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Fiain

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Everything posted by Fiain

  1. And then, well, I started off my SoP like that, and went into detail with examples. Literally, "Since I was young, ..." and I had a professor from one of the universities I've been accepted to call me yesterday and say how impressed she was with my statement of purpose and application. So... I think it has a lot to do with the university, too.
  2. Oh, don't worry! I'm only 21, and I've been accepted a few places so far for my PhD - so age won't count against you. If they ask you about it, just make sure you can spin it in a positive light - To me, it'd show determination and knowing what you want. Neither of which are bad things to have for a PhD, hah.
  3. So I don't know your field, but I know for mine (Chemistry) both Stanford and Cornell are sending out admissions.. End of January (Stanford estimated end of jan/early feb and Cornell next two weeks). I called them and got that information directly from them. So don't give up hope yet - I don't think the majority of application from those two at least have gotten anything.
  4. Depends on the school? I imagine that is pretty unlikely, though.. As an update, called Stanford. They said they expect to have decisions made by the end of January/Early February. I tried calling Berkeley too, however I wasn't able to actually get through to a person with how many 'bots there were in between me and said person. So I won't be able to give an update on them.
  5. My backup plan was to move to Cambodia and open a nacho stand. (Dad's idea.) I.. really didn't have one. Probably was gonna ask around and see if any friend could hire me/etc if I didn't get into any.
  6. Rice and Northwestern, officially, and I've been called by a professor at U of O who told me to expect my admissions email soon and information on the visits. Northwestern will reimburse you, Rice pays entirely themselves.
  7. I'm fairly sure Stanford's folks are out at lunch today, and I've got to head out to work before they'll likely be back - I'll try and call later if I get a chance, though if someone else wants to that'd rock. Cornell told me next two weeks, the admissions committee is still looking at applications.
  8. To piggy back off of this - if you call and ask for a general timeline (IE, when they expect to have decisions out by) I don't think they mind - I've done that with a few of my schools. I wouldn't call to ask about a decision, though, as that might seem really pushy.
  9. I'm not sure, sorry! I was called yesterday and got my email last night. Im not sure if they sent them all out at once, just that the letter has that number.
  10. So, Rice's admission email mentions that less than 40 people were offered admission for PhDs this year. Wow.
  11. Northwestern for Chem is sending out their last decisions this week, is what I've heard. That does include acceptances, so don't be disheartened yet about that. I haven't heard anything from Cornell, Berkeley, or Stanford yet.. I honestly thought my really bad subject gre score (33rd percentile!) would knock me out of the running for all the schools and it hasn't so far, so... SoPs and recommendations really do help a ton. As far as welcome visits I've been invited to two that I have the information for - one I get reimbursed for the flight, the other is arranged for me. Hotels/food is covered by them.
  12. A lot of universities handle international applicants slightly after others - and Im not sure any university has finished sending offers out. If you havent heard anything, dont lose hope!
  13. So, I know this is late but it might help future students. I got a 33rd percentile on the Chemistry GRE. Which.. sucks. But - From what I've been told, physical chemistry programs/etc dont care much since theres very little pchem on the test, and I was also told that scoring 40-50% on the test is normal for American students. Not sure why, but Ive been told that by many, many grad students that ive worked with. In addition - the rest of my application was good, and I sent the GRE scores to all unis who wanted them, both recommended and required, and I was accepted to Northwestern. So a bad GRE score doesnt automatically rule you out of top schools.
  14. I just got an admissions offer this morning!! I think that due to a time crunch put in place by another university (Cambridge wanted an answer this month), they sent it out early? The email stated that they didnt want me to need to wait another week leaving Cam. on hold, so wasnt just a copy pastad email Best of luck - please let me know what your result is? Im hoping for you!
  15. My top pick - I've been in that city, I've friends there willing to help me look into apartments and I've worked for that PI before. So in my head I can see me there and I am so tempted to keep looking things up but then.. Like, heartbreak if I don't. So.. yeah, I totally understand. At least it seems that most Chemistry programs release decisions this month... Though I don't know how it is for other subjects.
  16. Supposed to hear from my top pick by next week. I'll just be happy to have the wait over with, I think. I've been so anxious and I'd really like just to be able to be excited about where I'm going instead of scared about decisions.
  17. So! I actually called Northwestern today, which, had good results (I hope) since the guy is going to try and get my professor involved but! I have news. He told me that the Northwestern chem grad program should have all decisions made by next week.. I wish you well! If you get in or hear any news, let me know, ok? And I'll try n keep you updated. If we both get in, I know the best pizza places in Evanston. XD
  18. What area of chemistry do you specialize in? I'm in physical chemistry. I'm a domestic student but out of state.. I've got pretty good everything except I only got a 33rd percentile on the chem GRE.. then again, I've been told for physical chem it doesn't matter all that much so. I did ask my professor that I worked for there to check in for me, so if he gives me any general admissions news I'll pass it on, ok? I hope you get in!
  19. You applied there too? I'm a chemistry major. That makes me feel a bit better, that I'm not the only one who hasn't heard. And.. yeah, I think we all just want to know. I wish unis could just be like, all decisions released on this date. And that was it. Would make waiting so much easier. XD
  20. I wish I was that.. I wish I had that much willpower, Khigh. I saw a bunch of admissions from my top pick got posted yesterday... I'm.. I asked my professor who works there to go bug admissions for me, hah. He said he wanted me, and I've worked for him before so.. maybe since he's going to ask I'll hear soon. I hope. Northwestern University, don't break my heart...
  21. I'm.. beyond nervous. Which.. is dumb. And my boyfriend thinks I'm being silly.. I haven't really talked to people much lately cause I feel like I'm annoying them about this, hah. I was offered a position at Cambridge University for my PhD. The PI seems great, kind, supportive. The lab's hours would fit with my other needs - I've got a few health things I need to be aware of and need time to manage. This would allow it. It... seems great, right? Except.. It's an industry lab. I want to teach! I've had great professors and bad ones and seen the affect it's had on my classmates and I want to be able to help inspire students - Especially since I'm a chemistry major, so a lot of folks think it's too hard for them when likely, someone's been trying to teach them the wrong way, or hasn't connected it for them.. (I've tutored and seen how different approaches can make a huge difference.) So... while it sounds great? I... I want to go to my top pick. And I'm not even sure I'm accepted at Cambridge technically, only that the professor wanted me. And I know the degrees over there are different, and.. I'll have a US bachelors - and when I put it through the conversion it said it equaled a masters at Cambridge so I should be.. fine.. I think... Oh god I hope I didn't screw that up, too. My top pick is Northwestern. I've worked there for a PI who wrote one of my letters of rec and he's very well known in his field... And I see Northwestern acceptances popping up in the results page going, Oh... What about me? Will they pass me over? I did really poorly on the chemistry GRE (33rd percentile), but my mentors say that it's one of the only bad things about my application and since I'm going into physical sciences, it doesn't matter much, if at all. But.. what happens if they reject my application because of it? My GPA is high, lots of research.. good general GRE scores... But.. I don't have a backup. I haven't heard from any other of the 7 schools I applied to, but.. with family issues, going home for a year isn't an option, and I'm not sure I could get a job that'd let me afford rent where I live with only a bachelors.. Since you guys are going through it too.. Can I ask what your thoughts are? I mean.. I don't know. I know I've a tendency towards panic and anxiety so it's.. hard to see clearly about the whole situation. I called Northwestern and they said they'd start releasing decisions starting after Christmas and to mid Jan, which is.. good, I suppose, since Cambridge prof wants to know ASAP so he can make sure to get funding to cover the international fees. I don't want to bug my professor (again, I've already asked him to ask for me over there) and I'm really unsure if calling again is wise. So... Just.. waiting it out? Just killing me to wait for Northwestern and seeing acceptances when.. I want this so badly. Thanks for making the thread. I kinda feel better after saying all this and I'm pretty sure y'all will understand where I'm coming from, hah.
  22. Hey, this is me.. I got a rough acceptance a few weeks ago at Cambridge but..the professors industry focused and I want to go into Academia.. Waiting really anxiously for my other top pick, Northwestern... Man, I check the portal so often, hah. I also applied to Cornell, Stanford, Berkeley, Univ. of Oregon, and Rice.
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