CarlieE

As an undergrad I've always made it a point to see my professors during their office hours and talk over my research papers with them (ask for feedback and then actually rewrite my paper, stop in to ask them clarify a point in their lecture) and I also make it a point to say good morning to them when I see them around school (I also see them out and about, since I'm in a small college town). I also made myself known in class - I sit in the front and center and contribute to the discussions. I also applied for a lot of scholarships and have approached them during my UG years for LORs for scholarships and other awards, so when it came time to apply to grad school I even got some professors offering to write me LORs without me asking them. I agree with slaNYC though; some UGs don't bother or seem intimidated. I just treat my professors like regular people and they respond, just like regular people. It feels weird to ask for a LOR at first but after awhile it becomes easier to ask for one.

This sounds a lot like the advice I've been given from my current professors and my friend who got into the school I'm trying to get into as well. I was told by 3 of my profs that "You are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you" and "they want to know you will be a good fit socially and personality-wise as well. All of you will be working together for a long long time; the social dynamic has to be good." I'm getting on a plane tomorrow for my interview and I've decided that I'm just going to BE MYSELF. I am prepared of course, with some research on the profs there, the history of the school, their points of pride etc as well as my own research, but I'm going to relax and just let them see who I am.

Perhaps calling their graduate office rather than the POI him or herself is better. You could just call to ask for the approximate deadline of when decisions will be made. Does their website give any indication of when?

I think (and was advised by my current profs) that seeking out the POI before applying and during the application process was a good way to go, since you can gauge interest (or lack thereof) from the POI. The POI at my top choice school emailed me back last year when I was applying and has been in contact with me (I have an interview there this week) and I feel that if I had NOT contacted him, that I might not have gotten this chance to interview. Interestingly, I emailed 2 POIs at other schools before/during the application process and did not receive responses and I have not been invited to interview at those schools. So... I think it's best to contact the POI and extend your hand first.

so... handwritten notes or emails or cards?

I'll be interviewed by half the faculty. In my field there are four sub-fields and in this school they are split into bio and cultural. I'll be interviewed by all the cultural anths - so... 8 interviews I believe? I haven't done this before either but it seems like it will be a mix of both: your research and theirs.

Man, I hope I get a question like this. The open-ended, subjective questions are so much easier than the objective ones.. ie. "Tell me what theoretical framework you plan on your using for your dissertation." If posed this question, I'd begin with a self deprecating remark, then smile and then say why I make a great student, how committed I am (so I won't end up an ABD) and how I can contribute to the school and the scholarship of my field. (In more words than this, of course.)

I'd borrow, beg or.. well, ok, I won't steal.. but I agree with NinjaMermaid. This is one of the those things that it would be worth going into a little debt for. I am also severely broke and in the same position. I figured out a way to scrounge up the money.

I've been told that it's really all a matter of how we fit into the program and sometimes it could be a perfect fit but the professor who is interested has other things going on and can't take on any more ie. she/he might be welcoming a baby soon, or they already have the max number of grad students and can't handle or aren't allowed to have "just one more" (no matter how perfect the fit), or they are thinking of switching research interests and don't want to do Africa/post-colonialism/Vietnamese Art/etc any longer - or, perhaps more frequently, the dept doesn't have "enough" funding and they opted to take on less students so that each one can have a full ride. Anyway, that's what I've been advised by my current professors.

I agree with koolherc. At NIU I see a lot of older students; and know a few in their fifties doing their PhDs.

winmaxi - Do you mean a letter of recommendation? I personally have only asked for Letters of recommendation from professors and PhDs I've worked with or whose classes I've taken (more than one class). I got lucky and two professors offered to write me letters when I told them where I was thinking of. Also, I am going to do thank you cards - but my interview is in person and involves a two day stay. I also plan on doing Thank you cards to the professors who helped me write my SOP, gave me feedback on my CV and wrote me Ltrs of Recommendation for grad school.

Plan B?? What is this.... Plan.. B? Just kidding.. No, my plan B is doing a terminal MA at the uni I am currently at. I am fairly certain I will get in there, and then come the Fall I will try again...

I'm 30. Interestingly I was asked by a prof from the school I want to attend if I was sure if I wanted to go straight into grad school (I am finishing my BA; took time off school to try "life", not regretfully).. And his concern about accepting me as his student was that I might burnout if I went straight from high school to college to grad school... I explained I am 30 and that I had my time "off" so I'm sure of the direction I'm heading to now. So, not to scare the 20-somethings, but this might be a question that comes up in an interview or perhaps something the adcomms consider when making their choices...

So.... how do you feel about tattoos? I have two visible ones - not huge, but not small - on both my wrists. I have never hidden them and I frankly don't intend to. I will dress pleasantly in "business casual": grey flat front slacks, white collared blouse and wine colored, distressed velvet blazer. I'm still deciding on the shoes... My arms will be covered to the wrist by my blazer, but I'm sure that sometime during the weekend long interview trip my wrists will be exposed. Granted, I'm in cultural anthropology AND the region I'm studying has traditional tattoos - AND in fact, I did get those tattoos done there in the traditional method during my last two trips to the region. So my tats may attest to my commitment to my field... However, I'm not there now. And I'm going to assume I'll be judged by "American" standards (whatever those are). Anyway, I know where I stand when it comes to my tats... Any thoughts from anyone else? btw - I spoke to the POI at the uni I am going to interview at and I feel so so so so much better about it now. I'm just going to be myself and try to get my theory and knowledge into a coherent package that I can deliver succinctly. ie I am going to rehearse some of my answers to questions I think I'll be hit with.

Thanks everyone! I'm glad I'm not in this predicament by myself and good luck to all!!

I agree with the C.M.I - the school I'm interviewing at said on their website (or I read somewhere) that admission offers are made the week after the interview, so I'm glad. I would say that it's fair to ask during the interviews, in a casual manner, when admittance letters might be sent.

Posted Today, 12:42 AM omnibuster, on 10 January 2012 - 09:50 PM, said: But my worst nightmare would probably be this: POI: "Psh! Look at this SOP. She knows nothing of my work! Totally misinterpreting everything. She might as well have copied and pasted my research interests from the website." THIS is actually a real concern. --> I got an interview and I am so afraid that this scenario will actually play out in real life as I'm sitting in the Hot Seat. (Only, it won't be about my SOP but some other obscure theoretical question that will just be beyond me... )

Most of my friends and family are overseas and FB is a primary way I keep in touch with friends - close ones and acquaintances - so using FB to make an announcement - good or bad - is appropriate. To me, a mass email is just the same as a status update. I'll skype close friends and my family, but everyone else can be made aware of my good or bad news by fb. If I get rejected, I'll really appreciate the "cheer up" or "don't worry, it's not you, it's them" comments. With my friends here in the US who are also applying to schools, I have not held back any news and (I believe) neither have they. We're all in it together and we wish the best for each other. In fact, I'd be a little concerned about the strength of our friendship if one of my friends held back good news (or bad news) about their application status. But FB is a personal choice, just as any other mode of communication is. Some people like handwritten letters by post (always pleasant surprises in my mailbox) and some people prefer phone calls. Good Luck everyone!

So I know those us who have gotten on the short list, or have scored an invite to the interview stage should be happy. I made got an interview, I'm happy. I'm also FrEaKeD OuT. Here's a list of thoughts that have run through my brain since I got the email: "I'm a fraud, and now everyone will find out." "I won't meet their expectations" "I'm so so so excited, I have to tell EVeRYONE.... but wait, then they'll all want to know if I really do get accepted. What if I still get rejected?" "What kind of questions are they going to ask?" "What should I WEAR????" "Are these pants "business casual"?" "I need to re-read ALL my theory." "I need to commit my theoretical framework to memory. Now." "I don't know nearly enough!!" "How many spots are we competing for again?" "What do I WEAR??? I have NOTHING!! I need to go shopping NOW!!" "What the HELL is Business CASUAL anyway??" "Remember to smile a lot. No wait, I'll look like an idiot. Don't smile." Then last night, I was gripped by (more) anxiety and spent the evening meditating in front of a candle and listening to Buddha Bar radio... wishing for a release from desire so my suffering can end. Any advice? Want to commiserate or share your experience, your comments will be welcome!