rbaker

Pointless complaining? Why, that's my specialty! I absolutely feel your pain about the rec. letters. I picked up a couple of letters two weeks ago -- one from my M.A. adviser, and one from another prof with whom I worked closely. Both letters were very sweet, complimentary, supportive ... but contained careless grammatical errors! I just don't understand it. Both profs are meticulous about writing, and both have been urging me to apply to PhD programs, so HOW COULD THEY GIVE ME LETTERS WITH ERRORS? I had to turn in the letters as-is, because there was no time to ask for corrections -- postmark deadline for that application was the next day. But I'm also applying to a bunch of schools with Dec.-Jan. deadlines, and I'm hoping the letters I get for those apps can be error-free (is it too much to ask?!?). So my question is, how do I get these profs to correct their errors ... without sounding like a rude, self-centered, anal-retentive jerk? Aargh.

Hi everyone, I have been out of work for a few years taking care of my daughter and out of school for about three years. On the applications I am unsure how to handle the questions about occupation. Is it going to look bad if I put unemployed (meaning will it look like I am going back to school because I can't get a job even though grad school is my primary goal)? I was a public school teacher previously, so I could put that, but since I am not working as that now nor gaining an income from it, I feel that might be sort of a stretch and I do not have a way to show how to back it up. Can anyone who has had a similar situation please let me know how they approached this question and how this might be "read" by the school? :roll: