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I was planning to take my qualifying exam in September 2012, in engineering. I picked four faculty members. Now I want to delay my exam for a month because I don't feel ready, and want to change 2 members of my committee because 2 of the current members are refusing to meet with me, not responding to emails, etc., not telling me what types of questions they will ask. I want to pick two people who I know care enough to meet with me regularly and tell me at least some of the types of questions they might ask so I can feel more prepared and study better. The exam hasn't been officially booked yet, but I did set a date that works with all 4 current members in September. How can I go about telling those 2 committee members that I'm changing my committee? Is this all right to do? Is there a diplomatic/easy way to do this? Or should I just stick with the committee I have now?

I got honorable mention . I thought, that honorable mention meant that you were technically qualified, etc. but just didn't have enough broader impacts. However, my application was really heavy on broader impacts--I've done a ton of service work related to and not related to my project, education, development work abroad, leadership positions, working on undergrad education, etc. I really focused on the broader impacts criterion in my application. so, is honorable mention not mainly just a 'not enough broader impacts' thing?

Hi Madelorc, I got admitted for Mat Sci Ph.D. and I talked to the department. They said ~Jan 20 that most of the decisions have been made and they only had 10-15 more slots to fill. One thing you could try is calling the department and asking about the status of your application.

Blah--congratulations, my friend! I am very happy for you. What were your stats if you dont mind sharing

Dude, you have amazing stats. I don't have stats as good as yours, but I too did research at MIT DMSE this summer and have a first-author conference proceedings, a conference presentation, and a 2nd author upcoming. I also have a faculty contact at MIT. But apparently that isn't enough.

I talked to an MIT MS&E graduate student whom I know, and he said that there are 2 rounds. According to him, the vast majority of people get accepted in the first round, but in the case that any of the first rounders decline that spot is given to people in the 2nd round, which may be in late February or even in early March. The grad student I talked to had an MIT MS&E friend that got accepted that way. I hear you, blah. Emotionally I've been in shards since seeing the first round of acceptances on results search.

I'm in the same boat. I'm applying to MSE grad schools as well, and so far I have gotten admission to Northwestern and Berkeley, denied at Stanford. I haven't heard from MIT

I've gotten admitted to 6 different places and I am deciding between 2 schools among that 6. How do I kindly tell the other 4 schools that I am no longer interested in their program? Would this cause any hurt feelings? Thanks!

It might be better to contact instead the director of admissions for your program. You can find this person's name by asking the admissions secretary. My friend was in a similar situation recently--he really wanted to work with a particular professor at a certain university, and had emailed back and forth, etc., but did not get accepted in the first round of admits. He contacted the director of admissions for the program by phone, saying he had not heard from the program but was interested in the program, and was wondering the status of his application. Emphasize in the phone call that it is your TOP CHOICE and you would definitely come if admitted (only if this is true). He ended up getting admitted to that program shortly after. Contacting the director of admissions is actually fine, they don't mind and it shows interest in their program. But the POI could be awkward, unless you just want to update them on your research and reaffirm your interest in their research (to remind them you exist).

Update: I met with one of his grad students, who suggested against talking to him about it in person, but rather to send him an email update. In the email I updated him on the status of my current research, and emphasized that though I have gotten into other programs, his program/work remains my top choice. I also mentioned I have submitted my application to his program, but have not heard back. He replied saying he would email the admissions committee to check on the status of my application, and to let him know if I hear anything from them.

I believe you would likely have quite an advantage. since you have likely taken courses with the professors on the admissions committee, when your name comes up on the committee they'll be far more likely to review your app because they know you. If you grad GPA is high, stress that in your app; it'll definitely matter more than your undergrad grades since it's more recent. whats your GRE score, if you have >700 Q you'll be fine. Never apply to just one program go for at least 8, in my opinion

If I were you, I would read 2-3 key papers (skim) and know the main points. You likely won't have to mention them, though. She will expect you to talk about your interests and accomplishments and how your background fits with her work, and how her school/program/group is especially suited to your interests. She'll likely do most of the talking...that's at least how my solicited phone interviews with professors went, and they tended to be extremely informal. The profs were very nice and the convos were very short. To clarify, I sought out these interviews, so it might be different in your case. Good luck!

i agree, makes sense, i've heard stories from chem majors that would fit with that

I think so. What you say sounds right, but I would contact the admissions secretary for your program to be sure.

a 750 verbal score is a lot better than a 750 math score. a 750 math score is 84%, and a 750 verbal score is 99%. this was a top-ranked engineering school btw, ranked #1 in nearly every field. i think most eng schools consider everyone with gre math >700, and then in that pool, they tend to favor ppl with higher verbal scores. but all those ppl with like 300 on the verbal section but 800 on the math section, might be screwed.but if you get >700 on verbal, you are in a good area thats my opinion, at least