Hopin'-n-Prayin'

"...that I have recently applied to U. of __. Pursuant to our correspondence from several weeks ago, I have identified you as a potential advisor should I be admitted..." Good idea? Bad idea? Or: Dumb question because it must be done!? I am definitely planning on sending these emails in the next week... ...thoughts?

For my sake, I hope you are right- my frame of reference comes mostly from this forum, where people downplay their 98% GREs and list many impressive sounding accopmlishments. One of the profs on the adcomm at my school says that most SOPs refer to the "passion for history since I was young..." which he says merits instant placement in the reject pile...except our dept. needs the money, so the is no reject pile...

coop, I definitely agree that the things you mentioned are all very important. No doubt In many instances research accomplishments and language are the deal makers and deal breakers. I guess my point is: what happens in those instances where two or more applicants are essentially indistinguishable after all of the obejctive date has been assessed. Most people will by nature seek out the more comfortable alternative...the applicant they "know"... but I am just speculating and generalizing...

I imagine that a positive phone contact has to help in the admissions process. To what degree it helps is another story. From what I understand, professors need a reason to go to bat for someone as one of thier admits, so the more 'personal' the relationship, the better. I think it is also probably very rare that a positive phone contact can overcome an otherwise poor application- I also suppose that the adcomm is going to resist any endorsement of a prospective student whose quantifiable portions of the app "below standards." For me, the bottom line is this: I am guessing that 80% or more of the applicants to major PhD programs all have GPAs above 3.5, GREs in the 90+ percentile for verbal, an impressive array of research at the undergrad (or M.A.) level and glowing letters of recommendation. I am also guessing that closer to 100% of the members of this forum fit this description. My point is, at some point, SOMETHING has to separate us from each other in the eyes of the adcomm. What is that something? Quality of the undergrad program? An M.A. in history? The precise research topic of a senior thesis or masters thesis? The quality of insight and workmanship demonstrated by the writing sample? The personal nature of the relationship with applicants developed through e-mail, phone calls and face-to-face meetings has to have a significant impact in that separation process...I would figure.. Its always better to be "that person from Brooklyn I spoke to twice a few months ago," than an anonymous paper stack with essentially the same data in it as 200 other paper stacks. So,perhaps my speculative reasonings and musings can provide you with some needed comfort over the next few months as complete strangers determine the fate of your future

Wow, this is a really interesting story, filled with nice little sub-plots. Our stories are somewhat similar. After majoring in History, I went directly to law school and practiced law for many years, before deciding to pursue a career in history. I applied to my local state university (a legitimate school, but not that well known or prestigious) to get an M.A. (which technically I get on Friday-yaay!). Here are some notes from my M.A. experience that may help your analysis. First, I finalized my application in early December 2009 and was admitted for January 2010 (also many M.A. programs allow spring admission). Second, assuming I get into any of the PhD programs I am applying to, I will already have the 2 years experience doing work at the graduate level. Third, not quite sure if you took evidence at W & M, but education and training in using evidence to build an argument has proven invalueable as a history student. Lastly, at the M.A. level, target faculty that not only match your intellectual agenda, but also have the connections at top programs and have proven their committment to placing students.

I make it a three step process: 1. master the core math stuff 2. do enough questions and study enough answers so that you get comfortable "interpreting" the questions (each type of questions is begging to you employ a certain, correct method- while at the same time daring you to employ a wrong one 3. Do even more questions, now trying to identify how the same "questions" can change thier appearance It is my firm conviction that there are a finite number of questions on the GRE (and GMAT) math, they are just very cleverly disguised to look differently. Everybody has a different approach that works best, this was mine... ps: Kaplan is the only book I know of that presents all of the math concepts in list form. When I realzed that I had mastered all but three of four of them- I knew I was ready...

I am summarizing a post earlier this week to someone who had a similar question: I've taken the GRE twice in the past three years, and I regularly tutor students in the GRE. I use the Kaplan book to prepare mys tudents and I used it myself for my re-test and improved my math score by 120 points (old scale). Two reasons why I endorse Kaplan- one, their 100 math concepts section in the back of the workbook is the GRE math bible; and two, they do not try to teach you gimmicky puzzles to de-code (I just cannot conceptualize the 'cracking the GRE' methods). PS- I do not work for Kaplan. I am an independent tutor and one of my first student's gave me his Kaplan workbook after he took the test. Here is a proposed study strategy: master the math concepts (1-100) BEFORE you try practice questions and when doing the practice questions, focus on the practice questions' answers, be able to spot when another question calls for the same answer method... ...others may disagree, and they may know better, but my clients and I have had success doing it my way... Goog luck...and LOVE your user name...

I would not submit, just because the scores are not mandatory does not mean they won't be used against you...and you have to nothing gain by submitting them. From the adcomm's perspective, your scores demonstrate either a lack of aptitude or a lack of effort- neither one makes for an appealing applicant...

I used my CV, changed the title from CV "to Honors and Awards" and deleted all non-relevant information

Yeah that's fine, but now it costs you $23 a pop. On test day you can send 4 for free (maybe they'll still send your first four for free). I had four sent on test day, requested four more reprorts after I got my results and then a last one just a few weeks ago...

If you are applying to/hoping ot get into a top program with decent funding and placement records, I would say definitely re-take. Not only that, I would respectfully, but honestly, suggest that you appraise your math score for what it is: Poor...and well below where it needs to be. The cold hard reality is that for many top programs, your present GRE will land your application on the "dont read" pile. This is not say that no adcomm from a top program will consider your (generally impressive) overall resume, but that many look at the GRE as the first, impersonal way to whittle down a stack of 200 apps to the 30 or 40 they will thoroughly review. Given your record of acheivement, I am assuming that you are ambitious and are looking forward to a successful and rewarding career in marine biology. If this is in fact the case, why limit your opportunities with the inferior GRE score...if there is time (based on your app. deadlines) to schedule a re-test 4-5 weeks out, I would DEFINITELY do it... I'm not trying to preach, and I don't know it all, but I am pretty familiar with this process and (since you solicited advice from strangers) I just want to make sure that are looking at the question realistically... Good luck and I'm curious to know what others think and what you decide to do...

I have my Yale book review substantively completed. Here is my question for fellow wannabe Yalees, and perhaps more so for present ones: How did you format your book review? Is there an industry standard format that you followed? Would H-Net formatting be appropriate? Does Chicago/Turabian have a designated format? Any advice would be much appreciated.

I am not saying my advice is worth anymore than anybody else's. However, I can answer this question from two different perspectives. I've taken the GRE twice in the past three years, and I regularly tutor students in the GRE. The first time I used Princeton, it was ok. Then I spent the next year tutoring students with the Kaplan book. I used it to prepare myself for the test the next time around and improved my math score by 120 points. Two reasons why I endorse Kaplan- one, their 100 math concepts section in the back of the workbook is the GRE math bible; and two, they do not try to teach you gimmicky puzzles to de-code (I just cannot conceptualize the 'cracking the GRE' methods). PS- I do not work for Kaplan. I am an independent tutor and one of my first student's gave me his Kaplan workbook after he took the test. It helped me as a tutor and as a GRE student a lot (Wow, was I dreadfully unprepared when I first started tutoring- looking back on it, I had no business charging those first few clients money...I've gotten a lot better...). My #1 peice of advice- if you are only going to give math a half-hearted effort, don't bother. That extra time would be better spent securing your 160+ in verbal. My #2 peice of advice- master the math concepts (1-100) BEFORE you try practice questions... My #3 peice of advice- when doing the practice questions, the 'gold in the hills' comes from the practice questions' answers, not the practice questions themselves... ...others may disagree, and they may know better, but my clients and I have had success doing it my way... Goog luck

I'm doing both also...and I am making sure that my book review is very relevant to my proposed research projects set forth in my SoP...

Thanks for all the info. Just as I was going to use some of the great advice I received, I checked again this morning and, lo and behold, there they were fully present and accounted for! Glofish you should check again to see if yours are there too.

2 done and paid for...3 done and not paid for...4 to be completed next weekend (they are mostly all done- except for the book review). Even though I am very happy with my apps. and the fact that they have all been or will be completed without a mad dash at the deadline- this whole process and the next 3 months that await are VERY stressful...I have three months to chew on whether I get paid thousands to pursue a doctorate from a top university...or if I have to teach middle schoolers that Columbus was actually an A**hole...

Safferz, I have uploaded all of my materials to Penn, but have not yet paid the fee (waiting till next week for that), so I likely don't have access to the same status page that you do, but nonetheless their application instructions are clear: 4) Transcripts from any institution that has or will grant you a degree. A school issued official OR unofficial copy of the transcript from any school that has or will award you a degree should be scanned, saved as a PDF file and uploaded into the application. Should you be admitted and accept admission, you will be required to submit an official copy from the institution(s) in question. I would say to you and me both- so long as your transcripts are uploaded onto the website and are present on the 'preview application pdf,' there should be nothing to worry about.

Interesting...I heard that departments looked favorably at improved scores and usually treat them in one of two ways- they either take the higher of the two scores or average the scores. It matters alot to me because my score improved by 160 points (old scale) the second time around...sure aint no deep pockets here...just a dogged determination- got up at 5 am for the 6 weeks before the test to make sure I was ready...hopefully most of adcomms infer that the improvement reflects hard work and dedication... but we'll see...

One of my apps is due next Thursday and I have a dilemma. The university website is showing that it has not received my GRE score report. Yet I have an official GRE Score Report dated 10/21/11 showing that my GRE report was sent to this school (with the right department code- I double and triple checked). All other parts of the app are complete and I paid the app fee. To make matters more interesting, I communicated with the point person for the department two weeks ago to ask whether they had received all of my supporting materials and she responded with a (deservedly) curt: "That info is available on-line." So, lets assume that any further request for info will be met with a cool reception... Anybody have any thoughts or experiences as to how to follow up with the department- do I offer to email my score report report? Thanks for the help and Happy Thanksgiving!!

Sig is right: Your Advanced Level Education ought to more than offset for the fact that you did not major in history. Your past and projected future studies will demonstrate the requisite level of aptitude for historical work at the graduate level. I would say that you shoud aim as high as your entire application (grades, GRE, LoRs etc...) warrants. Regarding the M.A., it does not seem to be necessary for you. I went the M.A. track because I was coming back to school later in life (and located no where near a reputable PhD program). Maybe cast one or two lines into the M.A. waters as a total insurance policy. That's my read on it...

FnG- Sounds like you (and your app) definitely have the goods- I say keep trying for as long as you have the $$ for another round of apps and still have the dream for a PhD. Your tale is a bit discouraging though. I see lots of similarities between your credentials and my own- but I remain optimistic. I cant believe that 700+/700+ and Magna Cum Laude wont get you in somewhere... I liked this thread A LOT more when I could just assume that I had better grades n scores than you and that mass rejection could NEVER happen to me...looks like its gonna be a lot longer of a 3-4 months than I thought it would be...

As to your first question: At least until I get a feel for the common threads and themes, I will "thoroughly scan" every article. I only take this limited notes on the article. Once I have identified the seminal articles, and the different threads, then I place each article (or book) in the appropriate category and look for the one or two things that article adds to the original thread. Works great in history. As to your second question: Date order usually works best, unless that will convolute the thematic distillation of the literature (which it often does). In this case, I will layout the thematic and ID the seminal works for each in an introductory format and then develop each theme chronologically or by sub-theme or both as the circumstances dictate.

For me, I start with the most recent works and I'm trying to accomplish two things: What is the author's argument (one to two sentence summary) and what works/scholars does the author rely on. I do this so I can identify the major common threads and themes which the articles fit into and I can identify the significant works and scholars which I will build my historiography (thats what us history types call a lit review) around. In other words, who said it and what did they say. Once I've done that I can more clearly see how the literature is best summarized.

PhillyPhan, I just uploaded my wriiting sample to Penn- 10 pages out of a 23 page paper I submitted last summer (which was the basis for my thesis). First half of Page 1- Intro Second half pf Page 1 through the top of Page 2- Historiography Middle of Page 2 through the end of Page 8- Primary source analysis Page 9-10- Endnotes. No Bib! No cover page! I cut a lot out...I had to be ruthless and I had to smooth out the new transitions. It took about 30-40 minutes altogether. Not quite sure why they want so little, but its there rules so... Hope this helps...

Other than the generic "why didn't you follow our directions" penalty, their only stated sanction is that they stop reading at 10 pages...