GreenEyedTrombonist

@rising_star Unfortunately, I have a medical condition that causes some facial blemishes. I use makeup to cover them up, so I do feel it's necessary to make a good first impression/look professional. That's why I'm nervous about when and how much time I have to apply makeup. :/ @E-P Good advice! I actually talked with a friend in the program and it seems they run more casual in dress there, so I should be good with business casual for the weekend.

If you don't want to go there, why apply? It might look weird to these programs if you're accepted one year, choose not to attend, but reapply the next. On a different front, I'm not really a fan of applying to safety schools. I think you should apply to programs that are a good fit for your research interests and be open to attending any of them pending funding and culture fit. For me, my "safety school" was a program I'd love to attend, but it doesn't offer funding to most admitted first years. That was my, apply and see if 1. I don't get in anywhere else. If that happens, I'll work out loans or 2. on the offchance I'm one of the two first years they choose to fund. Fit wise, I'd very happily attend. Have you visited school A before and therefore know for sure that it is the best fit for you in terms of research and culture (culture of program, department, school, surrounding city, etc)? If not, I'd be cautious of labeling any school a dream school before you've gone in to check it out (with eyes wide open). Unfortunately, there are stories on this forum of people miserable in their programs, several of which have stated they did not do their due diligence researching the culture of their department. If you have done the research and visited the institution, congratulations on finding a perfect program for you! People keep trying to make me say which program would be my top choice if I get in. Truth is, I can't answer that question because I have yet to visit any of the programs to get a first-hand account of what it would be like there. I usually just tell people I'm waiting to decide that until all admissions decisions are in and I've had a chance to visit each campus to which I've been admitted. TLDR: Yes, this depends on the program, but there is a chance that getting accepted one year, declining without a specific change in circumstances, and then reapplying the next year could impact your admission. I don't like the idea of only applying to one program so maybe still apply to the others and either take your chances reapplying the next year or find some other programs (that would be a good fit for you) to apply to that round. Of course, none of this matters if you get into school A, haha.

I'm also interested in online community and communication though I'm looking to do a project about digital political campaigning. Since our interests are similar, I'm pretty sure your likely PoIs happen to be those that tend to email later in the month.

@E-P My friend goes there so I actually have some insight on Madison's interview procedure. Madison will normally do two interviews and, based on my friend's experience, these are largely to discuss the program. Everyone they are considering should get an invite at some point in January for a Skype (maybe in person if local) interview. However, Madison has profs send out their interview invites individually, which is why you'll see a huge spread over the month of January for that in the results. Do you mind if I ask what your research focus would be and what track you're interested in? I know I was freaking out yesterday when the first rhetoric notification went up, but my friend told me one of my PoIs is usually one of the last to send out interview invites and she didn't receive her first invite until January 23rd last year.

That sucks @realllllJulia . I had some issues with ETS and my GRE scores for two schools, but I can't imagine the added stress of a third party transcript service.

I have an interview scheduled for Wednesday (Skype). Excuse me while I run around in a panic, haha.

Seriously @surprise_quiche . I think I spent ~900 for all the applications/GREs/transcripts. I'm hoping the programs I visit are fairly speedy with the reimbursing for travel costs or I'll be running on fumes.

How's everyone doing with the wait? Anyone doing anything fun to fill up some of their time?

This is great advice, though sometimes you might get some attempts at humor. I, for instance, had nothing I really wanted my prof to introduce when she did this mid-semester, so I wrote that I wanted her to bring in more baked goods. She brought some in two weeks later (I did try to make it clear that I didn't actually expect anything like that, though the class did seem to appreciate it, haha).

I applied to 7 and one of my writers said that was a lot. One of the things I did was create a document with each school listed along with their deadline (and organized by deadline), which professors I was interested working with there, the name of the degree and department, a paragraph about how I was a good fit for the program, and any other pertinent details I thought could help.

Thanks @ltr317 ! I'm flying into Hartford and the department said they'll have someone pick me up.

@01sonal I'll only be bringing a carry-on so, depending on room, that might be a possibility. I actually do know a student in the program now so that's a great idea! I'll make sure to ask them.

@ShewantsthePhD101 Ah. Chances are, he's lashing out because he's worried about his apps (and he may see you as more competitive than him). Still not ok though. That being said, I'm changing disciplines now (was anthropology for BA and MA and now going for Communication) so I definitely know where you're coming from with that concern.

@ShewantsthePhD101 Yeah, that sucks. It's frustrating when people just don't get it. @ClinicalPsychApp My parents like to tell people I'm applying for my doctorate. I then had to explain to those people (until I got the first acceptance) that I'd be going for my doctorate if I got in. Then they'd be confused and I'd have to explain that I didn't get in last year and it was just all kinds of awkward. As far as all rejections go, I had school to distract me (and I was still eating breads and processed food then, so I think I went to town on some Mexican food). I gave myself some time to mourn and then I picked myself up and started researching programs and planning my app for the next cycle.

So, this isn't my program, but I thought I'd weigh in. I was rejected from all my potential programs last year and it hurt. A lot. But, one of the things I did was immediately begin analyzing my application and critically thinking of what I could improve for the next round. One of the things that I did was focus even harder on fit this time. That meant, in my case, applying outside of my previous field. I also decided my previous SoP was crap and spent a lot of time editing that section this time around. I also asked multiple friends (many of whom are currently in the programs I applied to) to review my SoP to help me make it even better. Between my first round and second, I finished my MA so I used my project report from that as the basis of my writing sample this time (submitting the entire report when asked, a chapter or two when a smaller sample was requested). I also presented my research at conferences and other mediums when possible. My GPA was basically the same (I think it went from 3.96 to 3.97 by the time I graduated) and I did not retake the GRE. Although not directly part of my application, I also reached out to either a PoI or DGS at each program (that didn't say something against doing that) and asked questions to better understand how I would fit there. In some cases, this communication actually convinced me to not apply and, in others, it made me confident in my choice to submit an app. I learned quite a bit of information about the programs, campuses, surrounding town/city, and ways I could contribute to the program (in addition to the basics of earning the degree). Personally, I think this went a long way in making me a stronger applicant this round. I've been accepted to one school already and admissions decisions for my other programs aren't expected to go out until February (two of the programs do send out interview invites later in January though).

Do you have access to exactly how WES worded the address, including your name? I would send this information to the program in case it can help them locate the transcripts. I had similar issues with my GRE scores, but it was due to a name issue. Once I told the universities that had this issue that ETS required the program directly contact them about the issue, they were suddenly able to locate my scores (name changes and programs depending on computers to sort everything correctly are fun).

Thanks @MaeN ! Gloves aren't something I thought of (have warm hats and scarves, but no gloves). I'll only be bringing a carry-on (I can't justify more for a two-day trip and everything that can go wrong with timing, switching planes, and picking up checked luggage is an added stress I don't need) so I'll probably be layering it up on the plane, haha.

Thanks @costevens ! I'll definitely keep an eye out. Temperatures in the fifties are still cold to me, haha (oh my corner of California and its lack of seasons).

Hey Guys! So I'm going to an open house/welcome weekend for one of my potential schools at the end of this month. I come from a discipline that tends to be more casual in dress (not sure how my new discipline feels about this) and an area of California that also promotes business comfy as the look of choice. I'll be flying in one day, immediately be taken to a happy hour meet and greet, and then will spend the next day in classes, on campus tours, and talking to students/other admittees before flying back out the next day. My questions are: 1. What should I wear that will be comfortable for a 10-11-hour plane ride and also appropriate for the meet and greet that night? Keep in mind I'll probably have to do my makeup very quickly during my 1-hour layover. 2. What would be appropriate for the second day where there will be a lot of walking around and activity, but we still need to look put together? I plan to bring my snow boots for this trip, since it'll be winter on the east coast, and I figure I can just wear these the entire time (I hate heels and the only flats I currently own are pretty worn down). I bought my snowboots for a conference in Prague a few years back so they're both cute and functional. My issue is compounded by the fact that I've lost weight recently and have lost at least a pant size so far. I'm looking into tailoring my favorite grey slacks now, but I'm not sure how long that will take. I did just pick up a new cute sweater that I think could pair well with pants for a put-together look (just not sure how professional it might come across). I also have a dark blue (with white polka dots) dress that I really like and has done me well in business casual settings, but I'm not sure if pairing it with fleece-lined tights and 2-3 cardigans/blazers/jackets would keep me warm enough. I've already been admitted, but I still believe in leaving a good impression. In addition, my stipend will come from a TAship (pretty much wherever I go), and I intend to look at least somewhat professional and competent while doing my job, haha.

@Dan_Xu thank you! <3 You got this!

@Dan_Xu That sucks. Sorry you can't actually visit yet. I'm sure you'll do the typical Skype prep then (make sure your background isn't too cluttered/busy, you have good lighting, face away from a window, etc).

@Dan_Xu Congratulations! That's awesome news! I think it's one of those goodness of fit things. Review what you said in your SoP, prep some questions for the profs interviewing you (about their research-be ready to talk about how your research fits with their focus, about their advising style, the campus culture, etc) and you should be pretty good. Is this in person or over phone/video/something else?

Don't know what brought me back here, but since I'm here I thought I might as well: 1. Ask for updates! How is your diet/exercise routine going @Asperfemme ? 2. Clarify that every time I said "nutritionist" I was actually talking about RDNs and doctors. Sorry for any confusion that might have caused! 3. Say that I started transitioning my habits to a healthier diet (for me) last July. Right now I'm down to needing to cut out dairy, but I've cut out all the other foods I'm not supposed to eat and I've recently started adding regular exercise and step goals to my routine. It's going well so far.

Thanks @ArcierePrudente ! I'm pretty sure I'll be asking for winter clothes for my birthday (which is in the summer, haha). That wasn't me @Shay825 but best of luck!

I don't drink anything but water and the occasional decaf tea so I won't be drinking on my visitation weekend either.