Roccoriel

Thank you both! I'm trying to hang on to a few scraps of sanity, but am mainly succeeding in flailing my arms around when I should be working on my master's thesis.

brain cell

So, I am frantically checking my application websites/email for updates multiple times per day (as I'm sure we all are). Today, one of the schools I've applied to posted that they have reached a decision regarding me application. I was ultra excited (because, seriously, at this point, I just want to know). I scroll down only to find out that I have to wait to find out what that decision is until I get the letter in the mail as they don't post results online. I promise I wouldn't be more or less happy/sad based on whether I find out online or via snail mail. Really. Seriously. I just want to know!! Sorry for the ramble. I'm freaking out a little here! lol

This thread is too cute! Because my camera does not take fish tank pictures very well, I can't include a picture of my betta fish, De Gualle. He's red with white edges on his fins though. While not fuzzy, he does swim over to me if I get near his tank. I also get to play with other people's pets, which helps! I say yes! I talk to my plants and some of them have names, so I say they count.

Best Case: I get into one of the two schools I applied to (or both! Couldn't complain about having a choice!), get funding, do exciting, fun, interesting, and fulfilling research. I am able to connect my work in my PhD program with my current adviser (which seemed to be a possibility when I spoke to people in both departments). My boyfriend is able to stay in the area throughout the course of my progream and we get married and get a puppy. Worst Case: I don't get into a program, never find a job in my field because I have little work experience in related fields (I have great research experience, but not so much that would be applicable to working in a non-research capacity). I end up working at McDonalds for life and crying myself to sleep every night curled up in fetal position.

Okay. Unfortunately, I can't make it to where I need to go to get a physical transcript due to scheduling, so I will email the graduate school and alert them that I am attempting to cause confusion for the entire process (which is pretty much what I feel like I am doing, but hey, I don't want them to base their decision on slightly lower grades). Or maybe just a short email explaining that I wanted to send my updated grades. Thanks again for your help!

Thank you so much for getting back to me! Another question: did you just sent the replacement documents alone, or did you include a note explaining why you had sent them? I'm hoping the school I'd need to mail to isn't too far along, as it has been a month since the deadline. The other school prefers updates via email and because their deadline was just this week, I imagine they aren't too far along for updates at this point.

Hello everyone, I submitted everything back in December (only to realize that one of the programs wasn't actually due until this past Tuesday...at least I haven't had to work on applications for a couple month, right?). Since submitting, I received grades from the past semester that bumped my GPA a bit. Should I contact the departments I applied to since then, or will I just be being annoying if I do so? If so, how should I phrase it so I don't sound as nervous and crazy as I feel? Thanks in advance!

Hello everyone. I apologize in advance for this incredibly ridiculous question, but there are no dumb question, right? How do you calculate a subject GPA...? Basically, is it all of the courses you had to take for your degree or only things directly related to the subject? For example, my undergrad degree is in Biology. Would I only count Bio courses, or would I also include physics and chemistry, as they are required for the degree? Thanks! ETA: I actually did a double major, so would I include courses for both majors or only the one related to the school I am applying to?

Thank you all for the advice and for helping me chill out! It's bad enough that I feel like I'm "cheating on" professors I talk to because I'm talking with outher professors (I do the same thing with job applications...I know it's crazy, but I do it anyway). But add in all that confusion, and I was about to crawl in a hole and never emerge. I managed to email him a huge apology for the confusion and to clear up my interests. It seems better now, and I'm sorry for exposing you all to my freakout... Thanks again!

Hi there, I'm currently working on a Master's at University of Pennsylvania in Environmental Geology and am applying for PhDs in geology this fall. I tend to be in the area between biology and geology, and am mainly looking to do (and currently doing) research on bioindicators, whether for current or past changes. I'm also interested in land-use effects. I'm still waiting on a few people to get back to me about letters of interest, so I'm not ready to give my final list of schools I've applied to. It's nice to have an area here to discuss the application process (stress!) and Geology/Earth Science.

This year is pretty much my last chance to do a PhD before I decide that I just really need to get a job with the Master's I'll be receiving this spring...so I'm in total freak-out mode like 99.9% of the time. When I applied the first time, I was told to contact any researching faculty members that I have common interests with to discuss their programs before I apply. In fact, I've been told by people that I've contacted about doing research that you should contact as many as you are interested in, even within the same department. I did that, unfortunately, at one of the schools I applied to, one of athe faculty I sent it to thought it would help me out to send it to everyone there in case they are interested in me. It probably would have been great, except upon sending a follow-up letter, I got a reply (from the only other faculty member I contacted) that in essence said "We're confused about your interests because we all received the same letter/you emailed multiple people." Now I'm all panic stricken because I am sure that "emailing everyone" which I didn't actually do is going to reflect very, very poorly on my application and I'm not going to be even considered because of it. *headdeskheaddeskheaddesk* Any ideas as to how bad this is actually going to hurt me?

I just emailed the prof. I'm super nervous. I can't do anything but assume rejection as I know they do interviews and April 15 is so close. If I got in, they'd have let me know by now... *sigh*

I kind of figured that's what I should do, I just have to get up the nerve and figure out what to say!

I am at a total loss as to what to do. I applied to Penn's PhD program in Earth and Environmental. I haven't heard a thing. I'm panicking. Should I email someone? I'm already in the department (trying to switch from a Master's to a PhD) so I know most of the professors. Should I just email one that I know fairly well? Or do I email an administrator? I thought I had a good chance, but I feel less and less confident by the second... Help!

My first choice for undergrad let me know within 2 weeks of me submitting my application that I was in with a 50% scholarship. My grad school application still has not told me what is going on and I sent that in December 15. Last I heard, they were "planning on looking at apps within the month" in February...

Oh crud. Penn probably thinks I'm a loon. I've been checking at least three times a day for the past two months... lol!

Pros: Decent undergrad GPA (3.4) with double major Good GPA (3.8) in my Master's Some decent scores on GRE (700 quantitative, 600 verbal) I'm working on the Master's where I have applied to my PhD, so I've already proven I do well there. My potential advisor already has me searching for grants and planning my research Research experience and lab assistant experience The people who edited my SoP said it was great Cons: Could have had a better undergrad GPA My writing score for the GRE wasn't spectacular (4.5) Only half the Master's complete so far No published papers and haven't been working in the field since I graduated in 2008 My potential advisor is affiliated with the university (he is approved for research). They don't seem to want to tell him if I got in I haven't heard anything yet Trying to stay positive! Not doing a great job but I'm trying...

I emailed my potential advisor and, while he did get back to me, he hadn't heard anything. He is affiliated with the University though, not a professor there. So maybe they just decided not to give him any info? It's comforting to know other people are still waiting (and that other have emailed their potential advisors to ask...) Ah, sweet nausea of anxiety!

Hello, I'm new here... I have been waiting for word from Penn not-so-patiently for a month now. I have contact with two potential advisors and the one I'm leaning towards has been sending me grant-related information and would like me to enroll in a summer program to get more experience in the specific field I would be working in. The problem is, he doesn't work in the EES department but is affiliated with the school so I'm not sure if they are giving him information. The other potential advisor told me they were looking at applications in February. We're halfway through March and I'm more than halfway to panic mode. I am already in that department's master's program and doing well, so I had hoped that would give me a decent shot at it. This is my only application this year. Has anyone heard from this department? At what point should I contact admissions? Should I start making more specific alternate plans for next year? I asked the first potential advisor (the one from outside Penn) by email last night if he had happened to hear anything, but if he hasn't, what should my next move be? Thanks for any advice!