GreenEyedTrombonist

Thanks @AnthropologyNRT. That helps a lot. If I don't get in this year, I know that I can come to this site and get help with applications for the next year. Disappointment sucks, but I know I (and you) can get through it if/when it happens. We got this.

I picked up Hillbilly Elegy as a required text in my thought control course. I'm excited to read it in the next couple months.

I did a terminal MA before applying for PhD programs, but in Anthropology. From what I've seen, the GRE is still important. However, I retook my GRE after a year in my M.A. program and my scores increased across the board without studying (most notably from 4.5 to 5.5 in Analytical). So give yourself a year in the Master's and then take the GRE again. Maybe study if you know what areas in each subject need the most improvement.

@ejpril88 Congratulations! Remember to update your signature

So message them, though I honestly wouldn't expect good news if the semester has already started and you haven't heard back.

I'm sorry @EvelynD Today I'm feeling just a little bit better (though still anxious as all heck). Of the programs I applied to, only one is actually sending out interview requests at the moment. No word from the other 4 for anyone yet. Of course, I'm sad not to receive an interview. I really wanted to go to Irvine.

How I am dealing with my anxiety: Not that well. I may tell my friend, "no schools want me" fairly often. He yells at me when I do though, haha. I'm reading through books I'll have assigned next semester, which starts in 8 days. Currently I've made it through the first 3 weeks of one class for the required reading (based on the syllabus for the last few years for that class). I need to wait for this semester's syllabus to show up before I can read the recommended stuff. Plus, I don't know if I'll be taking one class (no readings) or another (many readings) this semester, so I'm not exactly getting ahead in them and that makes me nervous. I'm also in the middle of writing articles based on a project I worked as a student researcher for last academic year, editing my main deliverable and fleshing out my final report outline for my graduate project, editing a paper for submission to a conference's publication (it won 3rd place at the conference last year so kinda feel like I should submit it), planning out abstracts for the same conference but for this year (between group projects and individual work it looks like I'm submitting 4 or 5 abstracts), and figuring out if I should even bother submitting for a pre-doctoral fellowship when I haven't heard back from any schools yet. Today I'll be working on deliverable edits and my report outline while trying not to freak out. I will not succeed on not freaking out, haha.

Double-check that you submitted for Spring 2017 and not Fall 2017. If so, send them an email asking about it.

I love that this has become an HP thread

I don't think it needs to be a problem. You've applied to 5 schools and haven't heard back from any of them yet. Depending on how many accept you, you might consider sharing the fact that you've had circumstances outside your control that have resulted in you not taking one class and, therefore, not graduating with honors but with a different designation. However, I'd only share this if you are really torn up about it, they admit you contingent on you graduating with the degree you said you would, or they bring it up.

Now that you reminded me, once, haha. I have been checking everywhere each day though. x]

@fadedfigures I'm definitely one of the kids who cried on their 11th birthday because my letter never came. I know I'm a witch worthy of Hogwarts in my heart. I'm on the last part of 1984 so I'll be moving on to Brave New World or The Prince after that's done. Still slowly making my way through Valiant, but digital books are much less engaging for me than physical versions. :/ @CharlsaIf you like YA Horror check out Broken Dolls by Tyrolin Puxty as well as its sequel Shattered Girls. I personally haven't gotten the chance to read either yet (school and work comes first, blegh), but Tyrolin's a friend and those I've spoken to about the books really enjoy them.

I'd take @fuzzylogician's advice. The statement allows students to be aware of the change in a way that should not cause issues for you. I would also discuss with the professor why they made the change. It's rarely on a whim. I get the need to vent, but, if I'm understanding your initial post correctly, you also made an assumption about grading without confirming with the professor. Even when you grade the exact same class for the professor over several semesters, things change. Vent the frustration now and take the lesson with you for future classes.

I don't know what your intended focus of study is, so this will just be generalities. In general, it's better not to assume one way or another until you get official notice from the school. If you look through the list of results from years passed, you'll notice people receive notice of admittance at any point, though you're more likely to hear from a US program before or around April 15th. This could mean you receive notice as early as January or as late as May for a PhD program at a US school. As for interviews, not all programs do interviews and not all programs that do interviews interview everyone they're considering. In short, sit tight and work on your Plan B/C/D/etc, but don't rule out an acceptance yet.

I agree. Given your scores, unless your tbd is rather low I wouldn't bother retaking. Get involved with research, plan out what conferences to attend, and start building contacts at the schools you want to attend.

Are you improving your score by a couple points or a huge bump? If you have the money, think you'll greatly improve your score, and it won't take you away from doing other things that could improve your application, go for it. I think most programs won't accept scores too close to the deadline, so check your programs to see what their guidelines and cut-offs are.

I live in San Jose and have done so most of my life (undergrad and M.A. both in San Jose). There's no getting around the fact that this area is expensive, but there are ways to make it work. Cheapest for living is Gilroy, but it's a big commute to SF. However, riding the train every day would allow time for studying/working on things so that could work. Like everyone said, roommates and expecting to still pay $1000 or more a month is pretty much a universal truth here. Getting a commuter card is a better deal than a car, but you should consider how closely you live to your nearest train/bus station. Kitchen space in most apartments is small, but people also rent houses and some of them have decent kitchens, so it is possible to eat in depending on your living situation. A breakdown of costs is hard to do because of all the factors in play. I have friends living in Oakland who are able to manage on that (or less), but I don't know their exact finances. It's probably going to be difficult and you'll need to really manage your budget, but it is doable.

Thanks @Mugi Mila! I still have 10 days before school starts, so I'm hoping to get done with this stuff before then (and maybe get ahead in my classes a little). Best of luck with the reading!

If you end up liking the Valiant Universe, let me know. I can send you a link to the Valiant RPG show the company I mod for made. Season 1 is all up on Youtube and Season 2 (featuring a different cast) starts on Twitch soon.

It's my first cycle as well, but from what I understand, the answer to your question is basically "it depends." Some programs interview all applicants they are considering for the program, in which case no interview means your chance of getting in is low. Other programs interview borderline candidates, in which case you are either a clear acceptance or a clear rejection if you don't get an interview. The situation that applies to interviews differs by program, so, though some areas of study tend to do more interviews than others, it's almost impossible to tell what type of interviews any one program is conducting. I'm in the same boat having seen interview requests come to others who applied to the same program I did, but not receiving one myself. I've recently found out from those who received the requests that the invitation listed them as a finalist, which seems to indicate the program is interviewing all candidates they are considering for admission, but at the end of the day, I don't really know what's going to happen until I officially hear from the school. Right now I'm trying to focus on the work in front of me and making some progress on my Plan B. Hope this helps!

I definitely understand. I turned in my first deliverable draft last week (~50 pages) and am waiting to hear back from my advisor and editors so I can get it into its final form. Today I also need to write the outline for my final project report, get my employment paperwork turned in (I'm a TA), and do some cleaning. Tomorrow starts the writing of articles for a research project I helped with last academic year and editing a paper I wrote for a conference last year for publication. Then I need to write a couple abstracts to submit to a conference, finish reading 1984 before school starts, and, and, and... It never stops! Good thing I work better under pressure, haha.

That is what I'm doing! It's been pretty awesome, though my public library only lets me check out 6 digital comics a month and doesn't have physical copies of Valiant. I got a few for the holidays, but I've also probably spent more money than I should picking up books myself. I can't help that they're awesome, haha.

I haven't been reading as much as I want, but I am slowly making it through 1984. Last night I finished part 1 and got down to 2 chapters to read in part 2. I'm still on track to finish it before the semester starts (and I'm actually assigned to read it, haha). I've also been working my way through the Valiant Universe (comic books) because I volunteer as a moderator for a company that's partnered with them and I want to better understand the background material for one of the shows. Right now I'm in the middle of Act 3, hoping to get to Act 4 before the end of February.