phdthoughts

@ejpril88 Agree with that sentiment! Wish we could all attend the same school. I actually had a disappointing experience with my cohort in my MA program. Not sure if it was the city, the university or my particular group or a combo of factors, but the atmosphere was unsupportive and rather cold. I did find a group of cool people eventually but it was only after some time. I'm curious if I do get in somewhere, what the atmosphere will be like in a PhD program.

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Loved this. Thank you.

Congrats to all so far who have received acceptances! On my end there are still crickets. I wish if there are rejections they would just send them because seeing the "in progress" and "submitted" status on the portals when I know some schools are sending notifications is a bit disheartening. It does not help that I have family in town so I'm on vacation this week (which is great) but so much more time to think and obsess rather than busy myself with work.

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@DBear How funny, my mentor in my MA program is also older, got her PhD at around 40 - but this was many years ago, so she was living a most unconventional life at that time. Things have changed since then, and for the better for older and female academics. She has a similar story as well, and recently told me it was not easy but she does not regret it. It's nice to be reminded that others have forged this path before us and not only survived, but thrived! I applied to the culture/interpersonal tracks.

@DBear What a small world! One of the things that's truly comforting about GC is finding so many like-minded people. For me, being a bit older I think offers some advantages like having a clearer vision of what I want to study, and I think I'll have the self-discipline to push on and finish due to years of being in the workforce. That being said, yes 40 is scary number to start over at, even though I think it's the right decision for me. The people closest to me are supportive, but it's sometimes lonely to be the only one without kids and a mortgage (owned a house, but sold it when we moved out of the US), and soon-to-be practically unemployed. What I'd love to do is talk to some other older faculty who made it to get a sense of their experience with the hiring process as older PhDs on the job market. Good luck to you too! We can root for eachother during this process as we have the same schools.

Hi all - thought I'd chime in. I'm 36 and applying to PhD programs. Did my masters in my late 20s and worked during that time, now live and work abroad in my field and but found that I really missed research and academia. So, I'm going for it! I have a really supportive husband who has traveled with me this far, and will join me where the next steps take us. That being said, the thought of giving up the nice salary I have now to live on a grad student's stipend is not at all appealing. I wonder how others are dealing with the financial aspect of it all. I don't have children so that factor is not there, but I will have to support my husband and I both until he gets a job wherever we end up. It's been an interesting year to say the least, and now it's just the wait for any word from schools. Torture!

@heyDW that's great! Some news at least is good news.

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@ejpril88 Congrats! Guess it's either an acceptance, or most likely a rejection soon from them for me if they are sending out emails. Hopefully I'll know either way soon.

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@1too3for5 @hopefulphd I just got an email from the graduate coordinator saying that they spoke to my recommender and will upload the letter to the system when they send it, which is progress at least. I'm feeling a lot better since I've read all the stories here about grace periods. Now, just she will just have to send it! Almost there - whew.

@DBear That actually makes me feel a lot better - I've heard of programs having a grace period, so I'm hoping they will do they same. I've worked in academic administration so one of the lessons I'll be sure to remember to take into a PhD program is a little kindness and civility goes a long way. Besides, we remember who is cool and who is not, and guess whose emails and paperwork and issues get taken care of quicker.

@GeorgeC07 Yes, deadline passed. I was notified on 12/31 by my advisor and deadline was 1/1 I know they will do their best to get it in.

Thanks @DBear I appreciate that. I'm disappointed but I have faith it will be resolved somehow. I emailed the program just to give them a heads-up on the whole thing, and I really want to follow up, but I know how it is as an administrative person to come back from the holidays to a pile of emails and messages to return so I'm just trying to chill.

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