Comments on: Things the Grad Admissions Committee Does Not Wish to See http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:26:47 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Julianne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/comment-page-2/#comment-60588 Julianne Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:41:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/#comment-60588 Hi Folks -- While the CV commenters have consistently proven themselves to be an interesting and insightful bunch, I would say this comment thread has not been CV's finest moment. It's gone well and firmly off the rails, including personal attacks against a person who was genuinely upset, and that same person retaliating with equally personal and profane attacks. So, I'm closing comments for now, and hope that everyone can aim for a bit more forbearance the next time around. Hi Folks — While the CV commenters have consistently proven themselves to be an interesting and insightful bunch, I would say this comment thread has not been CV’s finest moment. It’s gone well and firmly off the rails, including personal attacks against a person who was genuinely upset, and that same person retaliating with equally personal and profane attacks. So, I’m closing comments for now, and hope that everyone can aim for a bit more forbearance the next time around.

]]> By: DrEvil http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/comment-page-2/#comment-60567 DrEvil Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:18:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/#comment-60567 I am sorry Julianne, I will try to behave, but this one might be a lost cause. You have been more than patient, I guess raising small children is a good training in dealing with the likes of him. I am sorry Julianne, I will try to behave, but this one might be a lost cause. You have been more than patient, I guess raising small children is a good training in dealing with the likes of him.

]]> By: Stu Dent http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/comment-page-2/#comment-60565 Stu Dent Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:56:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/#comment-60565 Joe, I'm not sure why people keep bringing up irrelevant things. This is no exception. If you'll notice I haven't said much on the topic of recommendation letters. My problem is with admissions committees not reading the applications of paying people. This has been stated in previously blogs: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/ "We do not read all the files, I hate to say." and "Therefore we only read files where some weighted combination of GPA, GRE, or letters suggests that the student might potentially be admitted." So quibble with me all you want, by all means call me an ass, but don't argue with evidence that's right in front of you. Joe,

I’m not sure why people keep bringing up irrelevant things. This is no exception. If you’ll notice I haven’t said much on the topic of recommendation letters. My problem is with admissions committees not reading the applications of paying people. This has been stated in previously blogs:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/

“We do not read all the files, I hate to say.”

and

“Therefore we only read files where some weighted combination of GPA, GRE, or letters suggests that the student might potentially be admitted.”

So quibble with me all you want, by all means call me an ass, but don’t argue with evidence that’s right in front of you.

]]> By: Peter Coles http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/comment-page-2/#comment-60535 Peter Coles Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:43:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/#comment-60535 Stu Dent, I'm sure you have many qualities, but it is clear that a sense of humour is not among them. Peter Stu Dent,

I’m sure you have many qualities, but it is clear that a sense of humour is not among them.

Peter

]]> By: David http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/comment-page-2/#comment-60530 David Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:56:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/#comment-60530 You are correct. I did not read the entire list of comments. I also get very "curt" if I have to make the same point more than once. This is one of the reasons I am not in acadamia! I do appreciate you taking the time to do so. Anyway, I'm glad to hear that you think it's great that a student pursues other interests. I would hope that you might consider taking it a step furthur. Consider the case where a student does not pursue other interests. How likely are they think creatively (outside the box)? I think I'm getting ahead of myself though in proposing a solution when I have not stated what I think the problem is. The problem is that I see a lot of Ph.d's fresh out of graduate school that have poor problem solving skills and poor creativily compared to fresh B.S. graduates in the same discipline. Of course there are many, many exceptions. On the whole though, it's a sad truth. It would be fascinating if the Psychology department would have some graduation student do a study to confirm my claim. You are correct. I did not read the entire list of comments. I also get very “curt” if I have to make the same point more than once. This is one of the reasons I am not in acadamia! I do appreciate you taking the time to do so.

Anyway, I’m glad to hear that you think it’s great that a student pursues other interests. I would hope that you might consider taking it a step furthur. Consider the case where a student does not pursue other interests. How likely are they think creatively (outside the box)? I think I’m getting ahead of myself though in proposing a solution when I have not stated what I think the problem is. The problem is that I see a lot of Ph.d’s fresh out of graduate school that have poor problem solving skills and poor creativily compared to fresh B.S. graduates in the same discipline. Of course there are many, many exceptions. On the whole though, it’s a sad truth.

It would be fascinating if the Psychology department would have some graduation student do a study to confirm my claim.

]]> By: Joe http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/comment-page-2/#comment-60527 Joe Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:23:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/#comment-60527 Stu Dent: There is another factor in recommendation letters (and interviews) which seems not to have been mentioned yet, and that is attitude. An enthusiastic and affable student has definitely got an edge. Why would anyone want to work with an aggressive and rude student who periodically threatens to sue them for defamation rather than someone that will likely be easy to work with? A lot of PhD students wind up good friends with their supervisors, and when the opposite happens it's a mess for everyone involved. Stu Dent: There is another factor in recommendation letters (and interviews) which seems not to have been mentioned yet, and that is attitude. An enthusiastic and affable student has definitely got an edge. Why would anyone want to work with an aggressive and rude student who periodically threatens to sue them for defamation rather than someone that will likely be easy to work with? A lot of PhD students wind up good friends with their supervisors, and when the opposite happens it’s a mess for everyone involved.

]]> By: Stu Dent http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/comment-page-2/#comment-60521 Stu Dent Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:19:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/#comment-60521 Endless corrections upon corrections: But they will of course give the excuse that no student worthy of their time (read: money) would start a song in the key of F# minor… Endless corrections upon corrections:

But they will of course give the excuse that no student worthy of their time (read: money) would start a song in the key of F# minor…

]]> By: Stu Dent http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/comment-page-2/#comment-60520 Stu Dent Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:18:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/#comment-60520 "The academia, nearly by definition, is a meritocracy. You can call foul if a musical instrument store salesman refuses to sell you a piano because he didn’t like the color of your shoes. But you can’t object if a dozen different music schools turn down yous scholarship applications after listening the performance audio recordings you sent in." Oh, but you can -- if they listened to the first few chords and then scrapped your application. But they will of course give the excuse that no student worthy of their time (read: money) that no qualified applicant would start a song in the key of F# minor... “The academia, nearly by definition, is a meritocracy. You can call foul if a musical instrument store salesman refuses to sell you a piano because he didn’t like the color of your shoes. But you can’t object if a dozen different music schools turn down yous scholarship applications after listening the performance audio recordings you sent in.”

Oh, but you can — if they listened to the first few chords and then scrapped your application.

But they will of course give the excuse that no student worthy of their time (read: money) that no qualified applicant would start a song in the key of F# minor…

]]> By: Julianne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/comment-page-1/#comment-60498 Julianne Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:35:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/#comment-60498 DrEvil -- I know it goes against your name, but could you please try to set a good example for Stu? DrEvil — I know it goes against your name, but could you please try to set a good example for Stu?

]]> By: DrEvil http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/comment-page-1/#comment-60493 DrEvil Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:20:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/16/things-the-grad-admissions-committee-does-not-wish-to-see/#comment-60493 "If my mother had called to check I’m sure she’d be disappointed to here that her son’s application, which paid roughly $60 to submit, was discarded without being looked at." Dear Stu, I think by now your mother is used to be being disappointed when you are concerned (yes, I am slightly ashamed of stooping to your level, but it feels good anyway.) “If my mother had called to check I’m sure she’d be disappointed to here that her son’s application, which paid roughly $60 to submit, was discarded without being looked at.”

Dear Stu, I think by now your mother is used to be being disappointed when you are concerned (yes, I am slightly ashamed of stooping to your level, but it feels good anyway.)

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