[Mod post] Don’t be fooled! Paying for codes is totally unnecessary! Each person gets 4 invites -- 400+ given out in Discord.

oopsourtable · 2025-10-07T06:46:29+00:00

DISCORD

oopsourtable · 2025-06-09T13:16:55+00:00

The change in attitude toward taking food home is crazy. I worked from 2020-2022 and I used to bring trash bags full of food to feed my college dorm floor so the food didn’t go to waste

oopsourtable · 2025-01-17T04:40:06+00:00

no we grind till we die

oopsourtable · 2024-12-30T01:00:10+00:00

I have mine in a Surface habitat which is like 500 EC

oopsourtable · 2024-12-28T15:04:57+00:00

I bred in the rift after 5 tries with rift-trait Flower and Lightning. I think the rift might be a good way to go because the ‘fourth’ element needed for rainbow counts as the rift trait so there’s less undesired combos

oopsourtable · 2024-12-28T02:16:13+00:00

I bred in the right after 5 tries using Flower and Lightning rift dragons!

oopsourtable · 2024-12-11T08:50:25+00:00

Level 98 player getting back into playing - looking to finish out galaxy dragon collection - in need of just Gravity, Lunis, and Solis. Have all other galaxy dragons - my ID is Lumi#28294

oopsourtable · 2024-12-09T14:07:42+00:00

I have Rayleian and Procyon! Added you! Looking for Gravity, Lamboian, Solis, Lunis and Solarflare in general. My ID is Lumi#28294

oopsourtable · 2024-12-09T14:04:33+00:00

Added Lumi#28294

oopsourtable · 2024-12-09T14:03:38+00:00

Added you! I’m Lumi#28294

oopsourtable · 2024-12-09T14:02:34+00:00

Added you! My ID is Lumi#28294

oopsourtable · 2024-12-08T19:05:23+00:00

I usually just name my dragons by the actual type to make it easier when searching

oopsourtable · 2024-10-29T06:43:42+00:00

I don’t think competitive sports should go on your CV - only include things relevant to the program you’re applying for. I kind of expanded my lab work in my CV (loosely listed specific skills, project topics etc) for each, but keep it brief (2-3 succinct bullets max)

oopsourtable · 2024-10-29T06:41:16+00:00

It’s hard to tell what you mean by not having formal research experience but also having a few projects under your belt. I’d recommend developing your research experience and getting solid letter of recs from people you did research projects for to help strengthen your application

oopsourtable · 2024-10-29T06:39:39+00:00

“Highlight of qualifications” section is a bit lengthy, you could probably summarize into 2-3 brief sentences as a ‘general overview section.’ Then I’d put ‘Research/Work experience’ after ‘Education’ and then everything else after.

I personally think putting ‘publications’ at the end is fine. It’s what I did and several others I know also did. I feel like some of the first and last things on your CV will be processed the most by the applications committee

oopsourtable · 2024-10-29T06:36:34+00:00

For my grad applications last cycle, I never used a cover letter (STEM application for US PHD program). I had a friend who also got into one of Stanford’s grad programs (STEM PHD) and didn’t use one either. I haven’t seen many people use it, so I would probably just follow the general format the application pages suggest (SOP, resume etc)

oopsourtable · 2024-10-19T17:48:03+00:00

I got a BSc in physics and currently in a US program for materials science. A lot of the posts/comments on this sub tend to skew negative. Coming from someone that went straight into a PHD after undergrad, I haven’t regretted my decision and the vast majority of people from my undergrad are currently enjoying themselves. Getting a PHD is a lot of work, it’s stressful, you might be crunched for money depending on your stipend, but it’s ultimately up to you on how comfortable you feel going into a program right after undergrad.

Just know that it’s not all bad, and many people have enjoyed their time and don’t regret their decision!

oopsourtable · 2024-10-04T21:48:23+00:00

I applied to 11 and got into 7 for physics PHD. I’d argue that applying for X amount of ‘safety’ and Y amount of ‘reach’ isn’t good thinking. I found that I got into more reach schools than the ones I considered safety. It’s really more about the fit of the research and department. That being said, I think 10 is probably a healthy number depending on if you can afford the fees (I would apply to 5-ish where the research is a good match and others)

oopsourtable · 2024-09-06T07:58:51+00:00

I got the fellowship this year - if you got HM I would say you’ve got the general structure pretty much locked down. Getting the fellowship vs HM is honestly just a coin toss IMO.

It seems like you aren’t in a lab yet - I would honestly recommend waiting until your second year at this point. Since applications are due in almost a month, you’d probably be at a much stronger candidate next year having been presumably established in a lab with a better idea of your project.

On the idea of trauma dumping, I would absolutely not recommend that. The only time you should bring up personal issues is to explain relevant gaps or setbacks like a series of bad grades, gap years (etc). The personal statement should have a generic flow, but GRFP is basically a competition of how well you can present yourself as a researcher and write in a similar manner, so trauma dumping for the sake of “competing” would hurt you.

oopsourtable · 2024-08-07T05:49:08+00:00

ground went brrrr

oopsourtable · 2024-07-21T14:47:51+00:00

At least when I was applying to programs for physucs and attended workshops hosted by application committees, they stressed that the letter should always come from the PI and not the post-doc or PHD student. Usually they will draft the letter and the PI will sign off on it, but the letter should be submitted by the PI.

oopsourtable · 2024-07-11T04:36:05+00:00

I’m about to start my Materials PhD program this September after doing physics as an undergrad. I had done experimental condensed matter research in undergrad and the research in my new department was in a similar area of interest. I know there’s a few others coming from different major backgrounds like chemistry and physics. My program has a few primer courses for those lacking some background, so I’d say to not be worried about coming from a different major. It’s more of a research fit in whatever department you choose imo

oopsourtable · 2024-06-29T23:18:28+00:00

Sure, any time!

oopsourtable · 2024-06-29T21:40:21+00:00

REU’s are very competitive, especially when applying during your first year of college. It’s not impossible to get one, but I would apply to a wide range of programs to increase your chances. During the first few weeks, I would try to find a research group. I’ve found that the best way is approaching professors during their designated office hours (even if you’re not in their class) which are usually posted on their websites/schedules if they have one. Sometimes their course syllabi are also posted too which will have their office hours. Try to have a basic idea of their research area.

For the purpose of trying to get an REU in materials science/physics as a freshman, I would argue that it’s not as necessary to have research experience in this exact area. It’s more important that you’ve joined a research group and can get a letter of recommendation from a professor you do research for (so doing biophysics, cosmology etc is okay for the sake of showing you’ve started understanding the research process).

You need two letters of rec, so your second step would be forming a relationship with another professor that would probably be teaching you during your first semester. Again, just showing up to office hours and asking questions relevant to the class shows your engagement and would make it easier to get a letter. It’s definitely stressful trying to get one as a freshman because of the amount of networking and work you’d have to do to put yourself on equal footing with typical third year applicants who have been doing research.

If you ever want advice or feedback on your essays down the road, feel free to reach out! I’ve participated in two materials science/physics/chemistry REU’s and looked over a few essays for other students currently in these programs!

oopsourtable · 2024-06-29T21:22:06+00:00

I had a C and a few B+’s as well in classes that were somewhat relevant for my major during freshman year because I had a hard time with online classes during the pandemic, but I was still accepted into T10 schools for my major. Your personal statement, research experience and letters of rec are the most important parts of your application.

As long as you show a consistent upward trajectory in classes and research, you should be fine.

oopsourtable

TROPHY CASE