2012 Application Accountability and Discussion

[gellert]

I always do better with getting things done whenever I either have a to-do list or some form of accountability.

Anyone else work the same way? Use this thread to keep on schedule with your applications and SOPs.

Or you can just vent about the application process and all its woes. That's cool too.

[Neuronista]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

Well, I'm currently contacting POI's (I know, kind of late) as well as some current students. I didn't make up my mind on which schools to apply to yet. But my initial list includes UT Austin (last year I applied to the pharmacology program, this time I'm applying to the neuroscience program), Wake Forest, UF, UPenn, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, U Chicago, UIUC, and USC. I also want to apply to Brown and MIT (they have interesting people) but I'm not sure I can make it into those.

I'll start filling online applications soon, and re-write my SOP.

I see you've cut down on your list It's good to have decided exactly where you'll be applying!

[gellert]

Looks like we're applying to a lot of the same places! (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Chicago, UIUC, Brown - and UPenn and USC used to be on my list before I cut it down, as well.) Maybe we'll be classmates this time next year!

I've finally finished writing up a descriptive paper on all the places I'm applying for my LOR writers. I'm going to be in Boston this week for a conference and I'd written to one of my Harvard POIs to see if he wanted to meet. He wrote back today! He's not going to be in town, but he wants to talk to me on the phone, so I'm really excited (and nervous) about that!

Next thing I need to do is send out my LOR packets to my writers and start serious work on my SOP. The SOP is going to be the most difficult part for me, I think.

[Safferz]

Great thread! I absolutely must have the first draft of my SOP completed by the last week of September, since I'd like to include it in an email to my letter writers along with my finalized list of schools. It's really stressful knowing this task is likely the most important part of my application.

[gellert]

I have sooo many assignments and essays due this week, it's truly ridiculous. No idea when I'm going to fit in working on my SOP.

I'm planning on sending out emails to my LOR writers today or tomorrow, which is...a bit nerve-wracking. I still don't have a SOP to include with my packet I'll give to them, but maybe assuring them a draft is forthcoming will motivate me to start working on it. It's just, as you said, incredibly stressful to know that this one essay is going to make or break my entire app.

[ryanmor]

SOP was, for me, the hardest part of the application process thus far. I found it difficult writing about why I am so interested and what I want to do. It took a lot of thinking. I started in July and put it away for a few weeks. Came back to it late August and just last week came up with a solid draft. I am in the process of circulating it to my current and past advisors and getting their feedbacks. So far they have been a great help!

By the end of the month I want a solid SOP down and then send out my LOR packets to my letter writers. Goal- Have all my applications submitted before Thanksgiving.

[bodywithoutorgans]

Stupid question (Maybe?) for ryan and gellert: What is to be included in an LOR "packet"?

Three profs have agreed to be letter writers already and no one has asked for this.

Thanks!

[fullofpink]

My deadlines are due in early January. This is my schedule so far:

September:

• Last week: took the GRE. Satisfactory range for GRE, may need to retest in late Nov. if new scores are on the low scale of the ranges.
  
• This weekend: tighten up CV, read my last POI's articles, contact POIs
  
• This week: Meet with my undergraduate adviser and go over general application materials (talk about GRE scores, GPA and transcripts, look at Writing Sample, and CV). Make changes suggested.
  
• Completed: CV, GRE, Writing sample*
  
  October:
  • Narrow down list of schools and visit the ones I'm most interested in.
    
  • Finish first drafts of Personal Statements; start second drafts of Personal statements
    
    November:
    • Order transcripts from college for December pick-up
      
    • If GRE scores are good, send them to other schools. If unsatisfactory, restudy for exam at the end of the month.
      
    • Final SOP written
      
    • Give copy of all materials to LOR writers. Request LORs done by mid-Dec.
      

    December:

    [*]Pick up transcripts and LORs

    [*]Quadruple-check my writing sample and SOP for errors

    [*]Submit everything by December 15

    January:

    [*]Start freaking out.

Edited September 24, 2011 by fullofpink

[gellert]

Stupid question (Maybe?) for ryan and gellert: What is to be included in an LOR "packet"?

Three profs have agreed to be letter writers already and no one has asked for this.

Thanks!

It's not so much a requirement as a nicety. It can make things easier for your letter writers if you give them something to work from.

For example, this is what I'm giving my LOR writers:

a copy of my CV

a copy of my unofficial transcript

a list of schools to which I'm applying, with POIs and brief descriptions of their work/why I want to go there, + deadlines and addresses

a copy of your best publication (or whatever you think represents your best academic work; could be a paper you wrote in their class)

stamped and addressed envelopes (if necessary)

an explanation of anything unsavory in your academic history you want them to address

Edited September 24, 2011 by gellert

[ryanmor]

Stupid question (Maybe?) for ryan and gellert: What is to be included in an LOR "packet"?

Three profs have agreed to be letter writers already and no one has asked for this.

Thanks!

My packet includes a general cover letter outlining my interests, the schools I am applying to, and whom I want to work with. There are also instructions on how to submit the letters. I'm also attaching my cv an SOP.

[bodywithoutorgans]

Great-thanks for the responses gellert and ryan. I'll now make comprehensible (to someone other than myself) my list of POI's at different schools and send it to my LOR writers.

[orst11]

This topic makes me feel good and it's good to see I am not alone in being a.

Like a lot of you, I included similar things in my packets:

a copy of my CV

a copy of my unofficial transcript

a list of schools to which I'm applying, Reasons why I like to study in each particular dept., plus I included deadlines, addresses, and some other info

a copy of my best work, and best work for one of their classes

a rough draft of my sop

GRE score estimates and explanations

With this process i have been really organized. I have made spreadsheets listing when I sent emails to people, when they complete each online rec or when I hear programs received paper based recs, I have also estimated when I need to send reminder emails, etc. I really am not OCD, I just feel maybe my organization will be helpfully when it comes down to making a decision when I have to.

One thing, I didn't include that gellert noted was envelopes with stamps, because I had asked about this prior and all my recommenders said since letters typically are addressed with a university department letterhead, so they cover this small cost.

I have been extremely lucky in being able to have previously visited all the schools I am applying to and not have to pay for these visits. I definitely feel I am saving some time in that aspect where I can concentrate on things I think are my weak points.

[Neuronista]

Looks like we're applying to a lot of the same places! (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Chicago, UIUC, Brown - and UPenn and USC used to be on my list before I cut it down, as well.) Maybe we'll be classmates this time next year!

That will be so exciting! I can only imagine

I've finally finished writing up a descriptive paper on all the places I'm applying for my LOR writers. I'm going to be in Boston this week for a conference and I'd written to one of my Harvard POIs to see if he wanted to meet. He wrote back today! He's not going to be in town, but he wants to talk to me on the phone, so I'm really excited (and nervous) about that!

So how did the conversation with the Harvard POI go? Hope it went well?

Next thing I need to do is send out my LOR packets to my writers and start serious work on my SOP. The SOP is going to be the most difficult part for me, I think.

I think my LOR writers will be the same ones as last year, so they have all the info they need (they only asked for my CV!). I might ask a couple of new profs as well, especially the ones who have connections in the places I'll be applying to.

My SOP needs a complete makeover, however. And I SERIOUSLY, REALLY NEED TO GET SOME WORK DONE! But I'm having a lot of issues going around and in my mind, and I'm totally out of focus. I need to get ready for the GRE, and two manuscripts to write, and...

Oh my I have sooooooooooo much to do!

[Neuronista]

One issue I'm facing when I'm contacting POIs is that they do seem interested in my research but they're saying that they cannot decide from now whether they will have vacancies in their labs by the time I join (I'm applying to the sciences).

So what should I do in this case? What should my reply be? I still want them to remember me as a potential student, but they seem that they're not exactly ready to discuss research opportunities with them for the time being.

[Hatem]

One issue I'm facing when I'm contacting POIs is that they do seem interested in my research but they're saying that they cannot decide from now whether they will have vacancies in their labs by the time I join (I'm applying to the sciences).

So what should I do in this case? What should my reply be? I still want them to remember me as a potential student, but they seem that they're not exactly ready to discuss research opportunities with them for the time being.

I was thinking of this issue in the last few days.How could a potential advisor decide if he/she would need grad students into his/her lab after approximately 2 years.If I contacted a POI now telling him/her that i'm applying now to join grad school in fall 2012 and asking about joining his/her lab in fall 2013.Is this reasonable?

[gellert]

I'm not sure what you mean with the "after...2 years" bit, but contacting POIs right now (as ever) will be a mixed bag. Some profs will know for sure if they're taking students because they had to declare something to the department. Others won't know until they see what kind of applicants turn up in the pile or are waiting on grant applications to go through to see if they'll be able to fund students next year (for the schools/departments that require faculty to fund their own students -- rare, but I know of at least one top place in psychology that does it).

There's not going to be an "ideal" time to send out emails. Seems like everyone I know (myself included) is sending emails out right now for Ph.D. programs, so it's worth a shot! If you don't hear anything back, don't panic. Profs are super busy.

[Hatem]

I'm not sure what you mean with the "after...2 years" bit,

I mean If I contacted POIs now "in september/october 2011" while I'm applying to their programs and if I got accepted I will attend their school next year "in september/october 2012".And of course I will spend the first year studying core courses and lab rotations.Then I will join my PO lab on "sept/oct 2013".These are 2 years from now.

[Hatem]

I myself don't know if I would stay interested into my POI research topic after 2 years from now or I would find another more interesting one in another lab.

[Neuronista]

I mean If I contacted POIs now "in september/october 2011" while I'm applying to their programs and if I got accepted I will attend their school next year "in september/october 2012".And of course I will spend the first year studying core courses and lab rotations.Then I will join my PO lab on "sept/oct 2013".These are 2 years from now.

Exactly. In most programs, students are not given a chance to choose a lab before their first year, which is already one year from now. That's what many POIs are telling me and they're saying they can't decide from now.

The best thing to do is to apply to programs where there are several profs whose work you're interested in, so that if one of them is not available by the time you choose a lab, you can happily join another one.

But I am still surprized that so many people say that POIs could actually make a decision from now about where or not he/she will need a student later on. Maybe I'm e-mailing the wrong people

[Neuronista]

I myself don't know if I would stay interested into my POI research topic after 2 years from now or I would find another more interesting one in another lab.

I know! This is one of my concerns too. What if my interests change when I get exposed to other research topics during my rotations?

But then I thought, let me state what my current interests are, which basically stem from my MS research topic. This will give adcoms an impression that I'm focused and that I know what I want, and gives them an idea about my areas of expertise, which will make it easier for them to decide whether I'll be a "good fit" for their program. Then, if I do get interested in something else, which will most likely be something related, I may persue a project that links these areas.

[Hatem]

If this is the case with most POIs,then why should we email them?

I have heared that some schools ask prospective students to mention in their online application POIs they have contacted.While other schools urge students to contact POIs.

[Neuronista]

If this is the case with most POIs,then why should we email them?

I have heared that some schools ask prospective students to mention in their online application POIs they have contacted.While other schools urge students to contact POIs.

Well, I applied last year without contacting anyone and didn't get accepted anywhere. So I thought this year I'll change my approach and be more "interactive". I've heard that once you have a POI interested in your work, they might help get you into the program, if they were part of the admissions committee or if they have any kind of influence over them.

Yes, some programs urge applicants to contact professors, and the funny thing is that one of the professors who said it's too early for him to decide now belongs to one of those programs

[Safferz]

I'm having some serious SOP-writing anxiety. I MUST get my first draft done this week, so my letter writers have something to look at. I've been thinking about it for months, but I'm feeling so overwhelmed by the task that I haven't written a single word yet.

[butterfingers2010]

I'm having some serious SOP-writing anxiety. I MUST get my first draft done this week, so my letter writers have something to look at. I've been thinking about it for months, but I'm feeling so overwhelmed by the task that I haven't written a single word yet.

As Nike says, "Just do it!" Seriously. Open up a Word processor document and just write down whatever thoughts come to mind. They don't have to be in the form of a coherent essay right now, it's just important that you get over your fear of writing and jump in, and the easiest way to do that is to simply start writing. Alternatively you could brainstorm a list of main ideas/points you want to cover and make an outline on a piece of scrap paper and start from there. I, too was really intimidated by the thought of writing my SOP, but it was easier once I came up with a plan and got started. Whatever you do start soon because you will want to have plenty of time to revise. I have revised my SOP at least a dozen times, maybe more than that.

[polydentate]

^I second that. After much procrastination, I finally dived in and wrote the first draft of my personal statement yesterday (and that's only because I forced myself to set up an appointment at my school's career center to have someone read it).

If you have trouble starting, I'd recommend the same approach. Maybe establishing a deadline like that will push you towards writing it.