Kitkat

Has anybody here applied to or looking at a school that is asking for both? How did that go? It just seems like it is a bit much to me, in ways to stress yourself out. Although it also strikes me another way of trying to convince them that taking you is a good thing. Any thoughts from other people?

road warrior

You should also take a look over at this thread. Might make you feel less stressed out.

I saw this link to an interesting article in another part of the SoP subforum as well as a few other places with advice for SoP's and thought that this would also be a good place to link it. Its an individual committee members point of view about what they don't like to see in a SoP. Although there are a lot of comments to it that seem to give the impression that she is not the only one who feels this way on committees. Hope that it helps other people! http://chronicle.com/article/Leave-Dr-Seuss-Out-of-It/126098/

Confusing, conflicting directions make me paranoid.

general surgery

My kindergartner self was much wiser.

I know that the Ph.D programs that I am looking at, you get two masters on the way to completing the Ph.D. In many cases you can do a masters and get advanced standing, but going that route is normally done if you need to strengthen your application, for what ever reason. Also some people do a masters, and much later decide to go and do the Ph.D later, not having wanted to do so originally.

rebate check

Yeah, the track record is what I am wondering about, but I am also thinking if the PI that you end up working for, and the work that you have done might be more important getting a job or postdoc after you graduate. Or does the reputation of the school/program that you attend really matter as much as those factors?

Well I think it might all depend on what sub field you are looking at. Are you focusing more on geophysics? Then it might not be as much of a hindrance. If it doesn't work out this year, I would say just take a few classes in geology around the field you are interested in geo, in order to make your application stronger.

Did you only apply to those two schools? Wish you the best with Berkeley!

One of the schools that I am looking at is the Richard Guilder Graduate school, that is at the American Museum of Natural History .... its different from your normal grad school, but seems interesting. Its accredited and everything, and a good portion of the staff teaching there also teach at places like Columbia University in the grad school there. I was wondering if anyone goes there, knows someone who goes/went there at all, or heard anything at all about it. http://rggs.amnh.org/

I hope for all of you that this is not bad news yet. Although I am sure that it isn't. Waiting is always the worst. I have my fingers crossed!

modern art

I am in the same boat that you are in right now, I will be applying this fall for next year and am looking to start email profs (but I am in a different field, geosciences), but I will tell you about the advice that I have received. I think that it should be able to apply generally to people in most fields. Basically, look at what they are working at, get a good background feel for them. In the email, summarize what you like about their work, and why you are interested in them, let them know that you are looking that their program, and with them specifically. But also ask something along the lines of if they are taking on students to work with them. When you write up an email them, its fine, because it gives them time to respond to you in their own time. Let me know if that helps at all...

Cruise control

I am also looking to go into academia, but I will probably be applying to my own school for a MS just as a very extreme back up. But hopefully it won't be entirely necessary. ;-)

Since they are pre-application interviews, and some are with easy travel distance from me, at least the ones that I an looking at, does anyone have specific topics to talk about? Is it just a matter about why I am interested in their programs? Many of the programs I am looking at say that it is a good idea to contact them to look around and get to know the program even before applying. Any good areas in general to cover for this? Assuming that I have read certain professors background that looks similar to what I want to do? And advice on the best way to present oneself? How to put your best foot forward?

Are people here looking more at MA programs or PHDs at the moment? Or are people having a mix to cover all their bases? And I am glad to be hearing good stories so far!

Slight inflection

Curious to know how peoples applications are going at this point, and hope to hear later about the downs and hopefully lots of ups about the applications in the spring. So how is going right now for those of you who are applying already and still?

We don't have the honor society here. :-( But we do have our own geo club which is good, as they are currently looking to have a trip to Hawaii in Jan. which looks interesting, looking at all the volcanoes. We do also have the weekly seminar, some of which I have gone to, we did get someone from the USGS recently and that was fun.

Does anyone know how much they matter for geosciences in general? Along these lines, are there any geosciences honor societies? I have never heard of any, (would not be suprised since it is such a small field in comparison to other subjects) and I know in some other fields that this is a good thing to have on your CV/resume. Does anyone else have good ideas to get out to meet people in the field, get involved, get more experience? I want to know some of this to increase chances to get in, but also to be more sure of what I want to do for grad school.