DUguy333

I applied to UNC's Geography program and was assured that the chances of my acceptance are slim due to their 7% acceptance rate... I would email their secretary and ask whether or not final decisions have been made. Oh, and I hear from Simon Fraser and A&M next week. Wish me luck!

Has anyone else begun counting the stars or watching the leaves bud? None of my programs inform until March. This has been the most anxiety inducing two months of my life :shock:

You'll quickly learn that there is no "most important" factor in a grad school application. GPA is important yes, but outstanding achievements like publications will certainly help along the way. I can give you one piece of advice I wish some one gave me in my sophmore year though and that's to network...network network network...

As far as your undergraduate institution's reputation and ranking, I've heard otherwise from my advisors. For the sake of argument, imagine that you're from a 2nd tier university with nearly identical crudentials and scores as some one from an ivy league who's applying to the same program. Who do you think they'd choose? I'd imagine Yale would beat Denver University any day...

You've already heard from TAMU? I just sent my application in last week....hmm. Out of curiosity, had you contacted any of the faculty personally there or did you just submit an application?

To those waiting it out still, I've found Green Day's "Brain Stew" to be the most apropos song created for those waiting to hear from graduate schools...

Anyone else out there going into this field? I've applied to the Master's of Urban Planning at Harvard, MIT, and Texas A&M and the Urban Studies Master's at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver BC. I have yet to hear from any of these programs but deliberations are just starting next week at Harvard and MIT and SFU and A&M's dealines aren't until March 1st...

I could tell you a lot about the Geography Department here. The aspect I enjoy most is the intimacy of essentially knowing all your profs, the grad students, undergrads, etc. There isn't a whole lot I can negatively say about the department in general unless you have some specific questions. Dr. Taylor is a great professor. I took class where we studied and read several books on Political Ecology where, with the exception of the reading and a couple of papers a week, was primarily a discussion based classroom with 5 or 6 undergrad/grads. I hear most of his classes are taught in that fashion. Best of luck..

Hey. I'm a senior at University of Denver in the Geog. Department? Which faculty are you looking to work with? Dr. Taylor? I could give you some suggestions about Professors here if you like. I just read that CU-Boulder accepts 100% of their applicants so no need to worry there. And I have yet to hear from my 6 schools ( 2 have their deadlines until march) except for that slightly disappointing email from a prof at UNC Chapel-Hill...Nothing official yet

Yeah, I'll tell you exactly what my advisor told me my junior year...it's WAY to early to have these concerns...Here's my advice however as it sounds you're most worried about your GPA. Take a couple of summer of classes or easy electives to "pad" you overall GPA. If all else fails, devote extra time to studying for the GREs to compensate for a less than superlative GPA.

I took the advice of some website and bought a chiapet to watch it grow ...just kidding I work and take 23 credits so not much time to fret ...only in my sleep :roll:

Facing this very real possibility for me, over the weekend I applied to two safety schools, something I should've done in December. Others may not have that opportunity as Urban Planning seems to be a pecularity with such late deadlines at some schools. But I still have my back up plan. Volunteer with "at-risk" children at after school programs and big brother sorts of mentorship while getting some cash with a part time job elsewhere....oh, and then re-apply ALLLL ove again come november.

I agree...Seems most colleges mail bad news and personally inform of good news.

So at the last minute I"ve decided to apply for one more Urban Planning Program at Simon Frasier University in Vancouver, British Columbia. One entity of the application simply has dumbfounded me. It's under a section entitled "Comments" where the directions read "If you have any additional comments that may assist the Graduate Committee in adjudicating your application, provide them below, or else, check the checkbox and save the page." This is of course in addition to the personal statement. It limits me to 300 words, what on god's earth do you think they're looking for here?

We've all discussed how its perfectly acceptable to call the department and ask whether or not our application is complete, but does the same go for acceptance? Ostensibly, they notify you about acceptance but is it OK to call inquire about your status in this regard? Thoughts?

I never encountered rudeness but they certainly have a high opinion of themselves as I found out when speaking with the admissions faculty who mentioned multiple times that they're "a top 10 program." Even still, we're all in the same field with the same goals, rankings and prestige shouldn't be considered for admittance. It should simply be the best candidates for the program. ***Edit by Minnesotan: I fixed your quote box. It was confusing.

I was unofficially rejected by the professor I wanted to work with, Dr. Stephen Birdsall. He informed that they've received a 15% increase in applications this year and would only be accepting 10 out of 140 or so. He said in the e-mail that they saw great potential in me but as it stands now, I'm in the running with people who have "proven track records" and would not likely be accepted...I don't know how at 19, I'm suppose to compete with that, but he wished me luck nonetheless. Who did you want to work with?

Do either of you know much about UBC's acceptance time frame? I was unofficially rejected by UNC Chapel Hill yesterday and am praying that I"m in at UBC Vancouver...

I'll join but I really have no place in doing so seeing as I applied to no safety schools...UNC Chapel Hill just rejected me for MA in Geography, and as my mother puts it, 1 rejection down, 3 more to go...thanks mom

Hey guys, I just found this forum. I'm a senior geography major at Denver University. I've applied to the geography programs at UBC Vancouver, UNC Chapel Hill, and the urban planning programs at MIT and Harvard. I spoke with UNC Chapel Hill today and they've sent out acceptance letters to top four candidates so far. Also, they noted that they've received a 15% increase in applications this year making their acceptance rate roughly 7% :shock: Congrats to those who have been accepted already! I expect to here from my first programs by late February!