coyabean

There are no words for how jealous of you I am so I will resort to childish face making at my modem. Congrats.

I am interested. I'm running people mad (and away) on my LJ with all this talk, anyway. I'm also non-traditional which might prove useful for others like myself. I know the few "mature" students I've found on the net have been a great support system for me.

I discovered a weird brand of amnesia among academics. Perhaps its the trauma of the process, but all of them seem to forget everything about this process the minute the clear to the other side. It's kind of like childbirth. If people remembered no one would do it. I'm sitting here right now realizing that I can't decide if I should renew my lease, if its feasible to buy some new furniture or to get extensive work done to my car -- nothing -- because i don't know where I'll be in six months. I hate to buy stuff I'll have to move or be moving to a place where I'll get rid of my car or...etc. I can't do anything. I'm stuck. And I hate being stuck!!!!! It's almost worse after hitting send. I only have four or five apps I need to send some hard copies supplementals into and then I'm done. Then what? Oh sure I could focus on graduating but that's just a few minutes a day. LOL I hate this loss of control and inability to plan my life.

Awesome. I'm weeks overdue in posting my own school visit post. I'm glad it helped you.

I've had talks with all my profs. Most are very understanding of my position. I have a thesis that is due in, oh, a month or so and I've written exactly zero. LOL I have faith. It'll get done.

perfect.

bad, bad, bad!!!! LOL

That is all I was saying. Look at it from their perspective. Their job isn't to answer mass emails from wannabes. At least, that's not high up their list of job duties. I don't think anyone has ever gotten tenured based on their email-fu. Make it easy for people to help you and don't pile onto the already stressful time. Or do and blame them for everything. I'm just offering another perspective. :/

This! Also if you are trying to initiate conversations in November? That's just rude to me. It's not only the middle of a semester but the holidays and the end of the semester is in sight. I started contacting folks this summer and had very good responses. More than one person skipped a return email and called me. They all gave me others to contact and allowed me to use their names -- I always ask permission. And I don't think that it's a waste if the conversation isn't very long. One response was brief but now I can say two things: my research works there and I can honestly mention this person in my SOP. ANDDDDD having an email chain allowed me to contact these folks when I submitted my app to thank them for their help and surreptitiously make them aware that they will see my name again. Granted, not a 100% rate of return but enough of one for me to think it doesn't hurt. I've actually been humbled by people who were willing to talk to me. They don't have to and some people didn't just talk. One big shot chatted for over an hour as an admin came in and out in the background for her signatures and orders and she kept right on giving me her personal history, experiences, etc. So, I'll give my own list: -- Start early and respect people's time -- Take every chance to collect names and mention them, with permission. this opens doors -- Thank people for their time and follow up with them occasionally to let them know how you're progressing; people who feel vested in your success are more likely to help you and just because they don't email back doesn't mean they don't read it

Love's me some Ceiling Cat!!! http://www.lolcatbible.com/index.php?title=Numbers_5

You can download practice tests from ETS' website.

All of the above plus a tip from one of my faculty mentors. Do index cards with little notes and names of people you want to remember. Even if you don't reference them they can make you feel more confident because you know you don't have to worry about forgetting something. Good luck.

Penn is on my list and I have an 1180 or something. I'm still going for it!!!! I have a superstar LOR and research experience. Maybe I'll be one of the ones they cull from the secondary pile when they look for gems? Who knows. Oh man. This is disheartening but I'm going for it. I know of too many exceptions to these things, first hand. I'm talking a guy who is at Cornell in a econ with a sub 3.0 GPA. It's worth it to me.

Oh God!!! I am soooooo sorry. I seriously and without reservations suggest bodily harm in this case. Someone must be the example!

I second the request about your concerns with on-campus housing. As I'll be a transplant that is a serious consideration for me.

this.

How very awesome of you! Thank you for all of this. Penn is actually pretty high up my list, so, it is nice to hear all of this. Although 8 years is a bit scary. Any other info you pass along would be greatly appreciated.

I really want to vote for "lie by omission" but I am afraid of some kind of SOP karmic boomerang. But not because its the military but because it doesn't speak to your academic career plans. I'm against all such mentions in SOPs unless its discipline-related like becoming a astronaut if your PhD is in some science. note my ignorance. LOL But, I seriously cannot imagine anyone dinging an app for saying this. I can see some being snobby but I cannot see you being penalized. Don't forget that a large number of men, especically, in academia these days got there thanks to the GI Bill. Even if there is no resonance for your patriotism among the adcomm I think it could add to your diversity angle. Can't be too many military wannabes writing about that in their personal statements? And with two wars going on I think you'd find more soldier sympathy than not. Or, I like to think you would. However, it's like a lot of things in that in might be best if shared on a "need to know" basis? Only you can make that call.

Well they're also on my list so if it's ok with the OP I'd like to know about the socio-cultural focus of the department; how the dept feels about applied or activist bents to anthro research; the relationship with the greater Philly area; any good Americanist and/or critical race theory work going on; funding after the Big Recession; housing (cheap, available, on campus or off); how social is the dept...i mean, just for starters.

Big ups to McNair scholars! LOL I am not good enough to give specific feedback on schools, but I don't think you can overstate the leg-up that McNair has given you. Most adcomms know the level of research and scholarship that goes into that honor and it is HIGHLY prized. it will, at least, get your app considered. Every app I've done has a spot specifically asking if you are a McNair or some similar program. You do have a big top-ten kind of list. While there are no such thing as true "safeties" in phd programs if it will make you feel more confident pick a strong regional program that might get fewer apps but that you would not be ashamed to attend. For English my advice was to score in the 92nd percentile and above on verbal and to get a solid 5 or better on analytical. I'm Eng undergrad, btw. Almost everyone agreed not to sweat quant too much. The only concern is that too low of a combined score might put you below the mythical cutoffs some schools use to narrow the initial group of apps. AGain, though, that's where your McNair designation helps. I've heard that those are pulled to at least be read, regardless of cut-offs. You might want to ask around on that. Your McNair preceptor has done this a thousand times. Ask them. Happy to proof your SOP. You can PM me but I also advise you to join the applyingtograd comm on LJ if you are not already. I'm most active there for SOP reviews and the comm is GREAT about sharing info. And there seem to be a lot of English folks there. BEst of luck! And congrats on a serious kick-azz UG record. I think you look good.

I won't say it doesn't matter. A bad closing is like the s3cks without the, well, you know. I think a summation and a request to join their academic community is appropriate. Mine, btw: With solid training in qualitative and quantitative research methodology and a historical interdisciplinary grounding from ABC's XYZ program, I am confident I can contribute to the production of pluralistic knowledge with an applied practicality.

I understand. I err on this side of drama, too. How good at you at deluding yourself? If you can manage it just pretend that she is on safari in the outback or something. LOL Seriously, make it not about you because, in reality, it probably isn't at ALL about you.

Just wanted to say that I'm sitting in my mentor's office right now and we both agree with your assessment. He says so few people look beyond a school's ranking or reputation to consider the resources of the university community and how they might support their plans that doing so shows you are thoughtful and serious. He is in econ - and i'm anthro -- but he says he cannot imagine any adcomm taking offense at someone showing due diligence by mentioning university resources that would be helpful.

Ditto this. My main mentor? I would NEVER tell him. Another mentor and I have a different relationship and she vaguely knows I have to consider non-academic factors in program choices. Unless the person invites you to divulge, don't. And people do that either explicitly or by first divulging personal info to you. If they don't do either of those? They are not interested, know its not their strong suit and/or never wants to be put in the position to be charged with discrimination.