queenleblanc

I have an HP 8530w and it is a pound heavier than most, but with a big screen and a super-durable outer shell. Got it through Lenovo/IBM refurbished laptop program by way of an employees family and friends discount... Around $285 for the laptop complete with windows 7. Had to buy Microsoft office, but the academic package on microsoft's website was only $90 or so. I too love my Mac desktop, but most computer things I will need for this grad program require windows. I am not informed enough to partition my hard drive, nor did I want to do that to my Mac.

Congrats, midnight streetlight!!!!! I, too feel like I have learned what I needed to know about applying in the thick of the process. I wish I could have afforded to apply more places. And my 3.3 GPA... UNC told me back then to be proud of that GPA, and I was admitted into a nationally ranked school of education on those stats. And my last degree was done in 2007, so I am not as fresh as you folks who are just finishing. I guess my "great" stats no longer count. I wish I had mentioned something about that in my SOP, but it is too late now. Keeping my hope alive for everywhere else... Won't hear until probably March 15th now, so it's back to the routine of keeping myself busy!

I also just got my rejection notice from UNC today. Kind of a let down, but I'm going to focus on my other apps that will notify around March 15th. Don't worry about stat comparison - from what I've seen, we have people of all ranges of GRE and GPAs around here. You are TOTALLY in the right place, so don't worry about comparing to others on here. Plus, there isn't really a magic formula to get accepted anywhere, anymore. A lot of schools are starting to post how they go beyond the numbers to look at the whole applicant. Best of luck to you!! We'll be waiting to hear, with you!

YAY! Good for you. It's a nice feeling to get those done.

We just finished watching the UNC- Clemson basketball game, and getting some food from CookOut. Yummy, and YAY TAR HEELS!!! :-) Also trying not to go insane updating my mother (who actually wants to know) about the application processes. Just got our tax refund check from federal in our bank account (YAY!!!!) And paying bills. Tomorrow is a new month... Also scouting out possible housing, as well as some small amount of job-hunting for my husband around the universities left on my list. My cat is ENTIRELY too needy for attention lately. So I'm about to put down the computer and pick up the ipad so I can tend to his needs.

What is everyone doing tonight? It's quiet on the board!

Here is the email I got, it was after my application was complete. "Your application to pursue a masters degree in our MSP program is now complete. Decisions should be made mid-March and at which time notification will be made by letter." (from Teresa Boyett)

Got some email updates to offer for everyone, don't know if this is relevant to most of the posters on here, but here anyway: UNC Greensboro will notify between March 8 and April 15. (such a BIG window!) Western Carolina will notify between March 8 and March 15. U of South Carolina is expected to notify mid-March. (I'm secretly hoping for March 15) ECU will notify starting March 15th, giving first cycle until April 15th to respond. Haven't heard from App State yet as far as the window but I have emailed them to ask.

I have a feeling that the rejection was really a result of my AP statistics -- even though I stated that I'd be taking stats over the summer to earn the traditional required credit. I mean, at the info session when they say "don't even apply unless you have pre-reqs," that's a little daunting. I also have 1 pre-req in progress this semester (audiology) and was planning to take speech science over the summer. Ah well, I have other schools that I like a little better. I had enough of the UNC parking problems for my undergrad and first master's degree. Besides... I need to diversify my CV, anyway!!! :-) All upsides, as far as I'm concerned.

Well folks ... as expected... standard rejection letter from UNC Chapel Hill. I have other applications pending and I am remaining hopeful! It was a reach, anyway, and a highly competitive program. Unsure if this "decision available" change was a result of my email with the graduate coordinator earlier today. Keeping my chin up ... the grad program for me will remain unknown!! :-)

My mom went with me on a visit to a school in an area she had never been, and immediately was like "we'll come visit you and [my husband] if you come here!" My thought = "you wouldn't come visit me at such-and-such school?" HA! She was only saying it to encourage me because I wasn't initially as excited about the place we were visiting, but after the visit I decided that if I was to receive an offer, I'd be happy to accept. Moms can be so funny sometimes!

Usually the grad GPA is only calculated with grad-level coursework, although every school's policy will vary. Check with your registrar or advisor dept. head about that at your individual school. I may end up with an undergrad-level statistics class to complete during my program (unlikely but still possible), and that class does NOT impact my grad GPA but it might impact my financial aid. One university said basically if you are taking an undergrad level course, you aren't eligible for the (traditional) federal financial aid (although I have only heard that from one place).

A little heart palpitation hit me ... I got some emails about financial aid from two of my schools -- and then I realized that they were triggered by my recent submission of the FAFSA to all of the places where I applied because NC suggests a March 1st deadline for FAFSA submission. After I calmed down... I just wanted to come on here to alert any future readers of this forum (or you lurkers!) that the financial aid emails do NOT indicate admission. I logged in and created the passwords and everything and it STILL said something to the effect of "waiting for admissions info to be updated." What a terrible email to receive at this time!! ;-)

Western Carolina U -- before applying, I really just looked at the info online. Their university is only an hour and a half from my husband's family, so if I do get into one of my other choices, and get in here, I want to be able to make a good, equal comparison (having visited everywhere else). Of course if I only get into WCU, we know what the answer is ... as much as the "prestige" of a program might make a difference in my future application for a PhD, I also want a good, solid program, and I feel like I can get that everywhere I applied. :-)

I don't know, one thought I had was that perhaps professors had a chance to "brighten the day" of just one applicant, and called them. Maybe there were a few of us who got accepted (electronically) but without a phone call... or we are on the wait-list and the status just hasn't been updated. I mean, rejection or wait-list, I am not going to get down, I have a few more schools that I've had positive communications with lately that have me thinking good thoughts, so I'm definitely not going to worry too much more about this one. Going to visit one of my schools in mid-March, the last school I didn't visit already, and its one where I feel like an acceptance could be likely. Praying and waiting going on here. Oh, and BIG congrats to all of you with notifications pouring in! :-)

If there is anyone else waiting to hear from UNC Chapel Hill, I contacted Ina Diana today to check on any kind of timeline /update -- and she replied to my message (quickly) that all decisions have been made, and if we haven't heard yet, it is because it takes a few days to get decisions entered (etc) - and we should be hearing very soon. Definitely don't know what that means for me, but since UNC's SLP program is kind of a reach for me (despite it being where I got my B.Mus and MAT)... I figure I will get a few rejections along the way. Still haven't gotten the official decision, but I'm not holding my breath. Holding out hope for everywhere else!!

I might just have. I go out and buy confetti.... In preparation for that one one acceptance I might get in the next two months! Very excited about recent communication with a grad program, we will see!

Just saw the post for twin cities on the results board- congrats, toothbrush! Is that your first choice,or are you waiting to hear from others before deciding?

NIH grants will definitely be affected. My mother works in a research division at Duke and they are preparing for cuts. Probably in the neighborhood of 20%.

If my wonderful husband tells me ONE MORE TIME that "it will all work out" I'm going to have to demote him from partner to grit under my heel. HA! I internally know it will, but it doesn't help me to hear that... while I'm sitting on NO communication thus far beyond "apps complete" or "notifications will begin mid-march" ...

I didn't indicate an interest in a particular track, but I did write about an interest in pursuing neurogenic disorders, aphasia, and post-stroke recovery. In the SOP I did indicate that I wanted a GA or RA position. Today, actually I checked our the various labs online where RAs and GAs work.

Me too! USC was my top choice when I started filling out applications. Right now they are tied with ECU and UNC. We are definitely on pins and needles but I am beginning to take it all in stride a bit better with the passing days.

Yep, still waiting. Obsessively checking email and app status and connect Carolina. I am thinking that they are creating an unofficial wait list.

At UNC Chapel Hill the scholarships are mostly based on GPA but high GRE scores qualify you, because you are competing against engineers, chemistry folks, etc. The other schools where I applied have scholarships but seem mostly in GPA for last 60 hours (or less commonly for all of your previous coursework). The minimum was 3.5, suggested 3.6 or more. One place I looked at only had merit-based scholarships for second year students and the qualifier was your first year masters GPA.