tortola23

The only explanation I'm offering in my turn-down emails and letters is along the lines of "I'm accepting a better-funded offer", since I want the schools to know that 1) paying for a degree isn't in most potential students' game-plans, and 2) I'm not turning them down because of fit, location, any number of other considerations.

I'm lucky enough to be starting my English PhD program this fall at the same school where my s.o. is in the physics PhD program. I'm certainly expecting it to be difficult just because we'll both be very busy, but I actually think it will be easier than this past year has been, when he was in grad school and I was working a boring full-time job. When we're both busy with the same types of things, it should be easier to understand about time constraints, schedule conflicts, and stress.

The cattle heard what?

I went to UF as an undergrad for a year, and while I left because I did not like it, it wasn't very much different from any gigantic public university. Pretty sure that was just a troll, but thought I should add that.

I want to say thanks, as well. GradCafe has helped me through two extremely stressful rounds of applications now!

Last year, as a college fourth-year completing my thesis project, I applied to eight schools and was roundly rejected by every single one. I was so confident that I'd get multiple admits, but once the last rejection letter rolled in, I realized that I had had no idea what I was doing and my confidence was beyond crushed. My professors had little time to help me with application materials because they were also teaching me classes and helping me with my thesis, and I had little time to commit to the applications for the same reasons. I used pretty much the same statement of purpose for every school. I harped on the irregularities in my transcripts (I attended three different undergrad institutions). I used papers from my second year as writing samples. I chose schools I liked the sound of without doing nearly enough research into their strengths, their faculty, and the types of students they admit. I applied to UPenn (one of the most competitive in the country!) and SUNY Buffalo (where my interests were a terrible fit!), and several other places that just CLEARLY wouldn't have worked. I felt like an idiot, and no one had the time to bother telling me what I was doing wrong.

So I decided to figure it out for myself. This year, I was out of school and working a full-time job four days per week. Luckily, the job didn't follow me home (it's retail), and I was able to commit A LOT (seriously, A LOT) of time to my applications. I carefully researched many, many schools and selected eleven that were strong in my fields of interest. I contacted several faculty members, particularly at my top choice school, and even met with a faculty member at my top choice. I wasn't shy with any potential or former professors: I told them exactly what my goals were and straight-up asked for advice about what should go in my personal statement. All of them were remarkably helpful and none of them were put off by my boldness. I created a hanging file system for my applications, as well as a checklist for each one, and methodically completed them in the order that they were due. I wrote a completely new statement of purpose for each program. I carefully edited my best thesis chapter and used it as a writing sample.

Disaster struck when, as the due-date for my first (and top choice) application neared on December 1st, I realized that one of my recommendation writers might not come through. She stopped responding to my emails about ten days prior, and never acknowleged receiving the packet of carefully printed, stamped, and organized materials I had mailed to her. I tried to have some faith, but decided that I HAD to err on the side of caution. I contacted another former professor and asked him to overnight me a set of letters for all of my schools. Eight letters. In less than two days. I felt like an absolute asshole. But he came through, and I got my first-choice application mailed the morning of December 1st. The materials from my first recommender never arrived, and I haven't had any emails or letters from her since.

To my complete surprise, I ended up getting in to five schools, and was wait-listed at a sixth where I later withdrew myself from consideration to accept an offer from my #1 choice. I could barely believe it when I got my first admit, much less the subsequent ones, and I practically fainted both when I was wait-listed and when I was taken off the wait-list at my top choice. In one year, I went from nothing but form-letter rejections to mostly eager acceptances at awesome schools.

Most importantly, do not give up if grad school is really what you want to do. And in the application process, never be timid or shy about asking for what you need; just ask for it straightforwardly and then thank everyone profusely.

Congrats to everyone and GOOD LUCK!

I want to say thanks, as well. GradCafe has helped me through two extremely stressful rounds of applications now!

Last year, as a college fourth-year completing my thesis project, I applied to eight schools and was roundly rejected by every single one. I was so confident that I'd get multiple admits, but once the last rejection letter rolled in, I realized that I had had no idea what I was doing and my confidence was beyond crushed. My professors had little time to help me with application materials because they were also teaching me classes and helping me with my thesis, and I had little time to commit to the applications for the same reasons. I used pretty much the same statement of purpose for every school. I harped on the irregularities in my transcripts (I attended three different undergrad institutions). I used papers from my second year as writing samples. I chose schools I liked the sound of without doing nearly enough research into their strengths, their faculty, and the types of students they admit. I applied to UPenn (one of the most competitive in the country!) and SUNY Buffalo (where my interests were a terrible fit!), and several other places that just CLEARLY wouldn't have worked. I felt like an idiot, and no one had the time to bother telling me what I was doing wrong.

So I decided to figure it out for myself. This year, I was out of school and working a full-time job four days per week. Luckily, the job didn't follow me home (it's retail), and I was able to commit A LOT (seriously, A LOT) of time to my applications. I carefully researched many, many schools and selected eleven that were strong in my fields of interest. I contacted several faculty members, particularly at my top choice school, and even met with a faculty member at my top choice. I wasn't shy with any potential or former professors: I told them exactly what my goals were and straight-up asked for advice about what should go in my personal statement. All of them were remarkably helpful and none of them were put off by my boldness. I created a hanging file system for my applications, as well as a checklist for each one, and methodically completed them in the order that they were due. I wrote a completely new statement of purpose for each program. I carefully edited my best thesis chapter and used it as a writing sample.

Disaster struck when, as the due-date for my first (and top choice) application neared on December 1st, I realized that one of my recommendation writers might not come through. She stopped responding to my emails about ten days prior, and never acknowleged receiving the packet of carefully printed, stamped, and organized materials I had mailed to her. I tried to have some faith, but decided that I HAD to err on the side of caution. I contacted another former professor and asked him to overnight me a set of letters for all of my schools. Eight letters. In less than two days. I felt like an absolute asshole. But he came through, and I got my first-choice application mailed the morning of December 1st. The materials from my first recommender never arrived, and I haven't had any emails or letters from her since.

To my complete surprise, I ended up getting in to five schools, and was wait-listed at a sixth where I later withdrew myself from consideration to accept an offer from my #1 choice. I could barely believe it when I got my first admit, much less the subsequent ones, and I practically fainted both when I was wait-listed and when I was taken off the wait-list at my top choice. In one year, I went from nothing but form-letter rejections to mostly eager acceptances at awesome schools.

Most importantly, do not give up if grad school is really what you want to do. And in the application process, never be timid or shy about asking for what you need; just ask for it straightforwardly and then thank everyone profusely.

Congrats to everyone and GOOD LUCK!

I want to say thanks, as well. GradCafe has helped me through two extremely stressful rounds of applications now!

Last year, as a college fourth-year completing my thesis project, I applied to eight schools and was roundly rejected by every single one. I was so confident that I'd get multiple admits, but once the last rejection letter rolled in, I realized that I had had no idea what I was doing and my confidence was beyond crushed. My professors had little time to help me with application materials because they were also teaching me classes and helping me with my thesis, and I had little time to commit to the applications for the same reasons. I used pretty much the same statement of purpose for every school. I harped on the irregularities in my transcripts (I attended three different undergrad institutions). I used papers from my second year as writing samples. I chose schools I liked the sound of without doing nearly enough research into their strengths, their faculty, and the types of students they admit. I applied to UPenn (one of the most competitive in the country!) and SUNY Buffalo (where my interests were a terrible fit!), and several other places that just CLEARLY wouldn't have worked. I felt like an idiot, and no one had the time to bother telling me what I was doing wrong.

So I decided to figure it out for myself. This year, I was out of school and working a full-time job four days per week. Luckily, the job didn't follow me home (it's retail), and I was able to commit A LOT (seriously, A LOT) of time to my applications. I carefully researched many, many schools and selected eleven that were strong in my fields of interest. I contacted several faculty members, particularly at my top choice school, and even met with a faculty member at my top choice. I wasn't shy with any potential or former professors: I told them exactly what my goals were and straight-up asked for advice about what should go in my personal statement. All of them were remarkably helpful and none of them were put off by my boldness. I created a hanging file system for my applications, as well as a checklist for each one, and methodically completed them in the order that they were due. I wrote a completely new statement of purpose for each program. I carefully edited my best thesis chapter and used it as a writing sample.

Disaster struck when, as the due-date for my first (and top choice) application neared on December 1st, I realized that one of my recommendation writers might not come through. She stopped responding to my emails about ten days prior, and never acknowleged receiving the packet of carefully printed, stamped, and organized materials I had mailed to her. I tried to have some faith, but decided that I HAD to err on the side of caution. I contacted another former professor and asked him to overnight me a set of letters for all of my schools. Eight letters. In less than two days. I felt like an absolute asshole. But he came through, and I got my first-choice application mailed the morning of December 1st. The materials from my first recommender never arrived, and I haven't had any emails or letters from her since.

To my complete surprise, I ended up getting in to five schools, and was wait-listed at a sixth where I later withdrew myself from consideration to accept an offer from my #1 choice. I could barely believe it when I got my first admit, much less the subsequent ones, and I practically fainted both when I was wait-listed and when I was taken off the wait-list at my top choice. In one year, I went from nothing but form-letter rejections to mostly eager acceptances at awesome schools.

Most importantly, do not give up if grad school is really what you want to do. And in the application process, never be timid or shy about asking for what you need; just ask for it straightforwardly and then thank everyone profusely.

Congrats to everyone and GOOD LUCK!

I go to UF now as an undergrad. They don't care about anyone. I got into a doctoral program in Plant Pathology at UF and turned it down after they refused to send me an official letter of admission. Going to Cornell in the Fall and can't wait to leave Gainesville. Worst city ever!!! Though, Ithaca isn't too far from the cattle heard lol.

I'm a Floridian and lived in Gainesville for a year attending UF; if you have any questions about things there, I might be able to answer.

(I don't have work for a few days, so I'm just laying around reading, haha.)

Good luck at Austin, Tortola!

Looks like the postal acceptance was a mouse mistake and is actually a rejection.

I just got in.

Kind of in shock, but so happy. I'll be accepting.

I just got in.

Kind of in shock, but so happy. I'll be accepting.

Any UT-Austin turn-downs would be greatly appreciated!

Any UT-Austin turn-downs would be greatly appreciated!

I'm also wait-listed at UT, and they told me in their letter that they do replace turn-downs with students in similar fields, to maintain the balance of their "cohesive" incoming class. UF apparently has some sort of ranked wait-list (whereas UT does not rank), so I'm not sure if they use this system or not, although it would stand to reason since they can't overload one POI or one reading group, etc.

I guess we'll all find out soon!

Gentlemen, we have survived another day.

Hehe, I love how insane everyone starts sounding. Please understand I am NOT making fun of anyone, because we ALL sound crazy, but there is a little perverse humor in our suffering.

That makes me feel a little better too. My GPA is slightly lower than average, but my GPA from the last two years and in my major are much better than average, as are my GRE scores. Crossing appropriate digits! =)

This is also my second round, and I'm applying to twelve schools. So far I have one official and one implicit rejection, no acceptances, and no wait-lists. At least you managed to work on an MA; apparently I can't even get into those programs.

I understand how you feel, and have no idea what I'll do with myself if I don't get in anywhere this year. I don't seem to be able to get a real job with my BA, so I don't even know why I bothered to go to college, much less apply to grad school.

This whole thing is so depressing.

This is also my second round, and I'm applying to twelve schools. So far I have one official and one implicit rejection, no acceptances, and no wait-lists. At least you managed to work on an MA; apparently I can't even get into those programs.

I understand how you feel, and have no idea what I'll do with myself if I don't get in anywhere this year. I don't seem to be able to get a real job with my BA, so I don't even know why I bothered to go to college, much less apply to grad school.

This whole thing is so depressing.

"I'm sure you'll get in somewhere!"

"It doesn't do any good to worry about it."

"You can always reapply next year!"

"You didn't want to live in ______ anyway."

And, the worst one, FROM CURRENT GRAD STUDENTS: "Uuuugh, don't go to grad school, it's so much WORK." Excuse me, but you don't understand how hard it is to have a shitty boring job in the real world, and I would LOVE to take your place if it's too hard for you in your PhD program!

Sick of hearing it all!

"I'm sure you'll get in somewhere!"

"It doesn't do any good to worry about it."

"You can always reapply next year!"

"You didn't want to live in ______ anyway."

And, the worst one, FROM CURRENT GRAD STUDENTS: "Uuuugh, don't go to grad school, it's so much WORK." Excuse me, but you don't understand how hard it is to have a shitty boring job in the real world, and I would LOVE to take your place if it's too hard for you in your PhD program!

Sick of hearing it all!

Just called to check: They're STILL filing things, and will contact you if anything is missing from your file.

Weird considering that they usually start notifying people in mid-February, but whatever. I just hope they really will contact applicants about missing documents.

I too have a boring job, from 10am to 7pm Monday through Thursday. Since I'm just sitting there occasionally talking to a customer with the internet in front of me, I can't stop myself from checking GradCafe while I'm here. But when I'm at home, I try to relax and not think about it.

- reading Terry Pratchett's Discworld series
- reading Wikipedia
- watching dumb TV shows I didn't have time for last year in college (lots of cooking ones, + ridiculous stuff like Criminal Minds, Bones, and House)
- knitting frantically
- making collages to decorate the apartment
- cleaning
- cooking
- learning about beer

It's rough times, but hopefully we'll all make it through without losing it entirely.

I'm basing my expectations on last year's posted results. So for instance, Pittsburgh notified most of their acceptees around Feburary 16th last year, so I could start freaking out around mid-February if I applied there.

Can't have any pointless freak-outs, now can we! . . . oh wait. HAHA.

I do similar things! Probably just weird but not necessarily unhealthy responses to the enormous amount of stress we're all under right now.

Good news from a single school would seriously change my entire outlook on life. I haven't felt entirely like myself since this process began, which was LAST fall for me. I am so anxious and worried almost 24/7. ARGH.