hyronomus4

"SOP, fine. LOR, fine. GPA, fine. GRE, fine"
 
*throws papers on the table, stands on the table*
 
"Where is the sparkle?!? Where is all the pzazz?!?
 
*shoots off a glitter cannon and storms out of the room in disgust*
 
 
 
I guess I've always assumed the admission process takes so long because it's an entire room of divas and divos(is that a real thing?).

I would vote Simmons on cost alone.  I didn't look at cost nearly enough and the difference between the two is almost a first year social worker's salary.  It's crazy to take out 91K in loans when you'll be making a social work salary.

Hey all!
I was in your position this time last year anxiously waiting for my future to be revealed. I know the torture of waiting and I don't envy you at all!  Now I'm happily enrolled (albeit completely stressed and overwhelmed) in my top choice program.  I just want to wish you all the best of luck in whatever happens over the next few months!! 
P.S. I didn't get my #1 acceptance until mid March even though previously people reported acceptances in December and January.  Don't lose hope, Grad Cafe doesn't know everything!

Hey all!
I was in your position this time last year anxiously waiting for my future to be revealed. I know the torture of waiting and I don't envy you at all!  Now I'm happily enrolled (albeit completely stressed and overwhelmed) in my top choice program.  I just want to wish you all the best of luck in whatever happens over the next few months!! 
P.S. I didn't get my #1 acceptance until mid March even though previously people reported acceptances in December and January.  Don't lose hope, Grad Cafe doesn't know everything!

Hey all!
I was in your position this time last year anxiously waiting for my future to be revealed. I know the torture of waiting and I don't envy you at all!  Now I'm happily enrolled (albeit completely stressed and overwhelmed) in my top choice program.  I just want to wish you all the best of luck in whatever happens over the next few months!! 
P.S. I didn't get my #1 acceptance until mid March even though previously people reported acceptances in December and January.  Don't lose hope, Grad Cafe doesn't know everything!

Hey all!
I was in your position this time last year anxiously waiting for my future to be revealed. I know the torture of waiting and I don't envy you at all!  Now I'm happily enrolled (albeit completely stressed and overwhelmed) in my top choice program.  I just want to wish you all the best of luck in whatever happens over the next few months!! 
P.S. I didn't get my #1 acceptance until mid March even though previously people reported acceptances in December and January.  Don't lose hope, Grad Cafe doesn't know everything!

Hey all!
I was in your position this time last year anxiously waiting for my future to be revealed. I know the torture of waiting and I don't envy you at all!  Now I'm happily enrolled (albeit completely stressed and overwhelmed) in my top choice program.  I just want to wish you all the best of luck in whatever happens over the next few months!! 
P.S. I didn't get my #1 acceptance until mid March even though previously people reported acceptances in December and January.  Don't lose hope, Grad Cafe doesn't know everything!

Send balloons filled with confetti to all those accepted and sympathy flowers to all those I have to reject... and keep everyone well informed during the whole process.

Someone sent me this video today (I was feeling particularly impostor-ish) and I thought this would be a good place to share it.

One thing I forgot to mention before. If you're coming from a hot place and have a car, you probably have "summer" tires on your vehicle. They're really crappy to drive with on ice/snow so be prepared to invest in another set of tires once winter comes. You can either get "snow" tires and swap them back and forth or get "all season/weather" tires that don't have to be changed out. Trust me when I say that it is well worth the investment.

In terms of socialising - maybe "bonding through studying" was an unrealistic expectation. In the romanticised world of academia then yes, you and other budding scholars would spend hours poring over the literature and engage in deep intellectual discussions, connecting through your shared appreciation of your field. In reality, what I've seem is that people in grad school usually bond over lunch/coffee/dinner. Or they go to the bar. Or they play some kind of sport with a gang of friends. In fact, most of the shared activities don't involve studying! 
 
Personally, I'd not necessarily be receptive to somebody I didn't know well asking me to form a study group with them. I guess it's a distrust that the relationship would be one-way (i.e., they're going to mooch homework answers of me). Other folk I know wouldn't always see that as a problem - but it might explain the resistance you encountered to the idea, and why other members of your cohort were perhaps more keen to study with the people they'd already established friendships with.
 
Also, don't limit yourself to just making friends in your cohort! Try to find friends outside of grad school through your hobbies/interests (Meetup has saved my (social) life in several countries over the years - I'd urge everybody to use it). There will certainly be university-wide clubs that you can join. 
 
For transferring: just be polite and diplomatic, talk about poor alignment of the school with your research interests, rather than the social environment. Thank everybody for their assistance.

It varies by program what they will accept.  If it's a basic stats class from an accredited university then it will likely count but it won't be a guarantee until they actually get your transcript and approve it.  I found that many programs required the stats class before you start classes but they didn't require you to have it done before you apply.  I didn't take my stats course until I was accepted into a program.  That way I could send them the syllabus of the class I wanted to take and then made sure it would count.  I didn't want to take any more stats than I had to.  You might even be able to take it online the summer before you start your program through the same university to make it as simple as possible. 

HOLY smokes that is a chunk of money.  I'd go buy a Dave Ramsey book now and start planning your financial plan.  Have you already exhausted all financial options at the school such as an assitantship or any form or work-study?  I'd think about getting a job as well to try and underscore some of those expenses.  I agree it is a great investment in your future but not having a life and working to pay off debt sounds very stressful. 
 
It is really unfortunate how expensive it is to get a degree in this field.  I say just exhaust all your options on making money and get a plan in place so it can reduce the stress you're feeling about it.  They really don't give us a lot of options.
 
Maybe be a waitress at a good tipping restaurant the summer before you go?  It sucks but you can make thousands of dollars in a VERY short period of time.  I paid for a 3 week vacation abroad completely on tip money!    You can do this just be a money saving machine! 

For several weeks after I accepted an offer I was basically overcome with sheer terror.  After some time now I'm starting to move through the panic into more positive feelings.  At this rate I should excited to start by the time August rolls around!
 
I've been working for the past few years and I'm excited to get back into an academic setting.  I love being a student and being surrounded by people who are incredibly intelligent and also love to learn.  I also can't wait to have access to the university library and all that comes with that.  Small town rural community libraries just can't compete. 

For several weeks after I accepted an offer I was basically overcome with sheer terror.  After some time now I'm starting to move through the panic into more positive feelings.  At this rate I should excited to start by the time August rolls around!
 
I've been working for the past few years and I'm excited to get back into an academic setting.  I love being a student and being surrounded by people who are incredibly intelligent and also love to learn.  I also can't wait to have access to the university library and all that comes with that.  Small town rural community libraries just can't compete. 

Netflix.

The time goes so slowly! I work a 9-5 as well and every day just creeps.  I can't wait to start the next phase of my life. 

I'm terrified. ACK! I'm not in the right mindset to be excited yet I think...

This! I have a stack of books that I want to read now so I will be better prepped and possibly won't be as overloaded in the fall. But I also want to just veg until the real work begins.

Me too! 

Friendly reminder via @rundavidrun on Twitter.

I think I'm already feeling this. The first night after I accepted an offer, I couldn't sleep because I was terrified out of my mind. I just lay in bed thinking WHAT HAVE I DONE?
 
Anyone else feeling completely and totally inadequate for no reason?

yaaa no.... people in this thread are saying that "they know they should pick their dream school" but insist on being neurotic and beating the question to death by asking everyone and anyone their opinion. even when all of those opinions align with "pick the dream school" these people STILL don't decline offers. you people are gross, selfish and awful.

Earlier this week I was still waiting for 2 of 3 programs (with December deadlines) and I told a friend I felt like a shell of a person, these programs had taken the life from me.  I had lost any self confidence I once had.  As of today I've heard back from all and I can say I'm feeling more human than I have in the past 6 months.  Even a rejection made me feel better because it was better than not knowing. 

Depends on what you want to do the degree, I suppose.  If you're in it for an academic career, institution prestige will play a role in your eventual job search (yay bias).  If not, I'd sign up for VCU for the discount.