Smaudge

Now I have the song "Bye bye love" in my head. Only the "bye bye happiness" part is replaced with PhD.

Now I have the song "Bye bye love" in my head. Only the "bye bye happiness" part is replaced with PhD.

Now I have the song "Bye bye love" in my head. Only the "bye bye happiness" part is replaced with PhD.

Now I have the song "Bye bye love" in my head. Only the "bye bye happiness" part is replaced with PhD.

Now I have the song "Bye bye love" in my head. Only the "bye bye happiness" part is replaced with PhD.

Now I have the song "Bye bye love" in my head. Only the "bye bye happiness" part is replaced with PhD.

Now I have the song "Bye bye love" in my head. Only the "bye bye happiness" part is replaced with PhD.

Oh leave him alone, we all feel that way. I find that a surprising comment from someone whose name is "anxiousapplicant." Do you already have acceptances or something? Or maybe you're just trying to cut other people down when they already feel terrible by telling them they won't get in anywhere or can't have any friends. Its just unnecessary, everyone feels negative at this point if they don't have any acceptances.

How are the ladies in your life handling your new companions? I know when my husband grows a beard three things happen:

1. It makes me feel like I'm married to a mountaineer
2. The beard becomes part of this grizzlyman alter-ego that includes a very deep voice
3. He threatens to register it on the national beard registry

I know this feeling, well, because it's the way I felt last year.

I applied to three Ph.D. programs in the U.S. As an international, it was the worst time to apply. All of my applications were due at the beginning of December, so by the time I knew the gravitas of the recession, it was too late. I didn't apply to any programs, in my own country, which was epically stupid.

I wouldn't say I was confident, because I'm never one for confidence, but not getting in was a shock. I wrote to all of the programs, to which I applied, in April. Two of the three didn't take any internationals, in 2009, the third was an Ivy school, so didn't loose any sleep over that.

December and January I pretty much forgot applications. In February I was filled with dread. March was a nightmare (I even got a rejection on my birthday). I was living overseas, at the time, and even turned down an invitation to go to St. Petersburg for the weekend. Now, of course, I'm like "what was I thinking," but I was a total self-absorbed mess. I recovered in mid-April after a minor identity crisis.

Now, I'm glad I went through all that. I still get nervous, but I have a better perspective. Someone on gradcafe, last year, said that they feel the only people that understand what they're going through (in terms of application angst) are on gradcafe. It's true, my family and friends have no idea how difficult and demanding this process is. In that sense, this year is not any easier.

I don't think anyone (and I mean anyone) can be too confident they are getting in. I've learned there are a lot of factors that have nothing to do with your strength as an applicant. Someone, who got in last year, said "I feel like I've one the lottery." I can totally relate. I'm still waiting, patiently, for my winning ticket.

I was considering applying to Harvard, so I know a little bit about their program, but admittedly not a lot.

I don't think you should give into despair and ice cream yet, it's only the 5th of February. I think you still have a week or so to go until you should worry. Honestly, I'd just write a professor whom you have a relationship with there, or the admissions secretary and just ask your status if it is not available online. If they were going to offer you an interview, they won't rescind it because you asked about it. If they weren't going to offer it anyway, what does it matter if you come off as a little bit brazen?

I hate the maybe pile. That's like limbo.

Since linguistics departments accept relatively many students who don't have a linguistics major, I assume it means that they have been successful in whatever field they came from. High stats and awards are probably expected to some extent, as well as (more importantly) a proven track record of good quality work. I've recently had a conversation with one of my professors and it came up somehow that what they look for in applicants is the potential to do innovative work. They're not necessarily looking for someone who has published in peer reviewed journals or presented at national conferences. They are looking for a person who can convince them that she will do all that once she gets the training the PhD program offers. I think the way you show you have this potential is by submitting a strong writing sample, writing a very focused and field-aware SOP, and by having strong LORs in which your current professors praise your work so far and predict great things for your future. I'm sure if each of the three writers favorably mentions a (different) paper you wrote for them, that helps. If you've TAed/RAed and have practical experience, that also helps. If you worked on any kind of project, even if there was no publication, if you are able to talk about the project's goals/methodology/findings and what it taught you intelligibly - that's a big plus. It's about showing you have the foundations to do good research - having insight, as evidenced by analyses you've proposed in your previous papers.