BDav

I always wonder if they even take the time to calculate Major GPA, since it isn't anywhere on most transcripts, and they get so many applicants. It is best to send a note in, but I doubt it's even noticed most of the time. Of course, you don't want to be that unlucky person who does get noticed for it.

At the very least, look for programs that are fully funded. There's usually a list somewhere online.

I have a feeling that with applications to those schools, your experience, LoR, and SoP have more to do than anything else. This is because you are applying with a thousand other people who also hover around a 4.0, and near perfect GRE's, so using those to choose is useless.

Do people realize that when they ask you what other schools you are applying to, it is optional? You don't have to say. They have no way of knowing where or how many applications you are sending out unless you tell them.

If you let him know you won't be applying to next year, he can probably just keep it on file for you.

It's better than nothing. I know I am applying for an MFA, but basically everything writing oriented I've done on my own the last few years. The only relevant LoR I have is from my creative writing professor my senior year. The other two are just from jobs I've had since then because there is a three letter requirement. The best LoR advice seems to be useless unless you get it maybe even a year before applying. Take some kind of class or volunteer or anything with people who will be good recommenders. Otherwise you will end up having to you use co-workers because you can't find anyone else.

At the school I work at, they do receive revised documents, but they don't replace what you sent in. They just give both versions to the admission council.

I've come across two-to-three out of thousands. It's rare, but it does happen.

If there is tech support contact info on your application, send them an email or give them a call. They can probably fix it, or at the least, erase them and let you resubmit their names. If that doesn't work, let your recommenders know that you did it by accident.

You only see your letters if you get accepted, and you probably will only get accepted with good recommendations (or not having bad ones), it's probably not worth worrying about. if you don't get accepted, you still don't get to see the letters, so it doesn't help you there. [Note: I don't know how it works at every university, this is just what I read in the disclaimer of one.] I've been told that the reason for this is that they don't want lawsuits against recommenders because people who are denied think it is their fault they didn't get accepted. From the WashU Application:

I don't know if she would find out, but it's a really bad idea. They want to see your transcript so they can see where you excelled and what kind of classes you took. They aren't going to mention the bad grades. If I were you, I'd give them to her with a clipped page explaining what you told us.

Your application won't get tossed. Everything you have sent in will be given to the department to look at. It is up to them what to do from there. Because of the vast number of applicants, many will probably toss anyone who hasn't followed directions as the first cut. Is it possible to get in with only two? Yes. But more likely it will be an excuse to deny you without turning the first page of your application. And yes, some schools won't let you apply unless you have all three recommenders entered. I think these are the nice schools. Other schools are cruel, and let you apply without having them, and then give you no way to add them in afterwards. Don't submit until you've put in the three recommenders or it could be a big hassle.

I don't know your chance of acceptance, but most Universities say that they judge your last 60 credit hours more than the earlier ones to see what kind of student you were when you graduated. If, as you say, you've retaken the classes you did poorly in, explained it, and done everything else, I don't think you'll be worse off.

Some things do depend on the school. I personally applied to five schools recently and each one required original transcripts with the application. When I talked about transcripts, I really meant any hard-copy item the school requires, which often includes transcripts. It is a good idea to double check requirements for each school though, because so many have minute differences.

It's rare, but it does happen. I've seen Deans write recommendations on how the student isn't good enough for the program he is applying. I've seen people say, "I don't know this person well enough to comment," and nothing else. I have a feeling this only happens when people ask for recommendations from complete strangers, or people who really don't like them. I don't think it is from professors or employers that they have a good relationship with.

Well, if you happen to be from Singapore, the professors there all seem to follow a set of guidelines where they put the students good qualities and where they might be weaker. Almost every letter is only good things, but each letter also comes with a sheet the person fills out where they rate you on things such as how intelligent you are, how good you might be at teaching, how mature you are, and a few others. It isn't that rare that a letter will be glowing, but the ratings are less stellar. If you know the recommender, you probably already know what the letter says. It will be something along the lines of, "I taught PERSON in this class at this time. PERSON did extremely well in my class, getting such and such grades and taking part in discussions. Person did exceptionally well on SPECIFIC project or paper, where they analyzed SUCH AND SUCH." They really aren't all that interesting.

They are scanned and uploaded, but you also have to send originals. They want both.

If you don't wave your right to see the recommendation, you still don't get to see it unless you are accepted. Having read thousands of recommendations, I can tell you that most are very good. But, there are always a few that actually say bad things about the person, or that they aren't good for the program. Be very sure about who sends your recommendations. Even if you need "anyone" to write you a recommendation, you still need to choose carefully.

While you have a deadline of Jan 1st, there are still a week or two before they look at it, and it will still be delivered. It just has no guaranteeing. Try not to do it, but if you get it in right after, you'll probably be alright.

Try and see if any of your paragraphs cover the same topic. Pick the better one and erase the others. Remove as many adjectives as you can.

Hello, For two years I've worked as an admissions clerk at a respected East Coast university. Over that time I've seen people make a lot of mistakes, some of them obvious, and some harder to avoid. I've put together a list here of things you should do or not do in your applications. Hope it helps! 1. Write your name on everything you submit. 2. Spell your name correctly on everything you submit. 3. If you have changed your name, and everything you submit is under your old name, mention that name, and if possible, put it in the "other name" blank of the application. 4. Write your birthday on everything you submit. 5. Write the correct birthday. 6. If you are sending transcripts for three schools, list all three schools into the application. Not one school, not two schools, but all three. 7. Keep in mind the following when writing a statement of purpose: a. Statements of Purpose are not poems. 99% of you are not poets. Stop trying to write poetic Statements of Purpose. They are generally bad and we laugh at them. b. Chances are you haven't wanted to be a PhD in Molecular Biology since you were seven. They know you're lying, or at least think you are. c. Desire, love, and passion are highly overused. I don't mean in general, but in the same letter. Try not to use them in every single sentence. 8. Use spellcheck. When the header of your Writing Sample says Wring Sample, you better be a super genius to compensate. 9. When mentioning why you want to go to a specific school, or work with a specific faculty member, use the correct name. Don't apply to school ZZZ and say how perfect you are for school CCC. Or how much you want to go to CCC to work with Prof. ZZZ. Each online-app system lets you preview your submitted files. Preview them. Then do it again. 10. Write your name correctly on any tests you need to take (GRE, TOEFL etc.). 11. Write the correct birthday on any tests you need to take. 12. Don't ask people who hate you to write letters of recommendation. They might give you a bad recommendation. 13. Don't risk asking someone you think hates you. They might give you a bad recommendation. 14. Don't ask someone who you don't know, and doesn't want to do it. They might send a two-line letter that says, "I don't know this person well enough to offer any insight." 15. Don't send pictures of yourself, especially not vacation pictures. They won't help you, and they won't even reach the admissions council. 16. If the guidelines ask for 20-40 pages, don't send 200. It won't make you look brilliant. They receive hundreds of applicants. That's a lot of writing samples to read. Don't stand out because you're the jerk who sent them more work. They might not bother reading it at all. 18. An original transcript has to come from the school you attended (unless you have special circumstances that you've discussed with the program you are applying to). This means that a photocopy isn't enough. You have to actually have your previous school send the transcript themselves. Most will do this for free, and have the option in the student login area. 19. Try not to wait until the last minute, or at least try and send in your hard-copy requirements at the same time you apply or after. The longer the test scores and transcripts sit there, the more ratty they get. People have to recheck them every few days, and there are thousands of you. 20. If you call the help-line, don't be an ass. These people are trying to help you. Also keep in mind that some problems are with the company that runs the online-application, such as Embark, which the school has absolutely no control over it. If you feel that you really have to be a jerk, try and picture what would happen if you want up to someone, punched them in the stomach, then asked if they'd do you a favor. Also, don't waste their time. Before calling to complain that they lost the test you submitted, check to make sure you actually submitted it.