hahahut

The report date is when ETS sends the score report to the institution. That happens as soon as your score is available. But it would take longer for the test taker to view. For paper based test (based on my own experience), it is when the test taker can pay that extra $12 to check scores over the phone. But I need to wait another two weeks before I can view my score online for free (and they send the paper score report to me).

That happened to me too for one school that uses Embark right after I added multiple recommenders. The impression I got is the same as what Strangefox said. I decided to email that one with "unconfirmed" just to make sure she got the instruction email. But before I had time to do that, she has submitted the recommendation. I know one recommender with "confirmed" would not have done anything as he said he would do them in a batch after receiving an email from me to confirm all were ready. So don't think there is anything you need to worry.

Another way to find out more info is to check major HCI conference's (such as CHI) participants. If you are more into the engineering side, maybe also Ubiquitous Computer conference such as Ubicomp.

Here is a list of HCI programs. Some are more on the design side while some are more on the computer science side though. http://www.hcibib.org/education/#GENERAL_PROGRAM_INFORMATION

Just in case you didn't notice, it is 4000 CHARACTERS for each, not 4000 words. I know this school (if it is the one I am thinking) wouldn't take anything more than that, space included. Actually, even though Microsoft Word counted mine as 3999 characters including all spaces, it still told me I got more than 4000. If you already have a generic SOP with about 1200 words, you should be able to work from it without too much major changes.

I will be very happy to do that.

I am sure it is meant to make it easier. You just give unofficial one for now. But after they admit you, you have to send in the official one to verify what you have claimed.

By the way, the program I checked did reply that they don't have limit on word count and it is up to me to write as much or less as I want. However, I will still try to cut to that limit. I guess unless there is a very good reason to keep something in my SOP, I wouldn't risk.

My try is: My parents' decision of moving to the States started my unexpected friendship with televisions.

Hi! The beginning is absolutely the hardest part of the whole SOP in my opinion. I have changed mine like ten times now. So if you haven't, work on the rest of the essay first. You might end up having a very good idea what you want the first paragraph to convey at a later time. It also allows you to catch a lot of random ideas. For this version, I am not so sure about the first sentence. The pattern of "Ever since <time/age/...>" just seems too much a cliche. I think the rest is good though. It is an experience many non-English speakers have. (It is almost like a joke when I tell my friends how much Friends has helped me improving English.)

I believe F-1 is for most interational students. You can find a chart for different kind of non-immigrant visa here: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1286.html

If it makes you feel better, I am applying 11 schools. I was thinking like 20 at first. But cannot get that many to match my interests. So will just focus on these 11 for now. But I could add more later.

That is what I was going to do. But her website mentions she had one school asking for 500 words which she thought was too short. When checking with the department, the reply was there was no actual limit. That is what got me to think if that is a valid thing to ask.

Anyone tried to bargain the SOP length like she mentioned? I do have a school giving only 500 words while most others allow at least 1000. Not sure if it is ok to check with the department (don't feel right)

I see the benefit of teaching in general is having the experience of construct and present arguments in a cogent way. When I worked in lab during my undergraduate, I sometimes would realize I was not answering a question in the best approach halfway through. But I have friends who could give a very logical step-by-step procedure without spending anytime planning. I think that is a reflection of the underlying cognitive ability.

What I do is essentially the same thing, but with a bit different steps: I always divide both with the product of smaller factors and then compare the result. For example: A. 100210 * 90021; B 100021*90210 Divided by 100021*90021: A, 100210/100021 B.90210/90021 Now it is pretty obvious A is 1+189/100021 and B is 1+189/90021. Since B has smaller denominator, B is bigger.

I am in the process of revising my own SOP too. So just share some thoughts here. In my view, the reader is reading a SOP and asks two questions: 1. does this person have the research potential? 2. does this person have logical and sound motivations (therefore a source of determination) to achieve the goals? I am still trying to find a good balance between big ideas and specific goals to address the second question. For the first one, however, I tried to answer by giving a detailed description about my responsibilities and what I have done well. Actually in my case, I also mentioned what I haven't done as well as I wanted. But that leads to what I have learned and what I would do differently next time (I wouldn't recommend you doing that obviously). I hope my final SOP would tell the reader more than "this guy has done...something". They wouldn't expect a undergraduate project to be groundbreaking. But by showing them those details, I tried to tell them: 1. I used my individual thinking and employed anything I could learn from other works; 2. I didn't just happen to learn something. I would learn more and faster given the chances. Don't really have a good answer for your first question. But statement like "Dr.xxx's work ties strongly with my interests in..." is too generic. I doubt they would take the seriously that you have done the research of their works and you genuinely believe it is a good fit. For your second question, more research experience could support your claim about your research potential. However, in your SOP, the only part relevant to your involvement is one single sentence, which is just a quite objective description. I would put more in describing the challenge you faced and the contribution you made to that part of the project. Just my 2 cents.

There are some sort of laws that allows ADMITTED student to view the letters (so no way to see it before you actually start your studying there). The choice is the applicant's mostly. I do have a school that states they prefer applicants waiving the right as it makes the letter more creditable. But more importantly, if I choose not to waive the right, my recommendation letter writer would be notified in his instruction. That would give him the impression that he is not trusted. That might hurt the personal relationship.

Hi! I don't know much about political science application to offer retake advice. But your description has painted me a very impressive applicant. You have great grades and tons research/operational experiences. I am sure you have quite a story about how you accomplish all these, especially if you have had a lot of financial stress. If I were you, I would contact the faculty I want to work with now. I wouldn't imagine any academic (at least those I know) would see such an applicant with all the potential couldn't get in because of financial reasons. I have heard stories how faculties could convince the department to waive fee and test scores. I also remember GRE has discount policy for certain people. Not sure about the details. A lot of schools have fee waiver policy as well. They are not applicable to non-US applicant. So I have never checked them out either. Good luck!

In US, they use "Professor" for university lecturer. I am a first time applicant. But I am pretty sure anyone with PhD, therefore knowing how to judge your research protential, is great for recommendation letter. Based on Wikipedia, in some countries they even refer any teacher as "Professor". I felt weird to use that term myself. "Professor" is the highest title the acadmic could achieve where I live.

I think I know which question you are talking about: the percentage estimate based on the location in the distribution diagram. TestMagic had a very good thread about it. But I am not sure if it is still there as they had to restore a very old backup after a server problem and lost almost a year's content.

I believe it is. It is covered by ETS's Math Review, and I have seen it many times in those Big Book tests. It just tests the concept though. Won't ask you to calculate it.

Thanks, Newms! I guess there is no way to make sure it wouldn't happen now. Just have to watch the status carefully and hope for the best.

Thanks! I guess I am just being paranoid. But sometimes it does take a while to dig out the exemption. I always checked via email if it was not clearly laid out. Can't help worrying the person who eventually processes my documents would have a different interpretation. Do the application status normally say if all documents are received? If so, at least I could track down to someone and explain before it is too late.

Hi, all! Can anyone with previous application experience to share how we can ensure any exemption is granted before the deadlines? I am an international student. But since I received my bachelor degree from New Zealand, I am exempted from the TOEFL requirement by most schools. However, in all the applications I have started, only one has an option for the applicant to claim the exemption eligibility. I have learned from life that you would often get different interpretations on the same term from different people, especially in this case the exemption is not precisely worded (sometimes it is only clarified from the program's FAQ). I definitely don't want to find out my application cannot be processed because of missing document after the deadline. I imagine the admission office would be too busy to answer specific inquiry like this close to the deadline. Is there any good way to check? Or am I just being too paranoid? Thanks!