Brad Miller

Anyways, I've already learned the test- taking strategies for the antonym, analogies, etc. But how much does memorizing THOUSANDS of words help? I memorized the high-frequency word list in the past, and memorized 100s, if not 1000s, of words from Barrons, but it must not have helped

I cant remember if the actual verbal questions were harder than those on the Powerprep, but my guess is that I did poorly (in particular, the 410) because I was just nervous and uncomfortable. I know for a fact I felt that way during the AW part, which is why I got a 4.0 on it, whereas I got a 5.0 on my 1st try, when I felt more comfortable

So I took the GRE general test a year ago twice, and scored a 490 and 410 on the verbal. I'm seriously considering taking it a 3RD time. But I took two practice tests today from Powerprep, and got in the mid 500s! When I took the practice tests in the past, my scores varied wildly, from low 400s to low 500s. And I have since forgot hundreds of the words I had memorized. Maybe I just got test anxiety? However, I then took two practice paper tests from Barron's GRE test prep, and both times I scored in the low 400s for the verbal! I heard that the Powerprep is a good predictor for a score. But what about the Barrons practice test?

So I plan to start my grad program in the sciences this fall. However, I am already considering transferring for two reasons. First, it is not a top-10 school, but rather a top-15. Second, the school admits by research group so I'm limited to doing research in only two areas. My interests have changed since I submitted the application, as I am now leaning toward research areas that this school won't let me get into. Has anyone here transferred to a higher ranked school in the sciences after coming from a program in the top-15? In particular to a top-10 school? The only thing I can think of that will improve my app, such that I can get into a top-10 after failing to do so in this years admissions, is to get A's in 2 grad-level courses this fall. Also, maybe improving my GRE scores.

I start grad school this fall and want to apply for the NSF also. So in that case I still wont be at a disadvantage for not having any 1st author pubs? I was just thinking of ideas that would both improve my app for the NSF and my grad schools apps in case I apply to transfer this Fall

so I just emailed him and he told me the results arent important enough by themselves to warrant a publication. He hasnt used the results for any of his publications. Great. If I want to get a 1st author publication (to improve my GRFP and improve my apps in case I decide to apply to transfer to another program), should I try to find another research project with this prof? Or get started on research with a prof at my new school? Or, since I'm currently living at home, try to work on research with a prof at the nearby school?

I'm having trouble deciding where to start with the proposal and what to come up with for the Hypothesis. How much can professors help with the proposal? If I know almost nothing about the research field that I did my undergrad research project in, can they provide you recommendations for what papers to read and tell you what the hot areas are in the research area you are proposing in? If I was just admitted to grad school, would the GRFP recipients at my upcoming school be willing to help me out considering I only met them once or I haven't even met some of them before?

I see. Anyways, I'm having alot of trouble as to knowing where to even start for writing the Research Proposal and what to come up with for the Hypothesis. Is it ok to ask my undergrad research prof for recommendations of what papers to look at and what areas are hot in this research area?

Just to further clarify, my main question basically comes down to whether I should submit my proposal in materials (because I completed research projects in it) or astronomy (no prior experience, but I am more interested in it at the moment)?

The other professor I did a research project with presented a talk at a conference, and he listed me as a co-author on the abstract. It was nice of him to do that since I didn't even ask for him to do that. But the prof this topic is about didn't mention that to me. I looked at the abstracts he submitted at the conferences he attended, and I don't think they're related to the work I did. Thats why I'm confused as to what he did with my work. Yes, 2 separate projects each 3 months long. They were similar projects, but not quite the same. I dont know if theres enough data for publication. I'm rather ignorant to the whole submitting a publication process. In the project, the prof specified the physics involved and mentioned how he would do the simulations on a computer. I did the simulations as he suggested, but the way the code was actually written was entirely up to me. We both analyzed and interpreted the data, because my plots and graphs of the data were initially wrong. I might be able to take the time to submit a full article. But how much will the NSF committee actually care that I submitted an article, as opposed to it being an actual publication?

so I worked on 2 research projects with a prof, each spanning about 3 months each, starting about 2 years ago and ending about a year and a half ago. I got some results during the project, but since I wasn't terribly interested in the projects and I hate writing papers, I never bothered to ask about the possibility of submitting a paper to get a publication. I have no clue what this prof has done with my results. I 've already been admitted to grad school, and I realize I should've asked this question about a year ago, but it still matters now since I plan on applying for fellowships (ie NSF GRFP) for this upcoming fall. This prof rarely responds to emails, unless its a pretty important matter. Should I ask him at this point if he plans to ever publish my results? Could I also ask if hes willing to include my name on the papers? Should I also phone call him with these questions if he doesn't reply by email (I doubt he would for these kinds of questions)?

More like a few months, not a year, to get the astro research. From now until August, I don't think I can even do any actual astro research, unless the prof can give me an assignment where I can work on it at home. The reason why I was hesitant to work for him this summer is because if I start off doing research in astro, then the Phys dept might see me as being too concentrated in astro and not open enough to try out the other areas of physics (ie condensed matter/mat sci). Thus, if I eventually want to transfer to the Astro dept, I heard that I could be burning bridges as the Phys dept could see me as trying to 'backdoor' into Astro. Of course, I guess we can try to keep our online conversations confidential. Should I ask to do that? Well, I'm not sure yet which one I want to pursue. I'm currently leaning more towards astro, but I like mat sci also.

I see. There wasn't really any supervisors of the volunteer gorups I was in, as they were all student-run, I think. Should I ask one of my profs who I did research projects with to mention this in their LOR? They'll just have to take my word for it as I don't think I can provide them with any proof of my involvement

I see. I didn't fill out any paperwork or contracts, for some of those volunteer groups, that provides proof that I joined some of those groups. So I guess the only 'proof' I have will have to rely on previous members remembering me or someone still having copies of the email messages I sent.

well its nice that I don't have to go thru the hassle of listing the contact info from any of my old officers. But if thats the case, then anyone can just lie about having prior volunteer and outreach experience, right?

So when I was an undergrad, I joined a few different volunteer tutoring groups that helped underrepresented and disadvantaged students. I was part of each one for about a semester each. However, I did not make any friends with the fellow tutors so only a few of them even remember me. When you submit the NSF fellowship application, don't you need to provide the contact info of an officer from one of the volunteer groups? How else can they verify that you were even part of that group?

I should also mention that I was interested in another prof's research in lasers (not really related to CM/mat sci) at my upcoming school. I could start doing research with him this fall and write about that for the Research Proposal. But if I win the NSF fellowship, theres a fairly strong chance I would want to switch to doing research in Astro instead. Would that look really bad on me and would he frown on it, if I got a paid RA position with him for spring 2012 just to leave him after getting the NSF fellowship?

So I intend to start grad school this fall in Physics. I did two research projects as an undergrad but they were both related to condensed matter (CM)/materials science. At the school I got admitted to, students get admitted by research group so the school is less flexible than others in letting students switch their research topics. In fact, if I were to switch my interests and do research in Astronomy, the dept would not guarantee me funding. To be exact, I would get funding this Fall semester no matter what. But if I want to do research in Astronomy by spring 2012 but not another research area (ie CM), then I can't get a Physics TA, unless the dept has the resources, which is no guarantee given the budget cuts However, these past few months I have spent quite some time reading the scientific literature and I know alot more about the research in Astronomy but not nearly as much in condensed matter. I intend to apply for the NSF GRFP fellowship program for this upcoming fall. I heard that for the Research Proposal section of the essay, I need to have read alot about the research area I intend to talk about. So in that case, I feel more comfortable talking about Astronomy. But OTOH, I heard you should 'show, not tell'. In that case, I have much more actual research experience in materials sci than astronomy since I have NO prior resaerch experience in Astronomy. BUT, one of the Astronomy professors at my upcoming school was insistent on me coming to his school and has offered to talk to me through Skpye, from now until fall '11, as a way to talk to me as if I attended his group meetings. Which subject should I talk about in the Research Proposal section? Should I just do the research proposal in condensed matter/materials sci, so that way if I win the fellowship I can switch to Astro if I want to anyways? And thus just spend alot of time now reading the scientific literature in CM/mat sci? Or spend my time now talking to that Astro prof through skype, build a relationship with him so he can write me a LOR for the fellowship, and submit my research proposal in Astro, even though I wouldn't have had any Astro research experience at the time I submit the app? Also, a recent grad student of that Astro prof actually won the NSF fellowship a few years ago.

I know that. My question is target at az applied math specifically. I know that a few Applied Math programs tend to do this, but i didn't think az was one of them based on what i saw at their open house and the results I've seen of admits here on Gradcafe

So I got admitted to their program about a month ago, but it didnt mention about financial assistance, and attended their open house a few weeks ago. But just found out today that they WON'T offer me any financial assistance! Has this happened to anyone else? I got the impression from the other students that all the admits would be given some sort of funding