matilda

"She speaks several different languages, and she knows about drugs...and she is a chemical engineer and had awesome grades in nuclear physics and radiochemistry...she comes from the countries of Third World...should we get her in, or consider her a national threat?"

Mine would be: "She is from.........??? Is this country on our planet?"

There are two rounds: one in January and then the next one is March - June-ish. In the first round, the US Fulbright commission looks at our apps during November and December and then makes recommendations for applicants to send to the host country. I believe I have passed that round They send about twice as many available grants. This means that if you make it past the first round, you have around a 50% shot at getting the Fulbright. The second round is based on each country's Fulbright commission looking at our apps. The point is that I am a non-US applicant. Meaning, I have applied to go to the USA. I guess the timelines are about the same for all of us....

I don't get the part about finalists? Then what? We are like IN...but not IN yet....what happens after we make it to the finals?

I would say: keep your head up and try to think of them as a step to get you to your degree...... but, I am not gonna say that. Because I have been in the situation. And it is ugly. And it makes you bitter and angry, and all you came there for is to work and be better, and to learn. But, you ended up in hating academia. My grandfather was a surgeon. He had a professor who literally told him: You will not become a doctor as long as I work on this Faculty of medicine. My grandfather tried to pass this professor's exam, but without success. He came into his office one day, and told him that he is the worst person and professor he ever had, that his behavior is unacceptable and HE IS GOING TO BECOME A DOCTOR ONE DAY, whether this professor liked it or not. He went to another state, passed his exams, and became a surgeon. You are better than that. I would listen to fuzzylogician's advice.

The good thing about all of this - is that I learned something. Even better thing is that they called me for an interview, so basically, my papers were good. Even though I know I made mistake. Thank you all for clarifying this to me.

Well, no, I was not based on TOEFL when I did research for the programs I'd like to attend, but still, I was wondering what is the "normal" average. Thank you for your response, it will be easier for me to work on the test now that I know that the score usually requested is about 90. Thank you!

I've passed to another round!!!!! My papers are going to be sent abroad, so here it goes : 2-3 months of waiting! But, still, I am so proud of myself!

So, what happened? Did you get the ETA in Bosnia?

Well, since I was looking for someone that REALLY works on what I am interested in, I looked at couple of their most recent papers, and overviewed some of the projects they did. If they sound appealing - you will read further. I haven't mention any of the things they did. I was let's say, more focused on myself, and what is my proposal, so that they see that I "do" the same thing. Or at least I am interested in. So, I didn't read like 100 articles, no. Just a couple.

Been on the interview!!!!!!! I don't know how much does this apply to you, since I am non-US applicant, but I can give you the highlights if anyone is interested...

I was wondering is anyone can tell me what is the lowest/most satisfying score in TOEFL iBT exam for applying to Masters program in the USA? You can go from top schools to safety ones. Any information is more than welcome. It is for research program, non-degree one. Thank you!

Te tell the truth, reading the previous post - I did ramble about myself...but, take that from someone that never had a chance to talk face-to-face to a professor from range of US universities. I was just honest. I said this is who I am, this is where I work, this is what I am currently working on. So, I admire your work on xyz matter, which is in collision of what I do right now, but on a broader level. Could you be interested in being my advisor, etc. I was VERY honest, simply because I did not know better. And the best school for my interest, and the best professor I can imagine - said: I would be happy to be your advisor. There are some good advices from other members on the forum, just read them, and follow your guts.

I did what the previous post mentioned - I contacted some of the prof.I found interesting to work with, and they replied!!! So go for it. It cannot do you any damage.

Just to add: I asked for my transcripts 5 months ago. They refused to give them to me. Explanation: I am the first person in the history of that Faculty that has been asking for something like that?! I needed my transcripts for a scholarship. I got them, eventually. After one month of practical begging.

Well, I am very calm. But, today....sorry, I am really pissed, and I know it shows, and I hate it that I feel this way, because the M.Sc. is my choice, my wish, my strive to work on myself, something that my heart and mind decided to do, something that I chose because of a great passion about the subjects offered, and....now? I feel ashamed that I cannot even explain it to my family, not to mention people that barely know me that I have been a student for three years and had only 6 courses so far, and my professors are "too busy" to teach the subjects they signed in for to teach??? I know that I look like have an attitude, but this today - really broke me down in pieces.

What should I do? Should I threat with a lawsuit?

We have like three courses each semester. Each course is held by a different teacher, but basically there are like 5 of them that teach through the whole M.Sc. program. Each of the professors has 2 subjects approx. I was supposed to have my coursework finished by beginning of 2009, but I have only had 2 semesters so far. Each of them lasted for one year. That is - ridiculous. And then, a year break. Explanation : the professors are too busy with undergrads. I was suppose to be done by now. I was supposed to have a degree in my pocket. But, they are not allowing me to take the coursework. Explanation: they are too busy. My whole year of classmates are on the same boat. Meanwhile, I applied for another MA, and I had it done in no time. I have a degree, I can go for a PhD if I want to, but the thing is that I started something and I really want to get it done! And , yes, this professor is the only one that teaches Semester No.3. How do I push this?

I have just been to the classes of the Semester No.1 and Semester No.2. That is 3 courses per each semester, which took my Faculty 3 years to teach. I cannot even tell you how pissed I am by writing this. Now, I want to take my Semester No.3 courses, and the Dean (who is actually supposed to teach those two bloody subjects) kicked me out of her office today. I applied for a research on Harvard, Johns Hopkins, North Carolina on CH, and all of those great teachers there responded like :" I would love to have you here!!!!!". I feel ashamed.

Well, some research includes pots and pans on my Faculty (I come from a Balkan University which is poor). Trust me, I wouldn't know how to write an essay, and the research is something that I fear the most. Including interviews. Because no one taught me how to think with my head.

Oh, you should check out the same issue I had.... It is posted on another topic , but still, here is a resume: I applied for a Masters program 3 semesters+1 one semester ( 3 sem. course and 1 sem. thesis writing). The problem is that each of my semesters lasted for 1 year?! Because of ignorant professors saying "I don't have time...." to the Dean who kicked me out of her office this morning (she is my 3.sem. professor) saying: "I don't have the time for this.....". I had to pay in advance for each of these semesters, my thesis proposal is in my research study objectives proposal for numerous scholarships....yet, I have to put in my CV that I am attending a M.Sc.Program that is lasting (so far) for 3 years..........and I barely see the end of it! It is 2007 when I got accepted, and now it is 2010 and I just had 2 semesters???!!!! I have a difficult time explaining to potential advisors that I am not an imbecil, that I have great grades on my exams, but it is the Dean, and her entourage of professors are too lazy. I already have one Masters, but I gave my money for this one, too! Tell me, is there a way out? Can you help me with advices, because I felt really humiliated by my DEAN KICKING ME OUT OF HER OFFICE, saying I am too busy to have students...and actually , it was her job/will/obligation to lecture me through 3 semester. I am very angry.

I should probably ask for the questions for the interview part on another topic, right? Thank you for your response.

So, here is the problem I have: I applied for a Masters program 3 semesters+1 one semester ( 3 sem. course and 1 sem. thesis writing). The problem is that each of my semesters lasted for 1 year?! Because of ignorant professors saying "I don't have time...." to the Dean who kicked me out of her office this morning (she is my 3.sem. professor) saying: "I don't have the time for this.....". I had to pay in advance for each of these semesters, my thesis proposal is in my research study objectives proposal for numerous scholarships....yet, I have to put in my CV that I am attending a M.Sc.Program that is lasting (so far) for 3 years..........and I barely see the end of it! It is 2007 when I got accepted, and now it is 2010 and I just had 2 semesters???!!!! I have a difficult time explaining to potential advisors that I am not an imbecil, that I have great grades on my exams, but it is the Dean, and her entourage of professors are too lazy. I already have one Masters, but I gave my money for this one, too! Tell me, is there a way out? Can you help me with advices, because I felt really humiliated by my DEAN KICKING ME OUT OF HER OFFICE, saying I am too busy to have students...and actually , it was her job/will/obligation to lecture me through 3 semester. I am very angry.