teddybrosevelt

Yea, I have a feeling that late this week on in to mid/late February will be busy...I hope...

It is quiet! I suppose once news starts coming in from programs it will liven up. I know many programs prefer their UG students to complete a graduate degree elsewhere, while some smaller departments (master's terminal) sometimes prefer recruiting their UG students to complete a master's due to their familiarity with the program. I would imagine the research, and experience matter more to a future employer, right?

Reading! A lot of material related to my field as well as some fiction. Assuming I get in to graduate school, my summer of 2015 will be spent working as an intern for a large mining company

Sorry to hear about OSU dirtychai! Did you apply to work with their VIPER program?

I definitely agree with sjoh197. Keep your chin up! Hopefully this thread will be covered with good news for everyone over the next several weeks/months!

Sjoh197: I thought your numbers and experience were great! Also, a professor of mine told me that when applying to graduate school, you should only apply to schools you would LOVE to go to.

I have spent a lot of time worrying about my applications. Lately, I've done my best to avoid this destructive behavior and focus on staying positive. Like many of you, I spent months searching for the 'perfect' programs, where my research is well aligned with several faculty members. I've decided if I am not admitted it will likely be due to other factors I cannot control, like better, more qualified applicants. In which case I will beef up my application materials and try again! Best of luck everyone!

Ah all of us UT hopefuls... I was doing some moderate stalking (only joking of course) and saw that their graduate students have very diverse backgrounds, such as; students with high and low uGPAs, students with TONS and students with NO research experience (in undergrad). I believe this is a good indication that what we all spend our time worrying about, like gpa, gre, and research, may only play a small roll in the admissions decisions. Who knows.. Maybe it's all just a crapshoot?

Hey GeoMex, sorry to hear about your recent news! I don't have much to add besides, do your best to stay positive! Did the school take the time to explain their reasoning?? Best of luck on the rest of your applications!

Yeah me thinks so too! I'm curious whether regular cafe users represent a small fraction of application pools (as far as credentials are concerned). Or does every school receive 100 applications of students with STELLAR everything? I imagine it's all over the place really...

@geomex: I hope so too! I am always blown away at the credentials many using this forum have (work experience, teaching, Gre, etc.). I wonder if this reflects the majority of those applying to graduate school.

My UT-Austin interface says something like, "your application for admission has been forwarded to the appropriate admissions committee for review". In looking at the 'Results Page', it seems as though UT-Austin accepts students from late January through mid-March. I hope to hear something during that time frame as they are certainly my top choice!

I generally wake up, have my cup of coffee, read some academic papers related to my field, stress about graduate school, decide I should go lift weights, lift weights, stress about graduate school, find myself at work-stressing about graduate school. I think it is fair to say I repeat this process daily, and will likely continue to do so until I receive my first acceptance! Like everyone else, I have a lot riding on this application season, specifically an internship that would allow me to gain valuable experience in the industry I hope to become a part of. I am hoping for news soon! I wish you all the best of luck!

Congratulations on your acceptance to Scripps!

Darkstar, I too encountered a similar issue early in my application process (see the 'issue with LOR' thread in the Earth Sciences forum, there is some great advice there). I managed to speak with many programs about this and like stated above, most schools do not even begin to review applications until the week following the deadline, at the earliest. One program even said that 2/3 letters was usually sufficient and, if they felt the third letter was needed they would reach out to that professor personally. I would contact the schools to which you are applying, as well as your POIs. I think this is extremely common (unfortunately! ) and I don't think it will affect your applications.

Oh no I'm sorry to hear that! Maybe his inquiry with the school is regarding the departmetns ability to fund and support you. As opposed to your financial support coming directly from your POIs grants? So maybe the question is purely a 'how do we?' in regards to funding? Stay positive and good luck!

AMEN! How many programs are you applying to? I started with 8 and managed up submitting 6 applications. One of my buddies is applying to 13 programs, so I consider my 6 a success! GeoMex, I hope you have good luck as well! Thank you for your kind words.

I must have spent the better part of a year just researching schools and learning as much as I can about POIs. Like stated above, it is nice to know I have done my part. I occasionally worry that I have some catastrophic flaw in my application- like I listed a POI that works at a different school- and the admissions committee is just laughing at my application. POSITIVE THOUGHTS FROM HERE ON OUT! BEST OF LUCK TO ALL!

I am having a hard time keeping my mind off of this application season. Wish all the best of luck!

Great advice! Thank you!

Thank you for your replies! These are all things I have heard from mentors in the past however, it is nice to hear it from those who have recently been in my position. I suppose that because this is my first attempt at applying for graduate studies I am overly cautious! Thanks again!

I will spare you a lengthy introduction and get right to it. I have applied to many Earth Science programs and as you all know, many schools require 3 LORs. Two of my LOR writers have submitted all of their letters well in advance while the third writer waits until the last minute to submit his letters. In two instances already, the letters were submitted after their respective deadlines (and that was after I contacted him several times about the due date). I have two applications that are due in the next couple of days and he has yet to start or submit his letters. This is truly a mystery to me as we have had a great working relationship for many years and his letter will surely be my strongest. Does anyone have any recommendation on how to handle this? Am I overreacting? Thank you in advance!