noodles.galaznik

I met with a professor that I'm going to take a course with this semester as a non-degree seeking student. He asked me about my interests, I told him, and he said I should consider joining their program and getting an MA -- this fall. He explained that the cohort entering this fall was much smaller than usual, so they do have room. First off, I'm really shocked. It's exciting, and completely unexpected. I'm a little hesitant though, and here's why: School starts in about 2 weeks. I'd have to throw together some sort of application (the graduate director said that I would be accepted, this is just a formality) really, really quickly. No funding. I know this is the norm for an MA in many programs, but I was told that a lot of MA students find funding in this particular program. Something might become available in the spring, but this semester, I'd have to pay out of pocket. Luckily, I got an appeal for in-state tuition approved, so that would cut it down to about 1/4 of the total costs. I hadn't planned on it at all. Since I'm interested in forensic DNA, this was going to be my year to take a lot of biology, genetics, and criminology courses and strengthen my background. I was told by this professor we could make my thesis into something centered closely around my interests, but I think in order to do that well, I'd need these courses as background. It is a very exciting idea, but there's a lot of uncertainty. Has anyone else experienced getting a really late and/or unexpected offer? What did you do?

Every professor I've spoken with about writing a SOP has really stressed that this is not a great way to start the piece out. One called it too "folksy", and my research advisor told me that every time someone talks about how they grew up watching Indiana Jones or they loved digging around in the dirt when they were a kid he seriously questions if they know what graduate studies entail and if they really have any clue what archaeology involves. Plus, he said that it's so cliche and overdone, and it does nothing to set you apart. I've been told to start off talking about why you want to pursue and advanced degree and your research interests and goals--don't waste time talking about something that has nothing to do with your capability to pursue an advanced degree.

I think it really depends on who is teaching or leading the discussion. I'm just recalling a few experiences I've had. In one of my upper level majors only writing class, it was totally centered around discussion 90% of the time. It pretty much ended up with only a few people speaking, and the prof herself seemed really unprepared and unsure of what to ask or how to get things going. There was lots and lots of really awkward silence. Contrast this with a history course I took that was structured the same way. We spent most of the class discussing readings and the topics of the day, and this was intertwined with the lecture. He had a very dynamic and charismatic personality, really knew the subject he was lecturing on, and he was great at getting everyone interested, involved and contributing. If you find a teaching style that works for you and your students, go with it!

I met with a poi last week. We talked for about 2 hours, I got to ask lots of questions about the program and her work, and I got a good feel for her as a professor and a mentor. Later that evening, I sent her an email thanking her for taking the time to meet with me (especially for so long!). She replied back that it was also a pleasure to meet, and she looks forward to seeing my application and I should call her or email her when I do submit it, and to keep in touch. That made me feel excited and pretty good, but at the same time she also seems like the kind of professor that's really good about watching out for students. Ahhh, I should stop getting my hopes up...but I feel like it might be a good sign! Maybe?

I've moved to an entirely new city and new state, and the only way I can get in touch with my former research advisor is by email, and he's the one the really helped me the most with writing my SOP. I'll definitely get him to read over it, but I won't be able to sit down with him and really discuss it. So, I was wondering if it would be weird to talk about my SOP and maybe get help with it from my POIs since I have access to meet with them. I had a friend that said she sent her SOP multiple times to both of her co-chairs, and she ended up getting accepted by that school. Is this a normal thing to do, or is it a big no-no?

Oh, sorry! I was exhausted when I replied, so my reading and comprehension skills really weren't the greatest. And yes, I'll PM you about that!

Well, I'm interested in molecular anthropology, so that means I needed to have a pretty strong background in genetics AND biological anthropology--neither of which I had. So, getting rejected for that reason wasn't surprising. I was a double major so I didn't really have a lot of wiggle room to take a bunch of extra coursework, and my undergrad institution is hardcore into archaeology, and a lot of the biological courses that would really help me out just weren't offered while I was there. While I had a double major, two years of research experience, I was totally lacking in the background/coursework department. So, I'm taking a few genetics courses this semester, and next semester I'm hoping to take osteology, bioarchaeology, human variation, or some sort of bioanth course to really boost that weak area. I'm actually taking courses at my top choice university, which is good because I can get a feel for the department and my POI, and they'll know me. As far as hurting your application, I think it might if you don't have a lot of background in your area of interest. I know that it hurt me a lot--it make my application weaker! My research advisor did give me some advice though--he said that if you can't take courses because of time, money, etc, then do your best to teach yourself about the field, or do volunteer work related to it. PS: I see you're in TN--where at? You can PM me if you'd like!

yes, it did! I've been reviewing faculty profiles and publications a lot more closely this year, so that will definitely help. I think part of my problem last year was 1. I didn't really know why I wanted to go to grad school 2. I didn't do jack squat to make my app the best it could be and 3. my research interests were really unclear and unfocused--not really refined enough for grad school. I talked to the prof I applied to work with said she didn't pick my app because 1. my LOR all said really good things about me (but they weren't "gushing" and "glowing"...eh, now I know, right?) 2. I wasn't super clear on why University X was my top choice 3. She could tell my research interests aligned with her's, but they weren't fully developed and 4. I needed some classes to strengthen my background. Luckily, she's given me a lot of feedback on my app, and has helped me out quite a bit.

Thanks! I think I'll take the advice that suggests that I act like the previous rejection never happened! But would it still be a good idea to start the whole thing right off with why I want to go to grad school, and why I would be an awesome student instead of the typical "this is why I love ______, and I've loved _____ since forever!!"??

Yes. This. I don't even know how many times I heard from professors and grad students that when applying you need to make sure you pick the right schools and right professors, and contact them beforehand to make sure they're taking students. My advisor told me that every year they have a ton of really awesome, exceptionally qualified applicants that are obviously excellent students, BUT they're either applying to work with folks who aren't taking students, or they just aren't a good match with the program. If those are reasons you got rejected, those are easy, easy things to fix! But if you really, really want to know the reasons you weren't accepted, contact those professors you wanted to work with at those schools. They might get back to you, they might not. If they do, you might get a standard "we had more qualified applicants than available spots", or you might get a real critique. Can't hurt to ask. Good luck improving your applications!

Thanks everyone! I am applying to the same school I did last year. And when I mean include it, I was thinking to just mention/sum it up in one sentence.

I've been thinking about how I wanted to start off my sop, and I really think that I want to avoid the "ever since I was an embryo, I've loved blahblahblah...". I feel like it's generally assumed that if you want to go to grad school you're a bit of a nerd and you've held those interests for a long time. I was considering starting off talking about why I want to go to grad school, and, here's where it might be a strange thing to do-- I was considering briefly mentioning last season's rejection. I think that sad, sad, rejection letter I got was what helped me improve my application. It made me really step back and take a good look at my application and how I could improve it, it made me really think long and hard about what I wanted to do and why I wanted to go to grad school in the first place, and it's given me a crazy amount of drive and motivation to make myself a stronger applicant. I've brought up my GRE score, I'm working to get to know profs better for LOR, brushing up on my Latin, I'm taking background courses I need, and I've been doing volunteer research-- things I wouldn't have been driven to do if I hadn't been rejected. Good idea, or awfully awful??

I think your GRE scores are probably ok for getting admitted, but just like anthropologygeek said, they're going to limit your funding opportunities. The GRE is something that can be studied for. My score was actually pretty low, lower than yours, but I bought some books, studied like crazy, and I boosted my score by 250 points. It can be done!

Yes, yes, and YES. There are so many animals that are abandoned at shelters, and you could give them a new home and all the love they need!

If you're living alone and you're in grad school (university is a really busy time during any point), I'd say no to a dog--especially during your first year. Dogs require a lot of space and attention, and if you're busy with coursework, it's very likely that you won't be able to give them all of the attention they need. My sophomore year of undergrad, I lived with a grad student who decided that she wanted to get a puppy. She was super busy all the time, and her poor dog stayed in its kennel all the time. She didn't have the time and energy to play with it and train it, so I ended up being the one who took care of it. Dogs take a lot of time and effort to take care of and train! Get a kitty, they're really good companions, and they require a great deal less work. I got a cat in undergrad, and I lived alone for two years--she definitely made things a lot less lonely, so it wasn't so bad to live alone!

Wow, I had heard of these services before when I was in undergrad a few times, but it never actually occurred to me to use one. I guess I'm a bit naive when it comes to the level of cheating across college campuses. I didn't do it, and I guess I just assumed that others didn't do it either--well...at least not on this level. Where do undergrads get this kind of money from?! My parents sent me $50 a week, hardly enough to pay for one pay, much less an entire essay.

Thanks so much everyone! It bummed me out for awhile that she was being so nasty, but her rudeness and extreme competition has gotten me in gear--I've decided that instead of moping about her being such a bee-yatch and letting the things she said stew around in my head, I'm going to use the frustration she's given me and turn it into some hardcore motivation to improve my application even more. All the while, I'll ignore any conversation about grad school. I guess what upset me was just how her snark and meanness seemed to come out of nowhere- we've been friends for several years now, taken a good number of classes together, but I hadn't seen this side of her. It was just kind of a surprise, and a hurtful one at that.

I was talking with a friend a few weeks ago, and we got on the topic of grad school. She told me that she's applying to my top choice university to work with Professor X, and she's "absolutely certain" she's going to get into the PhD program there. Then I let it slip that I might be applying there as well. Ever since then, there's been some pretty intense awkwardness. She keeps telling me about the field school she's gone to, and how she's going to be an organizer for a small departmental event this upcoming fall, and that the position is "much more important and impressive" than the one I had when I did it last year. She even had the audacity to ask me what I was going to do next year when I don't get in, because I "really haven't done that much to prepare for grad school". I'm aware of what she's doing, and it really pisses me off. Since then, I haven't said anything else about applying. I'm still going to (assuming the profs I want to work with are taking students on), but I'm keeping that information to myself. Even though I've shared very little about what I'm doing, she keeps probing me for information about my application and still finds ways to be condescending and rude about the whole thing. Has anyone else had a problem with someone who is overly competitive? How did you work around them? I'm trying not to let her get to me, but she's really stressing me out and starting to make me doubt myself. Siiiiiigh.

I really appreciate everyone's answers. I think I can definitely put everyone's advice to use and form a statement that's a lot stronger, and has much better organization. Thanks, thanks, thanks!!

I talked to my POI, and she told me that it is possible to transition right into the PhD program there right after getting an MA, but it isn't guaranteed. Runonsentence: I'm in anthro. Thanks everyone!

Because mine is turning into "Grad School Related and Somewhat Jumbled Word Vomit" by the Thing That Wouldn't Shut up. I know what I need to include in mine, but I'm having trouble with the order I need to put it in. I've written a really, really rough draft, which I'm probably going to end up completely scrapping, but I feel like there are a few portions that just don't have the flow I'm looking for. They say all the things I need them to say, but then my writing just kind of jumps over into the next portion. It starts awkwardly, I fumble through it awkwardly, and then I end it as abruptly and awkwardly as it began. Not really something I want to send to a grad school. For those of you who have written a SOP that you're proud of, what's an order that you found flowed well and worked for you?

Thanks so much, that really helped a lot! You've made a lot of really good points, so I've got plenty to think about. If I want to get my graduate degrees from the same school, is it possible to apply for an MA and then just continue on there after you finish that and get your PhD from the same program? I'm so lost, so I have a ton of questions!

Right now, I live exactly 10 miles away from campus, and traffic is pretty bad sometimes, so it takes about 20-30 minutes no matter the route I take. It's kind of far, but we worked it out so that we were right in between school and my husband's place of work. It's kind of nice living away from school, because it's a very quiet and nice neighborhood we're in! Plus, campus is right next to downtown so a lot of the really close housing can be pretty pricey!

I've been talking to some profs, and I was originally going to go for an MA, but they've been trying to talk me into applying directly to the PhD program. I was just wondering what folks who had gotten an MA before getting a PhD had to say on the matter. Are you happy with the way you did things, or not? Why? Sound off!!