MyWorkIsDone

Received an MA admit from Rutgers this afternoon (in case anyone was wondering about them!)

Just an update: I currently have acceptances to 5 of the 7 schools I applied to, including my top choice, despite the awful math score. There's hope! To reiterate what everyone else has said, just focus on making your SOP and writing sample as strong as possible and chances are you'll be fine!

Thanks, this is super helpful!!!!

Weird email from UC Riverside today saying that they were 'very impressed' by my application, and would like to gauge my interest in attending before offering me a formal acceptance. It almost sounded like they want me to say "Yes I would definitely enroll!" prior to wasting an acceptance on me. That's kind of strange, right? I obviously want them to offer me a place, but I also haven't made a decision as to whether I would accept it, and I don't want them to hate me in case I decide to apply there for my PhD in a few years. WHY ARE THEY MESSING WITH MY HEAD

All three were MA apps. Yikes, keeping my fingers crossed... Thanks!

Hey new buddies! I've been accepted to the MLitt History of Photography. Any other St Andrews peeps out there?

Just to throw in my two cents, I had been obsessively checking my application status on my top choice's website for weeks. Finally it changed to 'a decision has been made'.... but there was no decision listed. After not hearing anything from them for about a week and a half, I assumed it was a no-go. However, a few days ago they emailed me a letter of acceptance. I guess the moral of the story is, you never really know what's going to happen!

Accepted to my tippy top choice! I'm still waiting to hear from Rutgers, UC Riverside, and UNM. Anyone hear anything from those guys yet?

Hi everybody, just jumping on the bandwagon of anxiety and frustration here! So, last Thursday I logged onto the online portal of my top choice (for about the ten billionth time that week) and FINALLY my status had changed from 'Application Received' to 'An Academic Decision Has Been Made.' However, the portal has thus far neglected to inform me what this alleged decision is, and I haven't received any emails. Needless to say, I am freaking out. Anyone have any speculation as to what this might mean?

I'm currently in almost the same exact position. I took the test a bit preemptively (last January) considering I've only just begun applying for fall 2014. Like you my verbal and writing were good (168 and 5, respectively), but my quant was TRULY abysmal: 139. This is a problem I've been dealing with my whole life--I literally cannot do maths for anything. And especially after four years of not taking a single maths course, my skills are a new level of rusty. I really don't want to retake it. For one thing, I'm doing the semester abroad right now, and it would be a major pain to start a study regime while I'm here. For another, I sincerely doubt that I would do much better. The 139 was (believe it or not) obtained after a two month prep course. So I'm thinking there's no hope for me. As you said, though, I feel like my writing samples, etc, should make up for this. But I'm curious to see what you decide to do. It's a shame the damn thing is so expensive. ugh.

Hello everyone! I'm applying for fall 2014, and I am having recommendation drama. I have this one professor who I was 100% positive was going to write me a great letter. I've been in his class as a student, and also spent the past year as his TA. He previously wrote me a mini-recommendation when I was applying for a visa, and it was glowing. I contacted him over a week and a half ago and was super polite. After a week, I sent a follow-up email attaching some additional information and asking again if he would be willing to write the letter. That follow-up was four days ago and I've heard nothing. The problem is that I'm doing the semester abroad right now, so I can't exactly pop by his office and I have to rely on email. What should I do if I don't hear back? I'm really concerned because I thought I had a great working relationship with this prof, and he teaches in the field I'm applying for. Am I panicking to soon?

HannahPie, yep I've taken the GRE's already. That was a fun experience.... And thanks so much!

This is so helpful, thanks a ton!!

First of all I feel like I've been spamming this forum lately, so I'm sorry!! I JUST HAVE A LOT OF FEELINGS OKAY. I have a question regarding the application process. I'm a third year undergrad in New York right now, and I'll be spending next fall semester in a museum internship in London (!!!). As excited as I am, I'm also sort of dreading the fact that I'll need to be applying to PhD programs from across the Atlantic ocean. (One advantage is that I'm applying to two programs in the UK, so I'll at least be close to those and will be able to go visit.) I know everything is pretty much done online, but do you think this will pose a serious problem? The deadlines for most of my programs are 1-2 weeks after I get back to the states, so I won't really be able to leave everything until after I'm back.

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