gk210

I mentioned a few people as well for the most part. Some programs that were a very general spectrum, I didn't, but most yes, I did mention a few professors whose research REALLY stood out to me and were studies and mentorship I believed would benefit me. I had professors all advise me to mention a few POIs. One teacher I had who's in with the adcomm board for the school I'm applying to says it's helped past applicants more than it has hurt them. "Just do whatever you can to get your name out there and tossed around somehow," was what she told me. Fingers crossed.

Looks like you already got into a school though, not to mention, a FANTASTIC school. I'd gladly trade places with you. I'll be ecstatic with even just one acceptance.

Right?! All I get when I log on to my portals for other schools is "Your application is received and being reviewed," but this is the first school that actually sent me a separate letter telling me they're now starting the process of reviewing. UGH. I just want it all to be over. I really don't know how well I'm going to handle rejection...I feel like I'll probably sink into depression.

Just received my email from Northeastern... "Your application is now in committee review." Fan-bloody-tastic.

I applied to UChicago for their Masters. Does that mean all grad applicants who applied to uChicago will be hearing back already as well? Not just PhD?

I did my undergrad at UCSC, and it was some of the best years of my life. Let me tell you, it is quite possibly one of the most beautiful campuses I've ever seen. You can see the Monterrey Bay from the hilltops walking down to the campus East Remote parking. Get this--it's a school that's in the middle of a forest but literally right by the coastline, so the beach is just a bike ride down. What used to be a sleepy little surf town is definitely growing a lot more; lots to do downtown, two theaters, and the bars are really cool. I'd say it's quite feasible to get around without a car; my first year at school I didn't have a car, but every UCSC student can get around by bus for free. The downtown buses are quite easy to follow and simple to use, really. The schedules are posted at every bus stop. My only problem with SC off campus is that housing is so expensive. Most of these landlords that rent out houses to college students did whatever they could to take advantage of kids. They'd just raise rent even if the house is in super shitty shape. We definitely should not have paid as much as we did with the shape the house was in when we first moved in. I admit, the people that lived in it before us were a bunch of hippies that kept the house in HORRIBLE shape. The carpet was unspeakable...and they had a kid living in the walk-in closet in the upstairs double. Ridiculous! The closer your place of residence is to campus, the more expensive it will be. I lived in a house off King Street (super close to campus) my senior year, a 5 bedroom house, and rent was 5000 a month between the 7 of us. I shared a double with someone and I paid $750 a month, not including utilities. Utilities and water bill I paid about on average $25-30 per month each. Not the cheapest area (I doubt anywhere in NorCal really is). The houses off campus aren't in the greatest shape (the house I lived in had a washing machine that broke literally every other week, and the toilet wouldn't work at least every other week as well.) I know that if you look for apartments downtown they might be the same...My friends lived in 2 bedroom apartments by downtown on Lincoln and paid about on average anywhere between $700-800 for their own rooms. It isn't too bad, considering I paid $750 to SHARE. Other than that, SC is a beautiful place. The boardwalk is always worth checking out, the bars are great, so if you're 21 check out the Red Room, The Blue Lagoon (super divey but 80s night every Thursday is always super fun) or 99 Bottles, and lots to do during the day as well. We're only about an hour 15 min or so south of San Francisco, and 40 minutes away from San Jose/Sunnyvale/Palo Alto area, so both are a good distance enough to party out there on the weekends. I partied up in the city a lot my senior year. San Jose Airport was the airport that most kids would fly out from to go home for break and stuff. Closest In-n-Out was in San Jose, so we all suffered. Lots of cute local businesses; SC was really big on supporting local/private owned businesses/mom-and-pop stores. There are always rallies and protests around fast food establishments, or "No more GMO!" picketers around downtown. You could only imagine so....most everyone over there hated corporate establishments, preservatives/chemicals in food, and carnivores, so if you're into that hippie mindset, SC is the perfect place for you. Also, if you're an avid marijuana user, don't even think about going anywhere else.

Katia, I'm so happy for you. I really, really, really am. You deserve it.

We just need all of this to be over, honestly. I haven't slept much the past two weeks, and I can only imagine the stress will get worse. I also demolished almost half a box of See's, so that's also a pretty good indicator of how badly I'm dealing with this, haha. Maybe I should go to the gym instead, exercise all the stress out.

Totally. I'm completely stressing out though. I know for Journalism programs that I'm applying to request a video interview, but so far, none of the schools I've applied to for Humanities indicated anywhere on the site or on the apps that they send out rounds of interviews. Either way it makes me nervous...kind of like "Yeah I totally didn't even make it to the first GLANCE, let alone the first round." *cries*

You got an interview at UCSC? Sweet, that was where I did my undergrad and I'm applying for an MA at their Humanities department as well. Do you guys find it weird that most Humanities programs (at least the ones I've applied to) don't ask for interviews? Or maybe they do, and I'm seeing these "interview seasons" topics (albeit most are science related fields) and I'm getting prettyyyyyyyy nervous...

I need to be more like you.

i think we all just need to step away from gradcafe from now till spring. for real. but of course as always easier said than done.

This. This this this. I want this printed out on a poster.

Same here. I just graduated from my undergrad institution last June, and I've already been told by a professor of mine (who's also a LOR writer for me) that "I have seen several students even at your level be denied from the grad program here." He's not part of the adcomm though. I did find out though, an old professor who just had it out for me (and threatened to fail me on no basis) last year is part of the adcomm. It cheered me the hell up. But you know what, you put your best foot forward anyway.

Well, just submitted my 3rd app at precisely 3:47 PM after hours and hours of double, triple, quadruple checking and final touches to polish some turd. Can't look back now. Paid the app fee in full, received the confirmation email that enthusiastically told me how they look forward to reviewing my application. And now, the waiting/crying game. I called the school earlier yesterday and they told me they don't send out admission results till at least mid-March. Until then....I guess I can just have nightmares for the time being.

Oh well I'm not knocking on anyone's multiple attempts...far as I know I'll probably be in the same boat as well. I just had no idea, and I find it surprising that there haven't been acceptances yet...that makes me question MY abilities as student, because you all seem so very bright and it's ridiculous that you had to reapply! If you're on the struggle bus, then I wonder where THAT places me!

You've applied to programs 3 years in a row already?

Every damn minute of my life. At this point I want to give up and throw in the towel because I feel like I have no chance in hell anywhere. There's always the usual "what if my gpa/GRE scores are too low to even make it to the second round and i'm cut off right away" or "what if there's a chance my POIs aren't taking in students after all" or "i'm just not good enough in general and they don't think i'm going to be a good fit into a cohort and won't be able to find me one" and several other factors. but then again all you can really do is try your best to shake off those feelings, give it your ABSOLUTE all, and finish them anyway because if these are the thoughts that are debilitating our motivation to finish even the applications, then we aren't really fit to be in grad school, as the workload will be even tougher to deal with. so yes, i share your sentiments, but at the same time, i'm determined to finish it anyway. that's all we can really do at the end of the day.

I'm literally in the same boat as you. My transcripts aren't going to get sent in on time. I only have unofficial transcripts uploaded online at this moment. I don't know what to do, and one of my deadlines is tomorrow, the 9th. I'm absolutely f****d. It's all my fault; I should've read the directions more carefully.

I thought BU english MA's due date already passed, same with University of Washington...or maybe I'm stupid and didn't read their website right. I'm applying to CM too though, and my GRE scores were pretty close to yours. I received about the same math and AWA score as well.

i've been trying to wrack my brains for ideas. i'm absolutely stuck myself.

oh nice right on. yeah i'm applying for the MA English department...i think its awesome they pay attention to MAs and actually do offer funding (or at least what i've read.) i just hate that personal essays are pretty much normal statements of purpose essays broken down into three parts (500, 600, 800 words)...including a teaching statement. it's tough...i've never really written a statement explaining why exactly i want to teach. either way, syracuse is my number one right now...i'd do anything to get into their program and cohorts. i just need to finalize my essays which i find tougher to complete when i have to shove everything i want to say in less than 800 words.

random non-sequitur coming your ways...anyone applying to Syracuse's English program for Fall 2014?

I'm down to do a trade. Well I already submitted one application essay but I'm down for someone to just see if I maimed myself too badly on my SOP and ruined my app, ha. And in return I'm down to read anyone else's as well!

I've been having to take melatonin pills just to force myself to sleep at night. I haven't had a good night's sleep in forever because all I have are nightmares about rejection letters or just thoughts that keep me up all night. People have told me to try meditation but nah...my thoughts start wandering elsewhere then I start freaking out again.