hogmommy

I wish that I had the option to check my status online. Checking my email gets old and the mail only comes once a day.

Not depressed, just anxious. About 5 minutes ago, I was entering my email address for something unrelated and typed a hybrid of my two addresses into the field. Then I began to wonder if maybe I made that same mistake on my app. I'm thinking surely not, but that is probably something I didn't obsessively check and recheck.

I didn't use PR's Cracking the GRE, but I did use their 1400+ Practice Questions book. I agree with the poster that mentioned there are mistakes (wrong answers in answer key, right in explanation, or wrong in both) and that becomes frustrating. Other than the PR book, I used an older Kaplan book and CD that had be given to me by a former neighbor. I studied a lot. My last math course was Cal 1 in 1999, so I had to literally relearn all but the most basic arithmetic. I ended up with a 680V and 740Q. I should have probably paid more attention to the AW suggestions, as I ended up with only a 4.5.

I have been out for more than six years and dealt with the same issues. Luckily, I was very close with one professor and maintained a relationship via email over the years, so she didn't hesitate at all. Another professor, who somehow taught both my cultural anth and bio anth courses and was the reason I majored in anthropology, replied that I should take a few courses as a non-matriculated grad student to build new relationships, but that she wouldn't write the rec. She said it was tough for me because I was a stay at home instead of working and indicated the student she chose last year had a LOR from an employer (she's at Stanford, by the way, if that helps anyone.) I took a class in the fall, did well, and that professor was more than willing to write for me.

Yes, I did only apply to one university. My husband's career requires us to stay in the area and I have been a stay-at-home mommy for 6+ years. I am shocked as I did not know such funding existed! Thank god for Walmart.

I don't have any sort of official news, just hearsay, but I am taking a class from the director of the state archaeological survey (in coordination with the university) who has heard that the dept. is excited to finally have a applicant eligible (because of GRE score) for a HUGE university-wide fellowship (tuition waiver plus $38k/year renewable for 4 years) and because of my score (1420 combined) assumes it is me! Beyond excited. Even though I might not get the fellowship, I feel that acceptance is all but guaranteed.

According to past results, acceptances for my program come between Feb 4th and 9th. Because we are in the south and have had an unprecedented number of snow days, I won't stress until the 15th.

I am the mother of two girls, four and six, and have put off graduate school until they both enter elementary school. (My youngest will be in kindergarten in August.) Much like others in this thread, I am limited to only one choice for graduate school that also happens to be my undergrad alma mater. I've been a stay-at-home mom since my girls were born so, obviously, my husband is the breadwinner in the family and his career and the things it provides for (the mortgage, car payments and, basically, the necessities of life) depend on him staying in the same job in this area. From the time we decided to have children (he was 30, I was 23) it has always been "the plan" for me to go to grad school. And although my husband works full-time, his position and seniority allow him flexibility so the understanding is that grad school is "my time" and its demands will come first in the family. (We'll have to see how that actually works out!) It's nice to see people in similar situations. Until I found this site yesterday, I was feeling like I was the only one!

I have two children (4 and 6) and am applying to a combined MA/PhD program for the fall--my youngest will start kindergarten in August.) Do I wish I had gone directly from my undergrad into grad school and finished my PhD before starting a family? Sometimes. Am I thrilled to have had the opportunity to devote myself completely to my children for the past nearly 7 years? Absolutely.

I just found this site and have quickly become addicted. I've taken a non-traditional path and have been a stay-at-home mom for 7 years. I've applied to the bio anth MA/PhD combined program at the University of Arkansas. Because of "little" things (my husband's career, paying the mortgage, etc.) this was really my only option and, perhaps unfortunately, is also the source of my undergrad degree. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for acceptance because I have had only good conversations with my potential advisers and the grad school coordinator. Coming back to academia after so long, I thought my biggest challenge was going to be finding profs to write LORs and taking the GRE. I had no problem with either thanks to strong relationships maintained over the years and months of GRE prep (my score: 680V, 740Q!!!) I know that Arkansas is not a prestigious program like many of you are applying for, but having only one app out there is nerve-wracking. According to last year's results, it looks like I might know either way in the coming week or so! This site is great for both information and support and I'm so glad to have found it!