queenleblanc

I think they said you would hear by Friday, so don't worry yet! Log into the application system online, it might be there before you get an email! Thinking positive thoughts for you all!

I am thinking about this too- received one offer with a guaranteed assistantship, and a choice that I honestly prefer better won't know about their GA funding until early April, or possibly not until after the April 15th deadline. I'd like to decide sooner than that....

I am not sure how far apart they are, but from our current house, East Carolina is about 2 hours, and I think western is more like 4.5 or 5 hours from our house now. It is at the southwestern tip of nc. If we could actually sell the condo near ECU, or get it rented, that would free me up to go anywhere I want... Hmm. Also have to think about one day applying for a PhD program, and what might help me get there....

Just wish I wasn't at work today dealing with the bronchitis effects (I'm on day 4 of the Z-pack) plus lots of other drugs to keep me symptom-less. And now such a big decision to think about... many factors at play. If I'm going to turn down an offer at this point (3, with 2 of them at ECU and 1 at WCU), I want to do it quickly so people on the wait list won't be in the "twilight zone" for very long. :-/

Wow, apparently my luck is going to roll onwards... just logged into my apply yourself website with Western Carolina and it says "decision made" ... clicked on the link, and I got in, WITH an assistantship!!! WOW!! Lots to think about now!

Sounds plausible! I am 99% sure I know what I will do once we hear from everyone, and a guaranteed GA would be a big factor. If WCU includes the guaranteed GA with their package, it could definitely help me decide. Making excel spreadsheets with the cost of each univ. left on the list, hubby's known income versus an unknown income if he moves, maintaining this house but having a small 1bedroom for me, etc... A lot at play for us.

Yeah seriously, for the fee we pay, the least they could do is let us know that a decision is available online or mail a letter. 48 cents? No big deal right?!

Boo! Well, you have some great schools on your list, so hopefully the UNC thing isn't too much of a bummer. I was bummed, but they don't have a real way to determine if you even have a chance. Have you emailed Ina Diana yet?

Some informal feedback re:my accomplishments/recommendations. Not much of a comment, but if it was mentioned, it must have been worth mentioning! :-)

I have already written my thank-you notes and I'm going to pick out a fresh box of chocolates to mail with them just as a small token of appreciation once I decide where I am going to go (if I have more than one option, of course). I didn't want it to look like bribery but I did want to communicate with them where I get accepted (etc) just to keep in touch with them. My LOR's were two of my online professors, and one collegial reference, and surprisingly my LOR's from the online professors were (apparently) really great, from what I heard from ECU. I interacted well in class, helped above and beyond, and came out with A's in both of their courses, so I guess all that helped in the end! Oh, and Bcjami - you were asking about applying out of field, no pre-reqs, etc -- here is my advice based on what I've learned being out of field, 6 yrs in teaching. 1) Get as much exposure to the field in ways that you can write about in your SOP. 2) Take a few pre-req courses; it seems more difficult to convince these master's programs to take out-of-field candidates who don't have at least a course or two in their pocket, even if you don't have all of the pre-reqs. 3) As long as your GRE scores meet or exceed the posted numbers, I wouldn't honestly worry about re-takes. If it is high enough, say, close to 150 on each test (preferably higher), I'd focus attention elsewhere. 4) Focus that attention on interactions with potential LOR writers. 5) Get a few eyes on that SOP. Check the school's website on the SOP guidelines, what specific questions they have, etc. Write it, leave it alone for a week, then come back again. Repeat this process for at least 2-3 months. Get a second set of eyes to check for grammar, make sure you haven't "mentally" connected an idea but forgotten to write it on the SOP itself, etc. 6) Don't be afraid to spend money to visit programs. Especially with out-of-field candidates, visiting the program communicates a desire to see what exactly you might be getting yourself into, and shows the program interest that they can recognize when your application packet comes into their system. There really isn't a magic system for getting into grad school. I got into a top school of ed master's program six years ago, and somehow by the skin of my teeth, I managed to get an acceptance this time... but I have also been taking a TON of pre-req courses and working really hard on my application. Hope this helps!

I don't know if everyone who applied to Western Carolina got the app checklist / supplemental form, but it was all information that was easily included in the application we had already submitted, nothing really new. I keep telling myself that it indicates the people who made the so-called first cut, but that may not be the case at all. Plus, via their email, they would be notifying acceptances beginning March 8th to March 15th .... and not a peep from them on the results board, as far as I can tell. :-(

If I was nervous before hearing anything, now I am REALLY nervous and anxious to hear from at least two other schools on the list before I decide what to do!! I have been counting down the days to the estimated notification dates they gave... If anyone hears from the University of South Carolina, or Western Carolina University, I hope you will post it on here! Only a few more days until all of us start hearing from more schools!

Congratulations!!!!!!

I am really leaning towards the on campus program, and while I'm technically waiting on a few other schools to tell me their news, this program is a top choice for me so I'm very tempted to accept right away. My husband and I decided to give it a week to hear from the others and then we will make the decision (as this also affects him). So if anyone is waiting for the distance ed program, I think my spot will be opened up in a few days. Additionally, we already have the townhouse 25 mins from ECU's campus... and we want to keep it on the market to try to sell it, but it would be easy to move back there again.

Where did everyone go? Dinner time? I'm sick so the hubby has gone out to get some take-out from our favorite mexican spot. I figure if I get a burrito, rice, etc, it won't scratch my throat on the way down like my favorite nacho salad dish would. :-( Have an audiology mid-term coming up next week and being sick this week and probably this upcoming weekend is not going to be easy... going to have to force my self to really study tomorrow. Definitely looking forward to on campus courses. This online thing (and working full-time) has been very tough.

I am SO friggin excited!!!!!!!! WOW! I never thought it would happen with my 3.26 in undergrad 7 years ago, but I guess personal factors outweighed it - I also have a MA in Teaching with high marks (but no actual grades, UNC doesn't do grades in grad school) from a top school of education program, and worked really hard on my answers in the supplemental questionnaire (they don't have an SOP). My GRE scores weren't at the top of the chain, either. It's only a matter of time before you guys get some great news. I was doing some reading of last year's SLP admission threads, and noticed in the signatures that a LOT of people get accepted off of wait-lists. So, it may be a few more weeks but there is a place somewhere for each of us. I believed this prior to today, but it's hard to realize or verbalize until you have that acceptance email sitting in your inbox. While I wait to hear from other schools, I will be praying for all of you to make it!

so freaking pumped! Dealing with this bronchitis has been a day and a week from you-know-where, but WOW this is more than icing on the cake... this is like a the most perfect thing to end my week, EVER!!!

I JUST GOT INTO ECU!!!!!!!! I actually have a seat in both campus and DE programs right now, so as soon as I decide which program I want, I will let them know. I still want to wait to hear what USC says, but HOLY FREAKING COW!!!!!!!!!! I AM GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL!!!!!!!

Well, it appears that UNCG is notifying. I haven't heard yet. One post on the results page said profs emailed them unofficially. Sounds exactly like what they did at UNC-CH. I can only hope I am wait listed so that I can get a spot once the cream of the crop decides to go somewhere else!!

I get mistaken for being younger a lot - everyone says its because of my skin. My great grandma is 99 this year, and she has the skin of a 70 y.o., so I'm looking forward to having good skin when I'm much older. :-) I also choose not to wear much make-up in general, just eye make up and anti-redness cream, bb cream, and blush to even out my complexion a bit. I'm freckled, so covering up all of my freckles makes me look over-done like a 12 y.o. playing in mom's make up. You will appreciate looking 'young' when you are much older!! On a side note, I am reasonably sure I have 1 or 2 apartments or rental homes on the short list, for every city left on the list. crazy. Hopefully I'll find out about something soon!

Some application websites have a button / link to withdraw your application, which you could do very quickly. I still think an email to the contact for grad admissions for your program should receive a personal message from you like zabius described above. It is better for the admissions committee, AND for other applicants, if you withdraw as soon as you know you wouldn't accept an offer of admission even if you would eventually get one from that school.

I can't speak to the PhD component here, but I can speak to the relationship component. If your fiance has his priorities straight, he will realize that this PhD program is not a temporary 1 or 2 year thing. It is probably a 4-5+ year commitment. If he wasn't prepared to follow you to PhD school / city and now is settling WAY too far away to make it feasible to continue the relationship, perhaps a self-reflection of the relationship is in order. If you are getting married in the summer, what happens then? Does he move to take a job closer to your PhD city? Do YOU have to change schools? Are you willing to go through the process of trying to change schools? What happens when you finish your 1-year leave of absence - does his priority magically change to include your PhD program????? It seems obvious that a top priority for you IS your fiance and your relationship ... but he is not reciprocating this. Why sacrifice your PhD program via a leave of absence or even moving schools, when YOU are not a priority to HIM???? Just some thoughts to consider. Remember, we are on the outside, only able to look at the information you give us, and this was my first impression.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! I see you have a few acceptances already, and it looks like you have heard from everyone now! Any ideas where you might go?

When I did my MAT in 2006, the part I loved the most was feeling like a colleague of my professors. I still called my prof's by Dr. or Professor lastname, but many addressed them by first names and it was encouraged. (I'm an old fashioned southern girl, hard to break me of the titles!) In undergrad, I kind of felt like a "munchkin" going into the emerald city. There were too many cool things to do, see, join, etc. I probably got way to involved in too many activities, but I wouldn't trade them for a higher GPA at all. I felt more like an underling compared to my prof's as an undergrad, so the change to feeling almost like a peer was very cool in grad school. If someone hates grad school, it is probably because they are focused on the wrong things and not getting the most out of the experience that they could possibly get. If you aren't happy, talk with a professor or advisor about what things upset you. Often times, they can give you a different perspective to consider that will change your whole world around as a graduate student. That's just my $0.02.