Medievalmaniac

That was from the department DGS. The applicant in question had been assured prior by the director of the graduate school of Arts & Sciences that since her undergrad GPA was so old, the newer MA GPA would count more (she was smart enough to check that out before shelling over application fees). The POI in the department never saw the application at all, which she found out later when she ran into said person at a conference and was asked why she had not applied. POI was somewhat surprised and didn't think the undergraduate GPA should have been a factor. In the end, it was probably simply a matter of too many applicants, not enough slots.

(To pre-empt: She chose not to make a stink about the discrepancy between what the graduate school director/ POI and the department graduate studies director told her about the undergraduate GPA because - what good would that do, at that point? Instead, she did what she could to strengthen her application further and re-applied to several programs this year.)

The department DGS who wrote that response is no longer the DGS at that department, however, so hopefully no one else will have to go through a similar situation.

The moral of the story, however, and to come back to the original question posed, is - If you are going to ask it, make sure you are prepared for whatever they tell you by way of responding to "can you tell me why I didn't get in? I'd like to strengthen my application."

If they tell you "Well, there's nothing you can do about the problem with your application" - what will you do in that case?

It's just an example, from experience, by way of suggesting caution in proceeding.

Take a deep breath and slow down. Take out a piece of paper and physically write down all of the reasons you want to quit. Put it away. Come back to it in a day or two. How valid do those reasons seem now? On the back of the paper, write down all of the reasons to keep going and finish. Put it away again. Take it out in a day or two. Compare the two lists. Which one seems more valid? Take out another piece of paper. Write down what it will take to get it done - materials, tools, emotional/physical aspects, etc. Put this list away. Look at it in a day or two. Do you think you have what you need to get it done? This process may seem very simplistic and almost corny, but I guarantee it does actually work. You are giving a voice to your concerns, a name to the problem, and some space to think and reflect on everything - that will get you to a clear-headed answer better than anything any one of us could offer up to you by way of advice one way or the other.

Good luck!!

That was from the department DGS. The applicant in question had been assured prior by the director of the graduate school of Arts & Sciences that since her undergrad GPA was so old, the newer MA GPA would count more (she was smart enough to check that out before shelling over application fees). The POI in the department never saw the application at all, which she found out later when she ran into said person at a conference and was asked why she had not applied. POI was somewhat surprised and didn't think the undergraduate GPA should have been a factor. In the end, it was probably simply a matter of too many applicants, not enough slots.

(To pre-empt: She chose not to make a stink about the discrepancy between what the graduate school director/ POI and the department graduate studies director told her about the undergraduate GPA because - what good would that do, at that point? Instead, she did what she could to strengthen her application further and re-applied to several programs this year.)

The department DGS who wrote that response is no longer the DGS at that department, however, so hopefully no one else will have to go through a similar situation.

The moral of the story, however, and to come back to the original question posed, is - If you are going to ask it, make sure you are prepared for whatever they tell you by way of responding to "can you tell me why I didn't get in? I'd like to strengthen my application."

If they tell you "Well, there's nothing you can do about the problem with your application" - what will you do in that case?

It's just an example, from experience, by way of suggesting caution in proceeding.

That was from the department DGS. The applicant in question had been assured prior by the director of the graduate school of Arts & Sciences that since her undergrad GPA was so old, the newer MA GPA would count more (she was smart enough to check that out before shelling over application fees). The POI in the department never saw the application at all, which she found out later when she ran into said person at a conference and was asked why she had not applied. POI was somewhat surprised and didn't think the undergraduate GPA should have been a factor. In the end, it was probably simply a matter of too many applicants, not enough slots.

(To pre-empt: She chose not to make a stink about the discrepancy between what the graduate school director/ POI and the department graduate studies director told her about the undergraduate GPA because - what good would that do, at that point? Instead, she did what she could to strengthen her application further and re-applied to several programs this year.)

The department DGS who wrote that response is no longer the DGS at that department, however, so hopefully no one else will have to go through a similar situation.

The moral of the story, however, and to come back to the original question posed, is - If you are going to ask it, make sure you are prepared for whatever they tell you by way of responding to "can you tell me why I didn't get in? I'd like to strengthen my application."

If they tell you "Well, there's nothing you can do about the problem with your application" - what will you do in that case?

It's just an example, from experience, by way of suggesting caution in proceeding.

That was from the department DGS. The applicant in question had been assured prior by the director of the graduate school of Arts & Sciences that since her undergrad GPA was so old, the newer MA GPA would count more (she was smart enough to check that out before shelling over application fees). The POI in the department never saw the application at all, which she found out later when she ran into said person at a conference and was asked why she had not applied. POI was somewhat surprised and didn't think the undergraduate GPA should have been a factor. In the end, it was probably simply a matter of too many applicants, not enough slots.

(To pre-empt: She chose not to make a stink about the discrepancy between what the graduate school director/ POI and the department graduate studies director told her about the undergraduate GPA because - what good would that do, at that point? Instead, she did what she could to strengthen her application further and re-applied to several programs this year.)

The department DGS who wrote that response is no longer the DGS at that department, however, so hopefully no one else will have to go through a similar situation.

The moral of the story, however, and to come back to the original question posed, is - If you are going to ask it, make sure you are prepared for whatever they tell you by way of responding to "can you tell me why I didn't get in? I'd like to strengthen my application."

If they tell you "Well, there's nothing you can do about the problem with your application" - what will you do in that case?

It's just an example, from experience, by way of suggesting caution in proceeding.

That was from the department DGS. The applicant in question had been assured prior by the director of the graduate school of Arts & Sciences that since her undergrad GPA was so old, the newer MA GPA would count more (she was smart enough to check that out before shelling over application fees). The POI in the department never saw the application at all, which she found out later when she ran into said person at a conference and was asked why she had not applied. POI was somewhat surprised and didn't think the undergraduate GPA should have been a factor. In the end, it was probably simply a matter of too many applicants, not enough slots.

(To pre-empt: She chose not to make a stink about the discrepancy between what the graduate school director/ POI and the department graduate studies director told her about the undergraduate GPA because - what good would that do, at that point? Instead, she did what she could to strengthen her application further and re-applied to several programs this year.)

The department DGS who wrote that response is no longer the DGS at that department, however, so hopefully no one else will have to go through a similar situation.

The moral of the story, however, and to come back to the original question posed, is - If you are going to ask it, make sure you are prepared for whatever they tell you by way of responding to "can you tell me why I didn't get in? I'd like to strengthen my application."

If they tell you "Well, there's nothing you can do about the problem with your application" - what will you do in that case?

It's just an example, from experience, by way of suggesting caution in proceeding.

Take a deep breath and slow down. Take out a piece of paper and physically write down all of the reasons you want to quit. Put it away. Come back to it in a day or two. How valid do those reasons seem now? On the back of the paper, write down all of the reasons to keep going and finish. Put it away again. Take it out in a day or two. Compare the two lists. Which one seems more valid? Take out another piece of paper. Write down what it will take to get it done - materials, tools, emotional/physical aspects, etc. Put this list away. Look at it in a day or two. Do you think you have what you need to get it done? This process may seem very simplistic and almost corny, but I guarantee it does actually work. You are giving a voice to your concerns, a name to the problem, and some space to think and reflect on everything - that will get you to a clear-headed answer better than anything any one of us could offer up to you by way of advice one way or the other.

Good luck!!

That was from the department DGS. The applicant in question had been assured prior by the director of the graduate school of Arts & Sciences that since her undergrad GPA was so old, the newer MA GPA would count more (she was smart enough to check that out before shelling over application fees). The POI in the department never saw the application at all, which she found out later when she ran into said person at a conference and was asked why she had not applied. POI was somewhat surprised and didn't think the undergraduate GPA should have been a factor. In the end, it was probably simply a matter of too many applicants, not enough slots.

(To pre-empt: She chose not to make a stink about the discrepancy between what the graduate school director/ POI and the department graduate studies director told her about the undergraduate GPA because - what good would that do, at that point? Instead, she did what she could to strengthen her application further and re-applied to several programs this year.)

The department DGS who wrote that response is no longer the DGS at that department, however, so hopefully no one else will have to go through a similar situation.

The moral of the story, however, and to come back to the original question posed, is - If you are going to ask it, make sure you are prepared for whatever they tell you by way of responding to "can you tell me why I didn't get in? I'd like to strengthen my application."

If they tell you "Well, there's nothing you can do about the problem with your application" - what will you do in that case?

It's just an example, from experience, by way of suggesting caution in proceeding.

That was from the department DGS. The applicant in question had been assured prior by the director of the graduate school of Arts & Sciences that since her undergrad GPA was so old, the newer MA GPA would count more (she was smart enough to check that out before shelling over application fees). The POI in the department never saw the application at all, which she found out later when she ran into said person at a conference and was asked why she had not applied. POI was somewhat surprised and didn't think the undergraduate GPA should have been a factor. In the end, it was probably simply a matter of too many applicants, not enough slots.

(To pre-empt: She chose not to make a stink about the discrepancy between what the graduate school director/ POI and the department graduate studies director told her about the undergraduate GPA because - what good would that do, at that point? Instead, she did what she could to strengthen her application further and re-applied to several programs this year.)

The department DGS who wrote that response is no longer the DGS at that department, however, so hopefully no one else will have to go through a similar situation.

The moral of the story, however, and to come back to the original question posed, is - If you are going to ask it, make sure you are prepared for whatever they tell you by way of responding to "can you tell me why I didn't get in? I'd like to strengthen my application."

If they tell you "Well, there's nothing you can do about the problem with your application" - what will you do in that case?

It's just an example, from experience, by way of suggesting caution in proceeding.

That was from the department DGS. The applicant in question had been assured prior by the director of the graduate school of Arts & Sciences that since her undergrad GPA was so old, the newer MA GPA would count more (she was smart enough to check that out before shelling over application fees). The POI in the department never saw the application at all, which she found out later when she ran into said person at a conference and was asked why she had not applied. POI was somewhat surprised and didn't think the undergraduate GPA should have been a factor. In the end, it was probably simply a matter of too many applicants, not enough slots.

(To pre-empt: She chose not to make a stink about the discrepancy between what the graduate school director/ POI and the department graduate studies director told her about the undergraduate GPA because - what good would that do, at that point? Instead, she did what she could to strengthen her application further and re-applied to several programs this year.)

The department DGS who wrote that response is no longer the DGS at that department, however, so hopefully no one else will have to go through a similar situation.

The moral of the story, however, and to come back to the original question posed, is - If you are going to ask it, make sure you are prepared for whatever they tell you by way of responding to "can you tell me why I didn't get in? I'd like to strengthen my application."

If they tell you "Well, there's nothing you can do about the problem with your application" - what will you do in that case?

It's just an example, from experience, by way of suggesting caution in proceeding.

Well...when the undergraduate GPA in question (which was only a few points shy of the 3.0) was earned in 1997, and a Master's Degree with a 4.0 was earned in 2009, you have to wonder about that.....but, I guess rules are rules.

She should know between now and April 15....

In the meantime, she is a senior researcher for the Female Biography Project (Gina Luria Walker, General Editor; Philippa Gregory, subject editor; Chawton House, forthcoming), is presenting a paper and presiding over a panel at the International Medieval Congress in May, has been asked to preside over a second panel at a regional conference in March, is writing a chapter on Chaucer's Parliament of Fowles for an edited collection due in June, is working on an entry on Biblical Reception in Edmund Spenser's Faerie Queene for the Encyclopedia of Biblical Reception (Brill Press), and is working with the medieval editor for a well-known publishing house revising her Master's thesis as a monograph for publication. And, teaching 6 classes a term, 5 terms a year, at a private boarding school.

She claims it all keeps her busy and preoccupied so she can't stress over being a loser...!

You certainly have nothing to lose in doing so, since they have already chosen not to extend you an offer of acceptance this season.

On the other hand, you might not like the answer. I know a gal who solicited feedback in this fashion, and she heard back from one DGS:

"Nothing you have done...neither your 4.0 at the Master's level, your publications, your conferences, your recommendations, nor any other aspect of your application is sufficient to compensate for your undergraduate GPA."

(Yes, that's a direct quote).

Just saying...can you handle a response like that in your inbox? If so, then by all means, ask for feedback - but if that made you cringe and flinch, you might want to forego it and remember that ignorance really is bliss, sometimes...!

Well...when the undergraduate GPA in question (which was only a few points shy of the 3.0) was earned in 1997, and a Master's Degree with a 4.0 was earned in 2009, you have to wonder about that.....but, I guess rules are rules.

She should know between now and April 15....

In the meantime, she is a senior researcher for the Female Biography Project (Gina Luria Walker, General Editor; Philippa Gregory, subject editor; Chawton House, forthcoming), is presenting a paper and presiding over a panel at the International Medieval Congress in May, has been asked to preside over a second panel at a regional conference in March, is writing a chapter on Chaucer's Parliament of Fowles for an edited collection due in June, is working on an entry on Biblical Reception in Edmund Spenser's Faerie Queene for the Encyclopedia of Biblical Reception (Brill Press), and is working with the medieval editor for a well-known publishing house revising her Master's thesis as a monograph for publication. And, teaching 6 classes a term, 5 terms a year, at a private boarding school.

She claims it all keeps her busy and preoccupied so she can't stress over being a loser...!

You certainly have nothing to lose in doing so, since they have already chosen not to extend you an offer of acceptance this season.

On the other hand, you might not like the answer. I know a gal who solicited feedback in this fashion, and she heard back from one DGS:

"Nothing you have done...neither your 4.0 at the Master's level, your publications, your conferences, your recommendations, nor any other aspect of your application is sufficient to compensate for your undergraduate GPA."

(Yes, that's a direct quote).

Just saying...can you handle a response like that in your inbox? If so, then by all means, ask for feedback - but if that made you cringe and flinch, you might want to forego it and remember that ignorance really is bliss, sometimes...!

I quit smoking two years ago in May. It was tough, but definitely worth it.
I did smoke through my master's degree, however. My professors didn't think anything of it, or if they did, they didn't say anything.
That said, I would definitely not smoke during the interview - why give them any reason to reject you?
I recommend smoking before you take a shower in the morning, using Nicorette gum and/or the patch through the day, and smoking again in the evening when you're on your time. Not during the day unless you have an hour or two between interview components.
Another thing you can do, is get a prescription for Budeprion. It's essentially the generic form of Wellbutrin. It is used for the treatment of mild depression/anxiety - but the beautiful side effect is, it kills your desire to smoke as well. That's how I did it (but get the prescription for anxiety/depression, because otehrwise your health insurance probably won't cover it). It took about two weeks for me to stop craving, but I haven't looked back since.
Good luck!!!

meat eater

meat eater

You say, "all that FAFSA work" - but the FAFSA only takes a few minutes to fill out online - it's not that bad. And once it is done, you're done - no need to re-do it for the full calendar year.

meat eater

Don't forget that MLA was in January this year, as well, as opposed to being in December as has historically been the case. And, of course, the weather has caused delays and cancellations interrupting schools' regular schedules, so I'm sure admissions committee meetings were affected there, as well.

I imagine the floodgates will begin opening mid next week and continue from there - hang tight!

The two I hate the most from anyone, anytime are :

"Don't worry, you'll get in somewhere"

and

"I know how you feel".

In fact, I recommend we strike "I know how you feel" from ANY conversation, ever, about anything. What a dumb thing to say, when there is no way you can possibly know how another person feels. Something like, "I know how that feels" or "I can imagine that feels..." followed by a pertinent life-experience in similar vein MIGHT fly, but then again - if I'm wallowing, it's my turn to wallow, I am soooo not interested in your pity party at that point.

The most helpful and/or appreciated comments I have received in this situation are

"I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help you out?"

and my very favorite, ever:

"Those a**holes. How dare they reject you! Who the hell are they accepting, then? F**k them."

I actually laughed...and that came from a tenured prof who wrote a rec for me in a prior application cycle, lolol.

Take a deep breath and slow down. Take out a piece of paper and physically write down all of the reasons you want to quit. Put it away. Come back to it in a day or two. How valid do those reasons seem now? On the back of the paper, write down all of the reasons to keep going and finish. Put it away again. Take it out in a day or two. Compare the two lists. Which one seems more valid? Take out another piece of paper. Write down what it will take to get it done - materials, tools, emotional/physical aspects, etc. Put this list away. Look at it in a day or two. Do you think you have what you need to get it done? This process may seem very simplistic and almost corny, but I guarantee it does actually work. You are giving a voice to your concerns, a name to the problem, and some space to think and reflect on everything - that will get you to a clear-headed answer better than anything any one of us could offer up to you by way of advice one way or the other.

Good luck!!

The two I hate the most from anyone, anytime are :

"Don't worry, you'll get in somewhere"

and

"I know how you feel".

In fact, I recommend we strike "I know how you feel" from ANY conversation, ever, about anything. What a dumb thing to say, when there is no way you can possibly know how another person feels. Something like, "I know how that feels" or "I can imagine that feels..." followed by a pertinent life-experience in similar vein MIGHT fly, but then again - if I'm wallowing, it's my turn to wallow, I am soooo not interested in your pity party at that point.

The most helpful and/or appreciated comments I have received in this situation are

"I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help you out?"

and my very favorite, ever:

"Those a**holes. How dare they reject you! Who the hell are they accepting, then? F**k them."

I actually laughed...and that came from a tenured prof who wrote a rec for me in a prior application cycle, lolol.