iowaguy

I personally wouldn't mention the rejections. I think it will sound awkward and could harm more than help. If you're applying to new schools they won't have a clue that you applied to other schools last year... Just focus on your strengths and put your best foot forward. Best of luck!

Maybe instead of a cliche "love of computers since childhood" statement, you could provide a couple of specific examples of projects you worked on related to IT (perhaps even in your undergrad you had some sort of IT-related experiences?). I think you can just mostly focus on your last 5 years of IT experience, and where you see yourself in the future (and how the M.S. will help you get there). In general, you should be talking about the present/future in your SOP and not focusing much on the past. So, IMHO, just make a quick reference about some IT experience in undergrad, provide some detail about your last 5 years working (and why it has prepared you to embark on the M.S.) and most importantly, lay out a vision for your future and why that particular university's M.S. program is your best fit... Best of luck!

Any thoughts on how best to phrase #3 (average hours/week you're expected to be in the lab) without sounding lazy? I want to know what their expectations are of me putting in time at the lab, but don't want to come across as not dedicated to my research...

I think you telling them you had a conflict with their interview weekend showed that you already had an interview lined up with a higher-choice school (which was obviously true). Why should they spend money to bring a candidate up to interview who likely wouldn't accept their offer anyway? If they were indeed your top choice (and you were just being polite in not wanting to cancel an existing interview acceptance), then you would obviously pay out-of-pocket to come up and interview. I think it's just them being rational and trying to spend their $$$ on candidates with the highest chance of accepting an offer, no?

I stopped caring about what other people think a long time ago

I use noise reducing ear muffs, NRR of 30 decibels. $20 on Amazon. After using them for a few weeks you get into a Pavlov state where your body recognizes its in study mode whenever you put them on... They are also great for reading while on airplanes, buses, etc...

I think it shows them they're not your first choice, no?

Economist is best for an international view, IMHO. Excellent coverage of developments going on around the world... New York Times has more of a liberal slant and is more focused on U.S. events (although more international than most U.S. newspapers). I personally read both. If I could only choose one it would be the Economist.

Mylonite - would you be willing to cite your source on hydro programs not being competitive? That might be the case for unfunded M.S. programs, but I don't think it's the case for fully-funded Ph.D. programs...

OK, let's go with your logic here... Which provides the best chance for landing a good post-doc and eventually a successful career in academia: #1: work with less-than-ideal PI at top-10 program #2: work with ideal PI at program ranked #30 in the U.S.

So, how much of a factor does prestige (where you got your PhD) have when appling for post-doc positions? My hunch is that the top-10 programs churn out a lot more candidates of the top post-doc positions. Possibly for the reason that you mentioned, that the top students tend to choose the top schools...

Precisely, so why all the focus on making sure you choose the right POI? Seems like much better strategy is to make sure you get accepted to a top-10 university so you have adequate "prestige" factor working for you in your academic career... As long as you think you can complete the program, it seems like you should suck it up and work with a less-than-ideal POI at a top-10 program, even if your dream POI is at the #30 ranked program...

So, takeaway from that article is that the program (university) matters a lot more than your particular POI, if you plan to go into academia??? Some people suggest that your choice of POI is more important than which university you choose, but this article would suggest otherwise if you're planning for a career as a professor... Your thoughts?

OK, your logic makes sense. In the OP, I was thinking of a scenario where the coursework would be pretty much the same (in some programs that I'm looking at, the coursework is exactly the same, chosen by me, and only the name of the program is different). Your scenario sounds like 2 completely different programs, not just a difference in name only...

Let me follow your logic here. You don't want to be identified with the business school, even though you would be doing the same kind of social psychology work (and would even get paid more, which I would consider a bonus). Furthermore, this would be the only way you could work with this particular professor, and the funding would be better. Why does it matter what you "identify with", if the research is exactly the same? How exactly does identifying with the Business School affect your future prospects differently than identifying with the Psychology School?

Any thoughts on what might contribute to this? The economy hasn't improved much from last year...

That's the general feeling that I'm getting from the Ecology/Env. Science/Env Engineering fields. Anyone else have input on the "tightness" of funding for this particular application year compared to previous years? Problem is, I'm not sure it's going to get any better for Fall 2014/2015/2016, etc...

IMHO, since you do not feel rushed when taking the test, I would suggest taking a deep breath & reading through each Q question twice before starting to work out the answer. It's possible that you are not understanding what exactly the question is asking, or exactly what strategy you should use to correctly answer the question... In the end just relax and do your best, it looks like your Q score on practice tests is improving, I'm sure everything will work out fine!!!

IMHO it's better to improve your application "package" and re-apply next year than it is to go to a "safety school" where you won't be happy and/or won't be as well positioned for your dream career when you graduate... I personally want to attend a top school (better chances of breaking into the academic world post-PhD) and won't settle for a mediocre school, even if that means I have to re-apply a time or two... YMMV.

That's a great strategy for getting help on an internet forum, belittling the forum members?!? I myself have found this forum extremely helpful but I try to be very appreciative of the fact that no one is obligated to answer my questions and that they do so on their own free time...

Thanks for the info, that is very helpful! Is there any room for negotiation about time spent as a RA vs. TA before you accept their offer? I would ideally like to RA as much as possible (minimize TA), do you know if that is commonly discussed (or even possible to negotiate) before acceptance of the offer?

OK, let me rephrase. Do you work as a TA/RA during June, July, and first 1/2 of August with that stipend? Or can you take the summer "off" to focus on your dissertation research, etc...

Do those stipends include summer work? i.e. do you have summers "off" from RA/TA assignments with those dollar figures? Thanks!

I would personally recommend trying to attend if at all possible if it is one of your top choices. IMHO it sends a very bad message if you skip the interview; they're trying to put a face to an application and make sure that your personality will fit in with their program. Just think about it from their perspective - they extend you an interview offer, and you decline (for whatever reason). How can that be a positive outcome? I think it shows them that they're not your top choice...

One idea to put your mind at ease - you can call the program to ask if all interview requests have been sent out...