scarvesandcardigans

Still waiting to hear back from them. This sucks, I am very sorry to hear it! At least you aren't waiting anymore for a decision and it's less weighing on you. Everything happens for a reason. There are still a lot of schools that you have yet to hear from and I have very good feelings about those for you.

I am just going to assume that the end of this week equates to no more news, which is freaking me out because the projected timeline of notification for my top choice should be around this time. They don't make decisions until a month from now, either. But both of my definitive letters have come on the weekend! Don't give up hope!

In my honest opinion, I think taking the GRE in March for a fall application will be fine. I agree with everyone else that it wouldn't hurt to check, and you definitely want to use those four free sends (it's $27 I think to send a score now, at least that's how much I paid). I agree with MidwesternAloha that most schools create a file for you. The grad school application timeline begins way before September, so it's my belief that most schools expect to be getting scores around this time for future applicants. Also, if they didn't receive your scores, they'll usually let you know.

How long is the interview? I have a lot of friends who did clinical/counseling interviews for the Master's program at my university, and they all said that you just try to be as human as possible. What I have to offer is advice from a professor in the department, based on how she acts during interviews and what she expects. One of the things I saw in her mock interview was asking a student, "What was the last book you read for fun?" and the student was advised not to answer anything that makes them seem like their whole life is the field they are going into. For example, if they answered (and keep in mind I am just totally making this up!) "Well I recently read the Interpretation of Dreams cover to cover because I think it will help my future research in neo-Freudian theory," the professor said that she would look upon that almost negatively because they want to know that you have a life/interests outside of the program, or else you'll burn out quickly. And hey, if you recently read Eat, Pray, Love, the professor may have read it as well and wants to discuss it further. It's a very casual question but they take it into consideration! Another question that she asked was, "If you had to submit a thesis proposal right now, what would the topic be?" One thing that she did say was that you are totally fine if you take a pause to answer a question. They don't expect you to immediately have all of the answers. They want you to think carefully about it. She stated that she respects a student that can say to her, "That's an excellent question, let me take a moment to think about it" or something along those lines. They also cover the very basics, such as what your primary research interests are and what you plan to do with your degree. She said they (profs) also carefully watch how you interact with other students during the process because this could very well be your future cohort, and they want to ensure that nobody is trying to outdo anyone else. They are also very careful to watch how you treat pretty much every staff member. One student that was totally glistening perfect on an application was invited to an interview and treated the secretaries in the department with no respect at all, so he was not admitted. This is, of course, if you have the chance to interact with all of these people. The interview knowledge that I have spans over the course of a weekend-long interview. Students are interviewed by every professor, in groups as the previous poster mentioned, and are sometimes expected to know the interests of them, because you very well may not work with your top POI. The students and professors also had outside-university interaction. I think all potential applicants met at a professor's house for a very casual dinner-party-style event, where the pressure of academia is a little less prominent. Like I said, this is just what I know from students/professors within the department. I hope it helps some! Good luck!

Okay guys - I have a question that I have been searching up and down for an answer to, but I would like to know from anyone's personal experience whether or not it is actually helpful. If someone can point me to maybe a forum or post with this answer also, that would be so great! One of my LoR writers - a professor with whom I have taken 3 classes, completed a research project, and presented at a conference - recently completed his PhD at the same university that is currently my top choice. He has been helpful in advising me regarding how I should contact certain people, what to put in my letters, and he has even gotten in touch with a couple of his colleagues that also went to this university. I believe it was very instrumental in my acceptance at one school, including TA, full tuition remission, all of that good stuff. He knows one of the professors there because they graduated together, and was able to introduce me in person at the conference we went to. That was for my second choice school. He emailed the department head at the top choice school, because he knows her well, and gave me some information on their committee meeting (i.e. they hadn't met yet), and I hope put in an additional good word. What I really want to know is whether or not his connections to these people have a significant influence on my application decision. I am so grateful for all of the assistance and support I have received, but I can't help but wonder if it's just coincidence or it really does aid in the process. Thanks!

As of 1:00 pm, five times, I think. Probably higher because I check my e-mail at least three times every hour.

This happened to me over the weekend. I was staying in an apartment with my boyfriend in a very quiet section of the neighborhood and the next-door neighbor was blasting music, so loud that we couldn't hear what was on TV, but very clearly what the words of every song were, even though the volume on the TV was way up. We knocked on the walls a few times and eventually the guy yelled back. It was rude as ever. Conversation was kind of like: Guy: QUIT KNOCKING ON MY WALLS! Us: Then turn your music down! Guy: Not gonna do anything unless you ask nicely, buddy boy! Us: PLEASE turn your music down! Guy: Thank you! As if we were being the inconsiderate ones... Also kudos on the wug reference.

Just saw an acceptance for Stony Brook. :/ Let's hope some good news comes my way from them. Giving up on Ohio State, too, because a while ago emails were sent out and I have heard absolutely nothing. App deadline was Dec. 1.

Perfection

I would say you should. I don't think it would make you a jerk at all. The deadline has passed. If anything, to maybe make it a little bit of a "softer" approach, you could ask her when she feels like she will have it done? That way it gets her thinking about when she will be able to do it and actually commit to it? I'm so sorry!

You should definitely start preparing as soon as possible! Cramming study time to right before you take the test is not ideal. I was advised to seriously study 4-6 weeks prior, but to begin looking over materials and familiarizing myself with the test way before that. Most schools require that you at least take the GRE, but double check with your specific program beforehand. One of mine eliminated the GRE requirement altogether for students with a certain GPA -after- I had already taken the test and sent my scores. I'm not familiar with Manhattan materials, but I found that the practice GRE software the ETS has (it's free to download once you sign up) made me feel a lot less nervous because I knew exactly what the test looked like and how it was formatted. I used Princeton Review books and they were helpful for verbal sections, not so much for math. These books helped me to understand what the questions were asking and "decipher" each item, but if you feel that math isn't your strongest suit, do as much review as you can. Good luck!

Oh my god. Were any of those follow-ups calls? Can you talk to this recommender in person? I'm so sorry! I hope you get it sorted out! Sending good vibes your way!!! ---- Meanwhile, I have seen two acceptances come through for Ohio State's MA Spanish & Portuguese program and I haven't heard a thing. Website still says the application is pending. I'm getting worried that it means rejection, especially since I submitted dangerously close to the deadline (I thought it was Dec. 15 but the program-specific deadline was Dec. 1...trying not to relive that now) and one of my references (this is where I feel you on an immense level mockturtle) submitted her letter late. I want to live in ignorance if it means I've been rejected, but I also just really want to know. Ugh. It's been almost 10 weeks. Also let me tell you guys. December graduation is no walk in the park if you don't have a solid plan/spring start for grad programs. The most feasible option for me was to move back home and try to get a job, but I am struggling hard. It doesn't feel good being the live-at-home college grad but I know it's becoming more normal. I am ready for August more than I can describe. I have never felt more smothered and unappreciated than how I feel now. It's like being 17 again, in the bad way. Applying to college, waiting it out, living at home, trying to find a job that I can sustain myself with while knowing that it's only temporary? Hello high school... Sending good vibes to the whole thread. We got this.

I'll be 22 when I start my MA this fall!

Yeah that's true. I guess if people post here about it, it's bound to be on the results page as well. Was just wondering if anyone had some additional info. My professor that graduated from Penn State let me know they haven't even met yet to discuss applications. :/ Thanks!

Felicidades, you deserve to be happy with that accomplishment! That's awesome!

I found that just approaching professors to talk about graduate programs in general invited the conversation to steer toward LoRs. As far as -how- to do it, it depends on what you think is best or most respectful of them. Approaching them during office hours is completely fine, not weird at all, but they probably won't be able to sit down and talk to you right then about it. I found that they appreciated scheduling an official meeting time together and then sending a follow-up email as a reminder. It will definitely be good to maybe think of some alternates, though. Just in case. Good luck!

I'm dying at all of these. So true. For me it depends on who I am talking to. For example, with my mother, conversations go like this: Me: I want to go to X school because they have Y program, full funding, TA, and my professor knows a lot of faculty members because he did his PhD work there. Mom: That sounds too good to be true. Be realistic. And the ever-popular follow-up... Me: I was accepted! Mom: I KNEW IT ALL ALONG!! Me: I was wait-listed for a PhD program which, as someone with only a BA, is a big accomplishment I think! Mom: How are you planning on paying for that? But if I am talking to people who aren't applying to grad school, it's more like this: Them: Don't stress about it! It's not in your hands! I'm sure you'll get in everywhere! They'll be lucky to have you! Them: It shouldn't take you that long to finish your applications, right? Them: I don't see the point of graduate school. I would never go. (This one really gets me because it makes me feel like I am wasting my time when I KNOW it isn't true!!)

Hey future linguists! Happy to join the conversation here! I see Hispanic/Spanish linguists here. I like it. Has anyone heard anything at all from Penn State? OR do any previous applicants/admitted students have any info on that? It's my #1 choice so I'm impatiently waiting it out.

Too true. I'm a mixed level applicant (MA and PhD) so I appreciate an MA applicant chiming in here. I found that for two schools I applied to (UC Davis and NC State), the committee requested a recording sample of me speaking Spanish. Davis's sample was supposed to be like a casual conversation but State had a prompt that they wanted me to follow, time limit, etc. I didn't have an interview with them and all of my correspondence with each program has thus far been in English. However, I cannot attest to programs that do not have a speech sample requirement (yet) but from what I understand, interviews might take place in your native language but I am sure that casual conversation or questions in Spanish will be held. Also you could always ask your professors if they are familiar with the programs to which you are applying! That has been a big help for me to get some "inside info" on some things. Good luck!

First, have you made the issue known to the person who wrote the reference? I think that's the most important. The fact that the wrong institution name is in the letter I don't think will be a big deal to admissions committees. They have to be aware that you are asking for multiple school references and, yeah, probably made the same errors themselves. I would definitely get in contact with the graduate school or program(s) to which you are applying and let them know. I think they will be understanding about it. Some people probably forget to check the box every now and again. You'll be fine! Good luck!

Email el 31 de enero. He visto que dos personas han recibido ofertas pero sé nada más

I'm in the same boat here. It's still relatively early to tell (in my opinion), it'll be okay!