M(allthevowels)H

Congrats!!
 

I've spent today thinking about if I'd rather be rejected outright or waitlisted at my dreamboat school. I can't figure out which would be less scary.
And HOW is is sTiLL January. Ughhh. There's more of it tomorrow! WHY!

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about that. I got an email around the 8th (not Rhet/comp so that may account for the time difference) saying that something was wrong with my transcripts (didn't specify whether they were illegible or missing, just one of the two) and the only other person I know who applied there also got one. I mean, I guess it's possible we all just really suck at transcripts, but I sometimes wonder if they just need them emailed in to have easier access to them or something. 

I got admission to washu for public health, awaiting Berkeley, Yale and Vanderbilt
 

Any unknown number that starts with my area code: *decline call*
Any unknown number that starts with a a different area code: *heart rate increases*

Self-shellack: losing my mind because an Indiana number popped up on my phone, before remembering I didn't even apply to Purdue.

Hello everyone! I wish I had found this discussion forum while I was filling out and submitting application--everyone's advice would have been quite helpful back then! But better late than never, I suppose. I just entered the results I have received so far (two interviews, one admission) so that at least the kiddos next year will have the information! 

Self-shellack: losing my mind because an Indiana number popped up on my phone, before remembering I didn't even apply to Purdue.

Self-shellack: losing my mind because an Indiana number popped up on my phone, before remembering I didn't even apply to Purdue.

@M(allthevowels)H  @FreakyFoucault @Warelin @a_sort_of_fractious_angel 
Thank you!!! You all have been so supportive on hear, I don't know how I would have gotten through the past few weeks without all y'all's fun posts.

Yay! They just wanted to make you sweat a little bit first 
Congratulations!!

Accepted to UW-Madison rhet/comp!!!!!!??!???
 
I didn't get any further than the first sentence of the email, but OH MY GOD.

A few months ago prior to actually doing any work, but right after a few successful networking experiences with future programs
oh yes, I am amazing. Everyone wants me in their program. I am such hot shit. I'm going to be the next *insert your preferred scholarly powerhouse.* I can't wait until February. I bet I'll get recruited. I'm going to have schools fighting over me. I'm going to negotiate a fellowship. I'm going to ask for a tech budget...yes...new laptop for me. Time to start on my SOP where I'll dazzle everyone with my fresh takes on rhetorriiicccccc. 
Seconds after submitting my final application
So I guess this is it. My interests don't make sense, my work is not unique. I don't have any publications and my CV is pathetic. No hope left now. Why did I just waste all this money. What do you even do with just an MA? Work at a community college? Or I guess I could *shudders* work as a social media manager? I'll need to learn to build websites or something. Time to get my, why you should hire writing majors pitch ready. I guess I could be a stay at home dog mom. My husband can support me on a grad stipend, right? 
The real me feels fairly anxious but hopeful and optimistic. I regularly give myself motivational speeches about working hard and knowing my worth, but this crappy version of myself is in the back of my head telling me that there is high potential that I won't get in anywhere. It's not true, I know it's not true, but it's a possibility and that possibility is going to haunt me until that first acceptance gets here.
The worst part is that my remaining programs do not usually notify until late February or early March, so I've got a ways to go. 

I think you misspelled 'acceptance'.

Hello. I am new and I have six applications out
...and in the last two weeks I have checked my spam folder so often that I'm starting to think that, yes, maybe those Russian ladies really do want to meet me.

Almost 28 here. 

23 was so long ago. Anyone else in the nearly 30 club? 

In addition to what's been said here about application fees, official transcripts, the portals, and the GRE, I'll add a couple: 
Finding basic information about a lot of the programs I researched was inordinately difficult because of poor website design. When links are broken, information is incomplete, and I can't find my way to the course requirements, I'm tempted just not to apply, even to a "good" school. (I mean, I still applied, but I thought angrily about giving up.)  300-500 word limits on personal statements are atrocious! I understand that committees don't have the time (or resources) to read hundreds of super long statements, but I don't feel I can accurately describe my research interests, my teaching experience (because many of these schools also didn't have a separate teaching statement), and where I'd fit in the department in just 500 words. Again, I completely understand that the departments are working with limited resources, but I'm surprised that they feel they can gauge a person's fit for the program in 300 words. 

Yeah, I’m pretty happy that, given the amount of time it takes Jimmy and three friends to pour 80 bags of concrete, I don’t need to figure out how long it’d take Jimmy and two friends to pour 78 bags of concrete. 
And we’ll be wishing you luck for CMU! 

Got into Duke English!! Wahhh

Oh my gosh!!!! 1000x this.  Clearly, I have all math formulas hidden on the inside of this elastic rubber band.  You caught me.   ALSO, yes, please, take 1 minute and a half of my TIMED TEST to tell me my hair tie must be in my hair at all times. 

This is a general rant/reflection as the application season is nearing an end and the waiting is happened. I know a lot of us have started considering what we wish we did better, but I'd love to know- what do you wish programs did differently. Also, I'm sure this goes without saying- but I'm not bashing, just recognizing how stressful this process is and the places that schools could improve. I'll start us off.
Just take the unofficial transcripts dammit. Don't make me pay $10+ dollars for each transcript that I have to send. Don't make me send paper copies. If you accept me, I'll happily go through the trouble. Quit with this community college bullshit. I just received an email from a program saying that once they receive an official transcript from a community college that gave me credit for a math class I took in highschool then my application will be complete. It was a dual credit class! It's listed on all my other transcripts and wasn't even taken at the college. Do you really care what I made in calculous 7 years ago? Do you really need that to review? Just give us the projected acceptance dates. Please don't make me crawl through the results page. Please don't give me anxiety checking the portals, email, mailbox... We're expected to turn in everything by a certain date and time. If our application is late, many schools won't even consider it. So I ask, why is this a one way street? We paid you the money, can't we at least know when we'll find out.   
What are your top 3 pet peeves of this application season?

Oh, Honey. 
If you mean Riverside, CA as in UCR you are in luck. I did my undergrad at UCR and the LGBT scene was thriving. I had trans friends who specifically came to UCR, even paying out of state tuition, because of their involvement with T*Camp and being named one of the better schools for LGBT students int he country (they also hosted the *Trans conference in 2017). I was also there when UCR Underground was hosting college-sponsored Drag events. There was an LGBT housing option (Stonewall Hall, I think), but most of my friends lived in Riverside. We were all undergrads, so I didn't notice many other LGBT with families, but they do have an LGBT Grad specific meet up, so there are lots of opportunities to find community.
Riverside itself is in the I.E., where politics can change drastically depending on area. Riverside was named the second most LGBT friendly city in the I.E. (it lost to Palm Springs which...I guess is fair haha) but if you're living outside of the city I'd avoid Fontana or San Bernardino (which are probably places you'll want to avoid anyway, suck it Sanberdoo!)  There are gay bars (VIP, and Menagerie) on main streets in Riverside. My friend and his partner opted for housing in Riverside, and were never hassled (I commuted from farther away than I would recommend anyone commuting).
Hope this rant helps!

Boom! Warelin'd!

I think it's safe to believe they look at the application as a whole.
For instance, you're applying to Tennessee-Knoxville. According to the Results board, they accepted a 156v in 2015, and rejected a 162. Madison-Wisconsin accepted a 158v and rejected 163 the same cycle. I did my undergrad at UC Riverside and am still close with a number of faculty, and I can tell you they don't give a single bent penny about the GRE when it really comes down to it. I'm sure your other accomplishments + GPA will overshadow a few points, if you're a good fit for a program.
Someone said the gradcafe GRE scores are skewed higher than average, which is probably true, so I'm sure it often looks like everyone who gets in is 166, but it's really just that everyone here is obsessive and reporting reflects community