crackademik

Just to test the waters, I also offered to pay my way (since I am relatively local), to see what this mess is really about. We shall see what happens.

I thought it was really strange too. Also, that is exactly what they are suggesting (that they can only afford for some people to visit). I feel like that looks extremely bad. The grad coordinator offered to put me in contact with some professors/grad students, so hopefully I can pry the truth out of a current grad student because honestly this was one of my top choices.

I was accepted to a university with full funding, but when I asked about visitation, they said they did not have enough money for all prospective students. Regardless if they're just not that interested in me, is it a red flag that they can't afford to have everyone visit (note that I am domestic and not that far from this university) ? It is a mid-size program so I don't think they have admitted that many people to begin with. I'm worried that if I chose to attend that school, there would be issues with the department related to funding.

EXACTLY! I'm one of those people that is constantly setting the bar higher once I make it to my goal. I didn't think I would get any offers and now that I got one, I want at least one other one so I can at least say I got to choose. I'm terrible.

I thought after getting my first acceptance that I would start feeling less anxious, but nope! In fact, it almost seems like my anxiety has kicked it up a notch. I've never been an anxious person in my life until this process, and I'm really hoping it will go away once my future is set in stone.

Same here and I shot too low to get a better chance of more options. You can't feel too bad about yourself though because admissions is partially luck (i.e. who is on the committee). I've seen extremely well qualified people get rejected from mediocre schools and seemingly under-qualified people getting into a top 10.

Did you find out they have rolling admission from someone in the graduate committee? I can't find anything about rolling admission on their website. I haven't heard anything from them yet and I know they sent out their first round of acceptances on the 25th.

I was reading a paper on PFOS at work and I decided to refresh my email for the 1000x that day, and VOILA, there was the offer. I just about peed myself and cried in excitement. I was almost 100% confident I was going to get shutout this year after being told by a friend on an admissions committee that my SOP was trash.

Hey! we're both one for one! I got my first rejection at the beginning of January.

And here I thought my 1k in apps and fees was heinous. Any other pro tips I should know sensei?

See this is why I asked lol. Thanks for saving me money and shame

This is true, but to be fair I just said I was about to go jump off a cliff so I'm not sure what I have to lose ?

Glad I'm not the only one! Now I just have to decide if I'm going to be pathetic enough to apply to the same schools I applied to for PhDs after they reject me. Most schools I applied to will probably send out decision letters before their Master's deadlines.

I'm pretty sure his stats are worse than most of the people on this site. I've applied to 11 schools now and I'm considering biting the bullet and applying for another masters degree. And Thanks! I've been searching for the perfect head banging spot for awhile now lol as I'm pretty confident I'll be in the same boat as you. I also applied for a scholarship through my job and it would be super embarrassing if I had to decline the funding because I didn't get in anywhere. I'll need extra time for head banging if that happens.

I would definitely pay good money for that as well. I don’t really understand what they are looking for though. my ex was a physics major who was borderline illiterate (but very talented in math) and managed to get into 3 programs his first try (with funding) with a 3.0 undergrad GPA, a 152/155/2.0 GRE, one year of research, and no pubs. I read his SOP after he submitted and it read like a generic third grade level essay. It’s honestly such a crapshoot that sometimes I feel like I’m just wasting my time.

I actually did try to call and beg once. Can confirm it does not work.

I highly doubt I'll get accepted anywhere, but if I do, then I'll quit my job in may and do all the travelling I've missed out on from working full time and finishing my masters degree. I have a mutual friend with a graduate admissions committee member at a university who pretty much told me my SOP sucked and no one would take me because of it. It sucks that this person waited until after I submitted all of my apps to tell me this. I pretty much want to go jump off a cliff right now.

yes! Purdue chem was only a day behind this year (naturally I didn't get an acceptance) and I still freaked. Some of my other schools don't even have acceptance timeline trends which makes it even more nerve racking.

Is it bad that I laughed at how relatable this is?

I'll probably stay in my lab job or say fuck it and move to Qatar, learn arabic, and work for a petrol company as a chemical engineer.

This is literally me. It gets even worse when your top choice clearly sent out all their acceptances already, so you know you got rejected based on the trends in last years results. I've applied to 11 schools now and have heard nothing.

I haven’t heard back from anywhere yet but I’m not really expecting to get in anywhere to be honest. Everyone on this site seems to be far more qualified than me and even they are getting rejected to places.

I went here for undergrad. It's a stem focused school so it tends to be stronger in engineering, IT, comp sci, physics, chem, and bio. The area is very close to the Baltimore city line and there nice little town called Catonsville right next to campus on the suburban side. Most students are commuters so there's not a lot of nightlife on campus, if you're into that.. It is considered the "nerdy" counterpart to UMD-College Park. There is a continuous and campus wide game of humans versus zombies (with nerf guns and plastic swords), to give you an idea of the school's culture. Edit: didn't realize the post was from 2006, I guess you probably know all about it by this point.

Worries: I'm an unconventional applicant. I have a sub 3.0 undergrad GPA but a 4.0 master's (non-thesis) GPA. I also have two years of solid industry experience in my field (I don't have pubs yet but I do have trade secrets?‍♀️). I did not apply to any Ivy league schools and only 1 "highly selective" school, but I'm still afraid my atrocious undergrad GPA will prevent me from getting admitted anywhere. There are legitimate circumstances that caused it, which I do briefly mention in my SOPs, but I still don't know if that will cut it. Excitement: I'm coauthoring my first paper at my job right now and excited to graduate with my master's in may!

I feel this on a spiritual level. I usually have one or two panic attacks a day thinking about the moment I'll get a notification with a decision letter.