m41

I hear you, but my advice is...Don't read anything. Relax. You'll knock back the usual suspects soon enough with your professors and cohort. (I never took an anthropology class before I started my PhD.)

Hey guys, I'm a current student. I used this forum during my admissions cycle and thought I would have liked to know. I am not sure about letters. I think the grad school sends on behalf of the departments. When I was rejected by another department at Harvard (during the same cycle), I received the acceptance and rejection in two consecutive days in mid-February.

5 in at Harvard this year. Over 250 applications.

Harvard doesn't interview. I applied last year and had no idea that any departments interviewed applicants.

October 20th.

Hi, I'm a current PhD student at Harvard and there is no way that they made a decision this early.

Harvard. I hear the law school is decent, too.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, it is important. Essential, crucial. I don't even know where to begin, since I am a G-1 and can only procrastinate so much tonight. But, that said, some faculty move, go on sabbatical, have visa issues, family issues, took 2 students last year or none in the last 5 years, hate teaching or love teaching, think your work is fascinating enough to send an engaged response, or so boring that you get a 'good luck' with initials, and these are good things to know. It is also nice to know if your personality matches, as well as your research interests, since you are likely to know this person for the rest of your (academic) life.

Every aspect of your application should be treated as if it is the deciding factor in admissions.

I say push the fit question just a bit more. That is: why not decide on the basis of a potential adviser or advisers? Search out your dream professors - regardless of what department gives him or her office space. I think that should help. For whatever it is worth, I proceeded in a similar fashion to you. I had my project first, and then I needed to find a program. In my opinion, that's the way to go. But, of course, I'm biased

I mean, it really is all about fit. So let me echo the above comments. At a certain point, grades, GRE, etc, don't matter that much, if at all. At my school, they get down to the final cut and then it is a matter of how many professors would be willing to work with you. If there's no one to support your project, then what is the point - for you, that is, and the department? My advice is to focus on the SOP. A Ph.D. is a professional research degree and your statement of research interests is the most important component of the application. Once that is complete, then you can really network with potential advisors. Why not post a version of your SOP for critique? I don't know if many people do so on this forum (I think there was a livejournal group once upon a time). I'm sure there would be plenty of people happy to give you feedback.

Hi Umar: I'm at an Ivy Anthro program and the most important thing at my school is the statement of purpose. I agree with above comments. It is all about fit. Don't waste your money/time/emotions applying to schools that don't fit your project. If you do, you will be rejected - if you are lucky. But yeah: pretty good stats, if that's what you were looking for. Good luck.

Forget tiers, rankings, etc. It's all about fit, fit, fit, fit.

DId you ever receive an answer to this question? I've been wondering the same thing (regarding couples and on-campus housing).