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Posted

That sounds awesome. I will be happy just to hear from any of them... I think if I could land an interview, I would make a much better impression than my numbers.

Good luck with your interview :)

Posted

Thank you so much!!!! I am keeping my fingers crossed for everyone!!!!!!!

Posted (edited)

Congrats to Tuff and Laocoon! Chances are you've already been accepted and the Professors just want to meet you to be sure that you are the candidate they think you are. I have met a few graduate students who have been kicked out of their respective g&g graduate programs because they turned out to be lackadaisical, lazy, disinterested, half-hearted. Actually knew a masters candidate who would be drunk at a bar by late afternoon; needless to say he got kicked out without a recommendation letter and without department support in helping find him a job.

 

In any case - my guess is that it will be an especially tough application season because of the oil and gas downturn; jobs are being cut left and right, and people must've figured nows the best time to go to graduate school. Recent graduates who are unemployed, and who initially had no interest in graduate school are now left without a choice. There were many signs back in November that O&G was in for a slow, and many must have picked up on those signs. 

 

If this continues on, the next application season will be all the more competitive. 

 

So while it is more competitive than in previous years, please don't think it is you. There are many external circumstances, such as funding, which are beyond our control that dictates who gets in and who doesn't. That being said, I am a little surprised Geomex with full funding available hasn't been picked up yet. 

 

Keep your chin up everyone. Its not over until its over.

Edited by prospecting
Posted

Yeah, the O&G downturn is making it far more difficult for the students like myself and others here that planned from the start to go to grad school and are now competing with people who are applying as a somewhat second thought.

Posted

Apparently there are only 4 TA positions and over 100 applicants that applied to VT  :( This is going to be painful but my POI confirmed that my application wasn't reviewed yet 

Posted

Apparently there are only 4 TA positions and over 100 applicants that applied to VT  :( This is going to be painful but my POI confirmed that my application wasn't reviewed yet 

Welp

Posted (edited)

Undergrad Institution: Big Research Oriented University, top tier reputation.
Major(s): Earth Science
Minor(s): Environmental Systems, Sociology
GPA in Major: 3.6
Overall GPA: 3.1, upper divs = 3.6
Position in Class: In major, near top. In whole school, somewhere average (not bad)
Type of Student: Domestic female

GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 158
V: 153
W: 3.5

Research Experience: 1.5 years of research experience, paper in the works, one conference publication 

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Scholarships for socioeconomically disadvantaged, first generation students, also deans list a couple times

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Teaching Assistant in geology, Research assistant in seismology, paleontology, geochem

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: was homeless and still went to college and graduated with honors? 

Special Bonus Points: female, minority, finishing up MS thesis at top tier institution with research that is relevant to the POIs I have contacted (same as undergrad)

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: one of my LORs has personal ties with one of the schools I am applying to and knows the chair of the dept. Other LORs are respected in their fields 

Applying to Where:

OSU Corvallis- Geology -  Petrology/Geochemistry - rejected!
U of O - Geology - Petrology/Geochemistry

Edited by dirtychai
Posted

Hi, guys. I'm getting really freaked out now that I heard NOTHING from the schools I applied to

 

Undergrad Institution: Big Research Oriented University in China.
Major(s): Environmental Science (in Earth Science department)

Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 
Overall GPA:3.91/4.3
Position in Class:1/11
Type of Student: International female

GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 169
V: 165
W: 4.0

Research Experience: 1.5 years of research experience in eco-geology and paleoclimate at home institution in China, a bit of work in environmental policy during an exchange semester, 2 months physical oceanography/geomicrobiology in MIT

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: 2 times Chinese National Scholarship and a top tier scholarship from a business foundation

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: research assistant

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:  

Special Bonus Points: not any that I can think of...

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: LOR from my advisor in MIT, not sure what she wrote about me... One third author paper subscribed to PNAS and got rejected, but when I submitted my application it was still under review so in my SOP I described it as under review

Applying to Where:

PhD:

Stanford EESS 

Princeton Geoscience 

UCSB Geoscience

UNC-Chapel Hill Marine Science

Brown geoscience

UT Austin geoscience

Columbia Lamount-Doherty

 

My research interest mostly lies in paleoclimate. I tried to contact the faculty I want to work with, and only heard back from UNC, Brown and Columbia. The UNC professor said there's plenty of opportunity for my research interest and encouraged me to apply. The Columbia faculty said he does not have funding at the moment but encouraged me to apply (...) and I visited the lab at Brown this summer during my time at MIT, but the professor was on a sampling trip and I talked with two PhD students.

 

I also applied to MEM at Yale FES and Duke Nicholas School and a master at Utrecht University. I got accepted to Utrecht and is now working on a thesis to apply for Utrecht scholarship.

 

Many of my friends around are receiving interview notices or already got offers and I heard nothing from any US school I applied to and I'm really freaking out. So please any advice? Should I try to contact the someone to ask or just wait?

Posted

Hi, guys. I'm getting really freaked out now that I heard NOTHING from the schools I applied to

 

Undergrad Institution: Big Research Oriented University in China.

Major(s): Environmental Science (in Earth Science department)

Minor(s):

GPA in Major: 

Overall GPA:3.91/4.3

Position in Class:1/11

Type of Student: International female

GRE Scores (revised/old version):

Q: 169

V: 165

W: 4.0

Research Experience: 1.5 years of research experience in eco-geology and paleoclimate at home institution in China, a bit of work in environmental policy during an exchange semester, 2 months physical oceanography/geomicrobiology in MIT

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: 2 times Chinese National Scholarship and a top tier scholarship from a business foundation

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: research assistant

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help:  

Special Bonus Points: not any that I can think of...

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: LOR from my advisor in MIT, not sure what she wrote about me... One third author paper subscribed to PNAS and got rejected, but when I submitted my application it was still under review so in my SOP I described it as under review

Applying to Where:

PhD:

Stanford EESS 

Princeton Geoscience 

UCSB Geoscience

UNC-Chapel Hill Marine Science

Brown geoscience

UT Austin geoscience

Columbia Lamount-Doherty

 

My research interest mostly lies in paleoclimate. I tried to contact the faculty I want to work with, and only heard back from UNC, Brown and Columbia. The UNC professor said there's plenty of opportunity for my research interest and encouraged me to apply. The Columbia faculty said he does not have funding at the moment but encouraged me to apply (...) and I visited the lab at Brown this summer during my time at MIT, but the professor was on a sampling trip and I talked with two PhD students.

 

I also applied to MEM at Yale FES and Duke Nicholas School and a master at Utrecht University. I got accepted to Utrecht and is now working on a thesis to apply for Utrecht scholarship.

 

Many of my friends around are receiving interview notices or already got offers and I heard nothing from any US school I applied to and I'm really freaking out. So please any advice? Should I try to contact the someone to ask or just wait?

 

I'd say to contact the department's graduate studies coordinator and ask if your application has been reviewed. 

Posted

FYI - heard from a friend today that he received an offer letter from UT-Austin. His research focus will be on geophysics and I believe seismic interpretation/reservoir characterization...?

Posted

I still think its too early, and Earth Sciences doesn't do many interviews. Most acceptances are in February and march. Remember its been just a little over a week since 1/15. 

Posted

I know that Brown hasn't met yet. My POI said during my visit that he wouldn't have any official news for me until mid-February so I wouldn't be too worried, ellen_ai.  :)

Posted

Undergrad Institution: Top 5 school

 

Major(s):  Geology (BS), Geophysics (MS)
Minor(s):
GPA in Major:  3.7
Overall GPA:  3.37
Position in Class: Average
Type of Student: domestic female, hispanic

GRE Scores (revised):
Q:  156
V:  167
W:  5.0

Research Experience: two summer research fellowships, wrote a Master thesis

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Nothing national level, small scholarships here and there

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Worked in oil and gas 4 years

Applying to Where:

PhD, haven't heard from anyone yet... :unsure:

 

Caltech GPS (top choice)

University of Arizona

UCLA

UC Berkeley

MIT EAPS

Harvard

Posted

Did anyone here apply to Boulder?

Yes. I believe that the adcom should be finishing their first pass at the files this week, and they will then be reviewed by your POI/potential advisor. (per an email from my POI)

Posted

Undergrad Institution: UC Irvine (you would have found out because I am applying there for grad as well, anyways :P)

Major(s): Earth System Science w/ concentration is Hydrology and Terrestrial Ecosystems
Minor(s): 
GPA in Major: 3.893
Overall GPA: 3.495
Position in Class: No idea, and no way to find out
Type of Student: domestic, white, female

GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 159 (wish that was higher)
V: 170
W: 5.5

Research Experience: 1+ year with climate model output data on storms; presented results at AGU poster session last year and writing manuscript now. 

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Dean's List for a few quarters?

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Internship with county government office in water quality planning

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: Not really :/

Special Bonus Points: Three potential PIs came to my poster presentation at AGU; met with them all outside AGU as well.

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: C's and B's in math and physics classes :/ real bummer there. Taking math courses (DE last semester, Linear Algebra right now) at my old community college (I was a transfer) to try to improve this... B in DE >< I want to mention that this is all pretty well-explained in my statements, though, so hopefully that helps?


Applying to Where:

UC Irvine - Earth System Science PhD - Physical climate/climate change/climate modeling (I know it's weird to go to the same school for grad, but I really fell in love with the department while doing research)
UC Davis - Atmospheric Science PhD - Computational geosciences/mesoscale meteorology/bio- and micrometeorology - Also applied for the CCWAS IGERT - Invited to visit!
UC Santa Cruz - Earth and Planetary Science PhD - Climate change/clouds

UC Los Angeles - Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences PhD - Dust emission and cycling/climate modeling/climate change

Posted (edited)

bethileptic I don't think its weird in your case since UC Irvine is one of the finest departments in atmospheric science.  Good luck! Let me know if you have any questions about Davis (though you applied to a different department).

Edited by GeoDUDE!
Posted

Don't departments tend to reject candidates from attending graduate studies at where they did their UG? of the five people I knew who applied to their department, only one ever got accepted but his POI has a ton of money and clout.

 

All the best though!

 

Its kinda quiet in this thread...

Posted

It is quiet! I suppose once news starts coming in from programs it will liven up.

I know many programs prefer their UG students to complete a graduate degree elsewhere, while some smaller departments (master's terminal) sometimes prefer recruiting their UG students to complete a master's due to their familiarity with the program.

I would imagine the research, and experience matter more to a future employer, right?

Posted
 

I spoke to two people from my university that also applied to UT and they heard nothing. 

 

Most offer letters would have been sent out by mid-Feb, and despite this I believe UT holds out on sending rejection letters out till May. 

 

It is quiet! I suppose once news starts coming in from programs it will liven up.

I know many programs prefer their UG students to complete a graduate degree elsewhere, while some smaller departments (master's terminal) sometimes prefer recruiting their UG students to complete a master's due to their familiarity with the program.
I would imagine the research, and experience matter more to a future employer, right?

 

Yup and the graduate department wants diversity and so promotes accepting students from different educational backgrounds.

Posted

Don't departments tend to reject candidates from attending graduate studies at where they did their UG? of the five people I knew who applied to their department, only one ever got accepted but his POI has a ton of money and clout.

 

 

Typically, yes and usually for reasons of nepotism.  Also, considering that in academia one never knows where they will find jobs, or how often they may have to move, it is generally seen as a good "learning experience" to attend graduate school elsewhere. Of course this is not the case across the board; some do attend both undergrad and grad school at the same institution.  The more competitive the program the least likely this will happen, though. 

Posted

 

 
 

Most offer letters would have been sent out by mid-Feb, and despite this I believe UT holds out on sending rejection letters out till May. 

 

 

 

Oh really ? That sucks but the other two people I talked to have good credentials also so I'm not that worried yet.  

Posted

UCI's ESS department has taken UG students within it in the past, so I hold out hope. As far as nepotism goes, my research adviser has already told me he likely does not have funding for another grad student, so it probably would not be him I could work with. I did not build up a relationship with anyone else, really (I did not plan on grad school until very recently, and I am a very shy person) so... it would honestly probably be someone I don't know. Which is fine! There is a ton of awesome research going on there, and I would love to be a part of any of it. I know it's unusual, I know it's often discouraged -- but I would kick myself if I didn't at least try. We'll see! 

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