Sparky

exodus

I think we are mixing up "conceited" and "not being 800% sensitive to protecting the feelings of friends who may not get into their top choice." When I said "OMG I GOT INTO MY TOP CHOICE PROGRAM" might not be the best way to phrase things, conceit was nowhere near my mind. But it seems like it is a little tougher to hear from a friend in those terms, when I am in a situation where I did not get my first choice of whatever and s/he did. "OMG I GOT INTO UNIVERSITY OF Z", even if U of Z is that person's top choice, doesn't seem as harsh. Again, nothing to do with conceit. Just me thinking from the perspective of someone not getting their first choice.

Amended letter: Dear all schools, Please consider all applicants based solely on their participation on GradCafe. Accept with full funding everyone who has more to contribute than "wut r my chancez." Those applicants' applications are to be forwarded to your law schools. Hugs and kisses, Sparky

Dear all schools, Please consider applicants based solely on their participation on GradCafe. Accept with funding everyone who posts frequently. Waitlist the lurkers. Reject everyone else. Love, Sparky

Well, if it's your #1 choice, it means you're going to go there in the fall, right? Which means that sooner or later, you'll be adding it to your Educational Info...and telling everyone where you're moving... While "OMG I GOT INTO MY TOP CHOICE PROGRAM" might not be the best way to put it, "I was accepted to University of Z! Yay!" seems like a nice way simultaneously to brag, let people know what's going on with you, and not be obnoxious about it. If I get into one of my top three schools, you won't be able to shut me up about it. "Shouting from the rooftops" will be an understatement. But I am not expecting to get into any of them.

/sigh The history programs I'm applying to have both said they won't start looking at apps until *March*. ::pulls out hair:: Thank goodness for religion, I guess. (Um...thank God for God?)

Not East Berlin. Cthulhu.

comedy => Divine

Green Day, "Are We the Waiting"

I don't think anything can be described as "fulfilling" until I have at least one acceptance letter. ("until" meaning, of course, "if"). But it was pretty cool getting an e-mail from a professor I happen to think can walk on water. I won't get into that program, but still. It was cool.

OT, but...wow, the first time I read this I totally missed the word "hats." That sentence took on an ENTIRELY different meaning.

Okay, here's one for the playlist: "O Fortuna" (the one that everyone thinks of when they think of the Carmina Burana) Translation: O Fortune, like the moon of ever changing state, Always waxing and waning Hateful life now is brutal, Now pampers us with its game Poverty, Power, It melts them like ice. Fate, savage and empty You are a turning wheel Your position is uncertain Your favor is untrustworthy, always likely to disappear Obscured in shadows and veiled you bear upon me too Now my back is naked through the sport of your wickedness. The chance of prosperity And of virtue Is not now mine Whether willing or not, A man is always liable for Fortune's service. At this hour Without delay. Touch the strings! Because through luck she lays low the brave, everyone lament with me! -- See? So perfect.

Oh, gosh, how many people here have Dan Brown-related horror stories? Seriously, I have friends in theology, history, literature, art history, and several other fields who ALL have tales of other people being like "Ooh! So Jesus and Mary Magdalene..." *headdesk* (I'm aware he didn't make that up. But that's still everyone's 'reference' point. He gets 120% of the blame from me).

Unless your disability freaks the shit out of everyone who finds out. Then...not so much. My (chronic, permanent) disorder stayed very, very far from my SOP and any conversations with faculty, I guarantee you. I made my LOR writers promise not to give an 'overcoming obstacles' spiel, either. We can talk all day about the joys of "diversity," but when someone raises the modern equivalent of Leper, leper and others have a gut-jerk reaction of fear, all the "diversity" in the world isn't going to help your case.

Cat (I...am a dork).

Me: I study theology. Non-Christian: (raises eyebrows) Me: ...in the Middle Ages. Non-Christian: (sighs in relief) -- (Note: I am female.) Me: I study theology. Liberal Christian: So you want to be a preacher? Me: I study theology. Conservative Christian: So you want to teach?

Glorious

Baptism of the Holy Spirit as a consolation prize. That's a new one.

Probably not, but at least you can make jokes about your GRE scores being really shitty...

Ha! If I end up in a history program (not likely anymore) instead of religion, I will sooo be joining you.

New negative: I found out on 1/14 that I had forgotten to give rec forms to two of my LOR writers. For an app due on the 15th. Just. Completely. Forgotten. No one else to blame. This would be easier if all three LORs for any of my other schools had been on time. @#*$(@#.

GRE scores are good for five years. You did very well (you knew that ). How are your languages? You've got a couple years of Greek, I presume? What about biblical Hebrew, Latin, German...Languages, SOP and LORs seem like the biggest deals to religion/theo programs. The history depts I'm applying to have emphasized the writing sample.

Heh, we're all kind of desperate for developments on the humanities front, aren't we? Which schools do interviews? Notre Dame, Duke, Emory, Baylor (apparently)...anyone know of any others? Or if I'm making up one of those? Seriously. I know so very little about this whole process.

Had I applied for this program, my SOP would have included, "I plan to spend my life translating back issues of Scientific American into English..."

Yeah, I realized 'Wolkensauele' was a lousy example about 3 seconds after I submitted the post. Oddly, the other thing I recommend: If you can get your hands on it, the German (in German; the one on iTunes is in English) cast recording of "Jesus Christ Superstar." It's very, um, 70s sounding, and some of the translations are interesting ('Hosanna'* cracks me up), but you can look up the lyrics online, and it's *fantastic* for religious vocabulary. * The whole song, not the actual word 'hosanna', which is the same Also, less useful vocab but nice just for getting the hang of things: YouTube has a lot of excerpts from Disney movie musicals in German, and when you're ready for it, French. Again, the lyrics are available lots of places online, and sometimes on YT as well (search "hakuna matata german lyrics" or some such).