Comments on: The Other Side of Graduate Admissions http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:26:52 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Julianne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/comment-page-1/#comment-36613 Julianne Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:42:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/#comment-36613 Santiago -- The fellowship information can certainly help your application. The number of students we admit is limited by finances, rather than by our ability to successfully educate and mentor them. Every year we turn down close to a dozen students who would have done well in our program, but who we can't admit because we can't commit to funding them. Having an independent fellowship like a Fullbright means that we can ignore that limitation in your particular case. So yes, it's helpful. It may not make much of a difference in a few of the very well funded private universities, but for public universities it could tip the balance in your favor. Santiago — The fellowship information can certainly help your application. The number of students we admit is limited by finances, rather than by our ability to successfully educate and mentor them. Every year we turn down close to a dozen students who would have done well in our program, but who we can’t admit because we can’t commit to funding them. Having an independent fellowship like a Fullbright means that we can ignore that limitation in your particular case. So yes, it’s helpful. It may not make much of a difference in a few of the very well funded private universities, but for public universities it could tip the balance in your favor.

]]> By: Santiago Joaquin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/comment-page-1/#comment-36614 Santiago Joaquin Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:22:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/#comment-36614 I've a questiin... I have a scholarship from my goverment for my PhD Study that contains tuition and fees, typical room and board, books and personal expenses and all other educational expenses. Does this have any influence on the committee's decision? I’ve a questiin… I have a scholarship from my goverment for my PhD Study that contains tuition and fees, typical room and board, books and personal expenses and all other educational expenses. Does this have any influence on the committee’s decision?

]]> By: Savage Minds: Notes and Queries in Anthropology — A Group Blog » Around the Web, 2/10/2008 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/comment-page-1/#comment-36599 Savage Minds: Notes and Queries in Anthropology — A Group Blog » Around the Web, 2/10/2008 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 02:11:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/#comment-36599 [...] in: Julianne at Cosmic Variance wrote this interesting piece on admission to a PhD program from the perspective of the [...] [...] in: Julianne at Cosmic Variance wrote this interesting piece on admission to a PhD program from the perspective of the [...]

]]> By: Lab Lemming http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/comment-page-1/#comment-36598 Lab Lemming Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:16:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/#comment-36598 Just outta curiosity, do the archives have posts on the selection process for faculty, post-docs, or technical staff? I found <a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/09/26/unsolicited-advice-v-how-to-apply-for-a-faculty-job/" rel="nofollow">this </a>for faculty, but nothing for the others in the archive. Just outta curiosity, do the archives have posts on the selection process for faculty, post-docs, or technical staff? I found this for faculty, but nothing for the others in the archive.

]]> By: ts http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/comment-page-1/#comment-36612 ts Sun, 03 Feb 2008 03:32:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/#comment-36612 I think one thing that went unmentioned in Julianne's post is the different sets of standards used for domestic and foreign applicants. It is frequently mentioned that foreign students do significantly better in something like subject GRE, simply because the educational systems in their home countries tend to teach more stuff early. That makes it necessary to prepare different admission standards for domestic and foreign students. Most U.S. physics programs except a dozen in the top most tier do not function without the presence of foreign grad students; I'm not sure this would actually be true, but I have a feeling that the lower tier programs won't have enough willing domestic grad students in physics to maintain the infrastructure (TAs, RAs, etc.), if they cut off the labor supplies from foreign countries. I am curious how much those top-tier programs "favor" domestic students in this sense. Do they simply employ a quota and get the best from different pools? (Just to avoid potential misunderstanding, I'm not saying foreign students are better than domestic ones at all.) I think one thing that went unmentioned in Julianne’s post is the different sets of standards used for domestic and foreign applicants. It is frequently mentioned that foreign students do significantly better in something like subject GRE, simply because the educational systems in their home countries tend to teach more stuff early. That makes it necessary to prepare different admission standards for domestic and foreign students.

Most U.S. physics programs except a dozen in the top most tier do not function without the presence of foreign grad students; I’m not sure this would actually be true, but I have a feeling that the lower tier programs won’t have enough willing domestic grad students in physics to maintain the infrastructure (TAs, RAs, etc.), if they cut off the labor supplies from foreign countries. I am curious how much those top-tier programs “favor” domestic students in this sense. Do they simply employ a quota and get the best from different pools?

(Just to avoid potential misunderstanding, I’m not saying foreign students are better than domestic ones at all.)

]]> By: Noel http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/comment-page-1/#comment-36597 Noel Sat, 02 Feb 2008 20:03:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/#comment-36597 I am applying to geophysics programs, which should have similarity to astronomy/physics programs (I see someone already mentioned geophysics). My question is, what happens at the visiting step? You mentioned briefly that the department holds visiting days. I know that each visiting student costs the department a few hundred dollars, usually. Is this paid for with application fees, or by the department? Also, I think it is strange that some schools I applied to asked applicant to visit BEFORE deciding who to admit, while others (as you described ) admit first, then invite to visit. I went on one of those before you're admitted visits, and it was a nail-biting experience because you feel that they are watching everything you do and judging. On the other hand, they admitted me and I did like it there. Also, perhaps a strange question. Say a student (call him/her X) visits, and you really like him/her, and want to add X to your research group. You try to recruit X to your department, but in the end X decides to go somewhere else. A year later, you see X presenting at a conference. Would you hold a grudge? I am applying to geophysics programs, which should have similarity to astronomy/physics programs (I see someone already mentioned geophysics). My question is, what happens at the visiting step? You mentioned briefly that the department holds visiting days. I know that each visiting student costs the department a few hundred dollars, usually. Is this paid for with application fees, or by the department?

Also, I think it is strange that some schools I applied to asked applicant to visit BEFORE deciding who to admit, while others (as you described ) admit first, then invite to visit. I went on one of those before you’re admitted visits, and it was a nail-biting experience because you feel that they are watching everything you do and judging. On the other hand, they admitted me and I did like it there.

Also, perhaps a strange question. Say a student (call him/her X) visits, and you really like him/her, and want to add X to your research group. You try to recruit X to your department, but in the end X decides to go somewhere else. A year later, you see X presenting at a conference. Would you hold a grudge?

]]> By: Jordan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/comment-page-1/#comment-36611 Jordan Sat, 02 Feb 2008 15:44:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/#comment-36611 I didn't see anything in your post about filtering based on the undergraduate institution. Does that mean that students from *any* (accredited?) school will make it past your first cut if the numbers are good enough? I didn’t see anything in your post about filtering based on the undergraduate institution. Does that mean that students from *any* (accredited?) school will make it past your first cut if the numbers are good enough?

]]> By: Jason http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/comment-page-1/#comment-36610 Jason Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:50:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/#comment-36610 Nice post Julianne ! It raises some interesting questions: 1. Are the students tracked after admission? Do you know that your admissions criteria correspond to sucessful students? In an astro program with low statistics this wouldn't be as useful as a big physics department. 2. What is the leading reason the job is still managed by the faculty? Time is a serious issue in the admission process. I can't help but think that the earlier stages of selection could be handled by a seasoned admissions vetran whose full-time job is understanding which applicants have the best fortunes in grad school. They could even handle some of the tracking mentioned in part 1. Nice post Julianne ! It raises some interesting questions:

1. Are the students tracked after admission? Do you know that your admissions criteria correspond to sucessful students? In an astro program with low statistics this wouldn’t be as useful as a big physics department.

2. What is the leading reason the job is still managed by the faculty? Time is a serious issue in the admission process. I can’t help but think that the earlier stages of selection could be handled by a seasoned admissions vetran whose full-time job is understanding which applicants have the best fortunes in grad school. They could even handle some of the tracking mentioned in part 1.

]]> By: Super Bohr Model http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/comment-page-1/#comment-36596 Super Bohr Model Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:12:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/#comment-36596 That's an interesting comment Hektor Bim, since I've already been admitted to one top twenty program with my GRE score. UCSB's (not the school I was admitted to) avg GRE is 770, they are top twenty, I'm a domestic student, so I fail to see how a 730 is "trouble." Sure maybe for the top five, but top twenty? Methinks you are exaggerating a wee bit. That’s an interesting comment Hektor Bim, since I’ve already been admitted to one top twenty program with my GRE score. UCSB’s (not the school I was admitted to) avg GRE is 770, they are top twenty, I’m a domestic student, so I fail to see how a 730 is “trouble.” Sure maybe for the top five, but top twenty? Methinks you are exaggerating a wee bit.

]]> By: Ryan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/comment-page-1/#comment-36595 Ryan Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:27:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/#comment-36595 The funny thing is, that GRE scores for Canadian students in Canada really don't matter at all, all the universities say that they really like them, but in generally the application information forms are lying. In general nobody does them unless they are applying to the states. I am currently doing an Msc in physics (in Canada Msc -> Phd is the normal route, I am told it is different in the states) at a well respected Canadian university and didn't bother writing the GRE. Granted, I had no ambition to go to the states so I just saved myself some time and a ton of money. The official line was that good GRE scores can help you a lot if your marks suck and your reference letters are mediocre, but other than that, concentrate on your marks in your final year, rather than studying for the GRE. The funny thing is, that GRE scores for Canadian students in Canada really don’t matter at all, all the universities say that they really like them, but in generally the application information forms are lying. In general nobody does them unless they are applying to the states.

I am currently doing an Msc in physics (in Canada Msc -> Phd is the normal route, I am told it is different in the states) at a well respected Canadian university and didn’t bother writing the GRE. Granted, I had no ambition to go to the states so I just saved myself some time and a ton of money.

The official line was that good GRE scores can help you a lot if your marks suck and your reference letters are mediocre, but other than that, concentrate on your marks in your final year, rather than studying for the GRE.

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