firewitch

It's hard to tell without seeing all the choices presented.

hmm.....I did something like that with reference specifically to the bank crash of 2007. Fortune Magazine had a short list of 8 who saw it coming and saved their butts: Sean Egan, Nouriel Roubani, Michael Mayo, Robert Rodriguez, William Poole, Richard Baker, David Einhorn, and Bill Ackman.

Organization: Very much improved! Your concluding paragraph is a bit weak, but these are always hard to do. I think you should avoid phrasing it in such a way that it claims you have made your points. You can probably get away with just summarizing your arguments - refer back to your introductory paragraph by restating the importance of equality and how such a policy benefits everyone. Grammar: "There should be no economic hindrances which the students should face" - rephrase so that you don't repeat the word "should". "Such unprecedented policy...weaker section" - this is awkward and a little confusing. It's either a policy (an unprecedented policy) or policies (such unprecedented policies). "Section" should be plural, unless you meant "sector", or unless you want to write "the economically weaker section. First sentence of paragraph #3 needs commas bracing "by passing ....students" The gini coefficient would surely be reduced... Commas again should brace this section of sentence #2: "after completing college" First sentence of paragraph #4 is not grammatically correct. You could fix that by leaving off "Though", insert comma after "socialist", and insert another "that": "and that there is no space" Do not begin sentences, let alone paragraphs, with "but". Just leave it out and start with the next word. Governments either have a limited amount of capital, or they have limited capital. Not "a limited capital" Reasoning: Good! If you have access to Microsoft Word, you can use its grammar checker to help you with problems like commas, syntax, and agreement of number. Good luck!

Organization Your introductory sentence and sentence #2 are fluff that is irrelevant to your argument. The first paragraph should re-state the issue (not verbatim) and your succinct argument regarding that issue, the gist of which might be something like: "The debate over using public lands for environmental preservation versus economic development is ongoing in many nations around the globe. Environmental preservation should take priority over economic considerations because....(then two or three reasons, that you will expound on in the subsequent paragraphs). The arguments I gather from your essay are 1) animals, plants, and indigenous people have a right to live in their natural habitat, 2) the extinction of species cannot be undone, 3) sustainable economic development is possible. I think it is worthwhile to take one minute before you begin writing your essay to write a rough outline of topic sentences, which has an introduction of the issue, three main points you want to make, and your conclusions about the issue. Then make each paragraph of your essay elaborate on those topic sentences. With this technique, you might have included paragraph #4 as part of paragraph #1, and your paragraphs #3 and #5 might have been less rambling. The concluding paragraph you wrote looks like an extension of the argument in paragraph #5, instead of wrapping up all three points into a solid statement of your position. Grammar "various agendas it has" should be "they have" "habitat of its fellow animals" should be "of their fellow animals" "make legislations" is awkward. Write "pass legislation" or "make laws" instead "was put for another purpose" should be either "put to" or "used for" comma needed between "another purpose" and "we should" not sure what "as such" means in that sentence Paragraph 5 has many syntax issues, to the point of confusion. "wilderness in their natural state will be passed as law it would be a big win for all those environmentalists who have put all their lives for the cause" might better be written as "wilderness in its natural state is made into law, it is a victory for environmentalists who have dedicated their lives for the cause" "by killing every other economic that can be realized without" ....economic what? Are you saying that environmental protection laws should not hamper economic development policies that would not negatively effect the wilderness? That seems to be an unnecessary point. "This sanctuaries" should be "These sanctuaries" The main weakness in your grammar is inconsistent agreement of singular and plural persons. Reasoning In my opinion, you have failed to adequately consider the consequences (for humans) of implementing a policy that prioritizes wilderness protection over economic needs. Your essay seems naïve, with too much reliance on what seems morally right to you, and not enough consideration for the social and political forces that might argue against your position. What if the "tribals" do not want to continue living in isolation? What if people adjacent to the sanctuaries are starving and start poaching for their survival? I think the essay would have been stronger if, in making your third point, you had been able to address how sustainable economic development serves the needs of the nation outside of environmentally protected areas. I hope this critique is useful,

I really like PoliticalOrder's advice. Like you, I felt very comfortable with my verbal, and so I focused my study time (all summer!) on the quantitative. I don't think Magoosh was available, but used the number2.com website, and whatever was free at Kaplan, plus I had a book. I kept taking practice tests, and whatever types of problems I got wrong, I went back over my study guides for those topics, plus lots of mundane algebra practice to make it as much second-nature as possible. In all of my practice tests, the highest I got on Q was 154, and that's what I ended up getting on exam day. I did well on the verbal, so I did not regret my strategy.

If your GRE is up to the standards of the schools you are interested in, then I don't think some bad grades in your first two years of undergrad will be held against you. Lots of people are sorting out personal problems in their first year or so of college. Rather than explaining about your personal situation, I would just emphasize the high GPA you got in your upper-level classes, and your impressive research credentials. A good GRE score will also allay any fears about your performance ability. I'm in social sciences, but I think it's hard to predict what any admitting committee is looking for. I know some very qualified people who were rejected the first year they applied, then accepted the following year. It isn't just about your qualifications, but also about who else is applying, which professors are prepared to take on a new student, and funding availability. I would say you should apply to 3-4 of your first pick schools, 3-4 second-tier schools, and a couple of schools you are confident you can get into. If time is a factor (limited visa, for instance) then you want to be sure you get in somewhere. If not, and you get turned down from those good schools, you might consider taking a year to work in your field and then re-apply.

The reading expectations have definitely been a challenge for me. I have learned to skim through everything that is required for the week, identify the most pertinent parts, and make sure I have read those more closely. Not everything that was supposed to have been read got read, unfortunately. People kept telling me I needed to learn how to read faster, but no one could explain how. I still made my grades, though. This summer, I looked up the syllabi for some of my fall classes (see if your school has them posted on their website), and started reading some of the books ahead of time. Wish I had thought of this two years ago!

I lived in the Austin area before moving away for graduate school about two years ago. Windsor Park is northeast of campus, bordered by Interstate Highway 35 on the west, and Highway 290 on the north. South, it blends into an area that used to be pretty rundown, but is being gentrified. It has some nice houses, and also some decent apartment complexes, but there is some history there of crime and even gang violence. However, I used to drive through there, shop for groceries, and buy gas without much concern. The University used to run a campus bus up to some apartments in that area, and probably still does, but there is also a semi-decent city bus service. I would definitely consider housing in that area, but would like to see it first.

I am glad you are going to see a professional about this, but I will go ahead and give you some feedback. First of all, I think you are overthinking it. You have a lot of very legitimate concerns, but recycling all of your thoughts over and over is making it difficult for you to make your decision. Really, doctoral programs can send otherwise sane people into breakdowns, so having good advisors and good support systems are very important factors to think about. I, too, have been prone to depression during my life (and I am definitely in the non-traditional student category, age-wise), and so when I am considering important choices, I always give weight to how I think it might affect my mental state. There is no use getting the good job/school/partner if it/they are going to drive you nuts. You need to respect your emotional reactions, because they are not going to just sit down and shut up while you finish your schooling. When I applied to Master's programs, I wound up with funded offers from two schools, and all of my advisors thought it was a no-brainer - School A was more highly regarded and would get me where I wanted to go. But I looked at all the angles, including factors that, while not on my adviser's radar, I knew would have an effect on my ability to function well. Still, I arrived at the morning of April 15 with the scales pretty even. I called both schools, and had a conversation with each POI, asking them to just tell me about the program. When I got off the phone, there was no question....School B was going to be my kind of place. Two years later, though it has not always been smooth sailing, I still think I made the right decision. I believe it was Emperor Hirohito who was once heard to say that, when he had an important decision to make, he would think it through carefully, then make a decision, "eat" that decision before bedtime, and go to sleep. If it gave him indigestion, then in the morning he would do the other thing instead. So, what I would do is write down on paper (I use an Excel sheet) all of the factors that you are considering, and weight them subjectively, look at the worst that could happen, and the best that could happen, for each scenario, and then make a decision based on logic. Once you feel sure you know what the logical choice is, then do a real self-assessment of your feelings about that decision. At least, this exercise will make it easier when you go to discuss it with your counselor. Best of luck to you.

Wow, not much advice from the community on this one. I was reading because I've been having a similar problem. Anybody?

To Ravyn: In sociology, we have a term "referent", which is a similar to a role model - a person whose behavior you emulate, or at least use to know how what behavior is socially appropriate. I suggest you start identifying people - PhDs - that you admire for their conduct, and if possible develop relationships with them. Having such people in your life will not only help you stay true to your ideals, they can become allies for you in your career. Believe me, there are people in higher ed who are getting the grants and publications because they are really producing work that will help other people in the long run. We all change as we learn and grow older. You will change, too, whether you stay in the program or not. Don't let your fear of change cause you to sell yourself short.

I had it really bad last January when I was trying to write my personal statement to get into the PhD program at the same school were I am finishing my MA. I was reading examples of a good personal statement for my field, and thinking "I am definitely not functioning on the level these people are!" I got a post-doc friend to help review my statement, as well as allay my fears, and turned it in. Not only did I get admitted to the program, but I ended up getting a fellowship! When you think about it, to question your own status as a graduate student is to question the competence of those who have admitted you into the program, those who have given you 'A's on your exams, those who have allocated funding to you, and those who have written your recommendations. Don't insult them - just remember you owe it to them and to yourself to keep doing your best.

Essay 1 looks well organized to me, and you make an appropriate argument. Some problems: No indent on first paragraph "...we as people in the present..." should be phrased differently - perhaps "modern-day scholars" "...have changed as well as examples..." needs a comma between "changed" and "as" "Take the idea..." is colloquial language (as is "we as people" above), and this opening sentence is almost a fragment. You need to use a more academic style, now that you are aiming for graduate level study. "Professional athletes for example train..." needs commas around "for example" "...there is a championship or award of some sort that represents someone or a team the best of something and athletes strive for this." This whole sentence needs to be rephrased - too much use of "some", and too wordy. find a more concise way of saying what you want to get across, e.g., "in modern sporting events, athletes compete to demonstrate who has the greater physical skills and strength." Need a comma between "...Olympic Games..." and "...which..." I could continue, but it comes down to three main problems: 1) brush up on the rules for commas and other punctuation usage, 2) avoid colloquial language, 3) improve your vocabulary, both so that you don't get thrown by words in the prompt and so that you can be more concise in your sentence construction. I don't mean to be harsh, but if you needed to look up "dispel", then I predict you will have trouble with the verbal portion of the test, also. Using academic language is not a matter of being artistic or poetic, but of knowing how to say exactly what you mean in fewer words. Failure in this regard may suggest to reviewers that you are not graduate school material. In my own case, thought I have had good reviews of my writing, I have also been made aware that I need to step up my game if I am to compete successfully in a doctoral program. Your second essay is also well organized and makes appropriate arguments, although I would have expected to see a paragraph about cost of production and expected sale values. Again, comma usage is a problem, but the language style is less stilted - perhaps the topic is one with which you are more familiar. Best of luck!

In 2008, I was 50 yrs old, with one year of college from 30 years back, managing a horse farm in Texas. I had virtually no financial assets - a small savings account and a few stocks. I started at a community college, then quit my job and did my last 2 years of undergrad as a full-time student on Pell grants and scholarships. I packed up or sold 20 years of accumulation, my two farm dogs, and moved into a rental. After graduating with honors, I applied to 13 graduate programs, and was offered funding by two of them. I moved what little I had to an efficiency apartment in a new state, dogs and all. Now I am about to get my MA (at the age of 57) and am preparing to begin my doctoral training (on fellowship) I still have no assets, but me and the dogs are healthy and happy. There have been many moments of panic, feelings of being an imposter, but the doors keep opening, so I just keep walking. You'll do fine!

Issue essay: I would recommend focusing more precisely on the question, in this case by noting both the problems a fast-paced lifestyle solves and the problems it causes. Your essay seemed to focus instead on the benefits and drawbacks of technology. I also note a syntax error in paragraph two - the sentence beginning with "Although" is a fragment. I think your second essay is better, and hits all the main arguments.

In my program, teaching assistantships are assigned to all incoming MA students that do not have other funding, and will be renewed unless the student's GPA falls below a certain level. At the doctoral level, they do not accept anyone without a plan to fund at least their first year, and afterward will work with other departments who need TAs. According to your post, you are guaranteed funding, but must apply for other assistantships. My assumption about this requirement is that it helps them provide funding for more students, if some of them can get funding outside the department. It is really best to be working/teaching within your own discipline, but look through the school's job listings for something you think you can do (might not be teaching - there are also assistantships in office organization and campus life, for example). Be careful - you don't want to apply for a job that will take too much time away from studying. I would not worry about how easy it is, because the main thing is that you applied, not whether or not you were hired.

A bit late, but I presume new readers will find this useful: I am happy with my landlord, a small company called Capstone Property Management (Dempsey Real Estate). You probably have to dig a little to find what they are offering - I got mine word of mouth. From looking around town over 2 years, I can say that the houses and apartments run by Delview look the worst. Sealy is a big corporate apartment management firm - they have strict rules and relatively high rates, but seem to operate nice properties. I moved here from Austin, so I'm a bit disappointed in the night life. That said, there are plenty of places where non-cis patrons can feel comfortable. The Alcove, Egan's, and Mellow Mushroom are three places where my gay/bi friends gather, and there is one gay bar, Icon, that actually has a drag show on Saturday nights, followed by a dance party. The campus has an active Allies program, and has been installing non-gendered bathrooms as they remodel buildings and build new ones. Hope that helps Side note for those considering the University of Alabama and the city of Tuscaloosa: Neighborhoods: There are 9 recognized neighborhoods. If you want to get by without a car and walk everywhere, your best chances are to get a job on/near University Boulevard. The shops next to the University are commonly referred to "the strip" and it has a grocery store, restaurants, pizzerias, a hair salon and pubs. Unfortunately, these apartments tend to be smaller but you can often get a good price if you have a roommate. Southeast Tuscaloosa is where the Arboretum is. Many runners and dog owners frequent here. North of the River are a few apartments and golf clubs. Nothing here that I really could recommend that another neighborhood couldn't offer. Costs are higher and traffic can be bad due to it being mostly families. There are a lot of things going on in the Forest Lake neighborhood. It's about 2-3 miles to campus. It's walkable but a bike would be recommended. East Central & University is where most of the undergrads live. Graduates tend to live in or around Forest Lake or in or around Northport. Northport is smaller but has a small town charm in its downtown district. Realtors: H.A. Edwards (http://www.haedwards.com/) Sealy (http://www.sealyrealty.com/) Duckworth Morris (http://duckworth.com/) Other than that: Yes, football season is really crazy but it could be a really good time to get groceries if you don't care for Football. Roll tide.

I made a trip to the university town in April and looked around. The most helpful thing I got was the city's Apartment Guide, which had a listing of each complex with what type of apartments they offered and their rental rates, whether they allowed pets, etc. I used this with a paper map to explore the town and look at the different rentals, collecting phone numbers off of "for rent" signs as I went. I also looked on Craigslist for people who were subleasing, because the typical rental period here runs from August 1 to July 30. In the end, that's what got me settled - someone was moving out in May and wanted to sublease for two months. I met the landlord and wound up signing through the following year as well. You might also contact the administrative assistant of your department and ask them if they can email out a notice that you are looking for a place to rent. This kind of networking can help you find a place that is well-run and not populated by noisy undergrads. In addition, it might end up placing you as a neighbor (or roommate) with one of your graduate classmates. For example, I wound up in an old home that is subdivided into apartments, largely populated by young faculty and other graduate students, near to campus. I am also aware of some other graduate students who had good fortune finding roommates through the University's off-campus housing website, so check to see if there is anything like that for your school.

When I was practicing, the two websites I found most useful were Kaplan and Number2.com. Although Kaplan sells a test prep program, they allow you a certain number of practice questions and tests. Number2 is free and very helpful, although I think some of the verbal ability questions are outdated for the new digital tests. I was working mainly on quantitative problems, and although I did not have a great score, I think I did as well as I could have possibly done. Quantitative reasoning is my weakest point. Hope this helps.

Your resume looks strong to me, in spite of your grades, but I am not in immunology. I wanted to address the last part - I can't see any reason why you should not apply to both types of programs. You will need to tailor your SOP for each program, of course, and perhaps your CV as well, to emphasize different things. Most grad student research proposals undergo revisions, and many people change their focus after they are enrolled anyway. I think admitting committees understand that, and are more interested in assessing your capabilities, plus they are looking for candidates whose interests are aligned with faculty that are willing to take on a new student. In fact, if you write to the presenter or their advisor and ask about their program, that might actually be helpful toward your eventual acceptance. Imagine you are a researcher of this new therapeutic possibility, teaching in a medical school or biology program, and you are looking for applicants who want to follow in your footsteps. How hard do you imagine it might be to find applicants who are smart, organized, have a strong background in the discipline, and are particularly interested in your personal research? So rather than thinking of this topic as something most people aren't interested in, and therefore not being a good direction for you, think of your interest in this topic as being the key to your acceptance under the supervision of someone who IS interested in it.

Be patient. There's a lot on everyone's plate at the end of the spring semester. Since he didn't say WHEN he'd be in touch, and he's now out of the office, he may have had a trip planned and will be in touch when he gets back.

I know some young professors have told me they applied to the program they wanted 2-3 times before finally getting in. When programs have 300 applicants and funding for only 6-7, some good candidates have to be left out. I think the advice to do something in the meantime is good. Get an entry level job in your field...I did a stint at in a phone bank collecting data for government projects. It was barely above minimum wage, but it gave me a good idea how research gets done in the world of commerce (and some good references). You might want to study more and retake your GRE. You could take on a volunteer position or even take a couple of years and to a Peace Corps or Teach American stint. Bottom line, don't take the rejections as indications of your worth. Apply again next year and/or the year after.

I have in my thesis 12 tables that I created from my own data, and 5 figures. I am also using a table from a study that was similar to mine, for comparative purposes. This table was copied and pasted from the author's pdf, and is cited properly. At the beginning of the document I am to list on three separate pages all tables, figures, and illustrations that are in my thesis. I am not sure if I should label the borrowed table as Table 1 in the list of tables, list it as an illustration, or leave it out of my list pages. Any thoughts on this? Thanks in advance.

I had finals in my first year of MA study, but they were take-home, usually with about a week to complete. Second year, more professors omitted the exam and graded 50% on class participation and 50% on a term paper. Of course, there were the comprehensive exams.....

Follow up: I got a quick reply back from my advisor saying not to make any more changes, but to be sure I understood the critique. He will make sure all the signatures are done by the deadline. Thanks again to all of you!