justacigar

I got the news today that I was accepted off the waitlist for UMSL! 
I am proof that determination and persistence pay off. If you are feeling discouraged after this cycle, I just want you to know that there is hope. It might not happen on the timeline you thought it would, but please don't give up. Take time to grieve and then kick your ass into overdrive prepping for the next cycle. It's a grind, but I promise it's worth it. 
I've been round these parts for three years now, and I really appreciate this supportive community. I'm excited to stick around and hopefully help others persevere and realize their dreams. I believe in all of you! I'm always here if you need to vent, have questions, or just want a buddy. 

I posted this on Friday and I just received an unofficial acceptance email from my PI. I have been crying tears of joy for the past hour. 
this is my third cycle trying and I’m so glad I never gave up. I am beyond excited for this. I want to make my kids proud!
please please don’t give up! Even if you don’t get in this round, so what..start now getting things together and ready for next cycle! 
 
please pm me if you have any questions/feedback/tips, anything!!!!

I'll have just turned 30 when I start in the fall so I'm really feeling this. However, honestly, I could never have survived let alone succeeded in this process unless I'd experienced the entirety of my life beforehand. 

To those feeling "too" old, I get it, I am turning 35 this summer. I sometimes tell my current PI that I feel sad about not having chosen this career earlier, and he always points out to me how valuable my life experiences have been, how intentional I am and how age sometimes really helps.. Plus he always reminds me that I have my three amazing kids who I love to death and who bring me so much joy (also drive me nuts..) but having a family also taught me how to juggle school, work, research and family and be more organized and intentional with my time. Not to say it wouldn't be nice to be doing this in my early twenties, or even late twenties, but I don't necessarily think it's always a downside to be a bit older. I still have so much time to do what I love, and my kids will be a bit older and more independent once I finish grad school. Plus I feel like a kid at heart lol  

I will be 28- I have had moments were I've felt concerned about being "too old" but I will say the generic age is just a number and that for clinical programs in particular I would make a confident guess that the average age of entry into a program is quickly rising given how competitive the admission process is now. For those feeling worried about being too old, you will probably have a much "easier" ride because life experience and strong resilience is needed for these programs. In addition, older students may have more research experience/publications so may find certain aspects of the program less difficult compared to younger students with less experience. more experience both professionally and in life is always golden.

I broke down and emailed my PI (waitlist) yesterday and she warmly responded back saying I am the next to be offered a spot with a few outstanding initial offers still out there. My fingers are crossed so tight. I'm a 31 year old single mom and I don't think I can take another cycle of this ? these next 2.5 weeks are going to do me in, I can feel it!
Good luck everyone!!

I’m 28 but this process makes me feel like I’m turning 85. I’m hoping I’ll get into a program before I’m 50. Although, even if I did get in at 50 that would still give me plenty of years to work before I die. 

I was 28 when I started, and I was also not the oldest in my cohort. There are 8 of us, and there are 2 people older than me. Don't worry about being the old fart! I think my age and experience prior to grad school has helped me in a lot of ways. 

I got the news today that I was accepted off the waitlist for UMSL! 
I am proof that determination and persistence pay off. If you are feeling discouraged after this cycle, I just want you to know that there is hope. It might not happen on the timeline you thought it would, but please don't give up. Take time to grieve and then kick your ass into overdrive prepping for the next cycle. It's a grind, but I promise it's worth it. 
I've been round these parts for three years now, and I really appreciate this supportive community. I'm excited to stick around and hopefully help others persevere and realize their dreams. I believe in all of you! I'm always here if you need to vent, have questions, or just want a buddy. 

I got the news today that I was accepted off the waitlist for UMSL! 
I am proof that determination and persistence pay off. If you are feeling discouraged after this cycle, I just want you to know that there is hope. It might not happen on the timeline you thought it would, but please don't give up. Take time to grieve and then kick your ass into overdrive prepping for the next cycle. It's a grind, but I promise it's worth it. 
I've been round these parts for three years now, and I really appreciate this supportive community. I'm excited to stick around and hopefully help others persevere and realize their dreams. I believe in all of you! I'm always here if you need to vent, have questions, or just want a buddy. 

I'll technically be 29 but will be turning 30 at the end of August! Sounds like I'm going to be the old fart of the group lol 

I got the news today that I was accepted off the waitlist for UMSL! 
I am proof that determination and persistence pay off. If you are feeling discouraged after this cycle, I just want you to know that there is hope. It might not happen on the timeline you thought it would, but please don't give up. Take time to grieve and then kick your ass into overdrive prepping for the next cycle. It's a grind, but I promise it's worth it. 
I've been round these parts for three years now, and I really appreciate this supportive community. I'm excited to stick around and hopefully help others persevere and realize their dreams. I believe in all of you! I'm always here if you need to vent, have questions, or just want a buddy. 

I'll technically be 29 but will be turning 30 at the end of August! Sounds like I'm going to be the old fart of the group lol 

I'll technically be 29 but will be turning 30 at the end of August! Sounds like I'm going to be the old fart of the group lol 

Naah, got you. I'll be turning 36 April 4th. If you're an old fart, I'm ancient as eff. Also have two kids, one who turned 1 today and an almost 5 year old.

Y'all I am 34 and have 3 kiddos under 5, I def am an old fart!!  

Hate to break it to you, but I think I hold that title... I'll be 32 in July ? I wasn't able to start college until I was 23 and I took a few years off after graduation to get research experience.

I'll technically be 29 but will be turning 30 at the end of August! Sounds like I'm going to be the old fart of the group lol 

I got the news today that I was accepted off the waitlist for UMSL! 
I am proof that determination and persistence pay off. If you are feeling discouraged after this cycle, I just want you to know that there is hope. It might not happen on the timeline you thought it would, but please don't give up. Take time to grieve and then kick your ass into overdrive prepping for the next cycle. It's a grind, but I promise it's worth it. 
I've been round these parts for three years now, and I really appreciate this supportive community. I'm excited to stick around and hopefully help others persevere and realize their dreams. I believe in all of you! I'm always here if you need to vent, have questions, or just want a buddy. 

I'll technically be 29 but will be turning 30 at the end of August! Sounds like I'm going to be the old fart of the group lol 

I got the news today that I was accepted off the waitlist for UMSL! 
I am proof that determination and persistence pay off. If you are feeling discouraged after this cycle, I just want you to know that there is hope. It might not happen on the timeline you thought it would, but please don't give up. Take time to grieve and then kick your ass into overdrive prepping for the next cycle. It's a grind, but I promise it's worth it. 
I've been round these parts for three years now, and I really appreciate this supportive community. I'm excited to stick around and hopefully help others persevere and realize their dreams. I believe in all of you! I'm always here if you need to vent, have questions, or just want a buddy. 

I got the news today that I was accepted off the waitlist for UMSL! 
I am proof that determination and persistence pay off. If you are feeling discouraged after this cycle, I just want you to know that there is hope. It might not happen on the timeline you thought it would, but please don't give up. Take time to grieve and then kick your ass into overdrive prepping for the next cycle. It's a grind, but I promise it's worth it. 
I've been round these parts for three years now, and I really appreciate this supportive community. I'm excited to stick around and hopefully help others persevere and realize their dreams. I believe in all of you! I'm always here if you need to vent, have questions, or just want a buddy. 

I got the news today that I was accepted off the waitlist for UMSL! 
I am proof that determination and persistence pay off. If you are feeling discouraged after this cycle, I just want you to know that there is hope. It might not happen on the timeline you thought it would, but please don't give up. Take time to grieve and then kick your ass into overdrive prepping for the next cycle. It's a grind, but I promise it's worth it. 
I've been round these parts for three years now, and I really appreciate this supportive community. I'm excited to stick around and hopefully help others persevere and realize their dreams. I believe in all of you! I'm always here if you need to vent, have questions, or just want a buddy. 

I got the news today that I was accepted off the waitlist for UMSL! 
I am proof that determination and persistence pay off. If you are feeling discouraged after this cycle, I just want you to know that there is hope. It might not happen on the timeline you thought it would, but please don't give up. Take time to grieve and then kick your ass into overdrive prepping for the next cycle. It's a grind, but I promise it's worth it. 
I've been round these parts for three years now, and I really appreciate this supportive community. I'm excited to stick around and hopefully help others persevere and realize their dreams. I believe in all of you! I'm always here if you need to vent, have questions, or just want a buddy. 

I got the news today that I was accepted off the waitlist for UMSL! 
I am proof that determination and persistence pay off. If you are feeling discouraged after this cycle, I just want you to know that there is hope. It might not happen on the timeline you thought it would, but please don't give up. Take time to grieve and then kick your ass into overdrive prepping for the next cycle. It's a grind, but I promise it's worth it. 
I've been round these parts for three years now, and I really appreciate this supportive community. I'm excited to stick around and hopefully help others persevere and realize their dreams. I believe in all of you! I'm always here if you need to vent, have questions, or just want a buddy.