linden

Ha, ha, bubotuberpus. You're either really nice, supportive, and understanding, or you're also checking status several times a day.

Plisar: Can schools also see the number of times each day you log into your account to check the status? I know this would not matter as much as, say, reading LORs without permission. Still, my programs might think I am crazy if they can see how often I check the status. Linden

One of the schools to which I am applying offers a number of fellowships. To compete for the fellowships, candidates must write essays. Out of the all the fellowships offered, I picked a few that mirrored my interests. Nevertheless, the fellowships do vary in terms of the required qualifications; mostly they vary in terms of what the student's careers plans are after graduation. Will the same committee read all the fellowships and wonder why one minute I am pledging my life to one goal in one essay and then saying that my life's mission is something slightly different in another? Thanks for your feedback. Linden

policy_applicant: No, I am not that acceptance. I still have to list my first acceptance. But, I terribly superstitious at this time, and I am convinced fate will punish me for including that first admission before decisions are in. (Yes, this process has made me crazy. ) Your profile is in line with what others have posted so far on this thread. I think you should be okay for most of the schools you listed. (By most, I mean that no one can be assured of anything with WWS.) Nevertheless, it is a nerve-wrecking wait, isn't? I guess we might hear from GW in the next few days/weeks. But, from early February to mid March, it's going to be a long wait. Good luck! Linden

Pikatopia and solefolia: Congratulations to both of you! And, pikatopia, I also found that the first acceptance only made me hungry for more. Ha, ha. Glad I am not the only one. Linden

Delete

Well, if younglions ( who puts us all to shame ) can make the leap... I am going for MPP programs. I have a 3.8 undergrad gpa. My GRE scores are decent: 770 Q / 700 V / 6 AW. I have about 10 years of work experience in private industry, non-profits, and the government, including work experience domestically and overseas. (Yes, I am old.) I have already been admitted to one of my schools, and I am waiting to hear from four other programs. I honestly don't know what to expect. One minute I think I have a decent chance at most of the schools to which I applied; the next, I am convinced that I will end up with only this acceptance.

Luckige: Wow. That's pretty awful. You know whoever designed that system is an evil genius. Linden

Safety for me was a school with significantly lower stats (GRE scores, undergrad GPA, and number of years of work experience) than my own. I've already gotten into one of my two "safeties," although it is a well-ranked program and one that I would really like to attend.

Deleted

younglions: I understand your concern. I'm hesitant to post much about my profile for that same reason. And, yes, FSIA is correct: logically, there should be no problem with posting information about our profiles here. I'm dying to post my first acceptance on the Results board, but that same crazy fear is holding me back. :wink: Linden

Deleted

I don't want to scream. I just want to bang my head against a wall. I have so much to do, and I am unable to do any of it.

slothrop99: I think you're very competitive. Since you graduated from undergrad a while ago, you'll have more work experience than the average candidate; that will make your application stand out. (Think about it this way: There are probably a bunch of candidates with macro and micro on their transcripts, but only one year of work experience on their resume. On the other hand, there are fewer candidates with many years of work experience, and their GRE Q scores tend to be lower.) You have a high GRE Q score, despite having been out of school for so long, confirming your aptitude in math. In addition, those courses you are taking now should count. Not only will they confirm your quantitative abilities (depending on the grade ) but they will also show you are willing to work hard. I graduated from college more than 10 years ago, and I wanted to shore up my near-gone econ, math, and statistics knowledge. I called the schools to which I was applying to make sure I would not be wasting my time.(I am applying for MPP programs at some of the same schools to which you are applying.) Most indicated that, while those classes would not be added to my undergrad GPA, they would be viewed favorably in admissions. Good luck!

It will be even more interesting to see how our predictions correlate to the outcome. I hope posters will come back and post their results.

Coho: Thank you for the suggestion. I checked to see if that could be the problem, but it wasn't. Nevertheless, the good news for me is that ApplyYourself's technical support already restored my account and application. The good news for all of us is that ApplyYourself's technical support responded very quickly to the problem ticket. It is good to know that they have a fast and able team, especially at this time. Linden

Deleted

Okay, I vote that we ban the neurosciences/biomedical/molecular biology people from thegradcafe. Or at least prevent them from posting results until late February. It is awful to see them posting their acceptances and interviews all day long. (Yeah, I know I should be happy for them...) Linden

frankdux: My whole life right now is about not jinxing myself! 5 applications 4 acceptances 1 waitlist - And then an acceptance off the waitlist Ha, ha, right! Linden

t_ruth: This might make you feel better. I was ready to send in one of my applications last September, and the program coordinator told me it was not worth it to apply that early, because they wouldn't look at any applications until after the deadline. So, even if all my stuff got there before most of other applicants' materials, that did not give me a leg up. (Incidentally, the program that I heard back from has rolling admissions.) I don't know about you, but I feel that my level of stress is because of my age. I know that being in my early 30s, I probably won't try again if I don't succeed this time. (And, yes, I'm already in at one school, but now I am defining success as getting into my top choice. ) I think younger students on this board might not have that added pressure. Good luck! Linden

hrcharron: I believe that if you cancel your scores before you see them, ETS will not record test-taking activity for that instance. But, you will never know how you did on your test. Your practice test scores, however, should give you an idea of whether it is worth it or not to take the test. It sucks that so much of your future depends on a three-hour test, but c'est la vie. The GRE can matter, whether we like or not, as many of us on gradcafe have recently had confirmed.There are so many applicants to some programs, that grad schools have to find some objective criteria by which to select applicants who will get consideration. GRE scores can be one of those criteria. Your 3.1 GPA is not going to immediately disqualify you from consideration, but it won't make your application stand out, either. That's why you need those GRE scores to confirm your academic potential (i.e., give the school a reason to look at your application). If you can, you might want to think about retaking the Kaplan course and testing immediately (as in, two days after you finish the prep course). Nobody here can tell you what George Washington values in an applicant. You should try talking to the department about your numbers. Even those departments who don't share that information will at least tell you if your GPA and GRE scores put you in a competitive range. You might feel better about your chances once you talk to them. Good luck! Linden

t_ruth: I, too, have developed a real love for Mondays. I also have taken to running around the house singing "Oh, why can't it be March?" (to the tune of the Warner Brothers cartoons intro song). Boz: I think that most (and probably all) applicants have at least some deficiencies or problems related to their profile. We are just big enough to recognize that we are not perfect and to seek advice here. So, again, even more brownie points should be forthcoming for humility. Ha, ha. Linden

Rigdey: I completely agree with you. We do deserve brownie points for being so geeky, anal, and obsessive. We obviously want this much more than the slackers who don't even bother to read a book or informational website about applying to grad school. Linden

Ridgey and Astaroth: Thank you for adding your (much-needed) perspective into this issue. It is hard to think straight right now about anything related to grad school applications. Thanks for taking the time to help me calm down. Linden

username: Hello. Indeed, I applied to KSG. I certainly think that it is good that you have a LOR from a former KSG student, and it would help you as long as your application gets to the stage where your LORs are considered. And, given the stats you posted below, I think your applicant stands a good chance of being looked at. I think that the LOR would particularly advantageous to you if they have to pick between you and other students who seem equally qualified but don't have LORs from people who have been affiliated with the program. But, username, your guess is as good as mine regarding how applicants are selected. Your lack of work experience might be a setback. But, how will it affect you--or if it will even affect you--that is a big unknown. Your stats are in line with what other applicants seem to have. And, the work experience, as well as the essays, give you an opportunity to stand out from the pack. But, I cannot tell you if the committee values essays more than work experience or vice versa. The advantage that you have over an older applicant (like me) is that if you don't get in this time, you are young enough that you can acquire some more work experience and try again. And, as I mentioned to RyeGuy (I think), if KSG asks you to get some more work experience, it will give you the opportunity to confirm that this is really the right career choice for you. I did my first master's straight out of undergrad, and 100K in student loans later, I decided I did not want to be in that field. I also agree with you that it is unnecessary to question other applicant's chances. I don't think anyone on this board knows what really matters to these adcoms or how they assess our applications. If you, RyeGuy, or I are going rejected (or accepted) that decision will come regardless of whether others ridicule our decision to apply. I hope you will come back in mid-March and let us know how it turned out. Good luck! Linden