MsDarjeeling

Well it could mean that they didn't get as many applicants as they expected. It could also mean their website had a technical glitch and people had trouble applying. Or maybe they received additional funds which created more spaces for students. Who knows, the point is if you still want to apply you can so go for it.

I really think a thank you card is sufficient. In many ways writing LOR's is part of an academics job, so additional compensation isn't necessary.

Yeah I don't expect to hear anything this early either, especially since some deadlines are early January.

I was in a similar position and when I asked for advice from others in the field (I'm in Psych) I was told that if I could not get all of my letters from academic professors or research supervisors, then letters from employment or volunteer work would be fine if they were in my intended field. I too have supervisors that have varying degrees of education and I was told to select those that can best speak to my skills, abilities, professionalism, and capacity to succeed in grad school. I was also told to select those that had the highest education whenever possible. So a supervisor with a PhD or MA/MS would be great. A supervisor with a BA/BS or classified as a graduate intern (as in their degree wasn't quite finished) would not be ideal.

I second ratlab. When you call them they'll probably make a note in your file to not expect that letter. That way if it does show up it will a pleasant surprise, but it was optional so it won't be a huge deal if not. Also I think your experience with her should make it clear that she isn't the best choice for future LOR's. I get that professors are busy, but since you gave her adequate notice and any supplemental materials she needed then that doesn't excuse missing some of the deadlines or working at the last minute. If you don't want to deal with this anxiety again ask someone else. If she offers again just tell her you appreciate it and will let her know if you need any LOR's.

Are you currently working or interning in your intended field of study? If so you can ask your supervisors to provide LOR's. You haven't been out of school that long so it is possible some of your professors will remember you. It couldn't hurt to reach out to a few of them and see if they'd at least be willing to meet with you to discuss your future plans. If they seem supportive then you could ask about LOR's.

Congratulations!

While yes having LOR's from professors is ideal adcoms get that some people graduate and enter the working world and are unable to get ahold of professors or they decline. If you're working in the field you want to pursue graduate study in then LOR's from those supervisors can be very helpful to you.

Well I am not familiar with her nor do I know what field she is in. However, if she publishes you might find recent articles that list her current school affiliation. You could also search for her on LinkedIn and other social media/professional association sites. She may have also left forwarding contact information with Tufts.

I think it also depends on if you're at a public or private school. I'm doing my MA at a small private school and yeah the tuition is much higher than at any of the larger public schools. Despite the cost it was the right decision for me, but I would certainly understand if some students dropped out or transferred elsewhere.

Some of my apps aren't due until early January. I haven't been stressing about when I'll hear something. As long as I know they received everything on time then there is no point in constantly refreshing my email. I'm passing the time working on a research project, continuing my volunteer projects, and preparing for a new job that will start next month.

I wouldn't say I was shocked at all. I knew grad school classes cost a lot more than undergrad ones, hence one of the reasons not everyone goes. Determining how to pay for grad school is a huge barrier for lots of people.

1) As for the GRE, are joint-degree applicants expected to have significantly higher GRE scores than regular applicants? I heard somewhere that Econ-MPIA's were expected to have 'almost perfect' quantitative scores to get in (from one source), and I was wondering if there was any truth to that statement. This is going to vary by program. Some will say yes, some will say no, and others may tell you it depends. Your best bet would be to reach out to the programs you're interested in and find out. 2) Will my community college GPA be factored into joint degree program admissions? Generally those of us who started at a community college and then transferred to a University to complete our undergrad degrees have to submit transcripts from both. So if that is the case for the programs you're interested in yes they will look at your grades from both institutions and they may do their own calculation to determine your overall gpa or they may be interested in just specific years. This is something else you should ask them directly to get a better understanding of how you'll be evaluated.

I agree that it is more likely the adcom has too many other things to do and will not google applicants. However potential supervisors/advisors/grad students may do just that, much like potential employers may do that as well. I think it is better to assume someone might google you and just make sure your online presence would not make them question your ethics or judgment.

The latest I've seen was early January for Clinical Psych, I haven't researched Social or Experimental. I guess it is possible to find a few programs with later deadlines, but it certainly isn't the norm. It seems like a MA/MS program might be your best bet since you weren't able to take the GRE sooner.

As much as it sucks to get rejected at least they didn't make you keep waiting and wondering. Sounds like the letter was fairly straightforward. Are you still waiting to hear from other schools?

I really like Darjeeling tea =)

This is more what I was thinking. We're not the same and I don't think it creates a disconnect or devaluing of ideas by addressing them as Dr. or Professor Last Name. I do not think students should be addressed by Ms. or Mr. though. I get that some programs, including mine disagree and prefer a more informal approach. I just don't like it.

If you still would like feedback, feel free to pm it to me. Happy to help =)

Inform them immediately. That way if they haven't written the letters they don't waste their time. Just explain that you have reevaluated your program choices and decided that those two are not as good of a fit as you thought. If they've already sent the letters I don't think you need to do anything. The school will likely toss it if the rest of your application doesn't arrive in time.

I don't like addressing professors informally. I prefer Dr. Last Name or Professor Last Name because its respectful and a professional environment. When in undergrad that was the standard and it worked for me, but in my Master's program its ok to use first names. Grudgingly I'll go with Dr. First Name or Professor First Name, but I'd rather not.

"So you pay money to apply and can't just enroll? Then what are you paying for?"