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BostonClem

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  • Gender
    Not Telling
  • Location
    Pennsylvania
  • Application Season
    2014 Spring
  • Program
    English Literature

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  1. Yes.... I'm well aware not everyone is on gradcafe or posting their results.... A random stranger telling me to "chill out" is probably not helpful right now, but thanks. Understanding something intellectually doesn't make the emotional experience any more logical. I'd like to think gradcafe is a place where people can vent some of their pent up emotions about the application process to an empathetic audience without fear of being treated dismissively. Of course the people who got responses from Vanderbilt probably don't know more than what the letter said. But perhaps the letters indicated whether the selection process was essentially complete or whether they were part of an early-notified group.
  2. Ugh, those two Vanderbilt results are like a thorn in my side. What does it mean that only two people have results and they're both different?!? These schools have no respect for my sanity... I could understand two acceptances, but one waitlist and one acceptance? Did the other applicants accepted just not post their results yet? Vanderbilt had better send out the rest of its notifications early this week, or I think I'll explode. ETA: I really wish the two Vanderbilt result posters would clue the rest of us in to what's going on. Surely they have some information.
  3. Yeah, if that one acceptance is actually a rejection, then it would seem MN has done an initial round of cuts. For those of us still "awaiting program decision," that's certainly the most encouraging interpretation, haha. I'm having a similar problem with Vanderbilt. Two results posted-- a waitlist and an acceptance. Not promising for me. But that's such a small number of notifications, it's hard to know how to interpret them. Most likely the other acceptances/waitlisters haven't posted their results yet, I suppose. I wish they'd at least update the website status for the rest of us. I am absolutely hating this whole experience.
  4. Yeah, I agree that it seems strange. I would like to think someone would let us know if they accidentally posted an incorrect result, but maybe they didn't realize somehow...
  5. I am currently neither a dog owner nor PhD student, HOWEVER: My mother is a veterinarian, I've worked in a veterinary hospital/doggy daycare/pet store, and I grew up with as many as 10 dogs at one point. I love dogs, and I know just about all there is to know about caring for them properly. That being said, I have absolutely no plans to adopt a dog anywhere in the near future. The amount of money and time required to take *good* care of a dog is far more than I feel is possible at this time in my life. My mother had dogs when she was in college/veterinary school, and she herself advises against it, although she acknowledges she'd do it all over again despite the numerous difficulties. The cost alone is just... insurmountable on a grad school budget (at least for me). The cost of a good quality dog food isn't cheap, and depending on the size of your dog, you might end up buying quite a lot of it. And then of course there's the whole having to be home every few hours to let out the dog/take it for a walk. Speaking of which, if you are your dog's only companion, spending only an hour or two with it a day is simply cruel. Dogs are pack animals. They are very social. Ideally they should be kept in at least pairs, but if they are kept singly, the owner should be willing to spend a significant amount of time playing with/training/loving them. Add on routine vet costs, the inevitable dental procedures, the unexpected bloodwork/xray/stitches, the brand new shoes they destroy, the wall they chew a hole in, buying a cage/bed/toys/treats/medication/supplements/grooming, etc. etc.... the thought of a dog while in graduate school is overwhelming. I envy those who are able to take on the task and do it well, but those people must have money from some other source or a very generous funding package. Or they have lower standards for pet care, which isn't necessarily the end of the world, depending on what those standards are. But too many people adopt a dog, but then don't take proper care of it. I have seen it so. many. times. I currently work in a pet store, and the number of people complaining about how much their dog costs is astronomical. Newsflash: dogs cost serious money, people. And leaving a dog home alone all day is absolutely unacceptable for all but the most independent breeds. I currently have two cats and four rats (rescues) that will be attending graduate school with me, which is a lot to handle. More than I would recommend to someone else, especially an inexperienced pet owner. But compared to owning a dog? 2 cats and 4 rats is nothing. In short... if you're going to get a dog or any pet, just make sure you really, truly understand the financial/time commitment required. You obviously seem to be on top of it by virtue of starting this thread, so I don't want you to think I'm criticizing you... I'm just hyper-sensitive to the issue after having worked in the pet care field for so long and meeting so many uninformed, misinformed, uncaring pet owners. A good pet owner is truly a rarity, and I think more people need to be aware that pets are expensive, time-sucking little buggers. But they're so, so worth it.
  6. I'd like to take you up on your offer to answer questions about Minnesota and Virginia.... When/how were you notified by both of those schools about their decision? What made you turn down their offers of admission? (I'm assuming that you visited because you were admitted). I don't want to hijack the thread, so if you'd prefer to respond elsewhere/PM me, go right ahead. And to respond to the "safety school" debate, I'm definitely of the opinion that safety schools don't exist. Yes, I may be statistically more likely to get into one school over another, but it's still statistically unlikely that I'll get into any school at all. I don't feel confident about a single school on my list, regardless of its rank, even though there are a couple that I just feel a little better about. Duke felt like an impossibility (but one worth shooting for). Some of the others at least feel possible...
  7. My app status has said "awaiting program decision" for many days now. I AM FREAKING OUT, you guys. Why have only 2 people on gradcafe heard word from MN?? One rejection, one acceptance... This entire process makes no sense to me. I think I'm going to die of stress before it's all over.
  8. Oof, me too! I wasn't expecting to hear word from anyone until mid February (not sure where I got that idea, but whatever..), which made it easier not to obsess. But ever since Madison's email, all I can do is check department websites and refresh the results page here on gradcafe. The fact that it's a Saturday seems to make no difference to my neuroses. I just keep repeating to myself, "it only takes one, it only takes one..." 9 more to go. Someone please put me out of my misery. I have no idea how to distract myself...
  9. I did! Waitlisted about a week ago in email from Dr. Bernstein. Letter said waitlist is short. Informal update from LOR writer who knows a professor there personally said that they had to limit their admits this year after more people than expected accepted last year. So some people might be in limbo as the department waits to see who accepts admission and how much funding is available.
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