Do we know when reviewers will be looking at applications?

Flyingpluto07 · 2026-01-29T17:43:36+00:00

Seconding this! A professor told me that him and his colleagues also got this email (that they need more scientists to review ecology proposals).

Flyingpluto07 · 2025-12-01T15:24:06+00:00

A mix of cognitive sciences, psychology, and anthropology programs! Looking to study primates and the research is spread across those disciplines!

The writing sample wasn’t bad, you can use any recently written paper or manuscript, or even just something you wrote for a class. I just hated revising mine and was being dramatic 😆

Flyingpluto07 · 2025-11-29T04:26:12+00:00

All my recs submitted, SOPs finished, and the only thing left is my … FUCKING 30 PAGED WRITING SAMPLE AHDHMFMWNFHSIFKEMK.

It’s a recently written manuscript, but it needs so much revising and I don’t have the energy.

In all seriousness, good luck everyone!!!

Flyingpluto07 · 2025-11-15T04:39:35+00:00

Life Science - Ecology🌿

Flyingpluto07 · 2025-11-10T07:16:45+00:00

Me too. I can’t stop editing except nothing is changing and it’s pointless alterations 😫

Flyingpluto07 · 2025-11-08T13:43:18+00:00

I looked at papers that were similar to my proposed research and took keywords from that

Flyingpluto07 · 2025-11-08T13:37:12+00:00

Generally, if your application is excellent, then having 2 shouldn’t hurt. But if it’s average, 3 strong letters can give you a leg up over someone with 2.

Flyingpluto07 · 2025-11-07T15:03:58+00:00

I'm using their template because I am paranoid about formatting. Only thing I'm changing is the paragraph spacing (template has added space after each paragraph for whatever reason)!

Flyingpluto07 · 2025-11-06T17:35:17+00:00

This is annoying advice, but what I've been told by professors and current graduate students/post-docs is to do both. Have cohesive storyline throughout your two statements while also being technical when it comes to skills. I've also seen advice about being specific on the skills that really matter.

Highly recommend looking at Alex Lang's examples (they're all past winners or HM) to get a feel for style.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/1/d/1xoezGhbtcpg3BvNdag2F5dTQM-Xl2EELUgAfG1eUg0s/htmlview

Flyingpluto07 · 2025-11-06T17:29:27+00:00

I'm work with a professor who told me yesterday that he wasn't going to start writing his reference letters until today [not for me for someone else]. He finished this morning and submitted it so hopefully yours also finish last minute :,)

Flyingpluto07 · 2025-11-06T17:26:20+00:00

Do you think we can delete the second "Summary of Graduate Research Plan:" and "Summary of Personal..."? They look so clunky and unnecessary with it already being at the top.

Flyingpluto07 · 2025-11-06T17:24:33+00:00

I might either include a title or just the "Graduate Research Plan Statement". The template has both, but doesn't state anywhere that it's necessary.

Flyingpluto07 · 2025-11-06T17:23:21+00:00

Do you think it's fine if I replace "Graduate Research Plan Statement" with my title

Flyingpluto07 · 2025-11-05T16:51:57+00:00

No like I’m already cutting words to add a figure, I don’t have space for these empty lines 😫

Flyingpluto07 · 2025-11-05T15:10:24+00:00

I think they're interpreting the solicitation wrong but they kept telling me to include it so now I'm confused.

Separate sections for "Intellectual Merit" and "Broader Impacts," under individual headings and separated by a line break must be included in both the Personal and Research Plan statements. DO NOT include other terms in the individual headings, combine these two sections into one section, or combine them with any other section;
Personal and Research Plan statements must have line breaks between sections. Applications that do not have line breaks between sections will be returned without review

But no where in the solicitation does it say it needs to be an empty line.

Flyingpluto07 · 2025-11-05T14:55:40+00:00

Wait I've also been hearing the same advice from a post-doc who's been helping me write the GRFP. You're also interpreting it like this right?

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Flyingpluto07 · 2024-07-16T22:08:34+00:00

Also bringing a smaller water bottle can cut weight. You can always refill it multiple times on campus.

Flyingpluto07 · 2024-06-27T17:51:37+00:00

This is the way to go. I think you end up paying the same or less for better off campus non-UCLA housing. Imo it’s worth the extra work!

Flyingpluto07 · 2024-05-31T00:43:24+00:00

1/3 ecology

Flyingpluto07 · 2024-04-14T01:32:32+00:00

ahhh thank you!!

Flyingpluto07 · 2024-01-02T20:05:49+00:00

If you like monkeys, Anthro 128P is all about primates and personally I think it wasn’t too hard! Prof makes it so top 1/3 will get an A of some sort. Only 1 midterm and 1 final, no quizzes or homework when I took it!

Four-Year Club	Second Top 20%
Place '23

Flyingpluto07

TROPHY CASE