What do I need to know about applying to grad school?
September 3, 2010 8:37 AM Subscribe
Wannabe grad student demonstrates that grad school is probably a bad idea by asking you to hold her hand.
Here is where I am:
I'm a senior at a major state university, hoping to apply to grad school in linguistics at the same school. (I will probably apply to more, but in this case, staying would mean I'm at a decent place.) I'm new to this university and don't have that many contacts yet. The one professor I know is on leave this semester, and my advisor is completely unreliable and not someone I would go to for advice. No one in my family has gone to grad school, and most of my grad friends from my previous university are in unrelated fields.
Basically, I know next to nothing about applying to graduate school and don't know who to ask. The obvious place to start, looking at the requirements on the websites of the places I wish to apply, I can handle. My remaining questions are:
1) I need to take the GRE. General consensus among my grad friends is that the earlier I take it, the better, because I probably want to start applying at the beginning of the year.
I'm worried that I won't score too well if I take it without studying. I have little to no idea of how "difficult" the questions are, and I also have long-term memory problems, possibly due to neurological issues. What would you all suggest I do to make sure I'm prepared, keeping in mind that I'm taking 15 hours of upper-level courses this semester and am also working?
If your answer is "buy a review book," what one do you recommend?
2) Letters of recommendation. This is a problem for me. I'm just now getting to degree-related classes, which I put off taking until I was able to transfer to a school that had a decent linguistics program. My past classes have basically been general education requirements or language courses. The one professor who I think could have vouched for my interest and work ethic recently passed away.
What should I do about this? Wait to apply until I've made better contacts? Go to a professor who doesn't know me all that well?
3) Extra-curricular activities, etc. I have basically none, since I've had to juggle work, school, and poor health. How important are these when applying to grad school in linguistics?
4) Scholarships, grants, etc. Where does one even begin to look for this kind of thing, assuming that one's advisor is useless? I lost the one scholarship I had (granted automatically due to high scores on something I don't even remember) due to health problems, and since then have been paying out of pocket, so I have next to no experience with this.
5) Is there anything else that you think I should know about applying? Note that "oh my god are you crazy that's the worst idea ever" is something I already know. I'm applying because I really, really love the subject--basically, I've fought for ten years to be able to do this despite crippling health problems. I'm not going to give up because it's not the most secure route to take. (And anyway, I have a fallback if it doesn't work out; I can go into the family business. But that would just be a job, you know?)
I can memail you with the specific institution I'm at if it's relevant. I just don't want it on a public page.
Here is where I am:
I'm a senior at a major state university, hoping to apply to grad school in linguistics at the same school. (I will probably apply to more, but in this case, staying would mean I'm at a decent place.) I'm new to this university and don't have that many contacts yet. The one professor I know is on leave this semester, and my advisor is completely unreliable and not someone I would go to for advice. No one in my family has gone to grad school, and most of my grad friends from my previous university are in unrelated fields.
Basically, I know next to nothing about applying to graduate school and don't know who to ask. The obvious place to start, looking at the requirements on the websites of the places I wish to apply, I can handle. My remaining questions are:
1) I need to take the GRE. General consensus among my grad friends is that the earlier I take it, the better, because I probably want to start applying at the beginning of the year.
I'm worried that I won't score too well if I take it without studying. I have little to no idea of how "difficult" the questions are, and I also have long-term memory problems, possibly due to neurological issues. What would you all suggest I do to make sure I'm prepared, keeping in mind that I'm taking 15 hours of upper-level courses this semester and am also working?
If your answer is "buy a review book," what one do you recommend?
2) Letters of recommendation. This is a problem for me. I'm just now getting to degree-related classes, which I put off taking until I was able to transfer to a school that had a decent linguistics program. My past classes have basically been general education requirements or language courses. The one professor who I think could have vouched for my interest and work ethic recently passed away.
What should I do about this? Wait to apply until I've made better contacts? Go to a professor who doesn't know me all that well?
3) Extra-curricular activities, etc. I have basically none, since I've had to juggle work, school, and poor health. How important are these when applying to grad school in linguistics?
4) Scholarships, grants, etc. Where does one even begin to look for this kind of thing, assuming that one's advisor is useless? I lost the one scholarship I had (granted automatically due to high scores on something I don't even remember) due to health problems, and since then have been paying out of pocket, so I have next to no experience with this.
5) Is there anything else that you think I should know about applying? Note that "oh my god are you crazy that's the worst idea ever" is something I already know. I'm applying because I really, really love the subject--basically, I've fought for ten years to be able to do this despite crippling health problems. I'm not going to give up because it's not the most secure route to take. (And anyway, I have a fallback if it doesn't work out; I can go into the family business. But that would just be a job, you know?)
I can memail you with the specific institution I'm at if it's relevant. I just don't want it on a public page.
Oh, and make sure your department actually accepts graduate students who went there for undergrad. Some don't.
posted by oinopaponton at 8:52 AM on September 3, 2010
posted by oinopaponton at 8:52 AM on September 3, 2010
Response by poster: Is there a reason you need to apply this year?
Not really, except for my impatience. I've been working towards this goal for so long that putting it off any longer makes me grind my teeth.
I could perhaps take a year off to do something I really want to do, though--like maybe teach English in Korea. (I study Korean, see, and would like immersion experience in a language I'm working on.)
Also: Apply only to (funded) PhD programs unless you really only want an MA.
Wait, are you saying apply to funded PhD programs instead of MA programs? Here I reveal how little I know. For reals, for so long this was in the distant, hypothetical future and then suddenly, BAM, you have to start thinking about this now.
Figure out some way to do some solid research, either in a research seminar or as a research assistant to a professor.
This is something that I keep hearing, but in practical terms, I'm not sure how to go about it. I mean, do you just go up to a professor and say, "hey, I'm interested in what you're doing, can I help you out with it in any way?" Or is there a more formal process involved? I don't feel like I know any professors here that well, and there are a lot of other students who are probably competing for the same opportunities. (As far as I know. Relatively big department.)
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 8:52 AM on September 3, 2010
Not really, except for my impatience. I've been working towards this goal for so long that putting it off any longer makes me grind my teeth.
I could perhaps take a year off to do something I really want to do, though--like maybe teach English in Korea. (I study Korean, see, and would like immersion experience in a language I'm working on.)
Also: Apply only to (funded) PhD programs unless you really only want an MA.
Wait, are you saying apply to funded PhD programs instead of MA programs? Here I reveal how little I know. For reals, for so long this was in the distant, hypothetical future and then suddenly, BAM, you have to start thinking about this now.
Figure out some way to do some solid research, either in a research seminar or as a research assistant to a professor.
This is something that I keep hearing, but in practical terms, I'm not sure how to go about it. I mean, do you just go up to a professor and say, "hey, I'm interested in what you're doing, can I help you out with it in any way?" Or is there a more formal process involved? I don't feel like I know any professors here that well, and there are a lot of other students who are probably competing for the same opportunities. (As far as I know. Relatively big department.)
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 8:52 AM on September 3, 2010
Re: your followup, I think waiting a year would be a really good idea for you. I know it sounds depressing to put off what you want to study for a year, but it's worth it to make sure your application is as solid as it can possibly be.
As for research and getting to know professors-- this is an area where fortune really does favor the bold. You should approach as many of them as possible, explain that you're interested in pursuing further linguistics study, and ask for advice. They won't bite, and advising students is part of their job. Plus, you might find one professor you really click with who will advocate for you when you go through the application process (having a professor who will back you up is seriously invaluable, and can trump things like a not-stellar GRE score).
I don't want to monopolize your question, but feel free to MeMail me if you want to talk more (I'm not in linguistics, but I am a graduate student).
posted by oinopaponton at 8:59 AM on September 3, 2010
As for research and getting to know professors-- this is an area where fortune really does favor the bold. You should approach as many of them as possible, explain that you're interested in pursuing further linguistics study, and ask for advice. They won't bite, and advising students is part of their job. Plus, you might find one professor you really click with who will advocate for you when you go through the application process (having a professor who will back you up is seriously invaluable, and can trump things like a not-stellar GRE score).
I don't want to monopolize your question, but feel free to MeMail me if you want to talk more (I'm not in linguistics, but I am a graduate student).
posted by oinopaponton at 8:59 AM on September 3, 2010
The best way to study for the GRE is not to study but instead take timed practice tests. Then, when the time runs out, play around with what you got wrong at your leisure for a bit. Then take another practice test. (You don't have to do the entire test at once, I just mean pieces of it, like do the above with the verbal one weekend. Then do the math the next weekend, etc.)
This works with the analytical writing, too. Take a topic (all the prompts are on the GRE website) and practice coherent word vomiting for the allotted time. Then compare what you wrote with supposed 6.0, 5.5, and 5.0 essays. (Found in various review books.) (The Princeton Review books do seem to have good tips about what makes a good essay--I got a good score on the analytical writing.)
Practice test taking. Don't study. Work through a few problems that you got wrong using a book. Don't dwell. And get back to test taking. It's much more efficient.
I think one of the Princeton Review books would be fine. That's what I used to explain what I got wrong.
It's ok to do a few practice tests on paper, but spend as much time as possible taking practice tests ON THE COMPUTER because that's how you'll do the real test. I think the GRE people have a program you can download to do a couple for free. (And probably a few companies offer similar stuff.) Simulate test conditions, post mortem briefly, repeat, and you'll do just fine.
Oh, and your score will be much higher than you think. Pace yourself well, get questions at the beginning right, and then even if you screw up or guess on a bunch of questions at the end of either the math or verbal, you'll still get a good score. Even if you think you did horrible, don't torture yourself by retaking. Click "Accept" and reveal your scores. You most likely will have done quite well.
----
For letters of recommendation, wait until it's four to eight weeks before the deadline to see if your prospects change. And then just politely the people who know you best. If you don't have people who know you well, ask your old profs anyway. Any class you raised your hand or got one good grade or you think the prof will remember you. They'll most likely say yes. In this realm, you just do the best you can with what you've got. And it'll be enough.
posted by zeek321 at 9:00 AM on September 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
This works with the analytical writing, too. Take a topic (all the prompts are on the GRE website) and practice coherent word vomiting for the allotted time. Then compare what you wrote with supposed 6.0, 5.5, and 5.0 essays. (Found in various review books.) (The Princeton Review books do seem to have good tips about what makes a good essay--I got a good score on the analytical writing.)
Practice test taking. Don't study. Work through a few problems that you got wrong using a book. Don't dwell. And get back to test taking. It's much more efficient.
I think one of the Princeton Review books would be fine. That's what I used to explain what I got wrong.
It's ok to do a few practice tests on paper, but spend as much time as possible taking practice tests ON THE COMPUTER because that's how you'll do the real test. I think the GRE people have a program you can download to do a couple for free. (And probably a few companies offer similar stuff.) Simulate test conditions, post mortem briefly, repeat, and you'll do just fine.
Oh, and your score will be much higher than you think. Pace yourself well, get questions at the beginning right, and then even if you screw up or guess on a bunch of questions at the end of either the math or verbal, you'll still get a good score. Even if you think you did horrible, don't torture yourself by retaking. Click "Accept" and reveal your scores. You most likely will have done quite well.
----
For letters of recommendation, wait until it's four to eight weeks before the deadline to see if your prospects change. And then just politely the people who know you best. If you don't have people who know you well, ask your old profs anyway. Any class you raised your hand or got one good grade or you think the prof will remember you. They'll most likely say yes. In this realm, you just do the best you can with what you've got. And it'll be enough.
posted by zeek321 at 9:00 AM on September 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
The most important things on your application for grad school are research experience and letters of recommendation. Yes, you just walk up to a professor and express your interest in working for them. If there's a lot of competition, you express your willingness to do it for free. You also want to look into honors theses or things like that, which are dedicated research projects.
MA programs are a) generally unfunded and b) generally useless. My recollection in linguistics is that most Ph.D. programs won't accept any transfer from your MA, so you would have to start at Ph.D. from scratch anyway. Apply only for funded Ph.D. programs.
And in general, going to the school you went for for undergrad is looked down upon. Lke oinopaponton mentioned, some don't allow it, and most will only accept you if you're exceptional.
posted by brainmouse at 9:00 AM on September 3, 2010
MA programs are a) generally unfunded and b) generally useless. My recollection in linguistics is that most Ph.D. programs won't accept any transfer from your MA, so you would have to start at Ph.D. from scratch anyway. Apply only for funded Ph.D. programs.
And in general, going to the school you went for for undergrad is looked down upon. Lke oinopaponton mentioned, some don't allow it, and most will only accept you if you're exceptional.
posted by brainmouse at 9:00 AM on September 3, 2010
The one thing that I think would significantly help you is research experience, and better yet, getting your name on a paper. Do you have independent study courses at your uni (research)? Go to the “about us” or whatever equivalent for faculty at your school and read about his or her research. If something really piques your interest, go get the paper and read it. Now make an appointment with a few faculty members and go tell them that you would like to do an independent study in their lab and do they have space (better yet, some may have funding but things may be economically harder now). If possible, ask how the PIs former undergrad students have done (do they get their names on papers? Into graduate school)? Okay, get into that lab next semester at minimum and this should be one of the people to recommend you. While in that lab, you may see if you can participate in journal clubs, etc, because I think that this would be a useful foundation for grad school, etc.
Extra-curricular – I don’t think that I even mentioned this at all when I applied to graduate school (previous jobs- yes, prior research and pubs – yes, extracurricular – not unless it was conversation).
Scholarships and grants. This was one thing that I did not know when I applied to grad school. See if your department offers research or teaching assistantships and how much it covers (for the sciences it was tuition plus living stipend for the year – but I don’t know how it is for other departments or schools). Ask what % of students receive this and for what amount of school to make sure that your tuition is or will be covered (for the sciences, all students received this, but see if your potential schools have the same). Assuming this is for PhD and not MA (many schools don't require an MA).
An idea about an extra year - see if any faculty hire students post graduation and see if you can do work in the field. It would give yoa chance to get your name on publications, present posters, learn techniques, and be an asset to anyone who picks you up for a research assistantship in grad school.
Good luck
posted by Wolfster at 9:07 AM on September 3, 2010
Extra-curricular – I don’t think that I even mentioned this at all when I applied to graduate school (previous jobs- yes, prior research and pubs – yes, extracurricular – not unless it was conversation).
Scholarships and grants. This was one thing that I did not know when I applied to grad school. See if your department offers research or teaching assistantships and how much it covers (for the sciences it was tuition plus living stipend for the year – but I don’t know how it is for other departments or schools). Ask what % of students receive this and for what amount of school to make sure that your tuition is or will be covered (for the sciences, all students received this, but see if your potential schools have the same). Assuming this is for PhD and not MA (many schools don't require an MA).
An idea about an extra year - see if any faculty hire students post graduation and see if you can do work in the field. It would give yoa chance to get your name on publications, present posters, learn techniques, and be an asset to anyone who picks you up for a research assistantship in grad school.
Good luck
posted by Wolfster at 9:07 AM on September 3, 2010
do you just go up to a professor and say, "hey, I'm interested in what you're doing, can I help you out with it in any way?
Yup, pretty much. If they don't have anything for you, ask if they can give you the name of some professors that take undergrads.
Also, don't be afraid to ask grad school advice from your professors (as in, the ones that teach your classes). That is the sort of thing professors love to talk about, and they usually give very candid reviews. It will also help them put a face to your name if you need to ask them for recommendations.
I'll second taking a year off between undergraduate and grad school - it's a good idea in general, and it seems like you would really benefit you to spend this year connecting with professors and working on your grades.
For the MA vs PhD - think about what your goals are - do you just want to do linguistics as an exercise in personal enrichment before going on to the family business? Or are you willing to spend a lot of money making connections for a stepping stone to beef up your application to a PhD program? In those cases, an MA is for you. You will have to pay for most MAs. If you want a career in linguistics as a professor, you will want to do a PhD program. Do not enter a PhD program if you don't receive full funding (if not also with a stipend, or opportunities to make money TAing etc). Paying for a PhD is financial suicide, unless your family is wealthy and willing to foot the bill.
I had a close friend doing a linguistics PhD program, and she mentioned that doing your graduate work at the same place you did your undergrad is somewhat looked down upon, possibly because you don't get to experience the full breadth of the field. YMMV on that one.
The GREs - the math is basically a half step up from SAT math - if you did fine on that math, you'll be okay on the GRE. The English section is surprisingly difficult. It requires the knowledge of a lot of obscure English words, which may be easier for you than it was for me. Fortunately, many of the words are repeated (hirsute is a favorite!) and any old review book will have a list of the top-whatever number of words. Just get the most recent GRE book out of your library and you'll be fine, don't waste your cash.
posted by fermezporte at 9:17 AM on September 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Yup, pretty much. If they don't have anything for you, ask if they can give you the name of some professors that take undergrads.
Also, don't be afraid to ask grad school advice from your professors (as in, the ones that teach your classes). That is the sort of thing professors love to talk about, and they usually give very candid reviews. It will also help them put a face to your name if you need to ask them for recommendations.
I'll second taking a year off between undergraduate and grad school - it's a good idea in general, and it seems like you would really benefit you to spend this year connecting with professors and working on your grades.
For the MA vs PhD - think about what your goals are - do you just want to do linguistics as an exercise in personal enrichment before going on to the family business? Or are you willing to spend a lot of money making connections for a stepping stone to beef up your application to a PhD program? In those cases, an MA is for you. You will have to pay for most MAs. If you want a career in linguistics as a professor, you will want to do a PhD program. Do not enter a PhD program if you don't receive full funding (if not also with a stipend, or opportunities to make money TAing etc). Paying for a PhD is financial suicide, unless your family is wealthy and willing to foot the bill.
I had a close friend doing a linguistics PhD program, and she mentioned that doing your graduate work at the same place you did your undergrad is somewhat looked down upon, possibly because you don't get to experience the full breadth of the field. YMMV on that one.
The GREs - the math is basically a half step up from SAT math - if you did fine on that math, you'll be okay on the GRE. The English section is surprisingly difficult. It requires the knowledge of a lot of obscure English words, which may be easier for you than it was for me. Fortunately, many of the words are repeated (hirsute is a favorite!) and any old review book will have a list of the top-whatever number of words. Just get the most recent GRE book out of your library and you'll be fine, don't waste your cash.
posted by fermezporte at 9:17 AM on September 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
You should start out by talking to the Director of Graduate Studies (or Graduate Program Director; the title may vary) in the Linguistics Department at your current university. He or she is best placed to answer questions such as:
- What does that program consider to be most important when evaluating applications? Is there a GRE cutoff? Does the program require a writing sample? How important is research experience?
- Would it help if you waited a year? If you applied this year and were rejected, could you reapply the following year?
- Does the program have a policy or tradition of not accepting its own undergraduates? (This is fairly common, on the grounds that students should go somewhere else and learn from a new set of people.)
- What are prospects for funding?
If you have a sense of your career goals, a decent DGS will also be able to provide advice on how good a fit the program is for them, and she or he can also recommend other programs to which you might apply.
posted by brianogilvie at 9:18 AM on September 3, 2010
- What does that program consider to be most important when evaluating applications? Is there a GRE cutoff? Does the program require a writing sample? How important is research experience?
- Would it help if you waited a year? If you applied this year and were rejected, could you reapply the following year?
- Does the program have a policy or tradition of not accepting its own undergraduates? (This is fairly common, on the grounds that students should go somewhere else and learn from a new set of people.)
- What are prospects for funding?
If you have a sense of your career goals, a decent DGS will also be able to provide advice on how good a fit the program is for them, and she or he can also recommend other programs to which you might apply.
posted by brianogilvie at 9:18 AM on September 3, 2010
This is something that I keep hearing, but in practical terms, I'm not sure how to go about it. I mean, do you just go up to a professor and say, "hey, I'm interested in what you're doing, can I help you out with it in any way?"
Yes! If they're not nice and encouraging, you don't want to work with him or her. (Only do this if you really do have time.)
With respect to funding: ONLY APPLY TO SCHOOLS THAT WILL ***GUARANTEE*** YOU SUPPORT FOR YOUR ***ENTIRE*** PHD NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES. PERIOD. END OF STORY.
Another tip: Only apply to schools that have an attrition rate of almost zero. Some creepy schools cull half of the graduate students in each class (some fields are notorious for this. I don't know about linguistics. And it varies from school to school by a lot). Ask what percentage of students fail the qualifying exam. Some schools bend over backwards to help everyone get through. This matters. Big time. Talk to the graduate chair about your health issues. Is he or she friendly and supportive? Do you trust him or her? Do you get a creepy vibe?
Another tip: Is being a teaching assistant mandatory? This varies by field. If it's mandatory, that's neutral. But if it's *optional,* that can be a big signal that there's plenty of funding, that the department is healthy, and that the department cares about graduate students. (Again, if it's not optional, that doesn't necessarily signal anything one way or another.)
Another tip: Figure out what the main funding agencies are for linguistics. (I don't know if linguistics is heavy on grants.) National Science Foundation? I'm not sure. Then, when you locate a potentially interesting professor, you can use a grant database to see how much funding they have and see if his or her grant(s) look interesting. If it looks like they're well funded *currently.* Then you can also poke around in a citation database and see if they've been publishing regularly and recently. Do their papers look interesting? Starting a fun, interesting, or even an awkward email conversation with a well-funded professor who's taking students will massively increase your chance of being accepted. (Indicate your interest in working with them somewhere on your application. Try and do this with at least two profs per school.)
Again, you may be overworked and exhausted. If this is what you want to do, you just do the best due-diligence you can, spread across a bunch of schools, (keep track of stuff with a bunch of spreadsheets maybe), and then take a leap.
posted by zeek321 at 9:18 AM on September 3, 2010 [4 favorites]
Yes! If they're not nice and encouraging, you don't want to work with him or her. (Only do this if you really do have time.)
With respect to funding: ONLY APPLY TO SCHOOLS THAT WILL ***GUARANTEE*** YOU SUPPORT FOR YOUR ***ENTIRE*** PHD NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES. PERIOD. END OF STORY.
Another tip: Only apply to schools that have an attrition rate of almost zero. Some creepy schools cull half of the graduate students in each class (some fields are notorious for this. I don't know about linguistics. And it varies from school to school by a lot). Ask what percentage of students fail the qualifying exam. Some schools bend over backwards to help everyone get through. This matters. Big time. Talk to the graduate chair about your health issues. Is he or she friendly and supportive? Do you trust him or her? Do you get a creepy vibe?
Another tip: Is being a teaching assistant mandatory? This varies by field. If it's mandatory, that's neutral. But if it's *optional,* that can be a big signal that there's plenty of funding, that the department is healthy, and that the department cares about graduate students. (Again, if it's not optional, that doesn't necessarily signal anything one way or another.)
Another tip: Figure out what the main funding agencies are for linguistics. (I don't know if linguistics is heavy on grants.) National Science Foundation? I'm not sure. Then, when you locate a potentially interesting professor, you can use a grant database to see how much funding they have and see if his or her grant(s) look interesting. If it looks like they're well funded *currently.* Then you can also poke around in a citation database and see if they've been publishing regularly and recently. Do their papers look interesting? Starting a fun, interesting, or even an awkward email conversation with a well-funded professor who's taking students will massively increase your chance of being accepted. (Indicate your interest in working with them somewhere on your application. Try and do this with at least two profs per school.)
Again, you may be overworked and exhausted. If this is what you want to do, you just do the best due-diligence you can, spread across a bunch of schools, (keep track of stuff with a bunch of spreadsheets maybe), and then take a leap.
posted by zeek321 at 9:18 AM on September 3, 2010 [4 favorites]
ONLY APPLY TO SCHOOLS THAT WILL ***GUARANTEE*** YOU SUPPORT FOR YOUR ***ENTIRE*** PHD NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES. PERIOD. END OF STORY.
This only applies to a PhD. Not MA/MS.
posted by zeek321 at 9:19 AM on September 3, 2010
This only applies to a PhD. Not MA/MS.
posted by zeek321 at 9:19 AM on September 3, 2010
Definitely only apply for funded PhD programs (these are usually teaching fellowships, so you have to teach for your money, but if the lab you are applying to is funded, you maybe able to get a research position). Mind you, this isn't great funding, I made about 20k before taxes in a high cost of living state, but at least you are going into debt as well. On top of that, Masters in fields like psychology are usually actively detrimental to your goals, as you aren't qualified for research positions over just having a BA and theoretically you'd cost more.
As far as getting into research you have 2 options. If there are professors doing research at your school, talk to them about working in their lab. Undergrads do this all the time and it usually counts as a directed study. Many professors won't let you do this until you've taken their class, but that varies as well. If you can't fit it in during school, apply to work as an RA in a lab for the time you take off between undergrad and grad school (I took 2 years and worked in a lab there). While teaching English in Korea is probably a great experience, working in a lab is going to get you the recommendations you need and increase your chance of getting into grad school, so you may have to sacrifice your teaching English plan, or do a year there, then a year working in a lab before applying to grad school.
One thing to note, since you say you really don't know anything about grad school. In most science programs, you are applying to work in a particular lab, not at a particular school, so all your application material should be tailored to the particular lab/PI that you want to work with.
As far as the GRE, it's been a long time since I took it, but I did study for it, mostly because I knew I didn't have the math skills any more and I needed to brush up on the clinical psychology (my PhD is in cognitive neuroscience through a Psychology program) things I never knew/forgot. I bought a book, no clue which one though. I studied on spring break and took the exam afterwards, but this may not work with your timeline of application.
posted by katers890 at 9:23 AM on September 3, 2010
As far as getting into research you have 2 options. If there are professors doing research at your school, talk to them about working in their lab. Undergrads do this all the time and it usually counts as a directed study. Many professors won't let you do this until you've taken their class, but that varies as well. If you can't fit it in during school, apply to work as an RA in a lab for the time you take off between undergrad and grad school (I took 2 years and worked in a lab there). While teaching English in Korea is probably a great experience, working in a lab is going to get you the recommendations you need and increase your chance of getting into grad school, so you may have to sacrifice your teaching English plan, or do a year there, then a year working in a lab before applying to grad school.
One thing to note, since you say you really don't know anything about grad school. In most science programs, you are applying to work in a particular lab, not at a particular school, so all your application material should be tailored to the particular lab/PI that you want to work with.
As far as the GRE, it's been a long time since I took it, but I did study for it, mostly because I knew I didn't have the math skills any more and I needed to brush up on the clinical psychology (my PhD is in cognitive neuroscience through a Psychology program) things I never knew/forgot. I bought a book, no clue which one though. I studied on spring break and took the exam afterwards, but this may not work with your timeline of application.
posted by katers890 at 9:23 AM on September 3, 2010
It gets repeated every time grad school comes up, but it merits repetition because it is true: only enroll in a phd program if it is fully funded. Period. (Well, unless your last name is "Gates" or "Rockefeller" or "Carnegie," in which case you can endow your own program and smile.) Masters programs are mostly run as cash-cows to help subsidize doctoral programs; approach with caution and be realistic about the cost and where it will take you.
First you need to figure out where you are applying, and then you can check their GRE requirements. As said above, you need to take practice tests, rather than "study" per se. You probably don't need to ace the GREs, though good scores always help, and really bad ones can derail your application.
Second, don't even bother with the process unless you have some strong references. If that means waiting a year, then you wait a year. No references means no admission. And you might need reference letters for fellowship applications, too, if you are applying to those at the same time. Again, they need to be strong, not just "I met this student once and they seemed ok."
Third, you mentioned health and neurological issues a couple of times. Don't start grad school without being very, very sure that these issues are, if not resolved, at least fully under control and predictable. Grad school often comes with tons of stress and very little support -- you are given plenty of rope and allowed to hang yourself all you want. You can float through undergrad just by taking required classes and showing up; grad school takes a lot of initiative and self-motivation.
Fourth, why grad school? You've seen all the warnings about how the academic job market works, right? The Chronicle is always running good pieces about the process, and you need to go in with not just open eyes but a clear sense of where you will fit into that world. Books like Getting What You Came For are essential for getting through grad school, but things are continuing to change (and not always for the better), including an accelerating trend towards adjunct faculty. Don't even start without a realistic idea of where you are going with it.
posted by Forktine at 9:30 AM on September 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
First you need to figure out where you are applying, and then you can check their GRE requirements. As said above, you need to take practice tests, rather than "study" per se. You probably don't need to ace the GREs, though good scores always help, and really bad ones can derail your application.
Second, don't even bother with the process unless you have some strong references. If that means waiting a year, then you wait a year. No references means no admission. And you might need reference letters for fellowship applications, too, if you are applying to those at the same time. Again, they need to be strong, not just "I met this student once and they seemed ok."
Third, you mentioned health and neurological issues a couple of times. Don't start grad school without being very, very sure that these issues are, if not resolved, at least fully under control and predictable. Grad school often comes with tons of stress and very little support -- you are given plenty of rope and allowed to hang yourself all you want. You can float through undergrad just by taking required classes and showing up; grad school takes a lot of initiative and self-motivation.
Fourth, why grad school? You've seen all the warnings about how the academic job market works, right? The Chronicle is always running good pieces about the process, and you need to go in with not just open eyes but a clear sense of where you will fit into that world. Books like Getting What You Came For are essential for getting through grad school, but things are continuing to change (and not always for the better), including an accelerating trend towards adjunct faculty. Don't even start without a realistic idea of where you are going with it.
posted by Forktine at 9:30 AM on September 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
This only applies to a PhD. Not MA/MS.
I wouldn't bother paying for an MA or MS, either, unless it were some sort of professional degree (and even then, I'd try to see if my employer would pay for it).
posted by deanc at 9:32 AM on September 3, 2010
I wouldn't bother paying for an MA or MS, either, unless it were some sort of professional degree (and even then, I'd try to see if my employer would pay for it).
posted by deanc at 9:32 AM on September 3, 2010
I'll give you the same advice that was given to me my senior year. A friend (who started grad school right after college) noted that among his peers, he knew several who wished they had taken time off (to work, of course) after college and none that regretted that they had.
(Personally, I fall in the "do not regret taking time off" camp and am now about to begin the "joyous" grad school application process. My grades were crap, so I'm relying heavily on that weight on research and recommendations [and hopefully no one noticing I don't have any pubs])
posted by maryr at 9:46 AM on September 3, 2010
(Personally, I fall in the "do not regret taking time off" camp and am now about to begin the "joyous" grad school application process. My grades were crap, so I'm relying heavily on that weight on research and recommendations [and hopefully no one noticing I don't have any pubs])
posted by maryr at 9:46 AM on September 3, 2010
re. GRE - I'd recommend taking some full-length practice GRE tests. Besides familiarity with format and style of questions, time management for the whole test is very important. You need to figure out how long to spend on each section, how to leave sections, how not to panic, etc. Doing practice tests is very useful for this.
posted by carter at 10:05 AM on September 3, 2010
posted by carter at 10:05 AM on September 3, 2010
Wait to apply until I've made better contacts? Go to a professor who doesn't know me all that well?
As others have said, you should immediately try to figure out a way to get some research experience this fall. Can you write a senior thesis (and is it too late to start)? Can you talk any professors into doing some kind of independent study?
I mean, do you just go up to a professor and say, "hey, I'm interested in what you're doing, can I help you out with it in any way?" Or is there a more formal process involved? I don't feel like I know any professors here that well, and there are a lot of other students who are probably competing for the same opportunities.
This is pretty much it. There is usually a formal process but getting the professor interested is the precursor to it. I'd just pick any professor where you have done well in their class, and are interested in what they do. I would also try emailing the professor you mention who is on leave right now for advice -- they probably won't want to formally advise a project, but they may know what other faculty might be willing to. In terms of the unreliable advisor, your program probably has someone who is "director of undergraduate studies" or some such title -- to a certain extent they may serve as a backup general advisor to undergraduate majors, so you could try contacting them (don't badmouth your advisor though).
Also, you should establish whether the department accepts undergraduates into the PhD program at all; many don't, including several of the large state school linguistics programs that might be the one you describe. I can tell you that even if they do, it will be challenging to get in without a faculty member who does know you and is actively advocating for you.
I am in linguistics, so if you memail me the program name, I might be able to give you some more specific suggestions.
posted by advil at 10:18 AM on September 3, 2010
As others have said, you should immediately try to figure out a way to get some research experience this fall. Can you write a senior thesis (and is it too late to start)? Can you talk any professors into doing some kind of independent study?
I mean, do you just go up to a professor and say, "hey, I'm interested in what you're doing, can I help you out with it in any way?" Or is there a more formal process involved? I don't feel like I know any professors here that well, and there are a lot of other students who are probably competing for the same opportunities.
This is pretty much it. There is usually a formal process but getting the professor interested is the precursor to it. I'd just pick any professor where you have done well in their class, and are interested in what they do. I would also try emailing the professor you mention who is on leave right now for advice -- they probably won't want to formally advise a project, but they may know what other faculty might be willing to. In terms of the unreliable advisor, your program probably has someone who is "director of undergraduate studies" or some such title -- to a certain extent they may serve as a backup general advisor to undergraduate majors, so you could try contacting them (don't badmouth your advisor though).
Also, you should establish whether the department accepts undergraduates into the PhD program at all; many don't, including several of the large state school linguistics programs that might be the one you describe. I can tell you that even if they do, it will be challenging to get in without a faculty member who does know you and is actively advocating for you.
I am in linguistics, so if you memail me the program name, I might be able to give you some more specific suggestions.
posted by advil at 10:18 AM on September 3, 2010
One thing to note, since you say you really don't know anything about grad school. In most science programs, you are applying to work in a particular lab, not at a particular school, so all your application material should be tailored to the particular lab/PI that you want to work with.
That may or may not be the case in linguistics; it is certainly not the case in some science programs, including most bio and biochem programs. (In those cases, one generally applies to the program, spends time rotating in several labs, and then makes a decision.) Kutsuwamushi: now that you're taking degree-related classes, start talking to your professors to find out how things work in your linguistics subfield.
I mean, do you just go up to a professor and say, "hey, I'm interested in what you're doing, can I help you out with it in any way?"
Yeah, pretty much - though you should, of course, be able to demonstrate that you actually have some understanding of their major research topics. Your department may also post notices from labs that are looking for undergrads. Additionally, your department or university may have systems for doing research for credit (sometimes associated with a senior thesis) or for money. Taking off time after undergrad to do research would be a great idea as well; more experience and maturity and better letters of recommendation never hurt anyone, since they're much more important for getting into a PhD program than extracurriculars (!). And really, doing research in any field is not the same as taking classes in that field; it is important that you know whether or not you can enjoy research before you pursue a PhD.
posted by ubersturm at 10:18 AM on September 3, 2010
That may or may not be the case in linguistics; it is certainly not the case in some science programs, including most bio and biochem programs. (In those cases, one generally applies to the program, spends time rotating in several labs, and then makes a decision.) Kutsuwamushi: now that you're taking degree-related classes, start talking to your professors to find out how things work in your linguistics subfield.
I mean, do you just go up to a professor and say, "hey, I'm interested in what you're doing, can I help you out with it in any way?"
Yeah, pretty much - though you should, of course, be able to demonstrate that you actually have some understanding of their major research topics. Your department may also post notices from labs that are looking for undergrads. Additionally, your department or university may have systems for doing research for credit (sometimes associated with a senior thesis) or for money. Taking off time after undergrad to do research would be a great idea as well; more experience and maturity and better letters of recommendation never hurt anyone, since they're much more important for getting into a PhD program than extracurriculars (!). And really, doing research in any field is not the same as taking classes in that field; it is important that you know whether or not you can enjoy research before you pursue a PhD.
posted by ubersturm at 10:18 AM on September 3, 2010
accepts undergraduates into the PhD program at all
By which I mean accepts their undergraduates.
posted by advil at 10:19 AM on September 3, 2010
By which I mean accepts their undergraduates.
posted by advil at 10:19 AM on September 3, 2010
Another vote for waiting a year to apply - specifically to get to know people. In my experience as an almost-PhD, success in grad school and academia has a lot to do with who you know. Good recommendations (especially from people who are prominent in the field, which you should be able to get since you're in a good department now) will take you a long way - one of my recommendations got me into a pretty competitive master's degree program without an interview, which is saying a lot. Try for one person who can say something about your expertise in the specific area you want to research, and another who will write the most glowing review known to humankind, even if they're from a different field.
The advice to try to get a job working in on a project as a research assistant in the meantime is spot-on. You'll get a feel for how the whole process works - not just the background you get in classes, but how research actually progresses and new ideas grow. Walking up to someone and asking if you can help with their research is definitely acceptable (my supervisor says she's always flattered when someone wants to work with her) - as ubersturm says, make sure you know something about the topic though! ;-)
Also, seriously, DON'T PAY YOUR OWN MONEY FOR A PHD. Maybe for an MA/MS if you get accepted somewhere amazing and nowhere else could possibly offer you that experience. But during a PhD, you do not want to be worrying about where your income is coming from. Unless you really like teaching, it's probably better to try to get funding from being a research assistant than a teaching assistant (but ymmv. Teaching is not my favorite thing so I am biased).
Re: the GRE, no advice, but an anecdote: when you take the computerized version now, they show you your raw score as soon as you've finished. My raw score on the verbal section was much, much lower than I expected, and I went home and cried for the rest of the afternoon. Turns out, when the official score with percentiles was sent to me, I was well within the percentile range I needed (and I got accepted to my first-choice school). Moral of the story: don't panic before you see the adjusted score!
posted by SymphonyNumberNine at 10:32 AM on September 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
The advice to try to get a job working in on a project as a research assistant in the meantime is spot-on. You'll get a feel for how the whole process works - not just the background you get in classes, but how research actually progresses and new ideas grow. Walking up to someone and asking if you can help with their research is definitely acceptable (my supervisor says she's always flattered when someone wants to work with her) - as ubersturm says, make sure you know something about the topic though! ;-)
Also, seriously, DON'T PAY YOUR OWN MONEY FOR A PHD. Maybe for an MA/MS if you get accepted somewhere amazing and nowhere else could possibly offer you that experience. But during a PhD, you do not want to be worrying about where your income is coming from. Unless you really like teaching, it's probably better to try to get funding from being a research assistant than a teaching assistant (but ymmv. Teaching is not my favorite thing so I am biased).
Re: the GRE, no advice, but an anecdote: when you take the computerized version now, they show you your raw score as soon as you've finished. My raw score on the verbal section was much, much lower than I expected, and I went home and cried for the rest of the afternoon. Turns out, when the official score with percentiles was sent to me, I was well within the percentile range I needed (and I got accepted to my first-choice school). Moral of the story: don't panic before you see the adjusted score!
posted by SymphonyNumberNine at 10:32 AM on September 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
Many good things have been said before, but as someone who was in your situation (no family guidance on this stuff) here are a few things:
- Grad school is all about research and who you know.
- You need to ASAP get in as a research assistant for some faculty at your school. Just show up to office hours and ask if you can be an RA.
- Do a good job being an RA, BTW.
- Can you do an honors thesis? That goes a long way.
- All of the above is geared toward both socializing you to the discipline and getting good letters of rec.
----
- You're probably too late to apply this late fall/early winter for grad school next year. If you can afford it, maybe take a 5th year in undergrad to build up even better references (and maybe do an honors thesis).
----
- The GRE is mainly to weed people out. You can take a practice one at Kaplan to see where you're scoring. If you're not scoring as high as you need to be (at my school you have to have a minimum of 1000 to TA), memorize vocab and get a math practice book.
- As far as paying for it, as others have explained, an MA is only required if one's undergrad is too crummy (poor GPA, not in that subject) to get into a PhD program. They are expensive, but if you really want to go to grad school, an MA might be required to beef up your application. It'll also allow you to get better letters of rec and more experience and all that, but much better to do that during undergrad.
- You need to narrow down your interest within linguistics. Linguistics, as I understand it, isn't about foreign language learning, although most undergrads think that it is.
- You need to get well-read in your interest area within linguistics. This is both to assure yourself that this is actually what you're interested in and to beef up your applications to specific schools that have specific faculty that know that area. It would be a waste of your time to go to school that doesn't have faculty that study that particular subfield/interest of yours.
- So how to apply? As you're doing your reading, make a list of scholars that you really like. Then go to their webpages and read the most recent and most cited (if you can tell) works that they've done. Do you still like that scholar? Send him/her an email asking if s/he is taking on new grad students. Start an email dialog. If things go well, investigate other people in the department and see if you like them too. Then you'll want to talk to faculty at your department about these other departments to see how they feel about them. You're going to also need to start to craft a personal statement that talks about how much you like that subfield in that department and what you think that you can add to it.
This is a lot of work. This is why you need an extra year.
Good luck!
posted by k8t at 4:24 PM on September 4, 2010
- Grad school is all about research and who you know.
- You need to ASAP get in as a research assistant for some faculty at your school. Just show up to office hours and ask if you can be an RA.
- Do a good job being an RA, BTW.
- Can you do an honors thesis? That goes a long way.
- All of the above is geared toward both socializing you to the discipline and getting good letters of rec.
----
- You're probably too late to apply this late fall/early winter for grad school next year. If you can afford it, maybe take a 5th year in undergrad to build up even better references (and maybe do an honors thesis).
----
- The GRE is mainly to weed people out. You can take a practice one at Kaplan to see where you're scoring. If you're not scoring as high as you need to be (at my school you have to have a minimum of 1000 to TA), memorize vocab and get a math practice book.
- As far as paying for it, as others have explained, an MA is only required if one's undergrad is too crummy (poor GPA, not in that subject) to get into a PhD program. They are expensive, but if you really want to go to grad school, an MA might be required to beef up your application. It'll also allow you to get better letters of rec and more experience and all that, but much better to do that during undergrad.
- You need to narrow down your interest within linguistics. Linguistics, as I understand it, isn't about foreign language learning, although most undergrads think that it is.
- You need to get well-read in your interest area within linguistics. This is both to assure yourself that this is actually what you're interested in and to beef up your applications to specific schools that have specific faculty that know that area. It would be a waste of your time to go to school that doesn't have faculty that study that particular subfield/interest of yours.
- So how to apply? As you're doing your reading, make a list of scholars that you really like. Then go to their webpages and read the most recent and most cited (if you can tell) works that they've done. Do you still like that scholar? Send him/her an email asking if s/he is taking on new grad students. Start an email dialog. If things go well, investigate other people in the department and see if you like them too. Then you'll want to talk to faculty at your department about these other departments to see how they feel about them. You're going to also need to start to craft a personal statement that talks about how much you like that subfield in that department and what you think that you can add to it.
This is a lot of work. This is why you need an extra year.
Good luck!
posted by k8t at 4:24 PM on September 4, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Also: Apply only to (funded) PhD programs unless you really only want an MA. Don't worry about extracurriculars-- being "well-rounded" is an undergrad thing. Figure out some way to do some solid research, either in a research seminar or as a research assistant to a professor.
posted by oinopaponton at 8:45 AM on September 3, 2010 [4 favorites]