rogue

It is rare that I can say "LOL" and actually mean it, but that's exactly what I did when I read this. Nice. Oh, to be clear--laughing at the Palin reference, NOT your academic record!

I don't think anyone meant to say that you're a lesser applicant. But I do think that there are people out there who, faced with unemployment and a crappy job market, are saying, "What the hell? I'll just apply to grad school." And then they're doing so without really researching programs or the application process itself--something which most people on this board have put a lot of time and energy into. Those are the people who are presumably less competitive. I know this from personal experience. I knew since high school that I wanted to eventually get a Ph.D. and be a college professor. I just didn't know at that point what exactly fascinated me enough to devote my life to it (in fact, it took me until a couple of years ago to figure this out). But less than a year after my master's, I was miserable working at my crappy job and said, "What the hell? I'll just apply to grad school." So I did--to the program where my dad got his Ph.D., in a field in which I had little skills or interest. And I shudder to think what the admissions committee thought of my clueless application. I am also so grateful that I did not know the ins and outs of the application process and did not put together a better app, because I don't think I really would've been happy in that field. I admit that I hope the bulk of my current competition is more like myself nine years ago than me now.

That's assuming that schools take more applicants than usual. If anything, programs that fund their students seem to be taking fewer, not more. Just because there are more applicants now doesn't mean more will get in--or finish. But since you said three years, I assume you're talking about master's programs and law schools, and since these are often money makers for schools, maybe you're right.

When I read stuff like this, I try to make myself feel better by telling myself that: A. It's probably mostly master's and professional programs that are seeing an increase in applications due to the recession, and not so much Ph.D. programs, which generally require a much longer commitment. B. Just because more people are applying doesn't mean they're qualified, so maybe the competition isn't really much more fierce than any other time. This may not be entirely true, but it makes me feel better.

It hasn't happened to me personally, but I've read posts (probably even here) about it before. Not to be discouraging, but it's certainly possible. Sometimes professors want you but don't have the pull to get you in. On the upside, at least you know someone thinks you're great, and that your research proposal has merit.

Would it be totally weird to admit that I'm jealous of you synaesthetes? Ever since I heard about synaesthesia, maybe 10 years ago, I've secretly wished I had it!

I can't decide if that's ironic, hilarious, horrifying, or some combination of these.

If you end up at a university with a vet school, make friends with those students. Seriously. If you're ever in a bind, they might be able to help you out. I say this as someone who hasn't paid for vet care in eight years because one of my best friends is a vet. I'm lucky. And if I move for school, I am for damn sure trying to make friends with another vet! I can't imagine how much money he has saved me over the years. (Lest I sound like a total mooch, we were friends before I had the dogs and I return the favor as much as I can with home cooked meals, etc.)

I had my first (that I remember, anyway) admissions dream/nightmare last night. The back story: my girlfriend wants a chihuahua, and--completely unrelated--I spent the past week battling with UPS over a package that they were too incompetent to actually deliver to me, despite that being their job. So, in my dream I got a delivery notice saying that UPS tried to deliver a chihuahua puppy to me, but I wasn't there to sign for it. I went on this wild goose chase all over town (and halfway down the eastern seaboard, apparently) so I could sign for this chihuahua before it asphyxiated inside the cardboard box. I ended up at my childhood home eight states away (and which we left when I was 12), and while looking for the UPS slip there I found ten folders, each neatly labeled with the name of one of the schools I applied to. Inside were my admissions decisions, but I couldn't open them because I had to find the effing chihuahua first. Anyway, I finally found the chihuahua, which was not dead yet, but I woke up before I got to open the folders. Argh.

Me too, and sometimes I accidentally do runway in the middle of city hall when I'm walking home from work. And unfortunately, there are almost always people around. Also, I can stick a nail in my nose like the blockhead guy at the sideshow. Surprisingly, this has come in handy when trying to impress people with actual talent, like musicians I've interviewed for one of my many freelance gigs.

Misery does love company. So do anxiety, depression and frustration, apparently. I'm also looking forward to having company for elation and relief.

I figure I might stick around and occasionally offer advice to the next round of applicants. It was really helpful for me to hear from current students, so I feel like I ought to return the favor. But I won't miss the obsessive checking part, that's for sure!

Agreed re: bitterness. And apparently I'm a jerk, because instead of clicking "like," I click "hide" when the baby statuses start piling up. I just never had that parental instinct. Which I guess is good, as when I am eventually trekking across the country in search of that elusive TT position, at least I won't have to worry about finding affordable housing in a good school district, right? Also, whoever posted something about having a t-shirt made announcing their acceptance, I'm totally stealing your idea!

I'm trying to fix my house up so I can sell it if I get into school. This is less of a hobby than a horrible black cloud of annoyance hanging over my head. I guess my other hobby would be drinking margaritas, making plans to drink margaritas, and complaining about drinking too many margaritas. (Kidding... sort of.) Also trying to find another second (and possibly) third short-term job to finance both of those other activities.

Yes! Love it.

As of tomorrow I will be 36, and a lot of my friends are older than that. I don't think anyone else I know is applying this cycle, so it's not exactly like they should be jealous. I'm not 17 and applying for undergrad. And even if I was, I see no reason not to share good news. Like I said, my friends have heard plenty of anxiety and complaining from me lately. I imagine they'll appreciate the change. And lord knows I am sick to death of reading status updates about teething and potty training toddlers! It's time some *real* news got posted, ha ha.

Oh, no--I put a range, like "early to mid Feb." And in cases when rejections seemed to go out much later than acceptances, I noted both. Yeah, I'm a bit obsessed.

I looked up all my programs yesterday and wrote down in my agenda when I should expect to hear from each of them. Crazy? Yes, the waiting is already getting to me!

It *is* all over the place.

Sweet! But I hope he didn't need that class to graduate!

After swearing that I would date no one for my application year, because I wanted to keep things uncomplicated, I somehow ended up in a (very new) relationship with a lovely girl. I think it's pretty much understood, though, that she won't be coming with me. She's in a competitive professional program she needs to finish, and we haven't been together long enough (just a couple months) for me to even think of asking her to change her plans for me. However, if I end up at one of the two programs in our city, or one of the three others within a two-hour drive, who knows what will happen. But I promised myself I would not make a decision based on a relationship. Since this is such a recent development, I have that luxury. Still... argh.

I almost feel like I should post it on Facebook and Twitter immediately. My poor friends and followers have had to read so many application gripes and updates, it seems only fair they should be the first to hear!

I can't imagine someone applying to 70 schools could even begin to write appropriate, personalized SOPs for all of them. I also find it hard to believe that there are 70 programs that could be a good fit for any given individual. Most people seem to have a tough enough time establishing fit at a dozen programs.

This happened with one of my LOR writers and another school's online app. I finally ended up contacting the DGS, who apologized and said he could send her his recommendation via email. Maybe call or email the DGS and see if yours can do the same?

I applied to ten, and as of yesterday they're all done. Now I have to figure out how to occupy my time, since this has been like a third job for me (on top of my two actual jobs). Sigh.