PhD Program in Environmental Policy: SOLID HELP REQUIRED

[aypee]

Hi guys, after being a diligent follower of the site, here goes my first post.

I am an international student interested in environmental policy PhD for fall 2016. Masters in Environmental Science with 83%, GRE: 311, TOEFL: 110, one internship in environmental consultancy, one project on ecosystem valuation during masters, one internship with a government organisation, decent LORs, One paper under review. no such background with policy work though tried to make a connection in my SOP

UCSB is my dream school, but haven't heard from them till now. I checked on the result page and one student has already got his/her acceptance 10 days ago. Is it true that Universities send acceptances first and rejections later, as they were suppose to inform you by the first week of FEB. How selective is the school? what are my chances with this profile? I got in touch with POI as well, had a good skype talk, but final decision lays in the hands of admission committee.

Also, in my SOPs, I have not mentioned in detail about my intended research (just a paragraph or so) and focused mostly on my previous research and training experience in most of the schools. I have read somewhere that if they can't identify a proper research idea from your SOP, you will not be able to get admission. is it true? Should I start preparing to apply for more schools with late deadlines, but then there's funding problem also i guess.

I am getting really worried now as I can't afford to wait for another year. I understand ours is a relatively new small blooming field, so any help in any way (to calm my nerves) would be really appreciated.

[Foreveronward]

I don't know much about your field so I can't tell you if you're a competitive applicant or not. What I will suggest is that you do try and formulate a solid research question for future SoPs. Run it by faculty members and other students. It's a critical part of your SoP as it shows you know what you're getting into and it also demonstrates whether or not you 'fit' with the faculty. You might have shown this during the Skype interview, but you won't always have that chance. I hope you hear good news soon!

[runjackrun]

I applied to UCSB for the Masters in Environmental Science and Management program. I know that the application process for that is quite different from the PhD process, but we're both waiting!

I don't really do the "chance me" thing on here because none of us are really qualified to tell someone they are/aren't a strong candidate, but I do think your profile looks great! I imagine the consultant work and ecosystem valuation project would go a long way with Bren since they are very much focused on management. 

I've heard Bren is quite selective, but hold out hope! We have no clue how they do admissions. The person who got an offer on the results page could have applied to a specific department that did their admissions earlier. They could have started admissions, then got side-tracked and fell behind schedule. It's good news that you talked with a POI, so focus on that. 

I know how brutal the waiting game can be, but keep some perspective. UCSB is a great school, but you have several great schools on your list. I'm sure one or more of them will pan out. You could look at schools with late deadlines--not because your current chances of acceptance are slim or anything, but it could offer a distraction and take your mind off the waiting. I found that formulating a back up plan has helped keep my mind off checking e-mail 50 times a day and took off some of the pressure. 

 

[JessicaF]

Hi guys, I was actually the admit that posted a while ago. I applied specifically to the political science focus for the PhD, but I haven't been assigned a mentor or anything else. I had reached out to a professor before I applied to ask about research. I was called back in January unofficially, and then I got an official email to check the application portal about a week and a half later. They haven't said anything to me about other candidates or the admissions process, or how far along they are with the final decisions. I am curious about others...I haven't heard/seen anyone else post. 

[sustainability]

Hi I am also an applicant of UCSB's environmental phd program. I was also curious about why there is only one admission post. I think it may be because he or she is an American or his or her POI was a member of admission committee so sent notification so early to him. I am also nervous since the notification is getting delayed...But I think it is still in the reviewing process and maybe we hear the notification in a few days.   

[aypee]

9 hours ago, sustainability said:

Hi I am also an applicant of UCSB's environmental phd program. I was also curious about why there is only one admission post. I think it may be because he or she is an American or his or her POI was a member of admission committee so sent notification so early to him. I am also nervous since the notification is getting delayed...But I think it is still in the reviewing process and maybe we hear the notification in a few days.   

 

20 hours ago, runjackrun said:

I applied to UCSB for the Masters in Environmental Science and Management program. I know that the application process for that is quite different from the PhD process, but we're both waiting!

I don't really do the "chance me" thing on here because none of us are really qualified to tell someone they are/aren't a strong candidate, but I do think your profile looks great! I imagine the consultant work and ecosystem valuation project would go a long way with Bren since they are very much focused on management. 

I've heard Bren is quite selective, but hold out hope! We have no clue how they do admissions. The person who got an offer on the results page could have applied to a specific department that did their admissions earlier. They could have started admissions, then got side-tracked and fell behind schedule. It's good news that you talked with a POI, so focus on that. 

I know how brutal the waiting game can be, but keep some perspective. UCSB is a great school, but you have several great schools on your list. I'm sure one or more of them will pan out. You could look at schools with late deadlines--not because your current chances of acceptance are slim or anything, but it could offer a distraction and take your mind off the waiting. I found that formulating a back up plan has helped keep my mind off checking e-mail 50 times a day and took off some of the pressure. 

 

Thanks guys, that's a big relief. And don't forget to post as soon as you get the good news. best of luck!

[aypee]

11 hours ago, JessicaF said:

Hi guys, I was actually the admit that posted a while ago. I applied specifically to the political science focus for the PhD, but I haven't been assigned a mentor or anything else. I had reached out to a professor before I applied to ask about research. I was called back in January unofficially, and then I got an official email to check the application portal about a week and a half later. They haven't said anything to me about other candidates or the admissions process, or how far along they are with the final decisions. I am curious about others...I haven't heard/seen anyone else post. 

Hey JessicaF, Congratulations for the admit. I am also interested in Political Science focus. Whom did you get in touch with? I had my Skype conversation with Dr. Sarah Anderson a few months back. But haven't heard anything from her during the admission process. Should I mail her asking about my decision?

[JessicaF]

34 minutes ago, aypee said:

Hey JessicaF, Congratulations for the admit. I am also interested in Political Science focus. Whom did you get in touch with? I had my Skype conversation with Dr. Sarah Anderson a few months back. But haven't heard anything from her during the admission process. Should I mail her asking about my decision?

Thank you! I have talked with her some regarding the department and Bren, so I would probably reach out to her and ask her about your admission status if your web portal hasn't been updated. She's pretty friendly, it seems, so I'm sure she would help you out. I have also been in contact with Kristen Robinson, who is the admissions director, so you could also contact her if you needed. 

[topatillos]

What's up fam! I've also applied to the MESM Masters program.. The wait is seriously killing me! Judging from the results posted for the past two years it looks like we should be hearing within the next week or two.. but I'm hoping for sooner! Good luck y'all.

[runjackrun]

13 hours ago, topatillos said:

What's up fam! I've also applied to the MESM Masters program.. The wait is seriously killing me! Judging from the results posted for the past two years it looks like we should be hearing within the next week or two.. but I'm hoping for sooner! Good luck y'all.

Hey there, fellow MESM-er! The waiting is also killing me! It looks like decisions could come out as soon as today, or as late as mid-March. I read back through some old forums and there were years where they said the Bren School was running behind on applications and it was like, March 18th before people heard anything. The thought of waiting another five weeks is downright painful!!!!

Did you apply to any of their fellowships? I'm thinking that's the only way Bren could become a reality for me. I've heard they don't offer much in the way of funding (which makes sense since it's a professional degree) but the out-of-state tuition and cost of living in Santa Barbara are pretty steep. I'd love to do the MESM, but if the fellowship for which I applied doesn't come through, I'm not sure how I can justify the cost. We shall see!

Also, sorry to hijack a thread meant for PhD applicants!

[topatillos]

Argh yeah I saw some of those posts too but it seems like decisions came out sooner the past two years.. but who knows how it'll turn out this year. Especially considering PhD decisions haven't been sent out yet :/ I don't know if I can keep my sanity much longer - the anticipation is completely destroying my productivity haha. 

I applied for their Merit-Based fellowships as well as Grad Student Researcher and TA fellowships. I went to their prospective students day in November and it sounded like they give out a fairly decent amount of aid for merit so I think there's some hope! That's a bummer that you're out of state - although I think you can be eligible for in-state tuition after your first year which would definitely help! And yeah, living in SB is definitely expensive BUT it's basically paradise. I have friends and a sibling who live there and they all absolutely love it.

Bren is the only Masters program I applied to so I REALLY hope I get in haha! Are you a graduating senior this year or already out of college?

[runjackrun]

Hey topatillos, I sent you a message instead of hijacking the thread here. 

[aypee]

Hey all, I contacted the admission coordinator and she said "Initial PhD admissions decisions are being communicated to the UCSB Graduate Division this week for the Graduate Division's final review. Hopefully you will be hearing from them within the next couple of days regarding the faculty's admissions decisions." So I guess I am back to checking my mail every now and then, and due to the 12-hour time difference, it is making me an insomniac for the very least.

And I know this is for PhD admissions, but HIJACKERS, something is better than nothing.

[pilsburydoughrow]

Hey topatillos and runjackrun, sorry to enter this convo late but I've also been worried about the costs of doing the MESM at UCSB as an out-of-state resident (got accepted- yay! but no funding- booo). They told me the recruitment fellowships might get "redistributed" if they are declined by others, but they won't know until after the SIR deadline. I think it's the only school I'll get accepted into, so I kinda have no choice. I read that the TA/research assistantships are a good way to help pay for tuition and fees. Would you guys happen to know how competitive those positions might be?