warpspeed

You need to resend them. They should be in their original envelopes. You can call the schools and perhaps ask for an extension, but this is most likely mentioned in their application that they should be mailed straight from the registrar or in their sealed envelopes with notary to prevent tampering.

I don't know anything about these forums or what a red mark is/means, so I'll just disregard that comment towards me since it just leaves me confused. I'm guessing it means a thumbs down? If so, if you get that upset about an internet forum/what strangers think, maybe you should log off for a few days. It was mostly meant in jest, but I was changing the bridge for your analogy. You were comparing a process, not the product. The GRE doesn't want to know how you got to a writing style/how hard it was for you/how long you studied/what your grades in composition are/how many papers you've published/etc, its about the finished product. And whether a finished product is a a masterpiece (good, intelligent academic writing) or chopsticks (gre writing), a truly gifted writer will be able to produce it in the time constraints. If two writers can compose the same quality work, but one produces it faster, in the GRE's and academia's eyes, who is more valuable?

all my vandy information has been updated super fast :/

are you implying that mozart wouldn't be able to play chopsticks?

McGill's is just dumb, illogical and I had to do it twice because they don't message you your log in information and its not retrievable until you submit your application. ASU doesn't send Letter of Rec until you've submitted your Statement, which absolutely sucked.

They aren't all "egraders" or "computer graders," my best friend's mom grades AWAs for ETS. She's been a Rutgers composition professor for YEARS. And from what she's told me, every essay gets a once over with human eyes. I know its a frustrating test, but this really seems like you're trying default the possibility of you getting any score under perfect as "the computer's fault" or "ETS's fault," when in reality, it's not. This is the game, play it their way or don't play it all. Furthermore, it irritates me that people think that just because they have high verbal scores means they got cheated on the AWA. Writing and verbal test very different things. I have a perfect score on the writing and a slightly above average (~80% percentile) verbal. Good writers are able to adapt to the needs of their work. A need here is to adapt to their dry style. If you can't change your writing style on the fly to a very basic, run of the mill standard, then really how good fo a writer are you?

I originally had 10 now I'm down to 6 schools. They're all top of my field so not getting in anywhere is COMPLETELY a possibility. However, I'm not into doing the whole "I'll get a phd anywhere" theory so if it takes another year, so be it. Hopefully it doesn't.

Hello all, I'm writing because I just realized that even though these courses are listed on my official transcript from my degree granting school, I technically have attended two other universities for 6 week summer courses. Do I need to send these transcripts along as well or should I simply forward them on a case by case basis and ask each of my six schools individually?

Also, take a practice test (I liked princeton reviews that came with their book) that breaks down your answers into question types. For me, I was getting all my sentence completions right from the beginning so there was no need to waste time on those studying. Study vocabs, bridges and how to read for answers. Also, it should be worth noting that a lot of time you generally just do better the second time a round. I brought my score up 90 pts in verbal without studying almost at all. And a 120 in math. Just by focusing on how I was taking the test and not the material.

PM Me Its not too long i promise.

Has anyone figured out how to send LOR requests on the ASU server? None of my professors I listed have gotten them, does it not send out until I complete the entire application? wondering if I'm just missing something really obvious here...

My biggest advice is be yourself. When I went to visit my top choice earlier this semester, my discussion with their graduate adviser extended far beyond just academia. We talked about all sorts of things and at the end he said that he was glad I came to speak to him (we spoke for over an hour and a half) and that he could tell my personality would be a great fit with the program and that that held a lot of weight. Granted they have a pretty unique program with a low admittance rate, but they do have a LOT of applicants. Also, speak with as many people as you can. I spoke with 5 professors ( as encouraged by their director of grad studies) and even though 3 of them and I didn't sync on research topics, they all said they were very happy I came and spoke to them ( I met with them each for about an hour or so). Good programs WANT the best students, but they also want stable people that mesh with their department. You're an investment for them (at least in my field where they fully fund most/all students plus stipend), they should treat the interview/meeting as such. That's not at all to say you should be high and mighty, but remember, as much as they're picking you, you're also picking them.

Yeah I may mark off Yale all together for fit reasons. Harvard I have excellent fit with a few people and my adviser teaches there on his sabbatical and is making calls for me after apps are turned in (as well as with Chicago). I'm not concerned with the rest of my package, just about my package getting seen!

Edit:: Retook the GRE today and got a 1240 (550V 690Q), got a 6 AWA on the last test and expect about the same. I should be okay, right?

Do anthropology departments have harsh cut offs (as in throw them straight in the trash pile if they're too low) like other studies I'm reading about? I've got an 1100 and a 6 AWA and I feel that's the weakest part of my application besides my 3.48 GPA. I'm nervous that it'll get me cut before they see my application! I'm applying to programs like WashU, Chicago, UCLA, Harvard, etc. Should I be concerned?

Neither of the SUNYs are near NYC (both are about an hour and a half or more train ride from the city) and while the cost of living is higher, its not like NYC at all. Stony Brook has a GREAT campus and a good reputation in the area. Being close to NYC also gives you a lot of networking opportunities. I don't know about CS but most of their science programs are good.

Just to add a note, I recently did a pre-application interview with a top 10 school (top 3 in my field) and met with 5 of their faculty members individually. All my meetings were at least an hour and 2 of the individuals weren't even on my list of realistic advisors, more of reaches in regards to common interests. Even while talking it became clear we didn't have matching interests, but they were EXTREMELY positive and happy I took the time to meet with them, even thanked me a few times (which was funny because I was thanking them!). They were also very encouraging about my application, even though I wouldn't be their student. Bottom line, good universities want good students for ALL of their faculty and will put in that time to speak and meet with them. Also, I think it makes you look foolish if you DON'T ask about funding. That's an important part of choosing a graduate program! I wouldn't come off the bat asking for offers, but asking general funding questions about the program only makes you look like a student who is truly evaluating their program as serious decision. Also, the Director of Graduate studies at mentioned program seemed extremely impressed when I told him my potential program list. He actually complemented me on my selections and it seemed to make a positive impression.

Hey guys! I'm beginning to draft my SOPs and I'm having a little bit of an issue writing them. I guess my biggest issue is I don't know how or where to start. Should there be some sort of anecdotal introduction or should I dive right into my research interests? Does anyone have advice for structure or even better, a sample SOP they could show me? I'd be happy to do it via email or private message if you don't want to post it, I just seem to be having a little trouble getting started. Thanks!

Alright, so I'm visiting my top University in a week and a half. I am already meeting with my top choice adviser (who also is the Dean of Graduate Studies) and he suggested that I contact other professors I'd like to meet with directly. I haven't heard back from them yet. It was their first week of classes last week (so I understand they're busy) but I'm traveling across to visit this campus so I'd really like be able to meet up with them. Should I re-email them, or email the Dean and ask if there's a better way to communicate with them as I haven't heard back from them? I emailed them on the 22nd, so it's been a little over a week. However, I'm visiting a week from Thursday, so in 9 days.

Well, exactly what the title is. Should I email the director of graduate studies and the department first and then contact the specific individual or can I skip straight to that person?

So, I have at least one pending publication (potentially being published multiple times for the same body of research, within my university and in a historical journal) that will be official by the time grad applications begin. However, it is not within my future field of research. Should I be looking to do a piece as my writing sample within that field (Andean) or is what i have (historical archaeology) okay to apply with being that it iwas completely original work? I did my field school within my future field of research and worked with some reputable people, so I do have experience. I'm also doing independent studies on published Andean articles/literature, which will be on my transcript as well. I'm trying to work with some local museums that have artifacts but its hard to get big museums to write back about access.

I am applying for a Ph.D. in Anthropology (Archaeology) to several well known schools for Pre Colombian Andean archaeology. I did my field school abroad in Peru with a well known professor and author in Andean archaeology and I feel as though I made a very good impression on him, both socially and academically. Unfortunately, I do no attend the school that he teaches at. I attend a smaller program that is well known for historical archaeology, specifically African diaspora in the northeastern United States. This is also the topic of my honors thesis (which is in the process of being published and presented in several places). I am, of course, nervous that I will be edged out by students who attended strong Pre Colombian schools. My first LOR will be from my adviser, a well known name in historical archaeology who also teaches in his sabbatical semesters at one of the schools (Harvard) I'm applying to. He is well known in historical archaeology, has done field work with me and we are very close. He probably knows me the best out of any professor I've had in school and also advised my honors thesis, which he is referencing in his own works. My second LOR will be from another anthropology professor who advised my initial efforts on my thesis as part of our senior seminar class. She was extremely impressed and would go to LOR#1 writer weekly and tell him how fantastic I was (which was fascinating because I didn't think she even liked me). She also has connections and has been invited to speak at a school I am applying to (Vanderbilt). My third letter is very tricky. I would really like to get my letter from the professor who advised my field school as he personally knows and works with many of the advisors I'm applying under. As I stated, he liked me, and I picked up material very quickly with him. The only problem is he is kind of flakey. He's hard to get a hold of even when you're living in a field house with him, let alone across the country (his school is in southern California and I'm in New York). I really feel like he would be the best LOR but I'm nervous that it may be very difficult. He had three TA's (all PhD candidates), two of which I worked very closely with and have good personal relationships with them. One TA invited me personally to work on her excavations this summer, however due to funding we had to scrap the project to their field school so we were not able to attend. My dilemma is whether I should spend my time chasing after this professor for the LOR (which I'm sure he'd be happy to write, he told me he would last year, however he is very busy) or if I should simply ask his TA who invited me back. I have thought about starting early and having him send me the recommendation and I submit it for him, however I am not sure that this is possible for every school. One option is that I ask both and send in the 4th letter as a supplemental item to my application just in case the professor can not. The TA would be the only person without a PhD writing a LOR. What do you think? TIA PS. This is for fall 2011, so applications are not due for 7 months, plenty of time to start chasing if that is the best decision.