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TheFez

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Everything posted by TheFez

  1. I am just entering a PhD program, but have been thinking about this same issue,as this program encourages candidates to begin independent research work early. Not only do I want to pick something I am passionate about, but also a topic where I can make a significant contribution - to find a find a space that is new and exciting and fertile ground.
  2. I repeat some thoughts here that I shared in similar threads... The type of preparation depends on the score you need, and where you are when you start. If you need to be in the top 10% (old scale of say 750Q 650V) then you need more tools/tricks than some of the programs offer. If you can get by with 600Q, 5550V then a less creative approach is needed. Also - it depends on what your current level is. I needed to score >750Q and about 600V. My verbal was pretty good (>650) when I started - so I just did some vocabulary (flash cards and iPhone apps). My quant was too low (about 650 on my first test) and my problem was time management. So I focused on doing hard problems in less than average time. I bought several math books (used on Amazon they are cheap), and did about an hour a day for many weeks. I ended up with a 760Q which was good enough (though not great). If you only need a 600Q then you can just get good at practice problems. If you need >700 Q you will need to develop some tricks, shortcuts and intuition.
  3. My opinion ... while LORs in your intended field are most desirable, it is better to have really strong letters than weak ones as weak letters actually sort of count against you. That is they do more harm than good. Good, credible, LORs demonstrate that the professor knows you well beyond your performance in class and can discuss your character, ability, interests, weaknesses, etc. Provided the LOR is from an academic who can talk about your abilities to do original work, succeed in a graduate program, etc. you shouldn't be too concerned about the fact they are from another field. If you could come up with even on strong biology letter and two business letters you could be fine. The letters from business profs could address your success but also your desire to change fields. You should talk at length with professors before they write letters and discuss what they might say about you, and some of your concerns. Most good recommenders will want to be helpful and understanding. You can't do much about the situation that you have no strong recommenders in your field - though that is an unfortunate reality and does actually demonstrate a hole in your preparation for a biology graduate program. But if your LORs and SOP along with GRE and GPA make a good package - and if you select the right program with a good fit - you could be successful.
  4. What kind of score do you think you will need? There's different levels of achievement on the Quant section and they may require different approaches. I fyou just need an okay score... like 600+ on the old scale, then it may be sufficient to learn the right method and try to plow through questions. But you should realize the GRE can separate the "men from the boys" on math - and achieving in the higher ranges (e.g. old 760+ required for more quantitative programs like mine in economics) requires more than a mastery of technique - since the problems are timed you cannot brute force answers to get perfect scores unless you are amazingly fast. To achieve at the highest levels on Quant my opinion is you need to develop intuition and be able to recognize shortcuts, and elimination techniques or you just will run out of time. Whatever approach you choose - make sure you spend a lot of time doing timed problems as the test draws nearer to get used tot he pace. That's one place that otherwise competent test takers get stuck. I am not sure if the the Princeton Review techniques are "stupid" of not. I think there is no single answer or silver bullet. You need to get good at the basic techniques needed to actually solve the problems, then go beyond that with time saving tricks and experience to get a really high score if you need it. If all you need is a 70th percentile then don't worry as much - if you need 90+ percentile you need to explore many approaches.
  5. So - I think like most goals, specificity helps. What are you aiming for? Perfect scores? 90th percentile? In both Quant and Verbal? You might be guided by the programs you are applying to and trying to score higher than the average admit so you are sure to "make the cut". I agree an important first step is to take one PowerPrep II test under timed conditions, just as you would in real life. See where you do well and where you need some work and concentrate on those areas more than where you do well. Leave enough time to retake the test and still be early in applying. Even if you are well prepared something could go wrong on test day and you don't want to miss the chance to retake during the 2013 cycle. (And we don't want to hear another person in chat agonizing over bad GRE scores). Though the verbal section has changed, there is still no substitute for just knowing a lot of vocabulary words cold. I used both flash cards (Barrons and Pearson have sets)or you can get some cheap iPhone apps that are excellent, remember which you got right and wrong etc. If you need a good math score there is no substitute for doing practice problems under timed conditions (I set a timer for about 10-15 second less than the average time to build speed). What kind of program are you applying to - Masters? Ph.D? - in what discipline? What kind of schools? How competitive?
  6. I am just entering a Ph.D. program, but have done work in behavioral economics and I am 2 for 2 on submissions as a solo author (following the completion of my Master's in Econ - I felt this would add to my CV when applying, and I am certain it did). I echo a few sentiments expressed by others: 1. Submit to conferences that are very relevant to your work. 2. Write a compelling abstract. I think academicians can be too stiff in their abstract writing. I have submitted many abstracts for conferences in the industrial world with a very high acceptance rate and find that many authors don't spend enough time fine-tuning the abstract. 3. As an unknown - follow the rules of submission (cover pages, length, file formats, deadlines) to the "T" and be especially courteous and thorough in communications. IMHO, with the exception of the most select conferences, a good paper topic, with a well-written abstract stands a good chance of acceptance even by a lesser known (or even unknown) author.
  7. Hi Darkenspirit - I think you are putting the cart before the horse. You need to find out "what you want to be when you grow up" so to speak... at least for deciding on a graduate school path forward. This is important for several reasons: 1) To figure out where to apply to - since different programs have different outcomes. Many MA programs in the US are terminal programs for folks who want to work for banks, etc. and not really as prep for Ph.D. programs (not that you can't go that route - I did. got my MA in Econ and am now entering a Ph.D. 2) To get accepted - you need to be able to write a convincing SOP about the kind of research questions you are interested in. 3) To be successful. You are right - econ is a broad discipline and choosing widely makes a difference in attrition. I used to attend conferences to see what kind of work interested me - read, read, read... others comments are on target about GRE's - competitive programs are going to want to see a 750/760 minimum to make the cut. So put the time into prepping for your GRE quant.
  8. 100% - 1 for 1 and fully funded PhD. I rolled the dice and it worked.
  9. Any Steely Dan fan will recognize The Fez. As for my avatar.... need I say more?
  10. I bought a LiveScribe Echo 4GB smartpen on eBay and it's perfect! I don't know why I didn't get one during my Masters Program - it'sperfect for something like Math or Econ where you have graphs, diagrams... I got it for < $100 and the accessories are surprisingly inexpensive.
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