goldielocks

Anyone else applying to UIC? Their application system is sort of a mess.

Congrats, everyone, on your progress! I am so happy that this process is winding down that I can't even describe it. Waking up and knowing that Rutgers and Yale are out of the way... it's like a weight lifted off my shoulders. I hope everyone else is starting to breathe a bit easier, too!

At last, Yale is submitted. 6 down, only 4 more to go.

Has anyone else noticed that the Rutgers status check page is missing documents that were definitely sent in? For example, it says my transcripts have not been received, but they were sent like two months ago. I uploaded my unofficial ones but this makes me nervous.

Just remember, everyone:

Rutgers is submitted — thank goodness! 5 down, 5 to go! Halfway there, just gotta keep chugging.

Any other Rutgers applicants? In the painful process of trimming my personal statement, I've noticed that the application form has two sort of conflicting sets of instructions. The personal statement page says that it should be no more than 500 words. However, the text box reads "fewer than 35112" characters. I am down to 670 words and REALLY stuck. Anyone in a similar boat?

Hahahahahahaha. I laughed out loud at this. This is exactly what I need right now. I should print one and hang it above my desk.

I am still struggling to cut down my personal statement for Rutgers. 500 words is so, so short.

Yay Sandy. I'm working on numbers 5 and 6 right now, which will take me to 6/10... whew!

Yes, silly formatting. The cynic in me wonders how much time these schools actually spend with each application. Considering Yale, for example, and how many apps they must receive each year... I try not to think about this too much, because it just makes me feel depressed. I'm going to do my best to send off the rest of my applications and then just forget about them for the next couple of months.

Lexi, I hated my Berkeley personal history statement as well. It was the best I could do, but I feel way less comfortable writing about my personal background than my intellectual background by itself. I tried my best to tie them together, but it was still an uncomfortable process.

Yes, to say what has already been said... both are required. I'm polishing mine this weekend. I hadn't realized how short it is! I need to trim, trim, trim. Best of luck!

Sending out good luck wishes to everyone else who had deadlines today! I submitted my first four applications, and learned my lesson about submitting the day of the deadline. My materials have been finished for a while, and I kept waiting to hit the "submit" button... just in case I needed to change anything at the last minute. This resulted in me changing maybe two or three small words or punctuation marks, and re-reading and re-reading and re-reading... and driving myself crazy. The next applications will go out much earlier. How is everyone holding out? Doing ok? I've noticed some frantic posts about recommenders and such. Deep breaths. I promise it will be okay, just like the other posters mentioned. I know it can be overwhelming and easy to lose perspective after working so hard on every little detail. But a late letter will not ruin your application. I promise. Though I understand that doesn't make it any less unpleasant.

Hang in there, Safferz!

Coffee, Sarah Vaughan, and my desk all day today. I am determined to finish revising this writing sample once and for all today.

Sandy, you are not alone in this feeling. I am way beyond sixth revision (and this is not a good thing), and I'm still feeling clumsy, wordy, and tangled up. I'll send you a virtual cocktail.

Also, anyone else having trouble uploading to U of Washington? I think they're having trouble with their server or something. It keeps telling my that all of my PDFs are the wrong format, and they're not. And they are the right size. Oops. It must have just been something weird with Firefox; I didn't have any problems uploading via Safari. (Happy Thanksgiving!)

There is a space for relevant employment experience, and one for academic honors. But nowhere for conferences, publications, etc. I sent an email and am hoping to hear back in time, because my CV is a very important part of my application package. I'd be so sad if I couldn't submit it.

Okay, my brain is tired, so this might be an obvious question: Are we not supposed to submit a CV to UT Austin? I am uploading my materials right now and I'm either missing the instructions for a CV or it is not required.

Congrats, Morgan! You must be relieved. I am submitting my first four applications this weekend. WHOA! How's everyone else doing?

Congrats, bachr! I have officially finished revising my statement of purpose. Working on modifying it for each school this weekend. Then I'll let it sit for a few days and come back to it. And the writing sample draft is done. Taking a day or two away from it, and then revising it some more. The only thing I haven't drafted/revised yet: the book review for Yale. That's this week.

Maeisenb — thank you! Hadn't realized this. Phew. Sandy - Congrats on the progress!

How's everyone doing? This morning, it hit me that Berkeley asks for 10 page writing sample. Somehow it didn't register before, that I will need to cut down my sample for that application. Or maybe I'll just send a conference paper. But goodness gracious, ten pages. Brevity is my biggest challenge, in general, when I'm writing. Yikes.

Not a bad idea, Sig. Not bad at all... Thanks!