autumn

My approach could be all wrong so please (PLEASE) feel free to correct me but I'm letting my CV/writing sample address most of my existing research experience. In the SOP, I'm mostly talking about my proposed research and why this program/these faculty members are the ideal resources for said research, with a little bit of background that shows some personality and addresses some items I wanted to address (e.g. passion for field, non-comm degrees, unique characteristics).

Based on the changes to the application process, USC may be changing it's admission MO this year. If not, they usually start notifying their top choices at the end of January for the visit weekend. I'm unclear as to whether or not that weekend is an informal interview or if those invited are already accepted.

Fair enough but it still seemed repetitive. When is the next (or first) deadline for everyone else? I've got three on 12/1 and six on 12/15.

Yes! I was tempted to just write "Please see my SOP and CV for more information" because... that is why those documents are required? It was odd. As were the two different sections that asked you to identify faculty with whom you want to work.

I know this is too late to be helpful but I found it interesting that USC's application portal is set on EST, not PST.

USC submitted. So happy it's over. (Yes, I am conveniently forgetting I have many more to complete by December 15). Right now, I'm just reveling in the sweet, sweet freedom.

USC deadline tomorrow. How's everyone doing?

According to their admissions rep, the 10th but it doesn't sound to-the-day strict. They used "within a reasonable amount of time" a few times when explaining their process.

Yes, the earlier the better. I have seen some as early as January but, technically, they have until April 15. All I know is that at least this will be settled by April 16. ... That is so sad when you write it out.

I feel you. I took a week or so off to work on the two research projects for which I am assisting. Necessary and usually I love working on the research but it's hard to manage teaching, working, researching, freelance work, and grad apps at the same time. I could cry thinking about December but, tbh, the waiting will probably be worse. Yay April?

Too bad about that dream but I am relieved that I'm not the only one. I'm finding the exact opposite. The USC deadline is ruining my timeline and making me much more stressed out than I need to be (i.e. more than I already am about everything else).

I know, right? I was equally irritated and amused when I woke up. It was definitely a WTF moment. All things considered, if that's my worst fear at the moment, I'm fine. But yes, I wish my brain would focus on improving my SOP rather than denigrating it at this point. How are your applications going?

Thanks, jujubea! This morning, I woke up from a dream where my top POI emailed me to say that my work and my research questions were the same pedestrian attempts at scholarship they see each year. Good times!

I did send both. Thank you lyrehc and Duna!

The AWA went from 5.0 on the first attempt to a 4.0 on the second (I knew it would be lower, I was really struggling that day). I am retaking it a last time for the other programs but USC is too early for that.

I need your collective advice. My first GRE attempt: verbal score was good, quant was pretty dismal, AWA was pretty good. Second attempt: verbal was 4 points higher, quant was 2 points higher, and AWA was down 1.0. Which would you send for USC?

Same boat!

I feel like I am starting to succumb to the pressure of these applications (and my 36 other responsibilities). I've started a few of my applications (minus uploading the SOP, CV, etc). My CV is done and being reviewed by faculty. I have a working draft of my SOP also out to faculty. I sent all my letter writers packets with the necessary information. I'm working on my writing sample. I've been emailing faculty. With all of that, it sounds like I'm making progress. Unfortunately, it does not feel like I am making progress. I don't know about the rest of you but I am not having much luck when emailing POIs. Bleck. This process is something else.

Thank you to all of you who have participated so far. I know I appreciate it! Is there anyone who is currently studying at UWisc-Madison?

This may not apply to all of your schools but I found this data for all of my schools on their websites. I've worked in higher ed for 8 years and higher ed accreditation for 4 of those 8. Due to the semi-recent crack down on degree ROI, admissions departments have been asked and/or encouraged to make these stats available to prospective students. Very few will mention these on the program webpages; you should have much more success looking on their admissions pages. Finding these stats is doing your due diligence and, usually, trying to hide them is a bad, bad sign. JLRC covered all the red flags already but I just wanted to second those and provide some info for locating them easily. If anyone wants advice on how to find them for a specific school, PM me. Happy to help.

I took the GRE for the second time. Such a lovely way to spend a beautiful fall afternoon :/ I was only able to raise my quant score by two points but, honestly, studying math was not a high priority this month. On the plus side, I was able to raise my verbal another two points. I am concerned that my AWA score will be lower this time around; for some reason, I was struggling today. Now it's time to get back to my SOP and writing sample. How's everyone else doing?

It should really be PsOI but I feel pedantic if I type it that way. It means persons of interest, i.e. the faculty members you want to work with at each institution.

I've finished updating my CV and I have a working draft of my SOP. I'm retaking the GRE on Friday but I'm concerned it won't be an improvement from the last attempt. I really need to get cracking on the writing sample but I just haven't had the time. I'll have to focus on that this weekend. My letter writers are all confirmed but they haven't started submitting yet. I haven't started the online applications but I was planning to do that this weekend. Have you all been emailing your POIs?