2015 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results

[Geo1993]

Fellowships can be from a number of places, and tend not to be bounded by restrictions : Generally all TAs and RAs make the same amount in a given department (more or less) where as fellowship money you can make over 100k a year (if you can find that kinda thing). 

 

Sometimes people get a fellowship (say 10k a year) + an RA/TA so they can make even more money. Departments use them as recruiting tools. Since there are a very small number of exceptional applicants compared to good or average ones.

As a UT student Geodude is correct. Receiving a fellowship is different from receiving an RA/TA position. It is also correct UT will not admit a student without funding.

[jamesy1116]

My POI at Colorado sent me an email saying I was a strong applicant, but she is unlikely to take an Msc student this year due to funding. Although she added that nothing was final until they sent out all the letters. 

 

Yeah, good times.

 

That's something I guess. 

[prospecting]

MS applicants have it the worst. There are way more and way less available funds. Don't believe there are fellowships available for MS too, just scholarships. Even health insurance for MS students/candidates, at least where I am, isn't subsidized.

[GeoMex]

Does anybody know if once you're in the program you can change it from MSc to PhD? is there a way? 

Edited January 29, 2015 by GeoMex

[GeoDUDE!]

Does anybody know if once you're in the program you can change it from MSc to PhD? is there a way? 

 

 

Some programs let you, but you need to get a faculty to sign off on it, or secure your own funding. For example, if you win the GRF, they will probably let you switch. At my  MSc university (low ranked) they made you reapply. IE, they aren't just going to let you into their PhD program just because you got accepted into their MSc, even if it a thesis based masters. 

 

This is something you should ask the department you end up at before accepting if this is important to you.

 

But I would advise you, unless you really love the place you are at, to go to another program as it will help build your network of collaborators.

[GeoMex]

Some programs let you, but you need to get a faculty to sign off on it, or secure your own funding. For example, if you win the GRF, they will probably let you switch. At my  MSc university (low ranked) they made you reapply. IE, they aren't just going to let you into their PhD program just because you got accepted into their MSc, even if it a thesis based masters. 

 

This is something you should ask the department you end up at before accepting if this is important to you.

 

But I would advise you, unless you really love the place you are at, to go to another program as it will help build your network of collaborators.

 

The question was more focused into doing the 3 years PhD (that's the time my company gives to do one) rather than  a 2 year MSc, but it's not that important, it was just a matter of benefits, I'd rather get the PhD now than just the MSc, or have to go out again which I'd probably couldn't.

[geographyrocks]

I don't really know of any 3 year PhD programs. I'm told it's difficult to get it finished in 4-5 years. So the Ms might be the better way to go since you're much more likely to finish a masters in 2 years.

[GeoDUDE!]

The question was more focused into doing the 3 years PhD (that's the time my company gives to do one) rather than  a 2 year MSc, but it's not that important, it was just a matter of benefits, I'd rather get the PhD now than just the MSc, or have to go out again which I'd probably couldn't.

 

3 Year PhDs are usually reserved for outside of the USA. Those PhDs generally require a MSc before entering as well. For example Cambridge, Oxford, ETH Zurich all have 3 year PhDs but require a first class degree + an MSc to enter. 

 

 

Postmasters PhD that did their masters at my program take 5 years total (2 for MSc 3 for PhD). I'm doing a post masters PhD, but got my masters at a different school, and they expect me to graduate in 4 more years (so 5 total).  Most good programs in the united states want you to stay 5 years total for a PhD, even if you have no field work. 

Edited January 29, 2015 by GeoDUDE!

[GeoMex]

3 Year PhDs are usually reserved for outside of the USA. Those PhDs generally require a MSc before entering as well. For example Cambridge, Oxford, ETH Zurich all have 3 year PhDs but require a first class degree + an MSc to enter. 

 

 

Postmasters PhD that did their masters at my program take 5 years total (2 for MSc 3 for PhD). I'm doing a post masters PhD, but got my masters at a different school, and they expect me to graduate in 4 more years (so 5 total).  Most good programs in the united states want you to stay 5 years total for a PhD, even if you have no field work. 

 

That makes sense since my coworker did an Msc before, but since I didn't know anything about how the PhD work, just that it takes about 5 years to finish it, I asked him what the difference was, what courses did he take, etc. he said you practically take the same courses and some more, everything else is just research or thesis work, something like that. So maybe my company just gives you 3 years because they assume you already did your Msc.

thanks Geodude

[columbia09]

Is anyone getting impatient with not hearing anything ?! 

[jamesy1116]

Is anyone getting impatient with not hearing anything ?! 

 

Yes. Very.

[GeoMex]

Is anyone getting impatient with not hearing anything ?! 

 

Yes. Very.

 

Yup. impatience is kind of building again on me, after the rejections I calmed down, but now I know it's about time they start sending decisions out again.

[Rivers]

Just got offered an interview at Stanford eess! This is my dream program - I'm so stoked!

Good luck to everyone this application cycle!!

[GeoMex]

Just got offered an interview at Stanford eess! This is my dream program - I'm so stoked!

Good luck to everyone this application cycle!!

 

Congratulations Rivers!

Do you mind me asking what are your scores?

[Rivers]

Thanks!! 162 in both for the GRE and 5.5 for aw. And 3.6 GPA.

[GeoMex]

Thanks!! 162 in both for the GRE and 5.5 for aw. And 3.6 GPA.

Great. What would be the focus of your graduate studies?

[AKGeo]

Anyone know what to expect on your on-campus interviews?  How close am I to getting in if they have invited me out?  Any tips on preparing?  I'm going to UCSB, UT, and S. Carolina.

[billobob]

I'm basically a textbook screwup. This is my third time applying (and last, so whatever happens, happens--if nothing pans out I plan on applying to MS programs for data science). Working an actual job distracted me too much from what matters (ie future/applications), but this time around it looks like things may go a bit better. I applied to fewer schools and only did so at ones where I got a positive response early or know someone. 

 

Undergrad Institution: Brown, grad 2010
Major(s): Geology
Minor(s):
GPA in Major: 3.57
Overall GPA: 3.6ish 
Position in Class: pretty average if I had to guess, lots of smart people and such
Type of Student: white USian

GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 760
V: 660
W: 5.5

 

I probably should've retaken the GRE as I've been tutoring SAT (among other things) for a while now and would do much better, but oh well. 

 

Research Experience: Couple years in UG and senior thesis, REU, worked at USGS for a year

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: not much, aside from the very best students there weren't many rewards other than standard summer research grants. I graduated with honors, but everyone who does the B.S. and writes a thesis at Brown does so it doesn't mean much. 

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: full-time tutor the last two years, worked in the USGS for a year before that

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I wish

Special Bonus Points: nah

Applying to Where: UCSC (PhD, invited for interview), UCSB (PhD), Texas (MS)

All three schools are places I'm applying to for paleoceanography to work in stable isotope labs; I'll elaborate more when I'm feeling a bit less lazy. Since this is my last time, I'm only applying to places I would really like to go/people I'd really like to work under--if this fails, it's time for me to cave to my greedy side and dust off the extremely rusty programming and math experience from UG. I'm applying to data science/analytics programs this month, which have either rolling or end of Feb deadlines for what I'm looking at. 

 

To anyone applying to Texas, usually early February is when PhD people will hear something unless they have a fellowship offer, in which case you already know. Incidentally I have no idea about how MS applications are sorted. UCSB/UCSC depend more on individual professors, as some have already sent out emails and others haven't.

Edited January 30, 2015 by billobob

[prospecting]

I'm basically a textbook screwup. This is my third time applying (and last, so whatever happens, happens--if nothing pans out I plan on applying to MS programs for data science). Working an actual job distracted me too much from what matters (ie future/applications), but this time around it looks like things may go a bit better. I applied to fewer schools and only did so at ones where I got a positive response early or know someone. 

 

Undergrad Institution: Brown, grad 2010

Major(s): Geology

Minor(s):

GPA in Major: 3.57

Overall GPA: 3.6ish 

Position in Class: pretty average if I had to guess, lots of smart people and such

Type of Student: white USian

GRE Scores (revised/old version):

Q: 760

V: 660

W: 5.5

 

I probably should've retaken the GRE as I've been tutoring SAT (among other things) for a while now and would do much better, but oh well. 

 

Research Experience: Couple years in UG and senior thesis, REU, worked at USGS for a year

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: not much, aside from the very best students there weren't many rewards other than standard summer research grants. I graduated with honors, but everyone who does the B.S. and writes a thesis at Brown does so it doesn't mean much. 

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: full-time tutor the last two years, worked in the USGS for a year before that

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: I wish

Special Bonus Points: nah

Applying to Where: UCSC (PhD, invited for interview), UCSB (PhD), Texas (MS)

All three schools are places I'm applying to for paleoceanography to work in stable isotope labs; I'll elaborate more when I'm feeling a bit less lazy. Since this is my last time, I'm only applying to places I would really like to go/people I'd really like to work under--if this fails, it's time for me to cave to my greedy side and dust off the extremely rusty programming and math experience from UG. I'm applying to data science/analytics programs this month, which have either rolling or end of Feb deadlines for what I'm looking at. 

 

To anyone applying to Texas, usually early February is when PhD people will hear something unless they have a fellowship offer, in which case you already know. Incidentally I have no idea about how MS applications are sorted. UCSB/UCSC depend more on individual professors, as some have already sent out emails and others haven't.

 

Why do you say you're a textbook screwup? You seem to have the credentials......... and you are coming from Brown too.....

[sjoh197]

Why do you say you're a textbook screwup? You seem to have the credentials......... and you are coming from Brown too.....

 

 

I get rather concerned when I see people refer to themselves as "screw ups" or "unlikely to get in" or "I did so horribly" and then I look at their credentials and......

 

They're better than mine.

[sjoh197]

BTW, I was thinking all day today about grad school apps, and stressed with my workload... and just had this nagging idea of getting rejected all day. So my boyfriend just brought me a cup of hot cocoa and said 

 

"You're distressed. Here's a hot beverage. "

[sophie anne]

BTW, I was thinking all day today about grad school apps, and stressed with my workload... and just had this nagging idea of getting rejected all day. So my boyfriend just brought me a cup of hot cocoa and said 

 

"You're distressed. Here's a hot beverage. "

Sounds like a keeper! 

[moochie]

BTW, I was thinking all day today about grad school apps, and stressed with my workload... and just had this nagging idea of getting rejected all day. So my boyfriend just brought me a cup of hot cocoa and said 

 

"You're distressed. Here's a hot beverage. "

That's awesome. My boyfriend has also been excellent about helping me de-stress when I get myself all worked up. It makes this whole process so much easier. Hopefully you'll hear back soon and it will be all acceptances! Then your boyfriend can bring you hot cocoa to celebrate.

[billobob]

Why do you say you're a textbook screwup? You seem to have the credentials......... and you are coming from Brown too.....

Credentials matter less past a point than being active about emailing people and selling yourself. Even at big places like Texas or Columbia where an individual may have less pull what matters most is actually talking to someone. I did fine in school, I was just lazy about the process and put everything off (multiple) times until it was too late.

Edited January 31, 2015 by billobob

[Vines]

Do international students also receive invitations for interviews/visits on campus? I have applied to UT Austin, currently I am in Minneapolis as an exchange student, but overall I take my undergrad degree abroad.