GreenEyedTrombonist

I love Stiff . Right now a lot of my books are theory-based, so if you want to read theory, let me know.
You can also read literary works from the perspective of an ethnographer. Completely changes 1984 and Brave New World (did this in a course on propaganda).

The problem may be the difference between ethnographic and anecdotal evidence. Your professors may be trying to help students make the shift to thinking as qualitative researchers. I've had someone in my anthro MA who used anecdotal evidence to make broad generalizations that really weren't applicable. This student ultimately ended up dropping from the program after a semester because they didn't take qualitative (or quantitative) data that contradicted their anecdotal evidence seriously (leading to issues with faculty and low grades on papers from not properly supporting their arguments). 

Messaged you.
Had my first real anxiety dream of the season last night and it was a doozy. Currently lying in bed checking all my programs for updates. x]

@swaziboundcongrats! I got an email then a phone call, haha (received right before going into a final job interview, eek!). I'm super excited, but now I have to make a choice. x]

If you happen to want to do this for Communication PhDs, that would be so amazing!
 
In any case, very interesting and nice to see visual breakdowns.  

3 of my schools typically send out decisions at the beginning of February. Anyone else eagerly anticipating/terrified of their emails?

Congrats @jocorac !

To piggyback on @rising_star , I also take notes during interviews. I have a small notebook (fits in a purse so less awkward, yay) and ask if it's alright if I take notes before pulling it out. I also write some of my questions in the notebook before the interview so I can reference them at the end when they ask if I have any questions. If I have to look down, I make it clear that I'm still listening to what the person is saying (nodding my head or noises of understanding, if genuine, are good here). I might also star a note if I think of a question that I want to circle back to later. Generally, I focus on making the interview as much a conversation as possible while keeping my questions in mind so that I can make good transitions to get answers to my most important inquiries. If you're taking a bit longer to finish a note from the last thing they said, you can use transitioning language while you get those final words down (reference what they just said and add a personal comment and, if you can, turn this into the transition to your next question). Ex. That's an interesting point about x. I would have thought it would have been y. Since it is x, [insert next question here].
 

I think your question has already been answered well, but wanted to pop in to give hugs and say best of luck with the procedure!

If you happen to want to do this for Communication PhDs, that would be so amazing!
 
In any case, very interesting and nice to see visual breakdowns.  

lol @E-P I've been working on getting my health under control (33 lbs down so far), am creating a game, have been doing some readings from one of the programs fall classes, have looked at the schedule I would have for Fall at UConn, am doing job interview things several times a week, moderate a Twitch channel, am in 3 DnD type games (GM one, am a player in the other two), trying to stream on Twitch more often, and should be working on some writings (NCA conference paper submission, some geeky articles, and a couple things for publications).
In short, I know that feel, haha.

@E-P Yeah, I'm also in that unemployed camp, though I'm trying to get a job right now so I can pay off my student loans and afford the move. It would be nice to not go into higher debt so I can start school. x]
I'm still nervous about February though. I just want all the decisions in so I can accept a program and start planning the next few years of my life, haha.

@E-P I'm right there with you. I've been doing so many interviews. x] Was supposed to have a final interview for a job today, but it got rescheduled at the last moment (was literally in the parking lot when it got changed), so now I have two interviews on Tuesday. This week I've had two interviews and two writing exercises for jobs, plus an interview last week. Eventually I'll get hired, haha.

*hugs* @AnxiousKitty

@E-P I'm right there with you. I've been doing so many interviews. x] Was supposed to have a final interview for a job today, but it got rescheduled at the last moment (was literally in the parking lot when it got changed), so now I have two interviews on Tuesday. This week I've had two interviews and two writing exercises for jobs, plus an interview last week. Eventually I'll get hired, haha.

This is what I did.
I was coming home from getting my blood drawn when I got an email notification that my status had changed and to check the website. I proceeded to spend the entire drive home (only about 10 minutes) freaking out and coming up with every rejection scenario possible. Once I got home, I checked the status, still freaked out it would be a rejection. I couldn't believe it when I read Congratulations. I just sat there in shock for a few minutes and then my anxiety turned to elation. I was filled with restless energy and may have done a few laps around the house. As soon as my parents were awake I went to their room and said, "Guess who's going to grad school."
My father got a confused look on his face and said, "Why?" -__- He meant, "what brought you saying this on" but still. Anyways, I let them know I received an acceptance, high fived them both, then proceeded to text everyone I know, haha. I also printed out the acceptance and made them read it (partly because yay acceptance and partly to make sure I wasn't hallucinating). I also emailed all of my letter writers and thanked them. I then randomly said, "I got into grad school" at both of my parents for the next couple of days, multiple times a day.
I have yet to post about it on social media because I'm trying to get a job, but most people who know me know about it, haha. 

To piggyback on @rising_star , I also take notes during interviews. I have a small notebook (fits in a purse so less awkward, yay) and ask if it's alright if I take notes before pulling it out. I also write some of my questions in the notebook before the interview so I can reference them at the end when they ask if I have any questions. If I have to look down, I make it clear that I'm still listening to what the person is saying (nodding my head or noises of understanding, if genuine, are good here). I might also star a note if I think of a question that I want to circle back to later. Generally, I focus on making the interview as much a conversation as possible while keeping my questions in mind so that I can make good transitions to get answers to my most important inquiries. If you're taking a bit longer to finish a note from the last thing they said, you can use transitioning language while you get those final words down (reference what they just said and add a personal comment and, if you can, turn this into the transition to your next question). Ex. That's an interesting point about x. I would have thought it would have been y. Since it is x, [insert next question here].
 

@sriracha18 congrats on the interview and waitlist (it's not a rejection yet, yay)! I had a very short follow-up email from my Madison interview (I sent them a thank you and some additional info I didn't remember to say when answering a question) and the prof said "we'll be in touch in the near future" so I'm currently overanalyzing that phrase, haha. From what I've seen, no one has been contacted for a second interview yet. x]

This is what I did.
I was coming home from getting my blood drawn when I got an email notification that my status had changed and to check the website. I proceeded to spend the entire drive home (only about 10 minutes) freaking out and coming up with every rejection scenario possible. Once I got home, I checked the status, still freaked out it would be a rejection. I couldn't believe it when I read Congratulations. I just sat there in shock for a few minutes and then my anxiety turned to elation. I was filled with restless energy and may have done a few laps around the house. As soon as my parents were awake I went to their room and said, "Guess who's going to grad school."
My father got a confused look on his face and said, "Why?" -__- He meant, "what brought you saying this on" but still. Anyways, I let them know I received an acceptance, high fived them both, then proceeded to text everyone I know, haha. I also printed out the acceptance and made them read it (partly because yay acceptance and partly to make sure I wasn't hallucinating). I also emailed all of my letter writers and thanked them. I then randomly said, "I got into grad school" at both of my parents for the next couple of days, multiple times a day.
I have yet to post about it on social media because I'm trying to get a job, but most people who know me know about it, haha. 

This is what I did.
I was coming home from getting my blood drawn when I got an email notification that my status had changed and to check the website. I proceeded to spend the entire drive home (only about 10 minutes) freaking out and coming up with every rejection scenario possible. Once I got home, I checked the status, still freaked out it would be a rejection. I couldn't believe it when I read Congratulations. I just sat there in shock for a few minutes and then my anxiety turned to elation. I was filled with restless energy and may have done a few laps around the house. As soon as my parents were awake I went to their room and said, "Guess who's going to grad school."
My father got a confused look on his face and said, "Why?" -__- He meant, "what brought you saying this on" but still. Anyways, I let them know I received an acceptance, high fived them both, then proceeded to text everyone I know, haha. I also printed out the acceptance and made them read it (partly because yay acceptance and partly to make sure I wasn't hallucinating). I also emailed all of my letter writers and thanked them. I then randomly said, "I got into grad school" at both of my parents for the next couple of days, multiple times a day.
I have yet to post about it on social media because I'm trying to get a job, but most people who know me know about it, haha. 

Women are people. We exist for things other than your pleasure. You can't build a "perfect woman" in your mind and then expect to find her in the real world. That's not how things work. And if you're going around looking for your (preferably Asian) "manic pixie dream girl", you will not find her. You need to have realistic expectations. Wanting to be with someone creative or free-spirited is perfectly acceptable. Requiring that she draw fantasy landscapes or dream about unrealistic things is not. Seeking someone emotionally stunted is also not a good goal. 

@nushi If it makes you feel better, although I'm not moving to another country, I will be moving to a new state (never lived outside of my current state and only very briefly outside of my current city). Based on previous experiences, I'm probably gonna go through culture shock. Also, I have a history of forgetting to feed myself so I'm worried about living in a new state with no family around, all the normal problems that shift causes, plus starting grad school, plus trying to remember to feed myself.
In short, we're all in this together! *hugs* 

Guys! OMG I got into Uconn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
After all rejects last year, starting with an acceptance makes me so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Also just getting accepted, ah!)

1. Speak to your adviser and professors often. 
2. Don't just focus on classes when you get in. In my MA, one of the largest problems with previous students was that they took all their courses and still hadn't started their research (or even knew what they wanted to do). You don't need to know exactly what you're doing your first semester, but you do need to start working on ideas early. 
3. Once you are in the research, analysis, and writing phases make sure to create a schedule and stick to it. This may mean making a daily schedule for yourself or working out a status update schedule with your adviser. Whatever you do, make sure it is a schedule you can and will stick to so you actually make progress even if you don't necessarily need to come into a lab every day. 
4. Actually, make a schedule early for yourself so you know what you should be doing each semester (classes, what you should be working on for research, any conference submissions you need to work on, school paperwork, etc).
5. If the profs let you, use class assignments to work on your research. Plenty of research essays can help form the foundation of your literary analysis and is a structured way to get you started on your research. 
6. Allow yourself a destressing activity. You'll burn yourself out if you don't have an outlet. 
7. When you make your schedule for writing (and also the analysis stage) assume it will take at least twice as long as you think it should. 
8. Summer and Winter breaks are a great time to work on stages of your research without having to worry about classes. Use this time to write rough (or final) drafts of chapters or, if it's early in the project, use this time to write the proposal/IRB/misc drafts so that you can get them to your adviser earlier in the semester or work on reading for your lit review. 
9. Make friends in and out of your cohort. It's great to have people going through the same classes and at the same stage of their career. It's also nice to make friends with students further in the program who can offer advice (and make sure to repay the favor when the new cohorts come in).
10. Because I feel like it should be a solid 10 and it can't be said enough, communicate! Speak to the DGS, your profs, your adviser, the department chair, or whoever is appropriate about your progress and ways to keep yourself on track. 
 
 

The problem may be the difference between ethnographic and anecdotal evidence. Your professors may be trying to help students make the shift to thinking as qualitative researchers. I've had someone in my anthro MA who used anecdotal evidence to make broad generalizations that really weren't applicable. This student ultimately ended up dropping from the program after a semester because they didn't take qualitative (or quantitative) data that contradicted their anecdotal evidence seriously (leading to issues with faculty and low grades on papers from not properly supporting their arguments).