Bukharan

I like you. Let's be friends.

Irish economy

If you are applying for midlevel programmes, sure you have chances. You need to upset that GPA by excellent LORs and a SOP. Your GRE seems fine. But seriously, work on your SOP - it should be amazing! Perfect grammar, emphasis on your research experience, no apologies for anything, be confident and professional. Make sure that native speakers read your SOP before you submit.

I honestly think it's fine. It is nice and polite. Just don't appear sycophantic in your e-mail. Then again, I am from the Old World and we are cute but awkward over here.

That report is beyond depressing. What are we doing with our lives?

star wars

God, you are spoilt by choice. Based on the questions you ask and the way you ask them, I think you already made up your mind and just need reassurance. It is a very serious decision that you have to make on your own. Personally, I'd go for the USA. But that's 'personally'.

I suggest the front page. Or perhaps the very first footnote (after the title of the chapter). Personally, I clarified that my writing sample was a chapter from a bigger work on the front page.

You have two excellent schools on your CV and good working experience - you probably have very good chances of getting into top schools. What you have to remember is that at the doctoral level, SOP and the 'fit' with the faculty matter as much if not more than your qualifications and work experience. You have plenty of time to think before the Fall 2012 Admissions cycle. Go to the schools' websites and study them carefully. Perhaps, there are universities other than Ivies that are great for what you want to study. Perhaps some Ivies don't even offer what you need. Also, if you could take GRE again and hopefully improve both your scores (which are ok, or even good, but not top), it would make you even a stronger applicant.

duty free

Alan Hollinghurst, 'The Line of Beauty'

It is kind of insane. I discussed it with my friends the other day and the conclusion was that if it was less absurd, say, if it wasn't Harvard and the kid wasn't as ambitious, public fury would have probably been over his head. But because it is so utterly absurd (the top school of the nation; prestigious fellowships; education that a few can even afford dreaming of), many do not tend to condemn him strongly and Harvard gets the full blame.

go girl

man up

I agree with your arguments. Not studying for GRE when you have a chance is careless and makes little sense. I started studying 5 months in advance. I learned infamous Barron's Word List by heart. All of it. I only spent like half an hour a day - when I was on the bus to work - so I didn't technically spent any 'real' time studying. It does work. Some people are naturally brilliant but most people need to work hard to get their perfect score.

I am not a major in Math but it seems to me that your profile is strong for the programmes in the universities you listed. Your GRE Verbal is impressive. You sure you are a scientist?

tasty chicken

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! May we all get what we want next year!!!

turn around

no kidding

Did you do your undergraduate studies in the States?

frozen foods

frozen foods

Paradise Now