I recently attended a National Graduate Portfolio Day for students interesting in pursuing an MFA. I had a positive response, making me feel confident about my work and its presentation. However, I am suspicious, as I haven't heard anyone telling stories that they were really chewed out or criticized by their reviewers. I actually tried to push some of my reviewers to give me negative feedback, but they were ultimately optimistic. Are these things for real, or are they just a way for schools to talk people into applying?
posted by davidriley on Nov 10, 2009 - 6 answers

How do I write a CV for my grad school applications? [more inside]
posted by PostIronyIsNotaMyth on Oct 28, 2009 - 5 answers

Help me ask a former professor for a letter of recommendation. Complicating details after the jump. [more inside]
posted by notswedish on Oct 28, 2009 - 10 answers

A friend is doing a last minute cram for the GRE but is lacking in time. The bulk of her available time is in her 2-hour-per-day commute. Are there any _good_ podcasts she could listen to, specificall for vocabulary? Or .. should she look into hiring someone to call her and drill her for those two hours? If so... how? [more inside]
posted by rr on Oct 1, 2009 - 8 answers

Trying to find grad school programs that kind of meld peace and conflict studies with media studies... [more inside]
posted by PostIronyIsNotaMyth on Sep 28, 2009 - 9 answers

Say I wanted to attend graduate school for a degree in Medical Illustration... what should I start doing now, as a freshman in undergrad, to insure that happens? [more inside]
posted by biochemist on Aug 30, 2009 - 7 answers

I know this is my last year for my Hon. in Linguistics. I think I'm doing pretty bad. Many of my friends are going for grad schools or research programs in cognitive linguistic-issues. It feels like I'm left behind very much. Now I feel very stupid compare to my friends. Feeling very humiliated. I don't know what to think. Does going to grad school really help one's career? I don't think I can go to grad school with a terrible mark I have and I think I will have an unusually difficult roadmap for my possible career without having an MA. Are people like me doomed because we don't go to grad school? Are there any alternatives to grad schools for further education?
posted by sanskrtam on Jul 1, 2009 - 8 answers

Please, help me deal with a justified last-minute anxiety, regarding a Very Important oral presentation (end of the year research presentation), that will introduce a more than average research (due to personal problems, which interfered with academic work). Also, help me think about the right attitude to adopt towards my teachers on D-day. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 24, 2009 - 3 answers

I've decided I want to teach high school english. Problem: I have a BS in Business Admin. How do I do this? [more inside]
posted by firei on Jun 11, 2009 - 7 answers

Can more than one person sign a single grad school letter of recommendation? [more inside]
posted by pdx87 on Jun 6, 2009 - 9 answers

What kind of grad program should I go to if I'm interested in the preservation of digital media archives? Museum studies? Information science? Something else entirely? [more inside]
posted by hapticactionnetwork on May 14, 2009 - 11 answers

Experimental and radical urban planning: Where are the interesting multidisciplinary graduate programs in the U.S.? [more inside]
posted by lunalaguna on Apr 22, 2009 - 4 answers

How to continue one's education without going back to school? [more inside]
posted by mintchip on Apr 12, 2009 - 15 answers

Hey all, I'm an incoming master's student with plans to apply to my institution's PhD program after my master's. As the first person in my family to go to college (let alone graduate school), I am quite green in many respects. What I'm really worried about is the professor(s) I want to work with in the future--how do I go about developing a professional relationship with them? I'm afraid of creating a negative impression about myself if I keep badgering them during office hours and blatantly trying to ingratiate myself with them. Also, any advice you could give me would be really helpful--especially with regards to a master's student in the humanities field. What should be my main focus and what common errors should I avoid?
posted by Genco_Olive_Oil on Mar 28, 2009 - 12 answers

I'd like to see examples of great cover letters, please. [more inside]
posted by pseudostrabismus on Mar 8, 2009 - 20 answers

Is it realistic to become an information architect in NYC after the age of 40? I'm concerned about the bias that exists in the computer industry and the expensive cost of training for this career. [more inside]
posted by thenewyawkah on Mar 3, 2009 - 3 answers

Visiting potential grad school. How best to make the most of my visit? [more inside]
posted by aka burlap on Feb 11, 2009 - 11 answers

Thinking about leaving grad school (maybe for good?). What's the best "next step"? [more inside]
posted by puckish on Feb 2, 2009 - 10 answers

PhD, what next [more inside]
posted by nootnoot1 on Jan 29, 2009 - 15 answers

How do I start a MS in Computer Science with no applicable background? [more inside]
posted by amileighs on Dec 19, 2008 - 12 answers

What software is helpful for writing a masters thesis? [more inside]
posted by metricfan on Dec 4, 2008 - 14 answers

I'm writing an MA thesis based (in part) on American McGee's Alice... problem is I haven't played it and can't seem to find a copy for Mac OS in Canada. [more inside]
posted by ndicecco on Nov 3, 2008 - 15 answers

In what worthwhile or cautionary ways have you spent a gap of downtime before grad school starts? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 31, 2008 - 14 answers

I am an anthropology senior, and I'm applying to various schools of public health. How do I make my graduate school application the perfect application? [more inside]
posted by palindromic on Oct 9, 2008 - 7 answers

Questions about TikiWiki and web hosting - how can I improve web resources for my grad program? [more inside]
posted by scribbler on Oct 9, 2008 - 3 answers

Deciding on a life direction(and paging allkindsoftime, in particular!) [more inside]
posted by HopperFan on Sep 27, 2008 - 5 answers

How to deal with the heartbreak over a bad grade? [more inside]
posted by shamble on Sep 25, 2008 - 24 answers

Any advice concerning email communication with professors who I'll be contacting at the various schools that I will be applying to for PhD programs in Political Science? [more inside]
posted by davidstandaford on Aug 27, 2008 - 10 answers

I am a recent graduate of a M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, an interdisciplinary degree, and have just returned to San Francisco to try and get some research experience (in social science research) but because I don’t have any real background I am having trouble getting anything… HELP! [more inside]
posted by elationfoundation on Aug 13, 2008 - 9 answers

Should I take this job offer to work at a wage that's barely livable so I can get into grad school? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 6, 2008 - 15 answers

Applying to grad school. Help! [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 28, 2008 - 7 answers

I have a bachelor's in architecture but after a few years of work experience I have begun to feel that it may not be my bag. At work I find myself spending more time tweaking my computer and finding new tricks than actually drafting. [more inside]
posted by mockdeep on Apr 23, 2008 - 19 answers

Ways to mitigate a low undergrad GPA for grad school applications? [more inside]
posted by slow graffiti on Apr 18, 2008 - 12 answers

Help me choose between grad schools: I am accepted (with fellowships) to the math depts at both UC Davis and Penn State. Where do I go? [more inside]
posted by milqman on Apr 15, 2008 - 8 answers

Say parents regularly donate to a university. Does this have an effect on their kid getting into its Grad School? [more inside]
posted by sentient on Mar 20, 2008 - 19 answers

How do I pay for grad school? [more inside]
posted by whimsicalnymph on Mar 13, 2008 - 28 answers

M.A. or M.S.? I'm getting a Master's in Politics and hoping to teach in a university someday. Which should I get? Does it matter? [more inside]
posted by GilloD on Mar 6, 2008 - 15 answers

Tell me what it's like to live in Berkeley, from the point of view of a grad student. [more inside]
posted by barnacles on Mar 3, 2008 - 22 answers

Should I give my co-advisor the boot? Question about dealing with a difficult advisor for my grad program...a nice, long read awaits you... [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 2, 2008 - 15 answers

Grad School Interview questions... [more inside]
posted by MayNicholas on Feb 4, 2008 - 8 answers

I am applying to business school for an MBA at a top school. I only have experience working at a non-profit, and some social service experience. I have grad school experience in Social Work. Any suggestions/ ideas of how to market my experience? What are some tips for being a successful applicant? Thank you! [more inside]
posted by tessalations999 on Feb 4, 2008 - 5 answers

How can I best petition for the reconsideration of a grad school application? Or should I even try? [more inside]
posted by Asherah on Dec 9, 2007 - 13 answers

What on earth should I put on my graduate school application CV? I was a good student, but didn't win any scholarships, and my work experience is irrelevant to the academic discipline. [more inside]
posted by limon on Nov 30, 2007 - 11 answers

I'm hoping to get into a Computer Science Masters program somewhere next fall, and am looking for some advice on bettering my chances. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 14, 2007 - 9 answers

Grad school questions... GRE time (Saturday)... I have checked out the past questions asked about free practice sites and found a couple of them useful. I am terrified that I am going to bomb since I just can't seem to wrap my head around any of the math concepts. I haven't take math since HS and that was 16 years ago- but I'm great with statistics. Anyone have any good thoughts on how to use my statistics knowledge and apply it to the math portion? Also any more free practice sites to recommend? [more inside]
posted by MayNicholas on Oct 18, 2007 - 27 answers

PsychologyFilter: Getting ready to apply to grad school. I am torn between two programs... [more inside]
posted by MayNicholas on Sep 20, 2007 - 4 answers

I'm looking for advice on apply to grad school along the lines of Computer Science/Cognitive Science. Major problem: Low CGPA blues. [more inside]
posted by Alex404 on Aug 29, 2007 - 25 answers

I have an eating disorder and I can't decide if I want to move to another city. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 17, 2007 - 13 answers

I have my eyes on a very specific sort of graduate program at a University that while not top-tier, will be tough to get into. I'm looking to make some contacts in the program: What's the best way to do this? [more inside]
posted by GilloD on May 23, 2007 - 14 answers

Is an MBA worth it for me, or am I just trying to keep up with friends who all seem to have letters after their names now that we're hitting our late 20s? [more inside]
posted by Mr Bunnsy on May 17, 2007 - 15 answers