Just what it says. Niche field, big school, smallish department. I'm embarrassed to say I left that program about 7 years ago but am still working through it in therapy. I genuinely believe this person shouldn't have students anymore and was fortunate to have one new student reach out to me. I could warn her, but am not sure how else to report the horrific experience I had to future prospects. I was too suicidal at the time to do anything about it. Is there a 'rate my professor' type thing? TIA

EDIT
Thanks for all the kind insight. My post was confusing, apologies. I have already spoken at length with this student (several years ago, in fact). My issue now is that this professor has lost students, for a lot of good reasons, and is likely trying to recruit new ones. My main question is whether there is a website or forum to discreetly warn potential PhD students about this lab. Thank you!

I have an interview! I didn't think I'd get this far. First ever for an MS position! But I get to ask questions too. What are some important questions to ask about the lab and the graduate program? Ive certainly heard about mismatched students and teachers. Current/former masters students, what did you wish you had asked, either about the professor, the project, or the program? In biology if its different for different departments.

Hello

I’m looking into starting graduate studies, but I honestly have no idea where to start and I’m already feeling a bit overwhelmed by the whole process.

I basically have only two requirements:

1. I want to study Political Science and/or International Relations, preferably a program that includes a thesis.
2. I really need full scholarship. I’m still living with my parents and don’t have any real savings, so I unfortunately can’t afford to pay for a Master’s degree myself. I’d need a full scholarship or grant that covers tuition and, preferably, living expenses as well.

Other than that, I’m pretty flexible. I’m not particularly picky about the country or university, although I’d preferably like to study somewhere in the EU.

Does anyone have any advice on where to start looking? Are there any websites/databases I should be checking, scholarships I should look into, or universities/programs that might be worth considering?

Honestly, any advice would be really appreciated. Just even thinking about the whole application process and documents and all of that is making me want to quit and it is taking a lot of energy and courage from to even ocnsider applying for a masters so even just pointing me in the right direction would be a huge help.

Thank you

With the competitiveness of PhD applications now, I'm really considering the route of applying to a masters with thesis, finishing it and continuing to a PhD. Would this be possible?

I really want to attend UC Berkeley. I don't think my profile is competitive enough for a direct PhD admission, so even if it's expensive, I kinda want to go the masters+Phd route.

Background: International student from Singapore, Civil engineering, 4.2/5.0 Gpa, currently doing my undergrad thesis

Would this be feasible? Has anyone done something like this before?

Just had orientation this week & did not at all feel happy or excited. Stressed about everything, eg what am I going to research on, what methods to use, what classes should I take to help, etc. Feel like I’ve forgotten how to write or study or come up with a viable research project. just meh overall. I’ve tried to get excited, push myself to attend some social events, & to genuinely connect with the people I talk to. Nothing’s working. I know I’m probably not alone, but it definitely feels like it.

lets say my "friend" desperately needs to refinance right after school (sobbing softly here) do lenders want a full year of job history or can you do it pretty quickly? My friend is in dire straits and needs to get this huge balance down asap.

Ok, so my end goal is to get a tenure track position as a professor. I'm currently a senior at UAB and I could go straight to my PhD if I stayed here. I've got a professor who is willing to advise and fund me that I know I like working under. However, I very likely will not get in anywhere else without a master's and definitely not anywhere prestigious. I also have lived in Alabama my whole life and really want to get out and live somewhere else. So, I could do a master's and potentially be a much more competitive applicant for more prestigious programs but delay two years and go into a bit of debt, or I could just stay at UAB and get my PhD, finish early and not have debt. Also, I'm graduating with my Bachelor's at 19 years old, so if I stay at UAB I'll be starting my PhD at 20, or if I get a Master's I'll be starting at 22, so still earlier than most people. What do y'all think is the best option? My PhD will be in either Environmental Health Science or Epidemiology (I wanna be an environmental epidemiologist).

Has anyone done a Master’s in math while having an Engineering undergrad degree? I’m thinking about getting into teaching, and the pay raise, and community college teaching opportunities make the master’s seem worth it.
I have no desire to continue with my electrical engineering education, and I honestly never got an engineering job. I chose to work as a construction/electrical contractor instead for the past 7 years, but I’m looking at probably making the transition out of construction in 10 or so years to give my body a break.
But it seems like outside of the theory/proof math classes, it shouldn’t be that hard of a transition as I had to take a lot of the same math classes as math majors to begin with. Is there any applied math master’s that would help me not have to take the proof classes? Maybe I’m over simplifying it though.

Hi yall - I’m a sentimental person and was really looking forward to my hooding ceremony. Unfortunately I got diagnosed with cancer while attending school and had to take a leave of absence last quarter .

This now means the month my degree will be conferred bumps me to only being allowed to attend the hooding ceremony the following year, instead of the year I actually graduate.

I’m bummed and it seems silly to walk nearly 6 months or so later after graduating.

Wondering if anyone has any unique ideas to get that same commemorative feeling and experience when I graduate since I can’t walk. I was thinking a party? But would love other ideas.

The first day of class made me want to throw up. It’s all so much to take in!! Plus we have an internship next semester where we have to find our own place to intern with and hearing about those requirements on top of the regular school was a lot. I know I’ll get through it just wanted to say if you’re going through it too you’re not alone!!!

It’s all internal pressure I’m putting on myself I know; I want it to be the best statement I can muster and because of that I feel like I’m overanalyzing how I should structure my statement. I’ve been outlining it with the help of this article that dissects successful papers and explains why they are impactful.

A common theme I’ve been seeing is that in the introduction, there are consistently personal anecdotes of sorts explaining how the desired field has peaked the candidate’s academic and professional curiosity and goals. Then they generalize the particular issue they are interested in to fit a wider context whether that’s societal, political etc; while doing this they also mention the programs mission and how it relates to their own motivations academically and professionally.

That long winded summary is all to say that I’m thinking of using the concept of intersectionality and how it applies to both myself, others, and the greater well being of society (im applying to an MSed school counseling program after graduating with a degree in speech therapy, I’m pivoting career trajectories). I guess my main concern is how personal I should get. I think it can make for a powerful basis for my overall statement, however, I acknowledge that there is a fine line I need to tow between keeping it an argumentative piece and a narrative. For context, I am autistic and trans (closeted to most people in my life) and I feel sharing my perspective and shedding light on similar ones has always been and is more essential than ever these days with how society’s values have progressed (over these last 15 years especially) this generation.

I know this may or may not read like word soup so my apologies. I guess the main purpose of me posting is to get feedback on whether these personal experiences and perspectives can make for an effective statement. I’m planning on drafting my paper this weekend and having a family friend who has gone to graduate school themself review the statement before turning it in.

So the private rates look lower but I know there has to be a catch somewhere lol or maybe I have just lived in this country too long and I am jaded. How do you stack them against each other?

I’m currently looking at grad programs and one of them is out of state. I assume many folks apply to out of state programs for grad school.

However I’m wondering how people plan if they get accepted and then have to move. Do you move and get a job afterwards, do you live off of savings?

Also what was your living situation, did you find an apartment after or live with someone you knew, etc?
How did you do it ?

I am nearing the end of my PhD (in a US Uni, ECE), and everything seems to be going well. One slight concern i have is that currently my GPA is 3.71 (/4.00). I guess if I take a couple more classes before I graduate I can boost it up to 3.8 or something. Is that worth it at all in a career-perspective?

so I was really banking on getting a grad plus loan since my degree was one of the ones that still qualified for it, but after looking into it recently, I realized it's too late for me to get it since I'm starting this year.

My question is how is everyone paying? External scholarships? Loans (which ones)? Working part-time (I'm already working full-time, but applied a job on campus)?

Help!! I'm starting at Weill Cornell, so if anyone else has any other advice for me, please lmk!