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I am DYING waiting for CU Boulder announcements. Have a couple of rejections already and haven't heard from any of my other programs. Boulder is my #1 so really hoping for it.

I've had similar concerns about "discipline hopping". My undergrad was related to cultural studies with a minor in global media. My MA is in media/comm. I've applied to some PhD programs in media/comm, some in global studies, and some that are more interdisciplinary, as my research interests sort of tie all of my previous work together.

I have not heard from UCSB yet, so I am assuming rejection... but still hoping for wait list. It was not as good of a fit as some of my other schools, but I think it still would be a great place for me.

I applied to CU Boulder (Media Studies), University of Arizona, UCSB, and a couple of other interdisciplinary programs.

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I am doing my Master's right now and my school offers graduate housing. My husband works full-time and I work part-time in addition to my studies. We live off campus in a one-bedroom apartment. It is a bit tight financially (we are in the NYC area) but we love our apartment and have a good quality of life.

UC Santa Barbara (PhD Communication) has an open house type weekend for shortlisted applicants (I hear they typically invite 15 applicants and extend offers to 10-12). CU Boulder (PhD Media Studies) told me that they do not do interviews.

I am completing a PhD application that doesn't allow me to upload a CV—I have to type my employment history, etc., into text boxes. I currently have a paid research assistantship at my grad school and was wondering if this should be listed under "graduate activities" or "occupational experience". Thanks in advance!

Whether we like it or not, our relationship with our letter-writers is one-sided: We are completely dependent on their generosity. I think the best option here is for you to find strategies to manage your own worries, as well as the logistics of your applications. I'm assuming (perhaps incorrectly) that this prof is writing the same letter for all of your programs and just changing out the program info for each one. If this is the case, can all of the letters just be submitted now rather than doing each program by their individual deadlines? Maybe you could have a conversation with the prof and say something like, "I've decided I'd like to have everything submitted by November 30th. Will that work for you?" Give yourself a little breathing room (don't put her deadline at the actual application deadline). Then you can leave her alone, assuming she'll submit by the deadline you give her, and just follow up after that date if there are any issues.

It is pretty common for referees to ask students to draft LORs themselves, and admissions committees almost surely know that, so I wouldn't be too worried. That said, I sympathize with your having to do all three yourself-- I am having to draft one on my own and worry that it will be too similar to my SOP and writing sample, as I feel that I have a somewhat distinct writing style (at least, when multiple pieces are laid out next to each other). I would recommend a few things. Firstly, look up LOR samples. Donald Asher's book, Graduate Admissions Essays, has some samples; and I'm sure there are others online. Try using samples to draft letters that have different formats from each other. Secondly, be aware of elements you fall back on in your own writing. Are there words you use often? Sentence structures you lean towards? Be aware of these and avoid them as much as possible. You don't have to pretend to be a totally different person -- I think pretending that you didn't write something when you did would be the worst option here (dishonesty is never a good look on an applicant) -- but you can make the LORs less obviously written by yourself.

Hi! Dual Canadian-American here, have done the immigration process for both countries (spouse to Canada, me to U.S.). You will need a visa to work and live in Canada. Unless you have an immediate family member living legally in Canada, your best option would be to see if you qualify for this program: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry.html Note that medical fields (including SLP) are regulated provincially in Canada; so, in addition to getting a federal immigration visa, you will need to register with the regulatory body in whichever province you end up in. In most provinces, you will be OK with just English. In Quebec, New Brunswick, and parts of Ontario (Ottawa Valley), most competitive job applicants are able to communicate in both French and English. Other foreign language skills are also beneficial throughout different areas of the country. From the Canadian side of things: Most countries, including Canada, only issue permanent residency to immigrants looking to settle permanently. So, if you apply for immigration stating that you are just looking to work there for a few years, you are likely to be denied. That said, you will not be penalized for relinquishing your permanent residency at any time after it is issued. But do be aware that moving back to the U.S. would result in you losing your status in Canada. If you spend enough time in Canada before moving back (five years, I think), you can apply for citizenship which would allow you to move back to the U.S. without losing your Canadian status. In lieu of permanent residency, an employer could sponsor you for a temporary work visa. But that is very costly for the employer and therefore very difficult to obtain. From the American side of things: If you are an American citizen, you will always have the right to return to America. As a citizen, you must continue paying U.S. taxes even when living abroad. If you are an American permanent resident but not a citizen, you would risk losing your immigration status by moving to Canada. One last thing: All official Government of Canada websites have the same "Government of Canada" heading that you can see in the link above. Be weary of unofficial immigration sites that may give inaccurate information.

I had a similar issue when applying for my Masters. I opted to accept one and defer the other-- it gave me the freedom of trying one out while knowing the other was still an option.

Your score is very competitive, but of course even a perfect GRE score doesn't guarantee admission. It can be a good idea to look up the specific GRE cutoffs or averages for your target programs to see how you compare.

I didn't have much time to study. I took my first practice test before I started studying to get a baseline. Used a Manhattan Prep Math Refresher book for one week and then Magoosh for four weeks, focusing almost exclusively on math. I studied for about 30-60 minutes 3-5 times weekly for four weeks, and studied very little in the week leading up to the real test. ETS Practice Test 1 (5 weeks before real test): 148Q, 151V Magoosh Practice Test (3 weeks before real test): 151Q, 156V ETS Practice Test 2 (1 week before real test): 154Q, 160V Real Test: 156Q, 162V

Hi itslit, We are in similar fields — DM me if you'd like to connect. I’m not an expert on admissions, but your list of schools looks good to me. If you’re looking for more programs, I’d recommend checking out some Media Studies programs like those at U Oregon and CU Boulder. Also, check out Temple’s Communication program and see if it’s of any interest. Good luck!

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I'm in Media/Communication (current MA student, applying for PhD), and I agree that I am surprised by this response. I have met with some schools who require both Masters degrees and professional experience of PhD applicants. This would, realistically, put the average applicant at a minimum of 25 years old. Maybe this individual or school has had bad experiences with some older applicants, but this is definitely different from information I have heard.

I have only heard this, have not witnessed it personally: Apparently mentioning how young you are (by describing your childhood in the 2000s) can make some admissions envision you as immature. You might be able to reword with something like "I was lucky enough to observe the communication evolution of the early 2000s," completely avoiding your age at the time.

My undergrad is in International Development and I also take it as the latter. If it helps, I had to take a course called "The Political Economy of Development" for my degree, and this was the course description: Applying global political economy perspectives to key aspects of development finance. Topics include the introduction of basic economic terms, the role of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Trade Organization, and the growing roles of Transnational Corporations and financial markets in development.

It is a bit unclear as to what role your mental health played in this situation and how badly this bridge was burned. I will offer the following questions/suggestions. Any suggestions are just my personal opinion. Further clarification might help you get better responses. 1. Was this bridge burned because of your mentor's response to your mental illness or because your mental illness affected your ability to maintain the relationship? This could really affect how you address the situation. If your mental illness affected your ability to maintain the relationship, then I would recommend reaching out to your former mentor and genuinely trying to mend the fence. If the situation occurred because of your mentor's response to a mental illness, then you may be able to explain a lack of LOR by stating something like, "Dr. X's stance on a personal issue I was dealing with made it an unhealthy work environment." You would not need to bring up the details of your illness or the fact that you had a personal falling out. Realistically, though, you probably won't have to explain a lack of LOR from this person if you have other strong LORs to offer. 2. Was the "split" done professionally or was it an emotional/messy situation? When resigning from a position or confronting anyone in an academic setting, it should be done in much the same way as at a job: professionally. If your situation was handled professionally (ex. "Dr. X, I am resigning from this position effective January 1st") then I wouldn't be too concerned. If the issue was more emotionally charged, then it might be worth swallowing your pride and making a formal apology. Academia is a small world and your reputation is important. It's crucial that you be viewed as a mature and dependable student in your future applications. We all deal with situations in our life where we have to cut ties for some reason, so I would just try to ensure that this one was done as professionally as possible.

You should report it. While it may go unnoticed or not be weighted very heavily in your overall application, most PhD programs that I've seen expect you to report every school you've been to, including summer sessions, extension schools, etc. Failing to do so may be interpreted by some schools as academic dishonesty, which is really not worth the risk.

I got my official GRE results back today and was surprised by a fairly low AW score. My scores are 162V, 156Q, and 4.0AW. I am a strong writer and thought I had done better on this section. I know that AW is typically not weighted too heavily, but I am a Communication/Media Studies PhD applicant and am worried I might miss the cutoffs. My target schools include UC Boulder and U Denver, and my reach school is UCSB. Should I retake and/or have the score reviewed, or am I over-worrying? I have a 3.8 undergraduate GPA and 4.0 GPA in Master's program.

I am applying to media/culture/communication related PhD programs, and will have both a BA and an MA upon entering. I also have 12 years of professional experience in the field, which is the focus of my SOPs. I am finding myself a bit concerned about LORs. I began my career immediately after high school, and completed my undergraduate degree online (but through a legitimate and very reputable school) while working full-time. I have continued to work through graduate school, so have completed half of my courses on campus and half online. As a result, I have not developed particularly close relationships with profs. I will have one LOR from upper management at a well-known media company. I worked with this individual for over 10 years and believe it will be a very strong letter. For my remaining two letters, I have the following three options: Undergraduate Advisor Pros: Would speak to my determination and success in balancing work and school, as well as my significant involvement in alumni activities (volunteer mentoring working undergraduates) Cons: Will highlight online undergraduate degree (potential stigma), advisor is staff rather than faculty (not a prof/PhD) Graduate Research Supervisor Pros: PhD who is supervising me in my role as an RA, highlights graduate-level research Cons: Just started with this supervisor in September, so do not have a long relationship Graduate School Professor Pros: PhD who is supportive of my applying to programs and who graded my best paper Cons: This prof took over one of my courses after the original prof had a family emergency -- we have emailed quite a bit since then and she is very supportive, but she does not know me that well Any advice on these options would be greatly appreciated.

Sleep. It is so important for our mental health. You are going to schedule your classes, research, papers, reading... also schedule time to sleep. There will be days when things impede on your plans, for sleeping and other things, but do your best to prioritize sleeping as much as your other school and life activities.