noodles.galaznik

...WHOA. That is absolutely insane.

If you really want to know if these scores are too low, then talk to the professors you're interested in working with at those schools. Some may care about GRE scores much more than others. For instance, at my undergrad institution several professors really emphasized that if you wanted to apply to the grad program there, you should focus on having those scores as high as possible. However, with the POIs at my top choice school, they don't really care about GRE scores and LOR carries much, much more weight than the GRE. Ultimately, it's up to you if you want to retake it or not. Before making any decisions about it, I would contact those professors and schools you're interested in, and get their opinion on it. Good luck!

Congrats, I've heard Nashville is an awesome place! And yes, it is very, very hot right now. Plus, it's been very rainy lately so it's been nice and humid in my area!

It's a little less humid and a little cooler here right now (thank goodness!) But we visited in the fall last year, and it was so nice to feel cool air and not feel all the heat and humidity that seems to hang around year round in TX! So, not much of a change...but a nice change nonetheless!

Hi ZeeMore, I'm attending UT Knoxville as a non degree seeking student to strengthen my background while my husband finishes up his PhD here.

Thanks, this is really great advice! I do want to go to grad school, but I'm not sure when that'll happen--maybe I'll get the position and really love it, or maybe the profs I want to apply to work with won't be taking students, or maybe I won't get in for next fall. I think this'll be a great way to express that I'm interested in grad school with a potential employer, but not to jeopardize my chances with getting a job!

Ahhh, now I'm torn! I'd feel bad intentionally leaving that tidbit of information out, but at the same time I told them I would only be available to do part time work since I'm taking some classes. Also, the musuem I'm interviewing at is associated with my top choice school, and a lot of the curators are also faculty members...so, that might make things a bit awkward down the road if I were to leave out these details, and might potentially hurt my application--that's what I'm really worried about.

Thanks so much!

No problem! I'm a non-degree seeking student taking a few classes to strengthen my background while I work some--just trying that side of anthropology out for awhile! I might be applying for next fall, or a few years down the road, we'll see. I've learned a lot about the application process over the past year or two, so if you have any questions just ask me! I might be able to answer them.

Next week I have an interview for an assistant curator position at a local museum. I'm not planning on sticking around there for ages, and if I get into grad school (same city), I'd be leaving a year from now. If they ask how long I would plan on being around, should I be completely forthright with them?

I've just moved to Tennessee from south Texas, so I'm excited about actually having seasons! Fall and winter usually lasted about a month where thing would get kind of cold, but then went back into the 80s. I hope this winter I get to dust off all of my coats and jackets--wearing shorts outside at Christmas really spoils the holiday spirit!

I don't know what schools you're applying to, but if you want to find out what the average scores is of accepted applicants, or what they're expecting of those who apply, get in touch with some professors at those schools and ask them. Some have them posted on their website. When I asked a lot of people- my research advisor, professors at undergrad, etc- they tended to stress that GRE scores didn't matter nearly as much as SOP, LOR, past experience, and your grades...so those are the application items you really want to focus on. As far as the GRE goes, I'd shoot for a 1200-- it's a pretty solid score. Just don't place all your time and efforts on the GRE, and the GRE only, and definitely don't sweat it a ton. All of your application matters, but it definitely seems that the GRE matters a good deal less.

I'm going to be taking a couple of classes this fall as a non-degree seeking student in order to strengthen my background. Thus far, I haven't really had much luck finding scholarships, loans, or any other kind of financial aid that I'm eligible for--for most you have to be seeking a degree. This is only going to be for this semester probably, but I'm looking for something that has low interest rates and doesn't require hefty payments every month since my husband and I are both still students. If anyone has any advice, it would be greatly appreciated!

So, I'm meeting with a professor tomorrow at my top choice school, and I'm trying to put together a list of questions to ask and topics to cover. This is a question mainly aimed towards those who have already been admitted- what sorts of things do you wish you had asked and covered while you were in the application process? Thanks!

So, I'm reapplying to grad school for the 2012 season, and I'm going to need some new LOR writers. I just found out that one of mine is out in Africa with very limited access to communication lines for the next year, and another is a curator I worked for-- he doesn't have a PhD, so I feel that a recommendation from him wouldn't carry as much weight as someone who does. So, I need to replace two of mine. I'm taking some courses as a non-degree seeking student and hopefully doing some volunteer work/research, so would that give me enough time to find some new LOR writers up here?

I'm actually attending my top choice school as a non-degree seeing graduate student in order to strengthen my background, and I was wondering if I should actually arrange to visit with some of the faculty members who have interests that overlap with mine. I didn't do a visit the first time I applied, and I was thinking I probably should. Here's where I need some help: What exactly should I say/do? What sort of things should I be ready to discuss, what sort of questions should I ask? Also, when would be a good time to schedule a visit? I'm kind of socially awkward and shy, but I feel like I have a chance to really rock my application this time around if I do things right. Also, I want to get some better LOR and some research experience related to my interests, so should I ask if they have volunteer/independent research opportunities available? Thanks!

Thanks! I'm applying for fall of 2012 since this program's structure doesn't allow for spring admissions. I'm about to start overhauling my entire application, so that means I'm planning on redoing my CV, SOP, retaking the GRE, so do you think I should email those to her along the way and ask for her input?

So, I applied to a university last fall, and my application was declined. However, I still kept up a dialogue with my POI, and I recently met her and her grad students and toured the lab she's the director of. I haven't talked to her since then, and I was wondering if I should send her an email or something to stay in touch or if I should just get in touch with her later this fall.

Wow, everyone has such amazing stories! I think everyone goes through stages where they feel terribly inadequate. It's really hard to not look at our colleagues and former friends and peers and compare ourselves and our accomplishments with them. It's a tough feeling to shake, but just remember this: sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're not. That's the way life goes. In the end, it really only matters what you've done and if you're happy with your life. And who knows--there may be people out there envying you!

Hi everyone, and congrats to everyone that is heading to UT--Knoxville is a great place! It's not too large of a city, but there is always plenty to do. As far as housing goes, I would definitely either check out a place in person or have someone you trust go to look at them. The pictures you see on a website are often very, very different from what you actually get. West Knoxville tends to be nicer and safer, but it's a little bit more pricey. There are some robberies, muggings, etc in Ft. Sanders and it is a bit more noisy, but stay aware and avoid walking alone at night and you should be fine. For those living outside of walking or biking distance from the university, just driving to school is your best bet. I tried the bus thing, and it really is a pain. Parking passes for commuters are about $170 for a year, I think. Traffic can be pretty bad at times, but I'm from relatively small towns in Texas, so the traffic in any city seems way worse to me. Biking is pretty difficult here. There are some hills, and it really isn't the most bike friendly city. The cost of living overall is pretty low. My husband and I live in West Knoxville, and our two bedroom townhome is about $700 a month and gas, groceries and utilities don't really take up that much of our monthly expenses. I'm from Texas as well, and it's not too different here! If anyone has any questions about Knoxville, feel free to message me!

This spring, one of my friends was admitted to my dream school. She got accepted to the PhD program right out of undergrad, and she's already been offered some fellowships. She has a 4.0, is a double major, has done about 5 field schools, professors love her, and is so academically insanely awesome that she was asked to carry the gonfalon for Liberal Arts at graduation in a few weeks. I worry that I'm not even that close to amazing. Here are my stats: 3.626 GPA overall, 3.9 in both my majors, I've done research for the past two years, and my senior honors thesis was just approved. And I didn't even get accepted to an MA program. Looking back, it was probably all for the best. My application did not turn out so great. I started thinking about grad school really late (and by late, I mean the thought of applying occurred about mid October), I have an abysmally sparse background in bioanth, I didn't study hard enough for my GRE, I didn't take the time to know my LORs a little better, and my SOP wasn't something that was carefully crafted and labored over so it was really vague and unfocused. So, in short there was a lot that I screwed up. But I get a second chance now. I've kept in touch with my POI, and she's been incredibly kind and helpful. My fiancée and I are moving to that city in a few weeks so he can finish his doctorate, and I get the opportunity to fix things (sort of). I'll be taking some classes related to my interests, possibly working in her lab, and definitely volunteering at a museum and a research lab. My question is, is this enough? What else should I do? I was rejected from there once. I'm afraid that even if I do all this work, it won't do any good and I'll get another crappy rejection letter in the mail. When I meet up with her in a few weeks, I want to have a game plan. I don't want to be the bumbling idiot that I was in my SOP. Any advice? (Sorry, I'm just having some major, "I'm about to graduate and I'm lost and my life is nothing" panic attacks)

Thanks for the advice everyone! And to answer a few questions: I do have an advisor, and I've been working with him for 2 years now. I just finished a senior honors thesis with him and I worked in his lab for the past year, so that's one LOR! But that still leaves two more to obtain. As far as taking classes in the fall goes, I'm not actually taking any through the anthropology department. My interest is in molecular anthropology, so I'm taking some courses through the biology department and a few graduate seminars through the ecology and evolutionary biology department. So, I might be doing some independent research with my POI in the fall, but I won't be taking any classes with her. One of the the courses is covering origins of genomes, so I thought about getting in touch with him prior to get some guidance on how I could brush up on my genetics a bit before hand since I totally don't want to make a fool of myself. Would that be weird?

I know it's inevitable that some people aren't going to be going anywhere next year- and for that, I'm super sorry. It's a major bummer to not be accepted, but on the bright side, that gives you an extra year to polish your materials and become a stronger applicant. So, what are you going to do over this next year to improve your application? And what were some mistakes you made during the application process? As for me, I was accepted as a non-degree seeking student. I didn't feel as though I had enough background to go right away, and I kind of want to test the waters to see if grad school is for me. I've looked back over my application materials that I did submit, and if I had been applying for a degree, there's no way I would have been accepted! 1. My SOP was pretty unfocused and all over the place. I came across as though I kind of knew what I wanted to do, but not really. Everything is jumbled around, and I don't make it clear why I would be an awesome grad student or why the school was my top choice. 2. My GRE score was...meh. It needs to be higher. 3. I'm pretty sure my LOR were just ok. None of my profs really know me that well, so I'm sure they couldn't really write a great rec. 4. My biological background is severely lacking. I've taken two bioanth classes and intro biology. Not nearly enough to prepare me for graduate studies. I'm hoping that with this year off (kind of) I'll be able to take the classes I need to strengthen my background, improve my GRE score, get rockin' recs, and maybe get some more lab experience. I know I made a few huge mistakes which are definitely easy to fix. For one, I started way too late on my application. Probably in late October, I realized I should probably get my crap together, so I just kind of threw everything together really hastily in one month. Secondly, I overestimated how competitive my app was. IT was generally strong, but I know there are parts that need to be improved. What were some mistakes you made, and how will you improve for the next round?