gingin6789
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Posts posted by gingin6789
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Congrats, curiouslyoptimistic!!!!
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You guys I give up. If you UT-Austin didn't happen. I don't know what other chances I have with Cornell, MD-College Park, Berkeley, UoT and McGill. My brain's fried from the last three years trying to make this happen. And I know there's always next year, but I don't if I have it in me anymore.
Pinooysoc, you are obviously exhausted and likely want to explode with frustration. It's so important to express your emotions; just let the frustration and the sadness exist and flow for now. That being said, know that you don't know what Cornell, UMD, Berkeley, UoT, and McGill think of you yet. This exhaustion and persistence isn't a sign that you're a weak candidate; it just shows the intense passion you have for sociology and academia. I don't even care about your stats. THAT is what makes you a fantastic candidate in my book.
Hang in there, friend. Let yourself feel, and we'll be here to lift you up.
- gretagarbo and Cylon6
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I want to stay so that I can support those going through the application process!! I also hope to frequent the graduate student forums.
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I do pretty well at all-nighters, but I would definitely have more of them when I didn't have a roommate. I started at a community college, so I was a commuter student. So many all-nighters during those three years!! When I transferred to a four-year school to finish my bachelors degree, I didn't have a roommate, and the university told me I had to move in with someone or buy out the second half of my room. So ... I bought out the other half of my dorm room with some of my savings because I had to start my GPA over again and knew I probably couldn't study well into the night if a roommate were there. That semester was AWESOME for all-nighters!
For the next year, I had the greatest roommate ever who slept like a rock. People could be yelling right there in the room and she wouldn't wake up. Nevertheless, I was paranoid about waking her, so there were far fewer all-nighters during that time. Those were also my two toughest semesters of undergrad!!!
So, I guess I love pulling all nighters when I don't have a roommate ... all-nighters just give me a whole new kind of energy, and I just feel so productive. I am much more hopeless when I have to pull myself out of bed early in the morning!!
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Congratulations to everyone today!! From what I've researched (from reading through the acceptance/waitlist/interview/rejection threads from the past two years and going through the results search records), I MIGHT just be hearing from Maryland sometime soon if I'm lucky!!!!!! However, there's no way to know if their deadlines, number of applicants, and admissions committee are the same or similar from year to year!
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Needed to post this one from my mom:
Me: "Out of about 220 applicants, they only admit 10-20"
Mom: "You're gonna get in. You're gonna get in somewhere."
Me: "Maybe .. I mean it's not like I applied to Stanford or Princeton or some place really highly ranked."
Mom: "You deserve to go to a place like that!!"
I. love. my. mom. =)
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My feet don't sweat much at all, but I still change them every day. I've worked at a brand-name retailer for nearly six years, and I can get nine pairs of colorful socks with little designs on them for about $5. Now, some of you might be tempted to say "I can get 20 pairs for $1!" or something. However, I really like colorful socks ... and they're most readily accessible through my place of employment. Some women go for shoes, while I go for socks. It's more of a treat thing; I don't buy them often at all.
I also thought this thread said "refuse" instead of "reuse."
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I can't imagine having busted my ass since middle school. I'm glad I took the less glamorous road. Where my high school dropouts and community college graduates at?! And since this is a grad school forum, I think you learn later in your academic life that those unattainable schools are much more attainable when you apply for a PhD, if you earn it, no matter where you started your journey. It's funny when somebody went to a top high school and elite university for their BA only to go on to some undistinguished grad program. It's even funnier when the reason they got rejected from an elite program was because some nobody stole their spot. I guess I just have a thing against elite people. You'll never beat it out of me.
Right here!! GED class of 2007 representing!!!!! Community college class of 2011!! I'm also a non-traditional student
I agree with everything up to the last couple sentences. Has coming up from the bottom made me eternally grateful to just be able to apply to grad school? Yes, of course! I can't think of myself as better than those with traditional backgrounds, however. Sure, there are kids who have had everything handed to them, access to extra resources such as tutors and SAT prep classes (never took the SATs, myself), and things like that make me angry; if a score becomes based on access to resources rather than ability, then I get upset.
However, My mom was third in her class in high school. Very traditional background. With the world her oyster, she chose to attend community college and commute to nearby PSU Harrisburg for her bachelors degree because it was less expensive and so she could be home to take care of her grandmother. Even though I dropped out, she never saw herself as elite compared to me. I could get Fs as long as she knew I was trying my best. She went to college for business administration, and I'm going for sociology. She never saw it as a "soft field" or asked "What are you going to do with that?" like so many others did and still do ... So there are folks like my mom with a traditional background who aren't elitists. I've met non-traditional students who were extremely elitist!
I do understand where you and trizzleyo are coming from though. Just thought I'd add my two cents =)
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I applied to three. Because of my location restraint (I have to stay close to home), fit, and thesis advisor's advice, I was swiftly cut down to three.
My GPA and GRE Verbal are stellar, but my GRE Quant score is a bit low, and I'm constantly fretting over how my personal statement wasn't exactly the most tailored to the programs. I didn't use a boiler plate SOP and made sure to include why I would be a good fit for their specific program (focus in gender, focus in applied sociology, etc.), but I didn't include professor names!! Granted, I only had two pages to work with ... oh well ... I'll see what comes of it!
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It sounds bland, but certain music helps me study or write much better. My friend sent me a link a long time ago to some of his mother's music (she sings opera), and it is the only thing that truly calms me while working.
I also can only write on paper tablets, not in notebooks. This is just because I'm left-handed.
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I'm waiting to hear from UCSB too. If you're admitted I'm sure they'll try to make multiple points of contact with you. Can you update your contact info on your app from your computer?
Also a great idea, Maleficent!! If they allow you to add notes, you also can put "out of the country from xx/2014 - xx/2014. Please email" or something.
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I had a few problems relating to this, too.
1. I just graduated in December, but I needed to send my transcripts before I graduated. My transcripts updated before the deadline, but likely wouldn't make it on time, so I extended the offer to email or submit my unofficial transcripts so that they could see my updated grades and GPA. The graduate coordinator of one program was very kind and told me to email it to her, personally. The second program gladly assisted me and updated my application. The third program sent me a curt response saying my original transcripts were fine.
2. I also have an odd "F" on my transcripts. Fortunately, it was a non-credit class at my first college. I had to leave high school for medical reasons, so I had to get my GED, which they offered at my first college. I tested out of the classes, so they told me not to take them. Of course, an F shows up on my non-credit transcript. They told me it won't affect me negatively, but I was still upset to see an "F" on any sort of transcript of mine!
3. I checked a graduate program's website over and over and over to make sure that they did NOT require a CV. I got an email not long after the deadline asking for a CV. I just apologized and emailed it to them.
4. I have four W grades on my transcript because I had to drop some classes for medical reasons (I'm much better now!!!). I just hope they don't think uncommitted. Luckily, I explained that well on my SOP and my LORs should vouch for me, too.
I definitely understand the frustrations arising in this thread!!!!
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I will go to all the inexpensive festivals I have always wanted to go to. It will be awesome.
It will be like a condolence present from myself to myself.
Oooh I forgot about the condolence present method!! That is a wonderful idea!!
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Does anyone have any info on the admissions at UCSB? According to the results from last year, they began notifying people around this time by phone. Given my luck (if I am fortunate enough to be accepted), I am out of the country and do not have access to a phone. Does it matter at all?
I'm not sure, but I'm wondering the same thing about UMD. I saw they were also giving out notifications around this time last year.
As for your other question, I think it might be appropriate to contact admissions to ask about what you should do ... I think that is definitely an acceptable reason to contact them! But that is my opinion. Anyone else care to weigh in?
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"Well, there's always next year [to apply again]."
I don't know what compels people to say this, especially when I haven't even heard back from my schools yet. It's been highly discouraging, especially since NO, there ISN'T always next year, because I'm moving on if I don't get in this year. I can't help but feel a sliver of condescension.
Agreed. I know it's supposed to be reassuring, but it's still VERY tough to hear. Perhaps because it echoes the notion of "Don't let it get to you." Don't let it get to me? How? This is my passion and dream; if it is destroyed this year, you bet I'll be processing some very strong emotions for a while before I brush off and move forward. It's so important to feel every emotion; there is so much emphasis on staying positive ALL the time, and it can be physically and emotionally damaging to keep that up all the time.
So yes, while I know their intentions are good and that these folks love me so much, it does make me feel pressure to keep up a positive visage when I might be falling apart inside. That being said, I've not been accepted or rejected anywhere yet!
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I managed to keep it to two pages because I put "Available upon request" under my "References" section (They are getting LORs with my References information anyway).
I didn't have a "papers under review" section because I've only done an undergraduate honors thesis (that I HOPE to get published, but it's 75 pages and I just finished it in December), so I simply put that into my "Achievements" section.
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Good luck! I am super interested in Medical Sociology as well!! I never looked at the schools you applied to, I wish I did - they seem great. You can see where I applied below.. Super anxious to get an email soon. I discovered medical sociology as an undergrad at Brandeis and spent my last two years taking med soc related classes the whole time. It made me so happy to know that Brandeis was such a big deal for med soc. Good luck!!
Oh my goodness, alphacat, I am just super excited that you got to attend Brandeis as an undergrad!!! I asked my thesis advisor the best school for medical sociology, and she instantly said "Brandeis," as if saying "Brandeis" is a reflex when hearing the term "medical sociology." You are in a GREAT place. And Wendy Cadge is there!! *swoon* Her intersectional work on religion and medicine makes my heart race!!! It's so well done!!
Look at that great line-up you've got for schools!! You have so many great programs on your list! Location was the main restraint that weeded out a lot of great places (personal family reasons are keeping me here). My thesis advisor weeded out three others, and two others that were fairly nearby were not a good fit (HUGE emphasis on demography, which I enjoy, but not as much as medical sociology, gender, or religion. Plus, my quant GRE scores are only in the 50th percentile).
ANYWAY, I'm rambling now! It's so great to meet you and hear about your great experience at Brandeis and your experience in applying to grad school! I am glad to be in the same boat as you and all the others in this thread! We've got a great crew!
Please do let me know how you do, and best of luck to you!!!
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First I would cry a lot =( Then, I would study for the GRE again and retake it. The only "low-ish" score is my quantitative score, though. Then, I would find out what conferences I could attend in the meantime. Finally, I'd look for some kind of job in my field.
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I suppose you're right…I just feel weird about the new, obsessive me. Or, wait, have I always been like that?
I don't know about you, but I've always been that way with various things. I remember checking my undergrad class listings every day during the summer to make sure my Fall semester classroom assignments hadn't changed. I refused to show up at the wrong classroom on the first day e_e
So, we can frame this as being "diligent" rather than "obsessive ..." or both!
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Applying for grad school in sociology, but I was a double major in sociology and philosophy in undergrad =) I hope you don't mind if I post! This is one of my favorite topics, and it's been so interesting reading all of your responses!
So, I must say Popper, Wittgenstein, and Kierkegaard. I've gotta add, currently, Alphonso Lingis as well. From what I've read from him and from meeting him, I absolutely love him.
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Can anyone confirm the rejection from UT-Austin? It would really suck if UT-Austin implement the "if you don't get an email, then you're rejected" route. I'm pretty sure as a top research university they'll have the decency to send out rejection letters...right? Please tell me it's not over yet?!?!
Hey there. I did not apply to UT-Austin, but I found the following on the Results Search page from another user who was applying to the sociology program and was rejected:
- If you have not been sent an acceptance e-mail, then you were not accepted, per the Graduate Program Coordinator who I corresponded with.
You can definitely contact the Graduate Program Coordinator as well to corroborate or confirm this statement. Hopefully, the person who posted their result will show up in this thread.
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@Socioholic, I'm sorry to hear about your rejection, but I'm glad you've experienced the catharsis of actually KNOWING the status of an application! Plus, it sounds like you have a plan B!
Also, your username is fantastic!!! Describes our lives, here!!!
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No need to worry. Conferences are a great time to present your research, get feedback, and network. Just make sure to have a nice slide presentation and know your stuff. It is not fun when someone comes in and reads a long dry paper. I'm not saying you would do this, but I have seen it happen several times.
Thank you very much, NewGrad123. You were right to warn me; I am hopeless without a speech in front of me, whereas most others I know are most comfortable giving a presentation "off the cuff." However, I know the pain of being bored to death by a speech, so I practice my speaking to the point where I do not sound robotic and rarely have to glance down at my paper, so that's good! I also sound professional, yet like I'm telling a friend a story ("conversational" might be the applicable word here?) according to people who have heard me present in classes.
I am VERY excited for this opportunity! Sorry if I strayed off the original forum topic here. I'm not sure how stringent this forum is about staying strictly on topic, but you all have been very warm and welcoming thus far =) =)
OH, here's a fun dream I had about being accepted.
I dreamed I got accepted to University of Delaware with funding of ... $100,000. Being a seasoned lucid dreamer, I instantly realized it was a dream and woke up haha.
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... when I get really excited by the idea of attending a grad school program with wonderful faculty, research areas that line up perfectly with mine, and is well-ranked ...
... only to find that it has been closed within the last year *sigh*
ALSO
... when I re-read my writing sample (thesis) to find minor grammatical errors/typos after four sets of eyes have read the whole thing. Just goes to show that no one is perfect and that no piece of writing is ever complete!
Anyone else regretting not applying to more schools?
in Waiting it Out
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I only applied to three. Of course I wanted to apply to more, but I can't. I have to stay close to home for my family right now. We live with and take care of my grandmother, and if they need me home in a moment's notice, I have to get here quickly. There were other schools that fit the distance qualification and even the "fit" qualification, but there were some snags:
-I had three other programs in mind, but I talked with my thesis advisor and other professors, and they said not to. When a prof I trust just shakes their head as soon as they hear the name and gives me good reasons because they have insider info, I will not apply there.
-Two others that were kind of nearby just weren't the right fit. Incredibly quantitative and demography-based. I do have a strong quant side in sociology, but demography isn't what I want to go to school for.
-Finally, one of the programs I sent my GRE scores to actually closed last year, but they didn't update their website. Huge bummer.
And now I have a list of three that I am content with. I just hope one of them will have me.