med latte

Perhaps you are overthinking this a bit. We all have bad days when we are overwhelmed and don't perform at the level we should -- DGSs included. He or she probably gets a ton of email and will not remember your interaction. It seems you were offended one person, who may or may not be in the job a year from now. If the school is a good fit for your interests, I say go for it. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater over one poor interaction. Look beyond -- have you have good interactions with other professors? Do their specialties match your passions? The program is more than this one (albeit rude) person.

I've read on this forum that a PhD applicant who has already been awarded external funding would be viewed quite favorably, especially at a state school. I'm a bit confused about the timing of the application to get accepted into a PhD program and the timing of the application for external funding. The external funding applications don't require confirmation of acceptance to be eligible? They are all awarded to hopeful PhD students pending acceptance? I appreciate any insight / clarification on the timeline. thanks!

I've been told that having work experience in your field actually helps your application, so I would say you have no worries. Find a position in which you use your new degree, enjoy your future transition into parenthood, try to get paper published in the meantime, and grad school will still be there when you are ready.

It might be best to tailor your SoP for each school. If you are especially interested in focus X, and a school has many classes on X or they are know for X, then mention it. If another school values a generalist approach, then tailor your SoP to show how you understand that value. Mention your specific interest in the context of wanting to absorb all you can about your chosen field. You're right that a master's SoP requires less focus -- the MA/MS is about bringing you deeper into the field. It's great if you are particularly interested in X (it shows advanced knowledge and commitment to your field), but show that you are also are eager to learn all they offer in the program. It is the PhD applicants who need to flush out one specific area of interest and why they want to pursue it. Start with looking again at each school you chose to apply to, and ask yourself these questions before you tailor the SoP for them -- what does that particular program value? (interdisciplinary? field work?) makes makes that program unique? what are they known for? what classes do they offer that you are most excited about? do they have unique aspects (connections with a certain research center, resources for field work, etc.)?

Pauli, you knew that one school was right for you, eh? Did you have anxiety about what your plan b would be if you did not get in? Apply again? Or were you confident you would be admitted because of existing relationships with professors there? Would love to hear about the experiences of others who only applied to one school (for whatever reason).

Is anyone applying or planning to apply to only one or two programs? Right now there is only one program in the US that offers the program I want. They get about 30 applications a year, and accept 4 or 5. So.......yeah, anxiety. I wish I had a long list of programs that could serve as back ups. Anyone else also applying to a small number of programs?

Glad to see this thread! I'm 37 and finished my MA in 2005. I plan to apply to one specific PhD program (rare focus -- only one program in the US), but my partner and I won't be ready to relocate until 2016 (I'll apply in fall 2015). In the meantime, I am doing whatever I can to improve my future application (continuing my executive-level job, taking online MA-level classes via the program I will apply for, gaining some teaching experience, a few articles published). It's a lot to ask a spouse to relocate for an unknown span of time while the other finishes a degree. I must say that being in a good relationship makes the PhD path seem a lot more feasible. When I have doubts about getting into the program, he's reassuring. He's even stepped up on doing housework as I have begun to spend my free time with homework. But it will be a long road. Does anyone else have anxiety about how the PhD path might affect their relationship? Does anyone else plan to apply for only one program? (that increases the anxiety, too!)