DaisyAdair

I was reading a timeline on applying to grad school and found this statement "February & March: Try to relax while you wait it out. This will probably be the most relaxing time you'll have for the next several years, so enjoy it." (http://www.princetonreview.com/grad/application-timeline.aspx) I don't know if I should laugh or be afraid - very, very afraid. I am still impatiently waiting on one school and not relaxing at all. I had a dream last night that I was waitlisted and that did not comfort me much.

I would have a hard time being composed with a surprise phone call. I prefer email as well.

Although my apps are done, two of my schools have Jan 15 deadlines. I know I won't hear back for a while since they are still accepting applications.

Congrats on the interview!!! Good luck!

I got the same email, rems. None of my schools notify this early, so I knew it wasn't anything, but it still made me stop and think. I submitted my last application. Having a little deja vu since I thought I had sent my last app and then decided to send in one more. This one really was the last one.

I don't know the specifics of your field, but yeah, I would retake the GRE.

I would say you keep chugging along. I am an older student, and it took me a while to grasp some of the concepts - especially math. It has been forever since I have been in a math classroom and many concepts were foreign to me. But I didn't focus on the math as much since I am applying to English programs. I just wanted to get by on the math and do really well on the vocab. For the vocab, I carried around notecards everywhere. I pulled them out at traffic lights, waiting in lines, anywhere. My kids would find them and then start quizzing me (which was fun considering they would try to pronounce the words and would butcher them). It became addictive and I am still looking at the notecards even though the GRE is over for me. And I did practice questions to get used to the format and how to approach the different questions. It took a while, but eventually I began getting more correct answers than wrong answers. It took me some times to start improving, even with vocab and I am an English major. Good luck!!

I got a 5.5, which I hope will offset my low math scores. I don't kow how much they look at it, but I am applying to English programs, so I wanted a decent AW score. I would have been OK with a 5. Oh, and as the screen popped up to tell me time was up on one of the essays, I saw a typo.

I am not sure I would go to a program if it weren't funded. I would think twice about quitting a job to take out debt for school that will end with a degree that makes it very difficult to find a job. Is there any local program that would meet your needs?

I wish I had done this. I decided to apply to one more. No sure what I was thinking other than the fact that one of my LOR writers highly recommended the program and knew someone there. I am just about done with the last app, but I do feel like I am just spending application fees to avoid the long wait until March/April. That really isn't the best approach for my budget.

Oh, I am so glad you heard back from your LOR writer! That is a huge relief, I am sure. Yes, we can do it. It will be an uphill battle at times, but we can do it!

Is it horrible that my first thought was that I hope that student gets into the same program as I do. That would actually be entertaining to watch - in a demented, weird way.

Oh, I am so sorry to hear that! Don't give up - If you don't try, you won't know, right? That is my theory. No matter what, in six years, I will be six years older. If I don't try, I will be six years older without a PhD. If I try I *could* be six years older with a PhD. May as well try. My LOR writers have done well so far, but the one school I am really interested in has a Jan 15 deadline and I am waiting on two letters. I know there is plenty of time, but I wish they would just submit them so I don't have to stress about it.

I honestly think Jan 2 as a deadline is horrible. All the school admins are on break up to and including Jan 2. What if you have problems or questions? I really think it is mean to have a Jan 2 deadline. Or maybe I am just grumpy tonight.

I just recently added one more school to my list, so I am working on that application. But there isn't much for me to change other than the SOP. I didn't have to write about my weaknesses - that doesn't sound fun. I know they always say to turn it into a strength, but it sounds difficult. I have real work to do next week. I am hoping that will help get me out of this unproductive rut I have been in the last two weeks.