fuzzylogician

Not for nothing, but I just ran into this interesting conundrum: I am teaching a large lecture-based class in a lecture hall on the other side of campus. Getting there involves a 5-minute trek across the not-so-well-plowed streets of the campus, and it's freaking cold so not wearing a coat and using my indoor shoes to get there don't sound like appealing options. So, those of you who've had profs teach courses like this recently, what do they do? Teach in their winter boots? Bring their indoor shoes and change shoes in class? I'm imagining male professors get more slack on this, so specifically what do female instructors do? I am finding this to be a ridiculous question, but also a serious one.

I have such papers but it's always just me and one other author (alphabetically before me) so that's pretty easy to handle. In my field alphabetical order doesn't really require more explanation, it's assumed that everyone contributed equally unless specified otherwise (caveat: on non-experimental papers; experimental papers are a whole other can of worms). I know some people who add a * next to the names of co-first authors and put at the bottom of the publication list on their CV text to the effect that "* = equal contribution" or "* = shared first authorship" or such like. My papers themselves say "authors contributed equally," usually also "mistakes are each other's," which is a running joke I have with one particular co-author who I have several papers with. I discuss these papers in research statements and the like as first-authored contributions, because that's exactly what they are, and to my knowledge, my letters of recommendation say the same. I also don't hesitate to discuss them in interviews and to submit them as writing samples (though I always make sure to also submit at least one non-co-authored publication). I guess I'm not sure what the question is. If I contributed equally and am considered a first author on the paper, why wouldn't I discuss it in statements and interviews?

Yep, that would be what I would do. Inquire about paid positions as well as volunteer opportunities, if those interest you. It may not be possible for you to be affiliated with or work for the lab, or there may not be any open spots, but you won't know unless you ask. Even if you can't get back into research, something you could think about is going to colloquia and other public events, both as a way to show your face around and to have some exposure to research, even if only passively. It'll be helpful for your SOP, too, so you can talk about the steps you've taken to get back in the field.

*thread moved to SLP forum, hopefully someone here knows.*

FYI you can get an automatic 6-month extension on doing your taxes by filing some form before the April 15 deadline. See here: https://www.irs.gov/uac/Extension-of-Time-To-File-Your-Tax-Return. I think you can do that without having your SSN/ITIN number. Good luck with your ITIN quest! Also don't get me started on ISO incompetence. At some point I needed a new I-20 because I ran out of signature space. There was obviously some mistake made somewhere along the process (never did find out what it was), because once that happened, for two and a half years--until I graduated--I would get sent to secondary inspection EVERY TIME I passed through an airport. And this continued for almost another whole year AFTER I graduated and wasn't even on a F-1 status because they failed to report something correctly to immigration. And then there was the time when they signed the form with the WRONG YEAR, which of course I didn't notice, so I got caught without an updated signature even though I'd actually gotten a new one like 2 weeks prior to that trip. I mean, come on!

This. I am not seeing why you feel the need to "tough it out." Professors are people too, you know. They get sick and they understand you might not be at your best when you have bronchitis. What would you possibly lose by emailing NOW to say you're sick and ask if the interview could be rescheduled for a later time in the week? Some professors check their email over the weekend so you might be able to resolve this this evening. If not, be ready tomorrow at 8am in case the interview can't be rescheduled, and do your best. As a side note, if you were a potential student who wanted to work with me, I'd be a whole lot more concerned about the fact that you think you need to lie to me and pretend everything is great when it's really not than that you got sick. Everyone faces setbacks (and in particular, everyone gets sick from time to time!), and what separates successful people from less successful ones is how they deal with them. You need to be able to admit you have a problem to get the help you need. People who pretend everything is just peachy when in fact they are drowning often have a tendency to get so bogged down it becomes so much harder (if not impossible) to help them, but if they'd just reached out when the problem first arose it would have been so much easier. So, if you pretend things are good now, why should I trust you not to do it in the future? I'd think twice about taking you on as a student, if it were me. Just my $.02.

It would probably help to say what field/program you are applying in, if you want to get any answers.

Well then you're using the job description that is commonly used in your lab. You're not misleading anyone. I don't really understand what a "true" lab assistant means -- is that in opposition to the "fake" kind? Getting paid or not doesn't change what you actually did in the lab. I assume your SOP describes in detail what you did in the lab, the research you contributed to, the skills you learned, etc., and that you got a nice detailed letter from the PI also attesting to the same. What matters is what you did and how you talk about it, not the official job description. Yes, you really do. Seriously, I don't get it. You're only psyching yourself out about things you can't change. Stop, now.

I am failing to see the problem.

May all your terrible mistakes be as terrible as this one and no worse. That is to say: this is not a terrible mistake, not even close. I don't even know if I'd call it a mistake at all. You're not a native speaker; your transcripts are clear about your degree, and the wording on your CV, while not the best to choose, won't cause you any harm. Just change it for future reference so it looks more like something that a North American audience will understand. Your intended wording sounds fine. And in the name of all that is holy, people, please, stop reading your submitted materials.

FWIW at my school they wouldn't issue you this letter unless you had an on-campus job other than TA/RA, so I guess this is up to the school's discretion. I've also heard of schools refusing to issue students J-1 visas even though they would have been eligible (and said students hence opting to accept another school's offer, so their spouses could get a EAD and work, which you can only do with the J but not F visa).

Things might have changes since when I started school, but back in the day being a TA/RA was insufficient to get a SSN, and most international students I knew who were on an F-1 visa didn't. I also recall that students on a J-1 could get a SSN a lot more easily, and the ones who were on that visa all did (though I don't know what they had to do). At my school, at least, the relevant people who issue the SSN (IRS? I don't recall) would be on campus once or twice a year, so you could do the whole procedure on campus instead of going to whatever government office you'd have to visit. I was working for pay for my department and that allowed me to get a SSN, and that's what I did. It was very low hassle, but I suppose that's really only because my department and school were so supportive.

The professor is in has these very rigid rules that YOU MUST FOLLOW OR YOU WILL SURELY FAIL (visit the link to see what the all caps are about). Life is not really like that. There is more than one way to do most things. I suggest checking the format of the CVs of selected people in your field--e.g., a few POIs, a few recently hired assistant profs, and some students, both beginning and about to graduate--to get a feel for what people actually do, if this is a concern. I guarantee you some (or all) of those people will not follow Dr. Kelsky's advice on how to format a CV. Re: OP's question, the Peer-Led Team Learning experience sounds to me like it could go under Teaching, even though it's not the usual standing in front of the class teaching.

Glad to hear about the first two schools. The third school is being ridiculous so I hope that gets resolved. You had everything in on time, it shouldn't be your problem that they didn't process it on time. I don't know if you're talking to someone at the Graduate School or the department, but if it's the Graduate School and they end up giving you trouble, you'll have nothing to lose if you try to involve someone from the department. Maybe they can help. If it's the department, then frankly they are giving off red-flag vibes and I'd think about whether this seems like a reasonable institution you'd want to attend.

How about you trace your citations back and find the original sources? Should be a useful skill for someone who wants to be a historian.

You don't need the card, really. You just need the number. You're not supposed to carry the card around with you (in fact, you're supposed to keep it somewhere safe in your home) and I can't remember ever having to show it to anyone. If you still think you want one, check out the information here: (select "adult", "replacement", "noncitizen") https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm

First off, having applied before shouldn't matter, since your application now will be substantially different and stronger. If you were near the top and just didn't make it, they might even remember your name and your stronger application now will only help. If you were in the middle of the pack, they might not remember, so you will essentially have a clean slate. I'm not really an expert on Spanish/Hispanic linguistics, but if it's like similar programs that I know more about, then prior contact with POIs and visiting are not required at all. My program did have visitors, on rare occasions, but I didn't see any correlation between visitors and admitted students. I think it'd be much more important for you to work on aspects of your future application: think about who your three LOR writers are and establish a relationship with them now, so that they can write you strong and detailed letters next year; once you are done with your first year, spend time considering which paper should be your writing sample, and take the time to revise it according to comments you got, then get feedback on your revision. Generally, think about your goals for the PhD, so your SOP can be more detailed and targeted. Research the schools you're planning to apply to, so you can have a strong fit paragraph. Those are the things that will get you in. Contact with POIs is nice, but if your application isn't strong, it won't be enough.

Well, it makes sense, but it conveys exactly as much information as this sentence: Some of these studies are now in the stage of manuscript preparation. The second half of your sentence is obvious and hence trivial. And once you cut the sentence in half, you notice that perhaps you want to describe what exactly is being written up (presumably the results of (some of) the studies, contributing to some theory you have in mind, and maybe you want to specify the journals and/or time frame for submission (though that depends on the field and the time frame so maybe not). Hard to know from just one sentence without context, maybe you've already described the results, etc. elsewhere.

Congrats on your interviews! This is definitely a good problem to have, so I'm sure you'll do great. Good luck!

If you're worried, contact the schools you applied to and follow up on this. I'd wait until after the new year, since it's likely that reports sent right before Christmas haven't been processed yet, even if they arrived. I don't really know the answer to your report date question, but I don't think it really matters. I think it'll be sufficient to say in an email/phone call that you believe the report was recently sent and you'd like to verify it arrived because of a possible confusion regarding your name.

Well then there may still be hope, if no one's heard from this program. Not getting your hopes up is always good, if you can swing it. That way, an invitation is a happy surprise and the lack thereof isn't a huge blow. Easier said than done, I know. Good luck, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

I put mine on the left but I don't think there is a rule about this. What do your professors do? Or, the POIs at schools you might apply to for a PhD? How about students who are about to graduate or very young assistant professors? The best indication of how things are done in your field will come from just observing what people are already doing. One of two things will happen: either you discover that most/all profs do one thing, and then you can just go ahead and do that, or you'll discover that people do different things, and that would mean that you can just do whatever you want and you're not breaking any rules.

I'm sorry, but with a sample size n=3 in a totally different field you feel confident enough to provide an opinion about every program in every university in Canada, and to dismiss the experience of those who actually applied in the field in question? I am not an expert on Canadian Math programs, but I think MathCat's post sounds about right: it's not as competitive as the top US programs, but not a free for all either. I'm a little surprised that you don't consider a 10% acceptance rate competitive. You do understand that means that 90% of people get rejected? I'm sure there are more selective programs, but we don't live in a "very rigorous"/"everyone gets in" dichotomy. There is more gradience. Yes, 25% means some people who wouldn't even get interviews at the very top schools might get in, but even more people will get rejected. It's less selective, but not unselective. To the OP, sounds like you're doing the right things: getting some research experience, making sure your GPA is up. LORs are going to be crucial, so give some thought to who you might ask; make sure you have at least 3 people in mind, and try to develop a relationship with them, so that they can write you strong letters when the time comes.

All we can do is guess, but I would say if you don't hear next week then you are probably not invited. I would guess invitations have already gone out for a visit 4 weeks away, but certainly less than 3 weeks notice wouldn't seem reasonable. Some international applicants need to arrange for a visa, and even 4 weeks isn't really much of a notice. Have you checked the results survey to see if invitations for your school have gone out already?

I highly doubt it. I'm also not sure how you'd argue that a devaluation of your home country's currency is relevant. You live in the US, that's where you pay rent, buy food, etc., and that's also where you get paid. US dollars in, US dollars out; the value of another currency shouldn't play any role. If you are somehow still using the banking system in your home country instead of having your paycheck deposited to a local bank account, now is the time to open that local bank account and stop relying on international transfers (which is never a good idea anyway).