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Thanks TakeruK!

This is most likely a stupid question but I assume you can find the schools and codes on the computer to submit your scores to? You can't bring anything into the testing room - surely they don't expect you to memorize departmental codes.

Regardless of the PI's hand in the admissions process, my primary intent in emailing POIs was to establish fit. Perhaps this might not apply to the OP since it seems like they might be doing rotations, but regardless, I think it is useful for SoP development knowing your ideas jive with the lab you're hoping to join.

I agree with BeakerBreaker and say it is worth a follow up. I actually ended up following up with two POIs for the same reason and both apologized and thanked me for re-sending since my email got swamped. Worst comes to worst and they don't respond again, at least you know you tried to get in touch.

If you are applying for the Fall 2015 cycle you still have plenty of time to retake the GRE. Given this flexibility, you should absolutely retake it. No need to "give up" your dream of PhD if you can work hard to improve your GRE score.

I don't agree that the GRE is a test of natural intelligence - from different thinking styles to testing anxiety, there are a number of reasons why a very competent person capable of grad school might not do well on the test. However, I do agree with bsharpe in that it is a good test to gauge your willingness to work hard to get something you want. If you're not naturally good at standardized tests, then the GRE presents an opportunity to work extremely hard - whether it be acclimating yourself to the anxiety of the testing environment or studying the material - in order to get the score you need. It is also presents an opportunity to potentially correct any issues with other "numbers" on your application. If you had that awful stats prof that one semester who hated you and you got a B, then this test gives you the power to help mediate that. Think of it as an opportunity rather than an obligation.

The line between cheesy and inspiring/impressive is a fine one, with every reader seeing it slightly differently. Ha, it's a tough thing to navigate. I haven't gone through the same problems per se, but there was a relatively rough semester during my MA during which I got a couple Bs and brought down my GPA. I thought about addressing it in my SOP, but ultimately, I don't think I will. But I think it CAN be done, you just have to be careful of how it might be interpreted.

Agreed. If you happen to get a first author cover piece in Nature, then good for you. But to be honest, the difference between someone without a paper to someone with a paper, even if it is low tier and not hugely relevant to the lab, demonstrates your ability to do research, your knowledge of the "process" and your willingness to continue knowing what the process entails, which is ultimately what they are trying to figure out from your application.

From my understanding, it seems it is fine to talk about previous health issues as long as doesn't sound like you're complaining or making excuses. If you find a way to cleverly disguise it in a way makes you look strong and determined without undermining you in some way, then I don't see why the reader would have a problem with it - it might even be beneficial. However, this can prove to be tricky, I am sure!

Eh, I can't agree with this based on my experience with profs and people I know who have been successful PhD applicants. If someone shows serious intent and can demonstrate the necessarily qualifications and sufficient knowledge, I think touching base with a prof can go a long way. Indeed, in cases where you would join a lab, establishing whether your ideas are a good fit for the lab and advisor is informative for the applicant! Personally, I want to make sure my ideas are something my future advisor would potentially want to help me develop. By contrast, if he isn't taking students or if my interpretations of what the lab would accept are erroneous, I might be wasting both my and the admissions committee's time.

Most programs recommend that you allow 6 weeks for scores to reach the school before the deadline, so I think October is fine. I'm actually going to be taking it in October - you probably won't be able to retake if you have early december deadlines, but if you're okay with that there shouldn't be a problem.

Hmm. To me it makes more sense to *plan* only to take the GRE once. There is an abundance of practice tests you can purchase (6 from Manhattan Prep for $30) in addition to the two from ETS - doesn't it make more sense to prepare well with practice tests and then take the real GRE? If you need to take it again, then you can always do that if you chose to. In terms of your question, it might be worth asking the department to make sure - but usually they only accept your latest score, not your best.

I can corroborate this; one of my friends who applied to 6 PhD programs didn't even get an interview anywhere but Harvard, where he is now a 4th year grad student. The process works in mysterious ways!

Agreed, but FWIW, my comment about using celeb bodies was more tongue and cheek than anything and also: I'd use the shots of them taken inconspicuously on the beach by paparazzi, where typically less photoshopping takes place

I put up pictures of celeb bodies that I really liked (and that were vaguely attainable for my body type) around my mirror for a few months as motivation. But ya know, that works too!

OK well I don't know much about Berkeley grad schools - though probably best not to generalize to all ten UC campuses, no? Have you tried contacting the grad secretary at Berkeley or getting in touch with its grad students?

This is a bit of a blanket statement, don't you think? - the few people I know who are grad students at UC schools love it.

A lot of departments will detail their minimum GRE scores on the application websites; Magoosh also has a tentative list here: http://magoosh.com/gre/2013/gre-scores-for-top-universities/

My feelings exactly. I've been going 4x a week cardio+strength training (total 2ish? hours depending on time) for a good few years now and still hate it. Though watching Netflix while doing cardio has made the process 1000x more pleasant! I use the time to watch documentaries or catch up on TV shows

You won't know exactly what kind of funding you'll get until you are accepted & receive your funding package - however most schools will detail possible funding opportunities on their application websites as well as any suggestions or restrictions. For instance, some programs will explicitly say all admitted students receive X years of funding with a stipend of $XX,XXX. Others say it depends on a number of factors depending on whatever it may be. If this isn't mentioned at all, I would email the grad secretary and ask. I did this for one of the programs I am applying to and found it very helpful. On a side note, if you do email the program be sure to include that you are international, as this can come into funding decisions.

We are in different fields, but in my experience one only gets reimbursed if they are travelling for work (e.g. conference, site visits), not for relocating to the school's geographic location - I know some programs offer relocation money for new students, but this is not common to all programs. It's probably worth it to just call and ask anyway, though.

^^ These are realities of academia, not plagiarism.

I'm not 100% sure about university admin, but when I first started my research assistant/lab manager job, I was being paid more than the first-year postdocs - unfair as it is! I know this because I manage all the funding info for our lab - I wouldn't be surprised if admin, which tend to be more long-term than RA-ships, started at an even higher base salary.

Sometimes it's independently up to the department to fund RAs, other times directly from the PIs grant(s), other times from the allowance the PI is given from the department. So, I think it really depends once again on the school's system and the PI's arrangement within the department.

Eh, I think this varies - for instance, research assistants are unionized at my MA institution which generalizes to all hospitals/research institutes working under that institution. As a result, all RAs start out with the same base salary, regardless of the grant they are getting paid out of.