waddle

No. You don't need to talk about it.

The Embark platform's text-entry is terrible. "Please list your course history, including a description of the course content, whether it was an undergraduate or graduate course, and how many times your dog ate your homework. Oh, by the way, do this in 32 characters."

Brilliant! Hmm, can we assume that a citation is an event for which the occurrences are randomly distributed across time, and therefore follows a Poisson distribution? But then we'd have to account for time passed since publication, since papers get cited less as time goes on, and for the increase in researchers since the '60s ... oh man, this is becoming a complicated statistical problem ... any statisticians care to help us out? P.S. One of my potential advisors has 404 publications according to Google Scholar. Not counting the most highly-cited paper (1500+), his 'C2B2 index' is 160--and that's only counting the 25 most-highly cited papers! Yeah, I don't think I'm going to go through them all ... P.P.S. coffeecoffeebuzzbuzz, I hope you don't mind me calling your index the 'C2B2 index' ... P.P.P.S. I found a pretty awesome metrics program, aptly called Publish-or-Perish, that can do some of this for ya ...: http://www.harzing.com/pop.htm

40-hour workweek decently-salaried job now versus 60-hour workweek minimum wage grad student stipend for 5 years, with a kinda-sorta-not-really-better 2-year postdoc, and thereafter a slim chance of actually getting a quasi-permanent tenure-track position paying a somewhat-decent salary (but still with a 60-hour workweek)? Take the job. (Great, thanks. Now I'm second-guessing my Ph.D. applications. Got any openings at Microsoft you can hook me up with? )

I honestly don't know. It's just that so many things in the CSU are built around making this cutoff or that cutoff; everything's hard and fast. Doing a postbac program likely helps--often it's the stepping stone to a masters, and considering your postbac grades are better than your undergrad, it might be taken into account. I have a feeling this is especially true if you are applying to the masters program at the school where you did your postbac work. I also think that if you do have some work experience in the area, then you can show you're serious about this, and that you can apply the concepts, even if your transcript is spotty. (My impression is that these sorts of programs are more professionally-focused, rather than research-based (am I correct?).)

It's not so much of a will-I-get-in kind of thing as much as a do-I-make-the-cutoff situation, in your case. Have you checked the minimum requirements for GPA at these programs? I believe most CSU graduate programs require a 2.75 minimum--correct me if I'm wrong. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but C+'s on your postbac coursework? That's not going to go down well with admissions committees ... Nonetheless, good luck! waddle P.S. I am not familiar with stats/actuarial sciences, but I'm assuming the game of admission here is similar to those of other masters programs I've seen.

You'll be fine. People have had much worse (). EDIT: Erm, I mean, they'll be, like, "OH, MY EYES!! BURN THE APPLICATION!! BURN IT!!!1 MUAHAHAHAHAHA!". But seriously, considering a lot of professors don't even know the full name of their department (e.g. 'Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences' vs. just 'Geology'), just chill.

∞. You get different questions because it's computer-adaptive. That is, the difficulty of the next question presented depends on the difficulty of the questions you previously answered, and whether you answered them correctly or incorrectly. Honestly, I would just take the PowerPrep tests twice: once when you've just started preparing for the GRE (maybe 2-3 weeks before the test) and the second time a few days before the GRE.

You'll be fine. Hey, if I (think I) have a shot at moving from biochem to geosci, then you would definitely be competitive for cog psych Ph.D. programs. I can't comment directly on psych programs, but if they operate roughly the same as life science programs, then you won't have much of a problem switching fields. You just need to demonstrate that you actually understand the field (via your SOP and GRE subject score). Perhaps the psych people in this forum have a more informed opinion...

One of the only things holding me back from posting too much is the fear of landing on this list.

Welcome! Take a look at some of the sample emails here: http://sites.google.com/site/gradappadvice/downloads http://science-professor.blogspot.com/2007/12/writing-to-me.html This is a good read, too: http://science-professor.blogspot.com/2009/09/what-to-expect-when-youre-clueless.html If there's anything that still confuses you after reading these, feel free to ask!

Yay! When I got my current research position, I emailed the professor cold (wasn't even in the same department/major). For reference for the future, here was the email I sent (I'm from a no-name state school, though, so I'm expecting that the expectations are slightly different). It's certainly not a masterpiece, but it serves the purpose--and that's really all that matters. Then you go meet with the professor. Bring your CV. Most won't look at it, but some professors will. I would inquire about the research first, and ask about the position later. They will expect that if you are interested in their research (and that they spend the time to meet with you), that you actually want to do research with them. Most professors will--sometime in the conversation--bring this up. If they don't, then just ask if they have any opportunities for undergraduate research. In those words. If they say no, ask if they can recommend another professor who might have opportunities. Usually professors like to have students be interested in their research. *for an explanation, see the " thread.

The earth sciences programs don't often do formal interviews, I think. Virtually all biology & biomedical sciences programs do some form of interview prior to admission. My hunch is that the programs that admit students without a prearranged advisor (e.g. in the life sciences, each incoming student generally does one or two rotations before choosing a thesis lab) do interviews because they want to see if the student can be compatible with the faculty in general. Also, I think most applicants in these fields won't have had any contact with a potential advisor prior to applying. In fields where a specific match of research interests is crucial (e.g. in the earth sciences, where getting in touch with potential advisors (or at least, trying to ... ) is the norm), I don't think there are formal interview days, but they do often arrange informal 'visit' days for applicants (but at this stage, most of them are already admitted).

gallifrey, First, take a deep breath. And another. Okay, now I've been in your position before. I was absolutely mortified by the thought of having to ask around for research positions, and kept hanging onto this crazy idea that somehow, a good research opportunity would come find me. Heh. Doesn't work like that. I finally got a research position at my home campus in my junior year. You haven't told us what field you're in, what year you are in or what type of school you go to (though my impression is that you attend Big Research U.), but I can certainly help (especially if you're in one of the STEM fields). Draft an email to a professor whose work you're interested in, and post (or PM me if you don't feel comfortable posting). Redact the identifying information. If you want to do this, do it by Monday the 10th. I can revise it and have it back to you pretty quickly (I should be on every so The GradCafe every day or so, and I've done this for some of my friends, too--you're not alone). Look it over, make any neccessary changes, and then squeeze your eyes shut and click that send button. Repeat for every email you want to send. Don't be turned off by professors who don't respond or who don't have any openings. Sometimes, they're busy, and if they don't have any openings, thank them and move on. I did this a few times. It's really hard the first time you do it, and you'll feel crappy. But be honest with yourself; if there's no position for you, it's not your fault. Just keep searching; it gets easier and easier. Better yet, ask the professor to suggest others with whom you might work. Try to see your professors as just another human who likely has a spouse & kids, not some towering authority figure that eats undergrads for lunch and regurgitates cutting-edge research. Also, undergrads aren't expected to be knowledgeable about a specific research area. That's what grad school is for. Just be enthusiastic about learning, and you'll be just fine. waddle

Guys, I'm screwed.

I would call one or two of your intended programs (and thereafter email, so that you get it in writing) and ask about this. I don't have direct knowledge of graduate admissions at the CSU, but I'm pretty sure a large chunk of the selection process is based on following instructions. You won't believe how many students haven't learned to do that; I don't know whether this is a bane unique to large public systems, or what, but it sometimes gets to the point where faculty just throw up their hands in despair. Of course, conflicting instructions don't help either. Often, the mismatch is a result of miscommunication (or outright uncooperativeness) between the administration (based in some large administration building that oversees ~20 campuses) and a smaller department a few levels removed from the Chancellor's jurisdiction. So yeah, you should probably call and ask.* It'll save you from pulling your hair out. *If you're calling a central office (e.g. CSUMentor help line), I recommend using multiple phones at the same time ... sorta like parallel processing. That way, they might not forget you're on hold ... at least, one of your phones!

$1.0 x 106 (yay for significant figures and scientific notation!) approximate breakdown: $350: application fees for five programs (one was waived, though)$300: GRE General & Subject Test$15: something like six or seven transcripts (maybe it's because my transcripts are terrible quality, but they're only $4, less if you buy in bulk!)$1,000,000: difference in life earnings vs. if I'd gone to med school (assuming a 20-year career at a $70k/year difference, minus the costs of med school ~$300k, and the grad student stipend ~$100k for five years) edit: @ElectedSilence: I'm from a public system, too, but not the UC.

I'm not in engineering but this is pretty common anyways, so I'll answer.Yes, it means you're a serious applicant. They wouldn't pay for your trip if they didn't want you.Search the forums for interview tips. You'll find lots of information.Yeah, it's an interview. Good luck.

Ditto.

katerific: here's another: -- from: http://www.facebook....9212&topic=6184

waddle's statement-writing algorithm (adapted from the Feynman problem-solving algorithm): Write down the prompt. Think very hard.Write down the response. System requirements: 2 weeksyour local librarya healthy dollop of copypasta from your NSF GRFP application, stirring/mixing wellLeechBlock, for denying yourself access to The GradCafe Anyone care to post their method to guide this poor soul to The Way?

University of Big Shots: Prof. Applicants R. Hilarious squints at waddle's transcript. "Teh Suck ... State University at ... Nowhere? Pshaw! He thinks that's a real school? Hawhawhawhawhaw! Teeheeheehee! Oh man, that's the best laugh I've had in days." Leading Science Institution: Placing katerific's oh-so-awesome application in the 'admit' pile, Prof. Y-Do I. Bother picks up waddle's, expecting something just as amazing. Flips quickly through it, and thinks, "SON. I AM DISAPPOINT." This one goes on the pile marked 'document disposal'. Nobel Factory University: After reading through waddle's statement, Prof. I. M. Amazing gets up to grab a beer to wash out the bad aftertaste. She feels just a modicum of pity for the hapless chap who had the audacity to actually submit such a non-amazing application. University of Badass Research: Before sitting down, Prof. Reject N. Repeat decides to automatically reject every third application that comes his way, and only review the rest. This will save him time, allowing for him to pack a few extra rounds of foosball into his busy schedule (his defense has gotten a bit rusty over the holiday break). After disposing of 1/3 of the applications on his desk, he picks up the first remaining application. It's waddle's. Midway through reading it, Prof. Repeat starts screams, "WHATISTHISIDON'TEVEN!", tears the application into shreds, and out of anger, shreds all the other applications, too. Thereafter, he calmly gets up and walk towards the break room, planning to pwn some n00bs (grad students). Lotsa Money University: Prof. Should B. Retired sits down and starts working through his inbox. "Oh hey, an applicant. I guess we'll accept her." Then goes on to accept every other applicant, thinking it'd be fun to see how many clueless new grad students he could pack into an office before they figured out what had happened. Heck, maybe he could strike up a collaboration with the psychology faculty and get the experiment published too. And apply for a grant. Of course, the money would go toward getting a sedan chair. With all that extra grad student labor, he wouldn't even need a car! (Oooh, this is an interesting train of thought!) Heheheheh ... zzzzzz. I would put down more scenarios, but alas, I ran out of applications. P.S. To the other applicants at UBR: Oops, sorry, guys.

Oh hey, a real solid-earth-tectonics-structural geology person! (You're interested in, like, erm, rocks ... and stuff, right?) Anyhow, welcome, paige! Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for you (and katerific already plugged the Earth Science subforum), but you could probably shoot off an email to the department secretary. They usually won't mind if you inquire about applications. At least, my questions have always gotten fairly prompt responses (within a few days) from the geoscience admissions coordinators. Good luck!