even be checked.

What I would do: write an e-mail to the head of the department or to whoever checks admissions, tell them about your situation, they will have better insight.  

[Applying for Summer term (March 2016)]

I applied and was accepted for the Summer term. I got a Research Assistantship, and an important part of the ongoing research happened on the summer, so I had to be at the University for that. Before applying for a summer term:

*Will you apply for a specific project? (this was my case). If this is the case, ask your prospective adviser.

If this is not the case, check if the program has summer admissions, and if courses are usually offered in the summer. If it's not the case, just apply for the fall semester. 

It would be interesting to know why you want to start in the Summer semester.

[Carrying Passport and I-20 all the time]

Thanks everyone for your comments!!! This is an issue without too much info online!

[Carrying Passport and I-20 all the time]

Ok, thanks for your answer.

If some authority asked me for my papers, and all I had was my USA Drivers License, would I get in trouble? Any experience with that?

 

Thanks!!!!

[Carrying Passport and I-20 all the time]

Hi!

The International students office at my University recommends all international student to have their passport and I-20 with them all the time. However, this is really uncomfortable and even risky (I don't want to lose neither of those documents).

My question is... have any of you had any trouble for not having your passport and I-20 with you?

And also... I have an in-state valid ID Card. Is this enough proof of legal presence in the country? I know that the only ID most American carry is their License, so should I carry anything else? Thanks!!!!

[2015 Ecology/Evolution/Organismal/Marine Biology Applicants]

Since no one has posted on the results page I'll add it here: invites for the Michigan State Zoology recruiting event have gone out.

A couple of applicant files are being ranked late (something to do with late sponsorship). I am not sure if these applicants still received invites for the recruiting event, but either way they could still be accepted. At this point the only applicants out of the running are those without an official faculty sponsor. 

 

Well... I guess that means I'm out of the running :'(

[2015 Ecology/Evolution/Organismal/Marine Biology Applicants]

I still haven't heard anything, and I think that means I have been rejected :'(. That's very sad, as MSU was my dream school and I worked so hard to be able to be admitted there. I'm actually thinking that if indeed I'm rejected, I'll skip grad school this year an re-apply next year.

 

I just wish somebody would post something in the results, that way I would have closure.

[2015 Ecology/Evolution/Organismal/Marine Biology Applicants]

I haven't heard anything and I'm really worried, but after checking the results page, no one has posted anything about receiving invitations to most EEB programs.

[2015 Ecology/Evolution/Organismal/Marine Biology Applicants]

Still haven't heard anything from MSU :'(. Nothing has been posted on the results page... but I'm starting to fear for the worst.

[2015 Ecology/Evolution/Organismal/Marine Biology Applicants]

Yes, it is Michigan State... I actually applied to the EEBB PhD program, but in order to be admitted to that program, you have to apply via other department, so I applied to the zoology department. The EEBB program had a later deadline so I'm not sure how they handle those applications...

[2015 Ecology/Evolution/Organismal/Marine Biology Applicants]

I applied to the MSU Zoology program. Before doing that I contacted a POI and had several e-mails with her during the whole process. I really think that will improve my chances, although I'm getting nervous... haven't heard anything back...