geilezeit

If it makes you feel better, Germany was one of the first countries to notify last year. I think all of the researchers and ETAs heard back in mid-to-late March.

If any ETAs want more feedback, I'm also willing to read some statements-- I'm currently an ETA in Germany and have quite a bit of free time this week.

I'm an American and took the test in the US. I had the standard 2 essays, the real math section, the real verbal section, and then I got a message that I could take another math section for the chance to win $100 if I answered all of the questions correctly. Everything that I had read had indicated that test takers wouldn't know which section was unscored, but mine was clearly marked. FWIW, my real math section was MUCH more difficult than the experimental section.

I took the GRE in August 2009, and I also got a message about an unscored, optional section with the chance to win $100. I did not have any fill-in-the-blank questions on my actual exam; they were all in the unscored section (although, of course, things can change in a year!).

And, to add to that, did any Berlin people get their placements?

I'll be in Berlin. Bayern is gorgeous-- I studied abroad in Munich, and I loved wandering around the towns and the mountains! Plus, you get an awesome football team.

Germany ETAers-- they're starting to send Bundesland assignments.

I'm pretty sure that page with the 2009 stats was online in the fall, so I think it reflects the applications and awards from last year.

Me too. Plus, I'm not sure it was accidental; it sounds like IIE sent three un-BCCed emails (2 to ETAs, 1 to researchers).

Yeah, we did get two emails, but the initial email discussed both the application and passports. The second email gave us a little more information about the application. 220 finalists does seem really high for only 80 grants!

I think ETA and research applicants got different emails because the ETAs have to fill out an additional application. FWIW, there are also about 220 ETA finalists.

Germany ETA finalist!

You have to cancel three full days before the test in order to get half of the cost refunded. I'm not sure if you can still cancel and get money back for this Saturday. I just rescheduled my test for April, which is only a $50 fee.

I think you're right that you should acknowledge Spivak in passing. Maybe you could write your fit paragraph, focusing on the professors with whom you expect to work, and then add something like, "Spivak's research on Awesomeness has also influenced my interest on Fabulousness in X ways: (insert reasons)."

PMed you...