med latte

I love this thread...

Pride Day

Okaaaaay, January 15th! Deadline day for several of us. The clock starts now.......and I'm already exhausted from the wait!

Another morning. One day closer to knowing......

When you figure out how to do that, let us know!!!

@dbcollies thank you! That is so great! My deadlines are Jan 15th, and I submitted on Dec. 1st. Right now everything is in except one letter. These are going to feel like some very long weeks ahead!

movie theater

Too soon to jump to any conclusions. I've seen some on the results page report interview invites 2 weeks in advance. If your target program is doing interviews in early February, you're still in the clear. Also, some interview spots may open up in late January if/when any accepted applicants decline their offers. Hang in there. It ain't over 'til it's over!

Congrats, gingin6789! No need to worry. As long as you haven't changed your email or mailing address, you should still get notices from the schools you applied to. There is no set deadline for changing your name, so I would suggest waiting until you've heard back from schools, and then change your name. Then register for fall classes with your new name and your new ID paperwork. Here's a good checklist for the process - http://www.brovadoweddings.com/blog/2013/03/the-ultimate-post-wedding-name-change-checklist/

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Hot Tamale

This waiting has altered my relationship with weekends. Normally I love weekends (who doesn't?!) but since I submitted my apps I now view the weekend as two days when I know I will not hear back from any school. It's a little annoying.

Wonder Bread

Hi, all. I applied to programs out of state, so any admission will require my partner to find work in a new city. That is making this waiting period even more difficult. We hope I get an acceptance as soon as possible so he'll have time to job hunt and interview in the new place. In the meantime, he's looking at jobs and is beginning to talk to people in his field in those cities. If he does get a job quickly, he'll move before I do, as I currently have a good job that I'll want to hang onto until just before I need to be on campus (unless his job brings in a remarkable amount of moolah, but I'm not holding my breath). Anyone else dealing with this? I see a lot online about couples who are both grad students or both working in academia, but little about one PhD student and a spouse in industry. Lots of uncertainty....both exciting and terrifying. We just wish we could begin planning NOW. But we won't know if we're moving or where for weeks (feels like ages...).

pure evil

Turkey neck

Rum balls

I'm done! Submitted! Nothing else to do but try not the think about it. After combing through the Results forum here, I think it's safe to assume I will know by the last week of Feb or first week of March. This might be a long winter!

The classes may not be taught by the same faculty who teach on campus. It may be that they are a compilation of MOOCs from several sources. Not a bad thing -- I'm in a MOOC now and I'm learning a lot! But it will not be the same experience as being on campus. Just know what you're getting into, and look at the costs. Sometimes you cannot get financial aid for extension / prof dev programs and certificates. If you are open to another plan B, I would suggest taking graduate classes as a student at large at the program you are interested in (assuming it is near where you live now). That would show that you can do graduate work and build up relationships with professors who can serve as references if you have to apply again next cycle.

It sounds like you will want to include a SoP when it is an option. Good luck!

I'm in a different field, but I have never heard of programs that don't request an SoP and letters. Can you do some more research on the ones that don't? How are they ranked? Is the SoP optional?

I recently returned from a 4-day conference. On the last day, I had lunch with my POI & letter writer at the PhD program I will apply to next week. At one point he asked me if I am applying to any other programs. I answered honestly -- that I've looked at all the programs involved with General Field / Conference members, and since I really want to do research on ABC, I feel that School Name is really the best fit. As nerve wracking as it is to only apply to one school, I really want a good fit. I went on to explain that I could find one person at least remotely related to ABC at each program, but there are far more at School Name. I swear there was a little smile in his eyes when I said that. Now I'm wondering if overshared and said something stupid. Thoughts?

Congrats, #ngogirl! Sounds like you did great and got some invaluable feedback! My first conference presentation is coming up this Thursday. 12 minutes plus Q & A. Fingers crossed!

I can't speak to that specific conference, but I would think that if / when your proposal is accepted, the chair will provide you with more guidelines. I'm also preparing for my first paper presentation, and I was told to have some key data graphics on a powerpoint and build my narrative around that -- 12 minutes total. The amount of time you have to present may depend on how many other papers will be presented in your session. I've heard everything from 12 - 45 minutes. One step at a time. When is the proposal due?