ihatechoosingusernames

The way they calculate the grad school rankings is very straightforward. It is 100% based on the results of the "reputation surveys" they send out to academics across the country. So it's completely a measure of reputation, and nothing else. (see http://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/2013/03/11/methodology-best-social-sciences-and-humanities-schools-rankings)
 
And I disagree - a fancy name school in the academic job market can certainly ensure that your application is at least looked at. Beyond that though, it's not much help.

I am out camping right now and I'm still checking these forums. I have a problem. :-)

Hey @ihatechoosingusernames! I applied their CCN program. I guess we will be informed of the decisions in the next two weeks. I was told in my Skype interview that they will make decisions around the middle of February. Fingers crossed for both of us!  

My wait is over! Got an email from POI, recommended for admission.     
 
Funding details to follow. Haha.

I don't understand how your oral surgeon implying he wouldn't go into social work makes him an "uneducated tard." 

Or why someone going into social work would use the pejorative "uneducated," "tard," or "uneducated tard."

I calm my mind and prepare for old age by lovingly attending to my backyard birds. I make my own suet, keep a daily log, and defend their territory from squirrels. I also go on hikes and birdwatching quests. 

I will cry. Then drink. Then cry some more. Then drink while crying. Then cry while drinking.
 
Then I will quit moping around and accept it like a man. I'll look back and evaluate my weaknesses then think if grad school is really for me.

I'm in a semi unique position. My boyfriend and I met on a field job and he was accepted at the university last year and is in his first year of his masters. I wanted to apply here before even meeting him so it seemed perfect. 

But now I'm dealing with working at the university under the very people that are deciding my future. And with a boyfriend that keeps reminding me that no matter who I speak to, I can't do anything about anything right now except to keep waiting. 

My unhealthy habits include obsessively searching gradcafe forums to see if anyone from the NRES department has posted on here this year or in the recent past. Reading into the subtext of emails sent to me from the gradcollege and department. And obsessively searching for a house next year in the event that I get in. We're currently living in an apartment. We found this place last year and were looking for something that he could afford on his own in the event that I had to leave. But now that I've found a potential advisor here we have started fantasizing about a house. Luckily food habits have not factored in. In the event that I don't get in, I see myself forming a bond with both Ben and Jerry. 

I'll be over it. This is my 2nd and final shot. If this doesn't work out, next step: Culinary School

I have not heard of Linmark, but I'll definitely look him up! 
 
It seems as though the sh*t people say gets more #$%&#ed up the closer I get to hearing the results. That said, I recently stumbled across this article (which compares the academic job market to The Hunger Games), and I just want to make everyone who asks me about my prospects read it: http://m.chronicle.com/article/The-Odds-Are-Never-in-Your/144079?cid=megamenu
 
Recent conversation with my mother:
 
Mom: I know you like all of the programs, but which places do you like more.
 
Me (foolishly deciding that this is a safe-ish question): well, I like the parts of the country that a, b, and c are in, but I'd be really ecstatic to go to any of these schools. Plus, I like adventure.
 
Mom: *puts check marks by schools a, b, and c, AND THEN VIOLENTLY CROSSES THE OTHERS OUT*
 
Me: *tries not to faint* ...don't jinx me.
 
Mom: It's not a jinx, its god's will. You'll end up where you're supposed to.
 
Me: *whimpers*
 
 
...I love how she thinks that I need divine intervention to get into a program (and not-so-secretly hopes that my getting in is not his will). Couldn't be that I'm good at what I do and have worked very, very hard to make it to this point.

I just emailed the UIC Clinical coordinator and she said that "The committee is still in the process of reviewing applications.  Those candidates invited in for interviews should be contacted within the next week or two."
 
Also, I got my very first acceptance this morning from Ohio State (for Clinical PhD)! So excited.

Vanderbilt University!
 
They don't have application fees and they don't require official transcripts until after you've been accepted to your school. As someone who has 5 different schools to get transcripts from, I've saved almost $50, plus whatever they didn't charge me for app fees. 
 
Anyone else have any schools they want to give a shout out to?

I didn't anticipate the mix of boredom and anxiety to be so lethal. I learn to bake, try to work out (which are totally counterproductive btw), read some books, plan to rewatch Games of Throne (just saw the trailer for season 4, one more reason for April to come early!) and give Breaking Bad a second chance, started House of Cards and The West Wing, and become obsessed with this forum. Oh and I saw these on BuzzFeed the other day:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariellecalderon/books-to-read-before-they-hit-theaters-this-year
http://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/24-invaluable-skills-to-learn-for-free-online-this-year
 
So yeah, I'll add some more books to my list and maybe learn to code. But then most things done for distraction often lose their true appeal.

I'm reading the Hunger Games trilogy, watching Boardwalk Empire, working, trying some new recipes, taking a well-needed break from anything related to my field, checking the status of my submitted apps too often, and enjoying time with my wife and 16-month-old son. I hate the wait, and vacillate between certainty that I will accepted and absolute incredulity that I think I have a shot anywhere. Painful stuff.

Obsessively checking the Gradcafe result search page and the Spam box in Gmail...

Hey I got an invited to an interview weekend for a school. the interview weekend is set on the last week of January, but i just checked the results board, and someone already got accepted! same school, same division! what does this mean? am i overthinking this? i know i'm way overthinking but still, what does it mean? i hate waiting... honestly i'm mentally plucking rose petals while rocking back and forth *they want me, they want me not, they want me, they want me not*. 

Vanderbilt University!
 
They don't have application fees and they don't require official transcripts until after you've been accepted to your school. As someone who has 5 different schools to get transcripts from, I've saved almost $50, plus whatever they didn't charge me for app fees. 
 
Anyone else have any schools they want to give a shout out to?

Vanderbilt University!
 
They don't have application fees and they don't require official transcripts until after you've been accepted to your school. As someone who has 5 different schools to get transcripts from, I've saved almost $50, plus whatever they didn't charge me for app fees. 
 
Anyone else have any schools they want to give a shout out to?

Vanderbilt University!
 
They don't have application fees and they don't require official transcripts until after you've been accepted to your school. As someone who has 5 different schools to get transcripts from, I've saved almost $50, plus whatever they didn't charge me for app fees. 
 
Anyone else have any schools they want to give a shout out to?