<p>Hi!
I?m a senior at UC Davis. I want to go on to graduate school, but I am very intimidated by all the options and the processes that need to take place in order to make it happen. I have been in this country for six years, obviously I?m still learning the language but somehow I?ve managed to do good in school and keep up a decent GPA.<br>
I?m double majoring in Linguistics and Spanish and would absolutely love to go to UC Berkeley for my master?s (on Latin American Literature) , but I don?t know if I even have a shot at it. I have a 3.66 overall GPA and some research and tutoring experience. I think I can also count on very good letters of recommendation since I have built great relationships with faculty members form both of my majors. I still have four quarters at Davis and I think I?ll be able to boost my GPA.</p>
<p>Is there any advice you could give me as to what to do to prepare for Grad school??? Do you guys think I'm still able to do something to have a decent shot at being admitted to Berkeley, or is it too late?? </p>
<p>I will appreciate any advice. </p>
<p>Also, is there any website where I can check the stats for UC Berkely, or any other UC??</p>
<p>Learn from my mistake, make contact with some potential advisors before you apply. Look up some of their current researches and show your interest. Try to find out which criteria are most important to each specific professor, since different people are interested in different things. Don't get discouraged if they don't respond to you at first, keep trying but also know the limit. I'm not sure how much this applies to your field, but I know for mine establishing a connection is a very important part of the process.</p>
<p>sigil11:
How soon before I applay to any program should I start conntacting advisors?</p>
<p>Also, I'm doing research for a Senior Thesis, but I won't finish writing it until after I have to apply for grad school. Should I wait another year so I can finish it before I apply?
If I do take a year off, would that affect my chances of getting into grad school??</p>
<p>I have talked to several professors and many grad students about the whole waiting an extra year plan, and they were all against it. It was pointed out to me that the extra year will not change your qualifications by much, and if you started grad school in another school you can always reapply and have your units transferred.</p>
<p>I would recommend talking to the professors at your school now and get their inputs. As for potential advisors, September~November would probably be a good time, (ie the time you do you applications).</p>
<p>Sigil11:
It never occured to me that I could apply once I was doing a graduate program somewhere else. I think that would be the best thing to do. </p>
<p>Thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>psmyth000 :
Hablo espa?ol, pero no portugues. Aprender portugues esta en mi lista de "cosas que hacer" proximamente :D
Tu hablas los dos??</p>
<p>glad my opinions helped. Dont jump to conclusions though, I dont know the details of how the transfer works. I say you really should talk to some professors, they know best...most of the time</p>
<p>Si, Hablo los dos. Pero hablo portugues mejor que espanol. Buena sorte con Berkley. Mi primo estudio en la universidad hase algunos anos e le gusto mucho.</p>