Schroedingers2c wrote:Hi Mr. Hauser!
Thanks for your time to do this! I am from central Europe applying to several schools in the US and Canada. Some questions:
Would you advise to contact faculty members one is interested in working with before application deadline?
What is one thing you would have liked to know when you were applying for grad school?
What would you describe as an outstanding SOP (Statement of Purpose)?
Would love the get your opinions on these questions!
Byzantium1453 wrote:What would you guys do if the proposed tax plan is passed and grad student tuition waivers are taxed? Would you play an accounting game or would grad students have to pay more? My dad went got a bio PhD at UAB back in the 1980s and a similar thing happened with state taxes then, but the grad students got reimbursed.
admissionprof wrote:As another (now former) admissions director, I can tell you that everyone is hoping the tax on tuition is dropped. Several Republican Senators have explicitly said they are against it and it isn't in the Senate bill. It would be unlikely to survive a conference committee report, even if the Senate bill passes. If it did pass, I suppose there'd be some sort of accounting game - we certainly couldn't afford to increase stipends enough to cover it.
histoscienology wrote:Hi Dr. Hauser,
I was wondering if I should add a potential publication that was submitted to a conference (SPIE photonics)? Currently in my third year, I'm going to graduate this December because I can't afford the tuition. I don't have any published work by myself yet but wrote a report for a research internship I'm not sure if I should add it to my application for admission committee (some school request supplementary materials). I'm applying for top schools and heard the chances of getting into one of them is low if one doesn't have any publications. Thank you in advance for answering the question.
Regards,
Yan
drrice wrote:Dr. Hauser,
With the latest tax plan that has passed the US House of Reps that will make tuition waivers considered taxable income to graduate students how does your department plan to incorporate this new tax plan? Do you foresee a decrease in PhD applicants?
beaverbullu6 wrote:Hi, I am an international applicant and have very little research experience ( worked full time for one summer; no publications). My previous work was in soft condensed matter physics. Does it look bad if I mention that I am still a little undecided on the area I would like to continue in? More importantly, the applications ask to mention the subfield. Would it be possible for me to apply under condensed matter, and if accepted change the area?
Thank you
AdamHauser wrote:
If you are unsure, you are best served mentioning the second field that you might be interested in, and the faculty in that field you may be interested in working with. Contacting faculty in both fields is then recommended to check for fit - you may find you would only want to go to a particular school in a particular field. If there is a drop down box and you have to choose, you can pick where you are leaning to, as long as you mention the other possibility in your statement of purpose.
beaverbullu6 wrote:AdamHauser wrote:
If you are unsure, you are best served mentioning the second field that you might be interested in, and the faculty in that field you may be interested in working with. Contacting faculty in both fields is then recommended to check for fit - you may find you would only want to go to a particular school in a particular field. If there is a drop down box and you have to choose, you can pick where you are leaning to, as long as you mention the other possibility in your statement of purpose.
It's a little too late to be contacting faculty now, isn't it? Anyways thanks for the advice.
AdamHauser wrote:Depending on the school, maybe. It can't hurt you, especially if you did put your interest in their group down already - it can take a committee up to a month after the deadline to actually meet and discuss applications. It would also inform your decision should you get in to multiple places. No downside.
Speaking with faculty more is never the wrong answer if you want to work in the field - you will always learn something and be better for it. I don't think that changes no matter how far along your path you get... it is a wonderful facet of life. (Apologies, it is snowing today in Tuscaloosa and I am feeling philosophical.)
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