bugabooo

To start, it was well below zero where I live yesterday, so I know cold. I interviewed somewhere slightly less, uh, terrifyingly frozen. Also I hate the cold! If wearing pants: leggings (such as under-armor type) under slacks OR jeans are a great way to keep warm without looking lumpy! A good coat goes a long way, and as long as it's clean no one will really care what it looks like. It's cold. People know that. Have a scarf and a pair of gloves that could be stuffed into pockets for storage. Hats almost always look unprofessional, but if it's cold enough to need a hat, for goodness sake wear a hat. If you're going to wear jeans, make sure they're not frayed at the bottom and have no holes. I'd go for a darker wash because I personally think it looks a little more professional. Thick socks are SUPER important when trying to keep warm! I'm obsessed with SmartWool brand socks, but anything similar will do. Other replies are right about shoes-- you'll need something more substantial than the normal dress shoe. I know OP isn't going to wear a skirt, but for anyone else who may be reading this: If wearing a dress/skirt: thick tights and/or leggings are wonderful. I wore a very professional dress with nylons, but had leggings and thick socks+boots on over it all for the outdoor campus tour. Other people wearing skirts were shivering, I was fine. I just threw my leggings and socks into a backpack and slipped my heels on when we got settled into our waiting room for interviews. Tights + knee socks + riding boots is a great and warm style for dresses and skirts, and can definitely look professional if done right.

So, so far north. Mama Superior is my neighbor. I don't know what brought on the "woah" part, but I can tell you that it was -24 with windchill at my place yesterday morning and -26 in ANTARCTICA. It's dumb. It's much warmer today, in we might even get above freezing in the next few days. I hate that that's "warm." I've been to Grand Blanc quite a few times, though not in the last five-or-so years.

In one of my interviews, I was asked to "list the programs you've applied to in your personal rank order." It was terrifying and the only unexpected question I got, especially having already been accepted somewhere. I was honest in listing the one I'd been accepted to as equal with the one I was interviewing for, but I did NOT offer up the info that I was already accepted. My host and some other students knew I'd been accepted somewhere else, and they all said I'd made the right choice or that they would've done the same thing. I was sure to mention that my acceptance elsewhere didn't change the application/interview process at their program. A few grad students actually told me they'd done the same thing. Be honest about your applications, avoid mentioning offers if possible, but don't lie outright.

Okay, here's the way I did it: 1. find a good thank you letter template 2. make a basic letter 3. using basic letter, create multiple personalized letters 4. convert file from .docx to .pdf 5. Compose a short email to each recipient, with the .pdf letter attached to the email. (I did it this roundabout way on the advice of multiple grad students in that program. I wouldn't have thought to do it this way otherwise.) Below is a watered down example of the contents of the email, not the actual letter. "Good afternoon, Dr. ___, I've attached a letter of appreciation for being able to participate in Interview Weekend and to better express my gratitude for the opportunity to interview with you. Interview Weekend was an experience that I value highly, and I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you again for the opportunity and experience. (insert email signature)" What I'm trying to say is that, yes, I think an email could be appropriate. Keep it short and sweet-- it's just informative. This way, they'll know very quickly that you're an awesome and thoughtful person before they even get the letters. I don't know when your AdCom is meeting, but if there's any chance they'd get the letters AFTER meeting, the email would have already arrived.

Thank you for noticing that, too! Lol. Honestly I have a very intense love of avocados so I'd be willing to try, like, the shortbread cookies (I think called Marias or something?) with some homemade guac.

I wake up due to hunger almost every night between 2-4am. I just keep snacks near my bed so I don't wake up my whole apartment messing around in the kitchen. It gets worse with stress... so obvi I've been waking up every single night lately. Trail mix is a go-to item. I stopped fighting my body on this a long time ago, since I'd rather snack than lose sleep because my stomach is growling!

My sibling and I have similar sounding names, so my dad has been calling me bugaboo forever. That was taken, so I added another o. Bugabooo.

For what it's worth, the bank I work for is one of the largest in the nation and is NOT closed on Monday. Neither is my University, though it's small. I don't believe any of the schools I applied to have Monday off, either. Honestly, President's Day has no impact on my life whatsoever as a holiday outside the lack of mail delivery. Don't worry too much about it, but check to see if any schools you're waiting to hear from ARE closed just in case. On another note, I've been asking my boyfriend if it's too early to open a bottle of wine... since I woke up. We decided since it's after lunch time, it's definitely okay to open it. And hey, it's pink! It's valentine's day! 'Tis the season! It was -24 (with windchill) this morning here, it's not like we're going to do anything productive today anyway, so we might as well stay in and drink and bake cookies.

Seriously!! I've planned a visit to the school that already accepted me but hasn't decided on funding yet, and I'm like "okay so what if I show up with like, gift baggies for everyone?"

I sent five on Monday evening and so far, there have been four replies including the one I was talking about today. I had two replies Monday night, one from faculty. Then one from my host yesterday and the one from faculty today. I don't think it means anything about the decision they'll make, honestly. The replies have all been short, polite, and neutral. I think it'd be a little rude for them to not reply at all, but maybe I would think something else if no one had responded to my letters. I hope they respond to you! I sent notes to the three faculty who each interviewed me, my host, and the student who organized the interview weekend.

I sent out thank you notes after my interviews, and just got a response that included the fact that the faculty are meeting tomorrow to make the decision on who to accept. I was told in the email to keep an eye on my mailbox for the next week, maybe two if the mail is slow. I don't know if it's going to end up at my apartment or my permanent address. I'm sitting here like, "if I'm really nice, I bet I could get some of the local post office workers to keep an eye out for that letter..." Reasonable.

Hey everyone, I'm finishing up a blog about the interview weekend I attended at Western Michigan University for their I/O MA. It's pretty long, but then so was the weekend! Please let me know if there are any topics anyone would like me to write about in the future. Here's hoping for more acceptances and offers rolling in this week for everyone!

I just have to chime in on this conversation because it resonates so much. My manager is constantly making mean comments to me AND behind my back about how college is useless, a waste of money, and how I'm going to just end up in some entry level job anyway. As you can guess, she has an associates that is irrelevant to her current job and is unlikely to ever rise a over her current position. Most of my coworkers try to support me, but it isn't easy to stand up to someone who can fire you. I don't blame them at all. Another issue is that when I tell people I'll be going to grad school soon, I get something akin to "so you and your long term boyfriend are breaking up?" Um, no? Why would grad school = end of relationship? Why is that their first comment so often? And anyway, why would that be any of anyone's business?? (And don't even get me started on people saying I'll be in debt forever.) My parents and boyfriend try really hard to support me, though they usually don't quite know how to do that. I'm so grateful for them, and I know that a lot of us aren't so lucky. I try my best to focus on their love and support, but when so many others take it upon themselves to degrade my chosen path or even my very intelligence, it can be difficult to tune them out.

I should know about some funding soon, but I learned that the assistantships (so like, what I really want to know about) might not be finalized until then. I should stress that the program director is being very helpful, and he actually seems frustrated that he has to wait to find out how much funding they'll have specifically for GA spots.

It's a definite on the minority front! The reasoning is that the university should present its own funding/scholarships to me fairly soon, but that my department won't know the details of their assistantships "until april or even early may." Now, honestly, this is my first choice that I'm talking about and I know I will be getting SOME funding from the university through their merit scholarships. I'm visiting the campus in a few weeks and plan on bugging the financial aid office then, in person. First, thank you! Now, it is a master's, but PhD is offered as well. The program director did let me know that there are usually only 1 or 2 assistantships granted each year, though those do cover tuition with a stipend. Assistantships outside the department are also a less awesome option, and this program frequently has internship opportunities outside the university as well. I may mention that I was just interviewed at another university and that I'm visiting a third university in the same area during my trip in a few weeks if I get the feeling it may help.

As a blogger, I'm pretty committed to sharing my info. I was just at Western Michigan University, and it was ridiculously intense. Out late, up early-- I didn't get to eat for nearly 36 hours due to truly unpredictable issues involving the chosen restaurants and lack of a back up plan. It was a test of endurance, but for what ultimate reward? There are very few spots available in the program, sure, but the funding thing is really bothering me. I can only hope that it was a scare tactic... but that's not my gut feeling.

Being accepted somewhere is great.... the fact that I have up to three months between that acceptance and final funding decisions is SO NOT GREAT. GUYS. How can I make a decision in April if I might not hear about final funding until MAY?

After an interview weekend that was so ridiculous I can't even begin here (once I gather myself, there will be a blog post) I found out that there's basically no funding given to first year students. Like, okay, cool, excuse me while I cry in a corner. They put me/all the applicants through a LOT, and it just doesn't make sense to test us like that if there's not any funding. Yeah, the research is great and the students seem cool, but where's the disconnect here? What's the problem? UGH. I'm more upset every time I remember another detail.

Update: I wore the dress I first mentioned with nylons and low heels, and two out of the three people interviewing me complimented it up front. Most men wore suits or sport coats, and most women wore blazers with an even split between slacks and skirts or dresses. One male candidate wore khakis and a dress shirt/tie/sweater combo, and he definitely looked more casual than anyone else being interviewed (but the current grad students were less dressed up). I was the only one wearing a dress, but when I was told by faculty how "professional and elegant" I looked, I really couldn't be worried. I carried a folio but no purse, and I think that's what everyone else did as well. We were able to keep all our bags and coats in a conference room that we waited in throughout the day. The male faculty member was wearing a suit, and the female faculty wore slacks, nice blouses and blazers.

As promised, new blog post up. I'm posting here because I know I'm the only I/O blogger, and I hope that's alright! PM/comment/whatever if anyone has questions, notes, ideas, etc.. Also, @LMXtreme congrats and now I'm paranoid.

Update: grapes! (they're fermented. it's actually wine. often with bendy straws. It's fine.)

Just got an acceptance email from the director of the I/O MA program at my current top choice: Roosevelt University! A blog post with more details can be expected within the next few days. Good luck, everyone!

...I bought nine bags of half off candy at the store the day after Halloween and it's almost all gone now. I'm an adult, promise.

Yeah, I feel odd about them... But I have an interview with them soon too. Can't hurt to give it my best shot!

Not official, but I received an email this evening from the assistant director of admissions at Elmhurst College notifying me that I will be contacted about an "admissions interview" soon, after my final file is reviewed. I've applied to their I/O Masters program. I will update here and on the results page when I have an official interview request! Oh, and to anyone interviewing for the BA Masters, BATS Masters, OR the IOBM Masters at Western Michigan University, see you there! All of those are listed as being present at some part of interview weekend according to my itinerary.