to the guy who assumed I was a guy, you assumed wrong.
i don't have a 4.0, i do have research experience, and i did have a recommender who graduated from there two years ago and is generally regarded by all parties as being awesome.
those who are getting in should hear this week or next week, judging from last year's results...
so far I've been accepted at NCSU and spoke with a prof. on the admissions committee at Cornell...