In the spotlight and learning diplomacy
This week, two students wrote me to ask about possible PhD positions. They are both from University X in Far-Away-Country Y. I wanted to get an idea of what good GPA and test scores would be for Country Y, and so I went to talk to two co-workers from there. While we were talking, another student came in who happened to be an alum of University X. I showed him the students’ CV’s. "Look," I said– "they both say they are ranked 2nd in the class. What does that mean?"
Within 5 hours, I got an email from one of the prospective students. He had heard on his alumni bulletin board that I had been confused about how two students in the same university could have the same class rank, and wanted to explain how it worked. I am impressed! News travels fast in the small world of academia.
Clearly, I have to be careful about what I say in the lab from now on!
