limeinthecoconut

Sawadeekha again, catalyst. Just a couple of questions-- does your government scholarship offer lapse, should you not get in this application cycle? What are the conditions of this scholarship? If the scholarship will lapse, should you not get in this application cycle, I would suggest that you do apply to more schools, just so that you can keep this scholarship. You never know if you will get it again next year. However, if the scholarship will be there regardless, I think waiting for one more cycle, should you not get in this time round is not too bad. There is little point going to a program that you don't really want to be in. Six years of misery is long enough.

Hmm, I am guessing that it should be easier to get into these schools, given that these schools don't have to fund you? Did you inform these schools that you don't need funding? That's just my guess. Good luck!

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Oh yeah, I totally second that. Maybe it's all the better to scare us with.

*gulp* I hope so! *back to nervous nail-biting*

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Bleah, I did the same. No reply, though.

Inflation?

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Hmm... Based on my uninformed opinion, I don't see why passion and/or ability to teach should be a liability! While it is true that research is a large component of doctoral graduates, I am guessing that many are also hired for their ability to teach upon graduation. At least in my university, professors who are not able to teach are seen as a liability. Conversely, effective professors have been regarded as assets. I am guessing this is particularly true for the humanities. In any case, a couple of schools that I applied to asked my LoR writers to assess my ability as a TA as part of the LoR, so I think you should be fine. Good luck with your applications!

I am not quite sure if the advice I give will be useful, but in humanities, you basically list some faculty, to demonstrate fit between your research interests and the university's faculty. I did not contact all the people I listed, but I listed them to indicate my interest in any case. Oh well... Your guess is as good as mine.

Haha, actually, I committed myself to running a half-marathon as well. The things that waiting does to one.

I am distracting myself from the waiting, by undertaking the task of arranging my some 5000 photos. Happy New Year everyone!

I don't think there are many limits for re-taking GREs, except the ETS limits, i.e. no more than 5 times a year, and no more than once a calendar month. But I think the schools do get to see all your tests taken in the last five years.

Are there places that don't require the GRE? You could also apply to one of these places. Good luck!

Wow, lauras, thanks for reposting it here. It was informative, and an interesting read. Not quite sure if I am feeling comforted, though. :wink: *bites nails*

I'm not sure if it seems obnoxious, but I'd definitely send in a scanned copy if I found myself in your situation. Given that this is probably not the first time ETS screwed up, I think the schools will understand, and your scanned copy should suffice, until ETS has things sorted out. Just my two cents' worth.

I don't know about the GRE subject test, if there is even one (so, I am in the humanities), but with your interest in math, I am fairly sure you can ace the quant section in the GRE general-- it's dead easy. It's not that different from the math section in the SAT, I think. Good luck, and hope things work out for you!

It might depend on whether we are applying to the humanities or the sciences as well? I checked on the results history page, and the humanities don't seem to get back to the applicants before Feb, in any case. Anyway, congrats on the good news and I'm glad you guys don't have to wait for what seems to be an eternity. Sigh...

I suppose it might also depend on the field we are in. Generally, LORs matter in the humanities?

*cough cough* A field that I am totally incompetent at. :oops:

Hmm.. The history board seems a little slow, relative to some of the other boards. A sign of good news (i.e. fewer applicants)? In any case, I have been lurking around, and decided to introduce myself. I am an international student, working on modern Asian history. Good luck to all fellow applicants!

I guess none of us have a definitive answer, but these are a few general things that I heard/observed... 1) I was told that not having a letter from my supervisor would be damaging, as it would beg the question, "Why did he/she not want to write a letter for the supervisee?" given that one's supervisor should in theory know one's work best. 2) From the pattern I have observed so far, apparently, letter writers who are alumni seem to have recommendation letters which carry more weight. 3) I have also heard of a horror story of how a clueless graduate student wannabe, who repeatedly asked one letter writer. Consequently, he/she was never offered admission in any school. Apparently, it is because the LOR writer wrote some nasty stuff.

Even less offense, but I think the GPA of international students is not exactly comparable with the GPA of US students, as there are just different scales. Just my two cents worth. Don't be discouraged!