karent

That makes sense. I'm looking for any reason to be slightly more hopeful! All best, K

Hello comrades! I've noticed that some people have posted about the above phenomenon and I wanted to know how often and why this happens. Anyone know? All best, K

Yep. Losing my mind now. I have very little to distract me because spring classes start Monday. The more I think about my applications, the more I realize my errors. I should have applied to the Illinois Slavic Languages & Literatures dept instead of their general Slavic Studies program. Pittsburgh suddenly seems like such a long shot after reading the history of results on the gradcafe results page. I should have saved my Indiana app for last because my SOPs became progressively better and Indiana is where I most want to go. I should have applied to more programs. I'm dreaming of grad school possibilities (mostly rejections and disasters upon starting programs). Indiana clearly makes decisions quickly and sends them via regular mail so I'm keeping my eyes peeled for the mailman. I'm reading posts/horror stories on the already-grad-student threads (making me more scared about both acceptances and rejections). I hate this uncertainty and having too much time on my hands. My insecurities are deeper than I realized. Ahhhhhhh...... - K

Yep. I lived in NYC for a while after high school/during my first attempts at undergrad (2001-2005) - rent was absurd, of course. One of the great things about the Midwest is cheaper living! It makes me happy to click around craigslist and see the low rates. Thirty years of New York and New Jersey prices and I've had enough (well, for now). - Karen

That's a pretty awesome back up plan! But let's be optimistic about getting in somewhere anyway! Positive vibes for this forum!!! All best, Karen

Hi! I applied for the REEEC MA. When I visited UIUC last year, I met with the Slavic Languages and Lit dept, but I also stopped by REEEC and was so impressed by the multidisciplinary program, I decided to apply to that dept instead. I have no info on decision rates or funding or anything really, but I wanted to say something pro-REEEC. Anyone else apply for the REEEC MA or to the Lang & Lit program? We can go crazy with anticipation together! All best, Karen

I flip back and forth from crippling anxiety to blissful excitement! I keep thinking if I get too optimistic or pessimistic, that will jinx me. I'm suddenly so superstitious. This may be the most stressful time in our academic lives.

That is so so amazing! Huge congrats! UIUC is a fabulous school (I'm hoping to get in myself). Was the due date for your program Jan 15? All best, Karen

I'd like to add that I've calmed down considerably since last night's panic attack (and I'm a bit embarrassed). You know what? These things are out of our hands and there is no more that we can do at this point. It's not the end of the world - no matter what happens. We did the best we could at the time. We'll be ok. Best wishes, Karen

This is such a great thread. It totally made me feel better about my chances at schools because I concentrated so much on fit. Who knows what will happen, but my current nerves are somewhat calmed. - Karen

_Memories of the Future_ by Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky.

I completely relate. And it's tearing me up. Deep down I know I will not be accepted to any school, and it's breaking my heart. I've struggled more that I'd like to admit - taking so long to finish my BA (over 10 years in and out of school, being a part-time student, and pausing to work full-time). Despite knowing exactly what I want to do - be a librarian with a specialty in Slavic Studies - I'm afraid I won't be able to see my dream come to fruition. The professors who wrote my LORs only know that I did well in their classes - they don't know that twice in the last two years I failed a class, overwhelming myself with too many credits. My GRE scores are atrocious. Maybe my statement of purpose is good and the LORs are certainly very kind, but I'm otherwise entirely a joke of an applicant. That impostor syndrome is neat - but I really am a fake. My parents think I'm smart, some professors also do, but they all have a very limited knowledge of my actual work. I'm so disorganized. I always cobble papers together at the last minute. It recently dawned on me in the most profound manner that my luck in these matters has run out. I love school - I don't want to think of life without it. So, yes, I completely relate. - Karen

Right now, I'm very much regretting not applying to any proper library schools (I applied for a dual degree in Slavic Studies and Library Science but otherwise stuck with straight Slavic MAs; my ultimate goal is being a Slavic specialist librarian). I'm very nervous about my chances with these schools. I still have time to apply to Rutgers and Syracuse, but I wonder if any of you can recommend any other schools that have application due dates of February/March/April. Simmons is also a possibility, but I understand it's terribly expensive. I'd love your advice. All best, Karen

Another 30 year old here graduating in May! I'm quite (ok, very very) nervous about possibly being rejected by every school on my list. I know what I want to do - be a specialist librarian in Slavic Studies - and that's precisely why I'm so nervous. If this doesn't end well, I don't know what I'll do with myself. I've yet to feel the sting of academic rejection, and I'm quite sure it will be devastating. I know I can reapply next year, having learned from my mistakes, but I don't want to waste anymore time. Everyone my age (of my acquaintance) has either a family or a career or both. I have nothing to show for myself. It's very hard to see myself as anything but a failure. I started this process optimistically, but the more I think about it, the more sure I am about utter rejection. What if my grades are not up to the schools' standards? My GRE scores are abysmal. What if my Personal Statements come across as clumsy? I'm scared. What if I'll never be able to do what I want to do? What if I continue to flounder all my life? Maybe that's too much information. But no one in my life understands. - Karen

Oh goodness gracious. I'm suddenly so worried that I didn't apply to enough schools. For undergrad, I was accepted everywhere I applied. I haven't experienced academic rejection yet. Now I've become superstitious - it's time I ran out of luck. I could have spent so much more time and effort on my applications. I should have taken the GRE again. Shoulda, coulda, woulda. I fear disaster. This is the only place I can cry! (Half serious, half ridiculous and dramatic.) - Karen

Hello, peers! All my applications are in. Now I twiddle my thumbs for a few weeks. It's nice to meet you. K

I suppose I should update my plans. I decided to apply to IU for the dual degree, as mentioned before, but instead of MLS programs, I applied to the University of Illinois's Russian, Eastern European, and Eurasian Center's MA program and the University of Pittsburgh's MA in Russian Literature. If IU does not accept me, I'll earn the MLS in time. And, if no school accepts me this time around, then I'll apply to a Library School for Spring 2014. (But I hope that won't be the case!)

The SWSEEL application is up, NiceGuy.

Hello! I just wanted to move this topic up for the current application cycle. I'm applying to the MS/MLS dual degree program at IU-Bloomington and will probably apply to the MARCA program at the European University in St Petersburg. My other applications are for Library Science only. All best, K