Pitangus

I recently turned 22; graduated from undergrad in May 2011 but wanted to get some additional experience in my field this summer/fall before applying to grad programs. I definitely think it was the right choice for me and that I am a stronger candidate now than I would have been this time last year.

I'm not sure how applicable my experience is since my issue was with UC Berkeley, which receives score reports electronically from ETS, but here it is: Back in late October or so I went to fill out the online order form to send my scores to the ESPM department UC Berkeley. I was able to select the school code but not the department code. Since I couldn't manually type in the department code given on the ESPM website, I decided to fill out and mail one of the paper request sheets that come with the personal score report you get after you take the test (I took the test in July so I already had received this report awhile ago). On the request sheet it I filled in the school code and the department code from the website. Fast forward to the end of November and the online application page at UC Berkeley says my scores have not been received, and I have not received the personal score report you get in the mail every time you send your scores somewhere (I received one about two weeks after I sent requests for two other schools). Figuring something went wrong with the paper request, I went back online and just ordered a report for UC Berkeley with no department code. Within two or three days the online application page said my scores had been received, and I got the personal score report in the mail a week ago. On this personal score report the department code was not listed, which makes me think the online request (with no department code) was the one that was processed and the paper request (with department code) was not. So, in my experience at UC Berkeley at least, it seems the department code is not required. If Carnegie Mellon gets its reports in the mail, it is very possible that the problem is not the codes, but rather there is a backlog of mail that hasn't been sorted yet and your score report is there somewhere. But if you can spare the $23 it might be worth the peace of mind to got to the ETS website and send it again. Even if it gets to the admissions committee late, it probably won't be a problem since they asked for your scores unofficially, so that might be what they refer to during the review process and will just want to check it against the official report. Good luck!

Also good to know, thank you wwellington! I like the sound of a "recruiting weekend," it sounds less stressful than an interview (and is probably even less so if you've already been accepted!) For now I'll just have to let it be and see what comes along...

I had graduate school dream last night, though I think it was too strange to be considered prophetic in any way. In it I received an email from an imaginary POI stating that I had been rejected from the EEB program at my undergraduate institution (Note: I attended a SLAC that has no graduate programs in real life...). The email continued with a long list of bizarre criticisms that led to my rejection; for example, my SOP was "too aggressive" and the POI "had reason to believe that [i am] just an awful person." I was shocked, and although I didn't even want to attend that program (especially because I couldn't even remember applying ), I was a bit disturbed by the wild interpretations of my completely normal application. So my dream-emboldened self replied to the email, stating that I was sorry if my application somehow caused offense, but I did not agree with the criticisms. Surprisingly, the POI responded and said that perhaps he was hasty, and he would be willing to re-assess my application, but I decided to be smug and say that no, I did not desire a review, good day to you sir. Unfortunately I did not have much time to savor my self-satisfaction, for the dream took an abrupt turn as two burglars barged into my kitchen, grabbed knives from the knife block, and chased me around the house for awhile before I woke up. So yeah, not a very helpful dream at all.

Ah ok, thanks so much for the information. I didn't know whether programs without rotations would hold actual interviews or if some faculty would just informally contact applicants if they wanted to talk to them. So it seems that it still varies from school to school - not that I really mind either way, I've just been wondering since there aren't that many EEB people around anywhere to really get a feel for what to expect!

I'm applying to Berkeley ESPM as well so I understand your confusion. Based on my interpretation of the ESPM webpage, it seems that professors will have the opportunity to review applications/SOPs that list them and to make their "preferences," as it says, known to the committee, though it isn't clear what effect these preferences have on the admissions process (I'm assuming positive, but I don't know to what degree). I think at this point there's nothing to do but hope your listed POIs do take a look at your application (at least that's all I feel I can do at this point). Did the POI you emailed have a "prospective students" section on his/her webpage or otherwise indicate how or if he/she expects to be contacted? They must expect emails considering that students are assigned an advisor upon acceptance, but it seems like some are still more interested in prior contact than others. Plus, I'm sure they all get many emails at all different times, so perhaps if the review of apps by POIs is the normal way of doing things for ESPM, then maybe some just wait until they have the chance to look at everyone who applied before they decide on their preferences. This is all speculation of course, and I know it's frustrating because it does seem that the interest of potential advisors plays a role in the admissions process at ESPM and similar programs. At least ESPM doesn't require a faculty sponsor in order to even be considered for admission, as some EEB programs do, so hopefully things will work out!

Thanks for the info eco_env! I got a generic email from ESPM after applying that said "admissions decisions will be made between late January and late March," which I read as "sometime next year." Out of curiosity, if you remember, were your interviews for programs that do rotations instead of immediate assignment/acceptance into a lab (assuming you applied to all EEB-type programs)? IU EEB is the only program I'm applying to that gives the option of rotations during the first year, so I'm wondering if it is the only one that might offer interviews.

Congrats deundertaker! And fosgfp I really wouldn't worry based on results from other programs. I saw a result from a micro program at one of my schools posted today, yet the EEB deadline for that school isn't until January! Neuro might be slow, but I think EEB might be the slowest (but then I think EEB does things differently than most other bio programs). Considering how fast you got an invite from Northwestern, I can't imagine you wouldn't have more coming up. It seems that you guys applying to a bunch of schools could end up with multiple interviews, do you think you'd go to them all or would you make some cuts beforehand?

Nice! Did you just submit your application recently? I feel like I'm going to get really antsy as everyone's interview invites start rolling in... not sure if my programs even hold interviews (the sparse few entries on the results pages suggest that two of them might, but if those are accurate it looks like they don't come in for awhile).

I took the same approach as davidmigl for UC Berkeley's application. For the SOP I stuck to my research and academic accomplishments for demonstrating the "motivation, academic preparation and aptitude" and discussed how certain faculty/labs and programs within the department fit my interests (the latter may be specific to the sciences). Overall I kept it very professional. For the Personal History Statement I went more into my background and source of my research interests, the "passion" I suppose. I don't offer much in terms of obvious diversity, either in my own background or my work so for, so I delved a bit into my urban upbringing and how I managed to develop my ecological interests, and I ended with what I have done so far / what I hope to do to bring more ecological and environmental science opportunities to urban students. My PHS was quite a bit more relaxed in style, more "telling a story", than my SOP. I tried to be honest without being overly dramatic. I think that even if you don't have the most unique or heart-wrenching background, it might help if you can just produce a genuine and well-written narrative for the PHS, and that you show you are at least aware of the possible broader impacts of your work. I agree though that there is room for overlap, and I ended up cross-referencing my two essays (like "blah blah (see Personal History Statement)" within my SOP and vice versa) a few times to emphasize important points without being repetitive. But this is all just my interpretation of course. =P Best of luck to those still working!