MammaD

I dreamed I was driving through a tollbooth while holding a butter knife out the window. I can't even begin to imagine what my brain was trying to do with THAT one.

I'm feeling like they forgot my applications are there. Nerve-wracking!

Well, I haven't been rejected yet, from either program. Another week passes ... big sigh from MammaD.

Looks like UNC posted some decisions for Epi. I'm afraid to look. Pulled an all-nighter last night, kids have no school today, and a rejection is gonna sting but I guess I have to look!

Elsewhy and VBD, I'm glad I made you smile. I am sooooooo over this waiting thing. I'm starting to fray a bit at the edges. WHEN, PEOPLE, WHEN??? I'm also super stressed with too much work to do, a snowstorm coming, my kids not in school tomorrow, husband working all weekend. An acceptance or rejection before the weekend would be most welcome.

In the "people are going a little nuts" department, I gave one last look to the Results page before closing the iPad and going to sleep ... and I noticed "paleontology" as a major listed. I thought, "huh? Really. People get PhDs in paleontology?" Saw that the school was NYU and before I could finish my thought, read the notes section: "Dr. Ross Geller called me today. I'm pretty stoked!" So yeah, I should have tapped "report spam" but it made me so happy. If any of you are reading this and don't get the Ross Geller reference, please don't tell me. I don't need any reminders that I'm *not quite* old enough to be your mother ...

I should be sleeping. It's quarter after 3 in the morning here. Boo.

It's also very doable. If I can, I'd guess anyone can. The GRE seems to be less about the math you'll actually ever use and more about mastering the GRE way of assessing and solving problems. Get a good workbook, spend the time, and learn the "tricks." You'll get the score you need (if you don't end up getting accepted this go-round!).

I graduated from undergrad in 1995 and never took the GRE (or a math class other than Intro to Biostats) before taking the GRE back in June. Talk about nerve-wracking! I spent some time studying, though -- my program indicated "successful applicants typically score at or above the 70th percentile" so I essentially willed myself to get at least that.

I know the MCH program there didn't notify until 2/15 last year, so I'm not calling it over just yet.

I'm pretty sure the minimum for BU is 50th percentile on the GRE but that might be for the more quantitatively heavy programs. Any chance you could get a workbook, spend a few weeks brushing up, and take again? Maybe not for this admissions cycle, but if you end up trying again, getting that Q GRE over the 50th percentile is probably a good move. Good luck!

Today's haiku: I gotta say This waiting is for the birds! Please tell me now? Please? :/

horse race

Another week dawns Will we get our decisions? I'm ready to know! (That's my little haiku gift to you all as we move a little further into February.)

Another acceptance got posted ... I wish I could find out which subspecialty and if that's why decisions are coming in spurts? I'm losing hope, I have to admit, but I'm feeling OK and still hopeful about MCH.

I was there in October, on an idyllic, 72-degree sunny day with a fresh breeze blowing ... other than serious stress finding one of the downtown offices (literally made it with a minute to spare!), I totally fell in love with it there. My family and I were there 6 months prior to that and we checked out neighborhoods and schools, because I just couldn't even face the prospect of applying to a school/moving to a town I couldn't feel comfortable raising my kids in. We are so comfortable here and my kids have everything they need. I think we would be happy in Chapel Hill. Here's hoping! I'm so glad you had a great day there, VBD.

Personal statement

Thanks, mpheels! I'm also not cancer epi, I spent a day with reproductive/pediatric epi folks (and one of my faculty of interest is MCH, and she's wide open for a grad student). Hopefully, decisions will come soon and we can all rest! My housing situation is a little different since I'll be moving there (if I get in) with my 3 school-aged kids. I'm hoping to buy in a neighborhood districted to East Chapel Hill HS. I'm amenable to living in the family/student apartments at Baity Hill for a year (my husband is military and it might be that long before he can join us anyway, but I'm hesitant to move the kids' schools more than once and I can't figure out where kids who live in Baity Hill go to school), then finding a house. All this to say I hope they tell us soon because there's only so much I can justifiably do before I definitely know I'm moving there!

I dunno BoilerEpi, maybe the weather they've been having has set them back a bit. Or the fact that federal funds are tighter and maybe they're trying to stretch every dollar to accommodate all the students they want to accept. I'm definitely eager for an answer. One of the houses we liked went off the market yesterday and I'm sure there will be more of that in the coming weeks so I'm a little antsy, but I've seen acceptances not go out until a month from now, even. I don't get a sense of malice or disrespect from the fact that decisions were released a week earlier last year. Try to breathe. What will be, will be.

Early bird

loganartemis -- I read somewhere in these forums that sometimes a person gets wait listed and bashes the program to dissuade others from going there. I think it's a horrible, fear-based, dishonest action but I wouldn't be surprised if that's part of what's happening there. Trust your own research on the programs you applied to, and ask plenty of questions once you get in. I'm sorry this person has you even giving things a second thought ... as if we're not all on our last good nerve as it is.

I'm definitely going to submit the abstract ... I was so excited when she suggested it! It's a topic I really believe in and I'd be thrilled to have the chance to share it at that level. So, it's February 1st ... decisions can't be too far off! Thanks to everyone who has shared so far -- I truly enjoy your successes and I hope to read about lots more.

Sorry about the typos in my last post! Yikes on the autocorrect! So, I had class tonight and my advisor asked me to stay after. She wants me to send an abstract for my thesis to APHA for consideration for October's meeting/conference. Sort of makes me feel like maybe there's life after a rejection or two if I don't get into the programs I applied to ... unless APHA rejects me too!

Wow! So exciting to hear of so much success! I hope it's ... infectious! (hahaha) I think for Epi, especially at UNC, there are so many possible subspecialties and potential faculty connections that there's mordent considernthan just applicant qualifications. Research focus and fit, fit, fit are really vital. Doesn't make the waiting any easier for me, though, especially since they got a big wave of decisions out this week in 2011 and 2012. I can be less antsy about MCH at this moment since last year's decisions didn't really start until 2/15. If I've got nothing by President's Day weekend, though, I might be a little less OK. I've got a house to sell, hopefully one to buy, kids to transition, and a whole lot of stuff to square away in as much time as they'll give me between now (please? Now?) and the start of the academic year!

Congrats on the accept! I have a friend who is a faculty member/researcher there (AZ State) and she likes it very much -- great environment there. At least you have an option!