MakeSetBsy

Any UCLA admits who attended the official visit days interested in PM'ing? I visited but not when the other admits were in and am interested in others' impression of the program, etc. Thanks.

Given the date and everything that needs to be done to apply for next year, I would recommend that you focus on the writing sample and SOP, not on trying to get something published. I would strongly recommend that you build in time to go through multiple rounds of drafts on the SOP and that you enlist the professors who you are going to ask to write LORs to review and help you mold the essay. Having a well-defined idea of what you want to do is a great start; the professors can help you present it in a way that will be most likely to capture the interest of the adcomms. Since you don't have research experience, perhaps you can use the writing sample and SOP to show that you have the ability to conceive of and execute the kind research that you will be doing as a grad student.

Thanks for this link

flowerblitz, I think I am. I'm def. going to visit at the end of March and think in the end it is probably my best fit.

Ha, thanks! I'm afraid I don't really have the background to respond intelligently to the specific points you raised. I think like DustSNK though my understanding had been, at least with the hiring side of things, that the reputation and network of your specific advisor, rather than the Ph.D. program in general, was the key factor in getting hired. Since within any particular area of focus the faculty with the strongest networks could be anywhere maybe the influence of the most prestigious programs isn't quite so monolithic?

Not sure that is a useful comparison. We're talking about a particular profession that people choose to go into, not all of society.

In all seriousness, can someone explain to me what is wrong with hierarchy? Is the argument that the imporance of perceived prestige in hiring and graduate program selection somehow inhibits the quality of the collective knowledge produced by the academy?

Not sure that is correct re: Chicago. I spoke to DGS earlier and was told decisions have been made and delivered to the graduate school, but that they are still waiting for the graduate school to send out actual notifications.

thanks!

flowerblitz, sorry to hijack this thread, but do you have any insight on what is going on with Chicago anthro? I interviewed and expected to hear by the end of last week, but nothing so far. Thanks.

@peachblossom - nothing from Stanford, but I had understood from a professor that Chicago was aiming to make decisions by today...

Re: Chicago: I was told that they are interviewing ~28 people for 15 slots and plan to finalize decisions by the end of next week. Sounded like different professors are interviewing different applicants. ~300 applicants total this year.