Quickmick

@anthrosoul you might want to look at U Georgia for environmental--I work with someone who got their PhD there and they had a great experience. Generally things are good. I sent out 5 apps this week (including my one and probably only Anthro), I have two more to go for sure and I think I will stop there (though there is the chance I waffle and send out a couple more ). No advantage in applying before the deadline--I know--but it will allow me to turn all (well most) of my attention to MS defense coming around March.

Well, here we go I sent 5 apps out today. I know there is no advantage to sending them ahead of the deadline, but by sending them out I make sure I am thinking about what is on my plate ahead of the spring defense of my MS thesis.

I was working on an application today and, while I am used to seeing the "what other schools are you applying to" question, this was the first time I was also asked to rank them in order of preference. Not quite sure how to approach this. My gut inclination is to ignore this question, or to list two or three schools that I am applying to that are sort of grouped together... what is your take on this question generally? Does the adcomm get my response? If not the whole adcomm, the DGS? I have read on the forum that some people think this is just for statistical information gathering...but to rank them? Maybe I am just being too conspiratorial...

I had my list at around 12, cut it back to 5-7 and it has since crept up a wee bit--looks like I will be sending out 10. I read something here that made a lot of sense to me, applying to more programs doesn't increase your chances but it does decrease variance which made a lot of sense to me.

I was chatting with a POI today and got an angle on fit that, while probably obvious to many of you, was insightful to me. It is often talked about here that "fit" is a very big component of the admission process. I had been thinking in terms of "fit" with my POI and with the department in terms of if they had the resources to support my niche. The POI pointed out that while they will support my application, there was a fair chance that when the DGS sees it they would say, "Is this a good fit for us?" Even if a faculty member green lights an application, if the DGS feels that an applicant will also be admitted to a similarly ranked school with a better general fit (to the aspect of a subject) they may reject solely on the basis of the conjecture that an applicant will get in to the other school, so will decline anyway. I just wanted to point out that if you are looking at a school in a particular range of rankings it might be wise to look at similarly ranked schools to see if--even they don't have a specific POI you really like--they generally have robust program in your area. It would not be fun at all to get denied on the basis of an assumption that you will attend another school--even if that assumption was made regarding a place you hadn't considered/didn't apply to. This particular POI said their opinion would be to let these types of applicants in and if they don't come so be it, but that is not how all the players involved see it. This may be common knowledge to most of you but some of it made me think a bit...so I hope it helps!

@EvelynD while this spreadsheet is a little dated it has a lot of useful information about various programs and what they offer, I am posting it here as it has average time to complete degree statistics as part of the data : http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/Resdoc/ hope this helps a bit! Q

Your decision is 'due' on April 15, so just don't accept anything until you have heard back from who you want to and decide. When I applied to law schools/grad schools before entering my MS program, as a matter of professional courtesy, I didn't keep more than one offer in my pocket at a time. By comparing A to B and declining on the fly, I hopefully opened up a spot for someone else. Why accept if you don't want to go? In any case the the for the consequences question... probably depends on a lot of things.

Just curious, why not just apply to both, then if you get in to both, figure it out?

I would agree with @fuzzylogician as I failed to mention that we were given guidance on this ahead of time...that it was up to us but we were free to be open about the situation...so I don't know, maybe yes maybe know? Just ask your boss.

I mentioned it to them, if nothing else it let them know I can empathize with them (though I am a bit older). I don't think it would have made a diff either way, but I did have students ask me about grad school and would like to think I helped them think about it. Those conversations might not have happened had I not brought it up. On the flip-side, if you say nothing what do you think they would assume anyway? I think its a matter of personal choice, and that you are probably thinking more about it than they ever will...

@vitabrevis we are similar....yet different! I was studying philosophy when I left to become a floor trader (where I was for a decade)...getting into my current MS Environmental Science program I used that as an element to make me more competitive--if only to set me apart from other applicants. I hope to do the same thing as I pitch myself to PhD programs... While Michael Lewis may not be the type of Lit you are looking at I would point out that you can probably find ways to work your background into your application materials as an asset to your point of view/approach/or whatever. I dont know how English programs work, if they will offer you MA admission if you are denied to the PhD. If they don't typically do this you might want to apply to a couple MA programs to hedge your bet.

You might want to check something else, too. If you are talking about A&M, the tuition waiver very well may not include waiving fees which--as I imagine you are aware--can represent a decent piece of your bill every semester. I am not trying to poo poo your achievement by any means, just want you to be aware that you might be on the hook for these or it may be a point of negotiation...in any case it is something to ask. Q

You might not have to do the conversion, but as @Warelin says ask the school. For example, UCLA says," for the last 60 semester units or last 90 quarter units of undergraduate study and in any post-baccalaureate study," so just count the last 90. That is from here: https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/faqs/ but, check with someone at the school--if you do it via email you have proof of the advice in case it ever comes up.

I work at an institute that is inter-disciplinary, so has both wet labs and more 'think-tank' type of activity and the people who run the various components have different ways of doing things. I think for most of the grad students the 'work' part is listed as 50% fte in the manual...so technically 20 hrs a week. I do not punch a clock, and no one seems to keep tabs on me...but they probably notice that I am there everyday. The expectation is that I will put in the time to do what needs to be done and as long as that is happening everyone seems happy. As long as that piece is in place, I can take time--within reason--for myself/vacation that is not really kept in some vacation day ledger. There are, obviously, other ways of doing things. As @St Andrews Lynx points out there are some intense people, and I tend to think that it is not all that hard to be "good" at the game, but the difference between moving from "good" to "great" is an incredible amount of work and some managers may want to be more of the taskmaster type to try to move that needle. In any case, it sounds like you have two different issues. The first (quiet reading time to work) seems like it might be addressed by a simple conversation with your advisor. Explaining that reading time really helps you, you might be able to take a few hours a few times a week to go to the reading room, and your advisor might be ok with it if he/she is aware you are using the time to work. The other issue is not so easy and I really don't know what you can do there. This might be a helpful tale to those who are applying to programs and serve as encouragement to not just reach out to potential advisors ,but to current students who would be able to describe the lab policies. Even if there are guidelines in the handbook, there is no guarantee that these translate into the cultural expectations/pressures that are in place. I wish you the best!

Just curious, what did you get the "B" in?

This is a very interesting discussion. In my SOPs current form I don't mention my professional aspirations beyond my intention to stay in academia. I did, however, just get an email from a POI who specifically asked me if I saw myself being a researcher who also teaches or the other way around. It is in my best interest to be honest, as part of the fit is to obtain the best training for what I want to do, but my answer was a bit non-committal. I suggested that the nature of academic job market is such that I will probably have to be flexible and that working at an R1 might not preclude one from caring about teaching. As mentioned above, Cornell is concerned with teaching skill, and is also an R1. Halfway though my MS I have been paid for both, and they both have pros and cons. I suppose, as with most things, I wont be able to have my cake and eat it too. In any case, I tend to leave more options open rather than fewer when describing my intentions generally and found it interesting to be asked this pointedly.

This is a great point, I have contacted people and found out they are about to retire or going on leave so will not be around the year I plan on starting! Also, if you don't ask some type of question they might not have a reason to respond, other than to be polite.

Sounds like you want someone here to do your homework?

I would second @Bioenchiladas suggestion not to send the CV, as you indicated they get plenty of emails and keeping it short might increase the chances it gets read in its entirety. I would not mention your basic credentials, either. If they want these things they will ask you. I've had professors even ask me to send them basically a personalized statement of purpose. That being said, I will mention that while I am in an MSc program I have been reaching out to people in the humanities which has obvious differences. What would seem to remain the same, however, is that you are attempting to make a connection beyond what they will see on paper. I tried to mention their work, why I am interested, and where our interests overlap to begin to feel out the fit of the place. If they want to know more about my work they will see it in the app or they will ask. I tried to keep it very brief. You will get some responses along the lines of, "thanks for the introduction I will see your application when it comes in." But you will probably get some that are far more encouraging and even suggest who else you might reach out to. Having an advocate who likes you and sees the fit going into the admissions process would seem to have to be a good thing (unless you pick the black sheep that everyone despises! ) One thing I would have done in hindsight is to email my least favorite program first to get a sense of how the dialogue develops. If you want to read a copy of one I sent PM me and I will share it with you--caveat emptor! Q

The first suggestion might be to expand your scope of possible schools to include those that do have funding. Beyond that, there are a bevy of scholarships out there, and sites that let you search for them by field/your heritage/etc. While those engines are not hard to find here is one: https://www.petersons.com/college-search/scholarship-search.aspx. I scrounged up a little money, though it was some work. I used an excel sheet with who/what/when information to help organize it.

It might help to look at who authored a couple of your favorite papers. You can then see where (if) they teach. Also, if you look to the bibliography you will probably get a sense of who they are reading and those people might be possible candidates. I don't know enough about your field to offer and advice on if you are being specific enough, but I hope the last bit helps. QM.

To get the most out of my travel dollar i attended a conference that was attended by quite a few of the people I am interested in working with (around March) and was able to schedule some time with a few of them to talk. While I don't know, I have to think it will help my application. Two weeks ago I met with a Prof (250 mi), but am finding that getting them in the summer is a bit touch and go due to travel schedules. The other one I am to meet will be in Sep. I think that meeting them before the app goes in is a good idea, as it will give me a sense of the quality of fit, how we get along, and their interest in me. If if doesn't feel good I can move my SOP/POI in a different direction or look at a different school.

If you re-apply to the program that provided that feedback it might be worth considering mentioning due to the fact that you went out and addressed their concerns. Otherwise, I wouldn't mention it, just let the improved app materials do the talking. Most SOP length requirements are pretty tight and that might not be the best use of space. Just my 2¢.

Just curious as to how many apps you will (did) send out? Assuming that more apps won't increase the odds--but will decrease variance--I was planning on sending out 8-10 but am now leaning toward sending out 5ish.