lab ratta-tat-tat

..you mistake a professor for a graduate student at dinner and ask him who he works with. And he responds "with myself." So embarrassing.

During the application and waiting process, many of us are guilty of overanalyzing emails, linked in requests from professors of the schools we've applied to, and or positive interactions with persons/faculty of interest.
 
How many of you over analyzed sentences within emails to person of interest, or when inquiring if all your application materials were received?
Like this little gem-
"We'll be in touch again soon"
 
Fire away tell us what you've overanalyzed this application season!

You're trolling but I'll bite. Your resume could say Harvard Undergrad MIT Master Stanford PHD. It won't make a difference to employers if you haven't done shit at any institution. Do you honestly believe you would get a Postdoc based on where you did your PHD? Its whose lab you're in and what you've published. Also having gone to UCLA for undergrad I find the notion you regretting UCLA for Berkley offensive. It could be worse though, at least its not USC, then I'd have to rub it in how badly we slayed you on saturday.

If your advisor/mentor is telling you to do it, it's because they don't believe you're ready for grad school yet. Take their advice and do a 2 year (that's usually the minimum asked for) tech job. You'll be applying against people who have done this, and they'll come in with years of experience and the ability to say 'yeah, I've worked in relative field for 3 years, here's the papers my name is on/that I wrote, and this is all the experience to back up why I want to do this grad program.' Also, if you work at a school you'd like to do your grad program at, it helps.

I agree with AnonLady. Working as a tech before grad school is quickly becoming the norm and is a great way to not only boost your credentials but also to determine whether grad school really is for you. Finding a tech position can be very difficult, but it is not impossible. Reach out directly to professors you are interested in, look at science jobs websites, and talk to professors at your school for advice. As long as you have an interest in learning + some luck you should be able to find a position after some looking.

I am in the same situation.
Verbal 150 Q 141 and AW 4.5
 
I studied for three months, at least 4 hours a day and that is no exaggeration.
I have 3 publications and 5 yrs research experience managing my own project, hoping that will makeup for the abysmal score. 
 
I still think you should apply.  I posted this in another thread, but my mentor sits on a neuroscience adcom and said at schools that get less than 100 applications, every application is looked at. A score of 150 in each/either category goes into a consideration pile, 155 and above goes to possible interview pile. Anything lower than 150 goes into "lets take a further look" pile, meaning, they want to see what other accomplishments you have that can help them overlook a bad GRE score. Also "nature" just published an article about what the GRE really tests
http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/articles/10.1038/nj7504-303a
 
take a look at that. 
Good luck! keep us updated!

When I mentioned that I was a first generation college student, SOME members of the adcoms were not impressed. They asked me why I thought I would be able to succeed as a graduate student with no family support. Other members were very impressed.

I think it is a great idea to mention it but be aware some people may not think so highly of it. To be honest it is impressive to get through undergraduate years and be the first in your family to graduate from college, but also, to pursue a higher level of education beyond your bachelors degree is impressive. If it ties in nicely with your academic career it would be a huge advantage.

That is very unprofessional to accept a position, agree to attend a school, sign a contract and then because your job gives you a better opportunity you cut all ties with the school. It also is unfair to those who applied and are on the wait list and you accept and then deny after april 15th, it decreases a person who is extremely willing and committed, chances of getting in. If you aren't committed to the school just turn down the opportunity and let someone who actually wants it to have it. I am not in your field so this is not applicable to me but if I was in your field I would be pretty pissed.

Also, how would you feel if you were accepted to a school and you moved there, invested money such as finding an apartment and moving all your belongings etc. then they decided "Hey were just not going to accept you, just kidding, we thought you were good enough then other applicants came by so- Sorry". You would be pretty pissed off right? complaining on the forum, to your friends and family about this and how awful the school is. Oh how the tables turn.......

I am pretty sure that actually happened to someone this year or last year with Houston. The school offered them the position, they accepted, moved there and come to find out the school revoked the offer. The school can get into legal trouble for this, you might want to see what kind of trouble you could get into (maybe not legal but black listed in your field, in that department, that school, those committee members could tell faculty members within your field, etc)

Don't put all your ducks in one basket, just because you are ranking up doesn't mean you are going to enjoy what you are doing and you will excel and challenge yourself. Maybe really consider this promotion and talk with some one at your job and at the school and weigh your options.

I had a dream I got an email that said "What are you a retard?" it had attached files and I had to open them. The first was the comment above with a large red arrow pointing to my GRE scores. the rest was my SOP marked in red.

At the bottom it said "Congratulations, you were the least stupid of the stupid applicants who applied, you are accepted-idiot"

talk about a nightmare

I have been secretly excited about my plan b for a while. The more and more I talked about it with my significant other and family, the more excited I got. So I am glad my "plan B" has become my "plan A" and is going to be a positive thing. I think it can be that way for anyone

I have been secretly excited about my plan b for a while. The more and more I talked about it with my significant other and family, the more excited I got. So I am glad my "plan B" has become my "plan A" and is going to be a positive thing. I think it can be that way for anyone

Hah, telling yourself "I'm going to get a 1600" and then sit on your ass all day sure won't make it come true, now would it? What I meant was having those phrases was a motivation. I didn't reach my goal just by repeating those phrases while I ignored my classes. When I woke up at 2 a.m. to study, those words kept me going. No one is going to be able to tell you a "method," you just have to make your own.

What kind of exam are you taking with 4 questions in one hour?! Which program is this? If my experience is typical, you should be able to solve the problems on the actual exam in no more than 2 minutes. The questions on the exam isn't any more about precision than knowing your times table and knowing how to add. You need to be able to recognize basic math concepts in a matter of seconds if you want to do well. I don't know what program it is that you're referring to, but if it's 4 questions in an hour, it may seem like you're heading in the wrong direction. As far as shortcuts, I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean math shortcuts, or shortcuts to problems?

In any case, my advice for you is to stop complaining and do something about it. Your tone sounds like "wahh I don't know how to get past my anxiety, someone tell me how." Well unfortunately, no one can.

if I see another BEEEP-ing person asking about their chances with their perfect scores I just might die. Seriously? WTF do you think your chances are? Leave us middle class average GPA or Awesome in one area, but over compensating for some deficiencies in another area alone.

I have probably gotten a million times worse since this process, I recently signed up for a gmail email account so I could see (on the tab) when a new email arrives and it kind of shows up/flashes upon arrival. Pathetic, probably, but I want to be able to get my brain back the very second I hear something.

A friend just showed me this hilarious Lady Gaga parody video! For my fellow bio grad students this is especially funny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl4L4M8m4d0

if I see another BEEEP-ing person asking about their chances with their perfect scores I just might die. Seriously? WTF do you think your chances are? Leave us middle class average GPA or Awesome in one area, but over compensating for some deficiencies in another area alone.

I have probably gotten a million times worse since this process, I recently signed up for a gmail email account so I could see (on the tab) when a new email arrives and it kind of shows up/flashes upon arrival. Pathetic, probably, but I want to be able to get my brain back the very second I hear something.

if I see another BEEEP-ing person asking about their chances with their perfect scores I just might die. Seriously? WTF do you think your chances are? Leave us middle class average GPA or Awesome in one area, but over compensating for some deficiencies in another area alone.

I have probably gotten a million times worse since this process, I recently signed up for a gmail email account so I could see (on the tab) when a new email arrives and it kind of shows up/flashes upon arrival. Pathetic, probably, but I want to be able to get my brain back the very second I hear something.

Yeah. My moodiness is reaching all time highs now. People from my program at school are starting to get acceptances. Granted, I didn't apply to any of the schools they have, but it's pissing me off. I have yet to hear a damn thing from anyone. I'd almost take a rejection just to hear something!

Plus, I'm getting sick of reading posts on the board that go something like, "Hi Everyone! I am perfect in every way! I have a perfect GPA and a perfect GRE and the perfect professor at the perfect uni is perfectly in love with me! And even though I'm so perfectly perfect, I'm apparently not smart enough to know my chances, so I'll ask you all, 'What are my chances?'"

Sod off! Those are your chances! Now stop reminding the rest of us how mediocre we are you perfect ass!

(That's why I posted this is the moody thread). I've gotten worse.

don't bail on Emory...I didn't want to go to "Georgia" when I went there for undergrad, but Atlanta didn't really turn out to be what I thought "Georgia" was. Great school, excellent facilities, and top-notch program!

I would say don't count your chickens before their hatched- unless you have it in writing that you're getting a promotion, it wouldn't seem worth it to throw away the school opportunity.

(that said, remember: grad school is in fact, a trap and is no guarantee of an amazing job)

At this point, that would be a good dream. You can call me whatever you want, as long as you accept me.

Is anyone else here fighting the urge to e-mail the admissions office for updates?

Would it be totally awful to contact them for an update.

Even if it's bad news, I'd rather get it now than wait until April 15th (or later)!

Oh.. and I'm also at a state university that no one outside of the state probably knows about... And, I was a high school drop-out (seriously!). I hope I can give others hope!!!

Egads! Something tells me this may have more to do with your personal opinion than the picture of the academic climate you're painting, no?

I wouldn't go around forcing everyone to accept you for the unique butterfly you are by refusing to wear anything but tank tops at all times, but my thought is that if you go out of your way to make yourself feel awkward, this will transfer to those around you, and thus play it by ear. If you somehow "know" that tattoos will get you fired instantly, than you might want to think about covering up. It's not the end of the world. But I don't believe its anything like the above poster made it out to be, especially since he/she "luckily" has no tattoos.

I had a dream I got an email that said "What are you a retard?" it had attached files and I had to open them. The first was the comment above with a large red arrow pointing to my GRE scores. the rest was my SOP marked in red.

At the bottom it said "Congratulations, you were the least stupid of the stupid applicants who applied, you are accepted-idiot"

talk about a nightmare

I wouldn't be too worried. My understanding is that most schools do not have a minimum GPA. Instead, they are looking for the overall package. Sure, you might have a low GPA but you probably also have something else the highest ranked school values more than the other schools.