Strangefox

What's the deadline in this school? If there is still time - you should wait. If your transcripts or GRE scores get lost - you can always tell the program that you did not contact them earlier because they asked applicants not to do that. I mean - it is not your fault and schools must understand that. With GRE scores it is easier because you can let the school enter your GRE account and see your scores for themselves. But if you sent a new set of transcripts - it can take them a while to reach America. But you can always use FedEx. Even from another side of the globe it takes their parcel only a couple of days to reach America.

What's the difference between calling and e-mailing? I think what they meant is they do not want applicants to contact them with questions - no matter how they will do that...

Just a thought: I think you should not do that. Perhaps the professor will offer his/her help - and that will be great. But asking him/her about that directly... I would not do that. Be prepaid not just to tell about your academic interests, but also to ask questions about the program and may be the professor's works. In phone interviews they often ask you if you have any questions and having them is always good: it shows that you have done your homework, that you have researched the program and/or have read the professor's works - in other words, it shows that you very serious about applying to that place.

What can be stronger than saying that a student is an excellent student? I think US adcoms must undestand perfectly well that non-native English speakers can have other ways of addressing applicant's strengths. I mean, I think you worry too much about these things. If your recommenders describe you in a positive way that must be enough, no matter what words they use.

I see. Thanks!

Why can it provide such insight?

If it's optional, you don't have to give them an answer. Mostly it's just for their statistics - they want to know where else their applicants are applying. In this forum there are some old threads somewhere on this topic. You might try to find them. As far as I remember, people wrote there that there is nothing dangerous in answering this question.

Hey, hey, don't scare the people! I am sure your schools just have not updated your application status. They can be lazy that way

Well, you can contact your schools, explain the situation and ask very politely wether it will be fine if you self-report your scores and the official scores will arrive a little later. I believe some schools will be fine with that. You can also let them enter your account on the GRE official website and see your scores themselves.

They need 15 days just to grade the writing part of the test. That is already two weeks. And then they need at least two weeks more to send the scores to the schools. So it is 4 weeks in the best case scenario. And if some problems arise - that will be more than two weeks. One of the schools I am applying to says: "Applicants should allow at least six weeks for the GRE scores to be processed and received." At least! So may be I was optimistic when I wrote "4 to 6 weeks"...

The schools that you will choose will see all your scores. They won't receive scores only if they are more than 5 years old. It can take the scores from 4 to 6 weeks to reach the designated schools.

Well, of course, you do not have to give too much details. After all, you are not a fortune teller! Just explain in passing what do you need a PhD degree for. Do you want to be a researcher? Stay in academia? Or may be you do not plan to work in universities after you graduate. Do not spend an entire paragraph explaining those things. But It should be clear from your SOP what are you future career plans and why getting a PHD is an important step in doing what you want to do with your life.

Frankly, I have not heard anything like that. Perhaps it is true about your field? You are free to mention it or not to do that - whatever you think is better. If your teaching led you to your current research interests - you can surely mention that in passing.

Agreed. She is a faculty member now and she will stay one while on sabbatical.

I believe they expect you to tell only about major weaknesses so if you don't have those, just do not write anything about weaknesses at all. In my opinion, instructions for writing a SOP that some schools give on their websites are more like guidelines, not rules. Admissions committees expect you to write about some really serios things, like very low GPA or GRE scores. If your application does not have such major flaws, just concentrate on your strengths and do not worry Good luck!

My writing sample, SOP, diversity statement are all double spaced and in 12 size font. I have read several times that it is the best combination for application materials. Probably some graduate coordinator has also told me that... I am not sure now. Anyway, I am sure that double space will be a perfect choice. As for the font size, there might be different opinions.

Oh, it seems you asked not about CONTACTING professors but about MENTIONING them Sorry I did not read your question carefully enough Hope my advice will be of some help to you, anyway.

First, it depends a lot on your field of study. I have recently found out that those applying to PhD programs in English must not try to contact professors. On the other hand, if you are in sciences, you are strongly recommended to do so. Second, that is exactly why you should contact professors - to learn if they are leaving the year you hope to enroll! If they are - just do not apply to this school, you will save time and money.

Your scores are not too bad. You can apply this year anyway, may be you will get in. I think if you have a good writing sample and SOP and other parts of your application are fine, your chances are OK. It won't hurt to try this year, even if you will have to apply again next one. IMHO

I have asked the same thing some time ago:

You can mention research opportunities (labs, research centers), facilities, libraries or equipment... It depends on your field of study.

Well, some programs say, for example: "Writing samples are optional but recommended". May be it is the same with GRE scores there...

I believe that the best person to ask about that is the graduate coordinator of this program Send him/her an e-mail with this question!

A person asked here some time ago if 15 schools is fine (for the same reason) and people told him that it's ok Eight is definetely fine. Professors can use the same templates and the same letters, and submitting them is not likely to be very difficult.

Well, considering the fact that you will submit only a part of your article and that adcom member will probably want to know what the rest of it is about and what your general idea is - including the abstract does not seem unnecessary to me.