Grad school applications 101: A crash course in tips, tricks and advice

For those considering graduate school, the application process can seem overwhelming. What should be included in a statement of purpose? What programs should be explored? Who should write letters of recommendation? While it’s stressful, preparation, a timeline and informational materials can create a smooth process. Here are some pointers and advice from an advisor, Nick […]

The Lantern

#JohnsHopkins here asking for my "Region" with one of the most fucking stupid selection of options I have ever seen.

This is like asking if your region is the USA, Canada, North America, Cascadia, or Oregon

#AcademicChatter #AcademicReferences

And asking for the date in fucking MM/DD/YY format - 😂🤣😭🤢🤮 I need to wash. You absolute buffoons.

#AcademicChatter #AcademicReferences #ISO8601

And #ColdSpringHarbor here, channelling the whole "we did out best work in the 1950s" vibe asking for "Last name" and "Middle name" like half the students I write references for aren't from South East Asia. #AcademicChatter #AcademicReferences

For the love of Baphomet, please read this:

https://www.kalzumeus.com/2010/06/17/falsehoods-programmers-believe-about-names/

Falsehoods Programmers Believe About Names | Kalzumeus Software

Classic essay about how software routinely bumbles human names.

The unbelievable self-absorption of #MIT never fails to make me laugh #AcademicChatter #AcademicReferences
Writing academic references for students is a never-ending source of what-the-fuckery. This is at the merely "stupid" end of bad user experience, rather than at the deliberately malicious end (like asking for cohort rank). Worst UX so far was from the online admissions system for a computing degree, because of course.
#AcademicReferences #References #LettersOfRecommendation