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@MistyMountainHop Yeah I have no idea why it seems to be structured this way, but it's been driving my family crazy for 11 years now. As as side note, did either of you apply for the advanced standing track? I was wondering when (if at this point) I start the summer course I might see a friendly face. Friendly username. Whatever.

I don't know if this is already buried in the old pages here, but this backpack. The very good Swiss Gear ones aren't exactly cheap as far as backpacks go ($60-$80) but it will hold everything and they're very well cushioned, have great support. Mine has lasted through undergrad, my sister's through undergrad and then some, and my dad's went through several years in the working world and 10 years of an information systems PhD. Mine has fallen on concrete laptop-first--with no actual case on my laptop and several textbooks on top of it--and everything came out fine, which is a miracle considering how many times I've dropped it. And as a bonus, all the padding on the back/shoulders makes good pillow in a pinch.

@MistyMountainHop GMU seems to have an issue where there are a ton of current students and applicants, but not a whole lot of staff to deal with them. My dad got his PhD at GMU very recently and had this same problem--he was accepted 10 days before classes started, and it took a month or two to get his actual diploma from them (they had misplaced it). When I call the office I get about the same three people every times--I can't imagine there are truly enough staff to handle us all properly. It's frustrating and a little ridiculous.

@taahir91 Thanks, it's nice to have the reassurance. It just gets tiring waiting for them (and I get paranoid) when I'm supposed to be taking a summer class. And other GMU MSW people, are you just lurking or is it really only the two of us on here? Come join the fun!

@taahir91 After 3 months of calling I just got my transcripts attached to my application a few weeks ago. They told me I should hear by next week and I have an undergrad GPA of 3.8, but it took them so long to actually start reviewing my application that I'm nervous I'll be rejected for lack of space in the program. I did my two practicums (still in one) at a men's prison and a community hospital, but I want to do work with victim's advocacy and trauma recovery. Here's hoping I find out soon!

Not yet, the office of graduate admissions still hasn't attached my transcripts to my application. Now that I've called them (again) it'll be two to four weeks and I'll know. I'm pretty sure I'll get in to the advanced standing, but I'm still nervous. To be nosy taahir, what is your GPA and all that admissions whatnot like?