Teaching Faculty Wannabe

Every time my mom and her boyfriend come home from work, her boyfriend asks me if I have checked my email today yet. Every time. He hasn't missed a day since mid-January. And every time I start doing this and want to hide in bed.

Valentine's Day
Nothing says "I love you" like universities telling you they want to see other people. 

Hi all!
I thought it might be a good idea to create a forum where people can share their self-care tips, especially during this time period where grad school results are coming in (or not, which can be stressful). This is definitely not a cure or a 100% solution,  especially for those that have a mental illness, but I hope these tips/advice will be of some help during the waiting.
So, here are some self-care tips I TRY to utilize:
1. Walking. Being stationary is not good for your body in general, so it is always good to just take a walk outside and enjoy nature.
2. Binge watch movies or TV shows. Even though it is good to move around, sometimes it is also good to be lazy and laugh or cry or both a little. It's all about balance.
3. Read. It's a good distraction where you can improve your vocabulary. A win-win!
4. Listen to podcasts while I clean the house. Cleaning my house always me feel better. I take a long shower after cleaning and it feels good to chill in a house that won't stress me out anymore. I love listening to podcasts while I clean because I can listen to stories or learn something new while doing something that isn't the most fun thing to do.
5. Drink some herbal tea. The comfort of holding a warm cup of tea feels like home. I say herbal tea because it has little to no caffeine in it. Caffeine can sometimes increase my anxiety, so I try to avoid it all costs when I know my mental health is not doing very well. 
6. Hydrate. Water can help flush out the cortisol in your body when you are stressed and/or anxious.
7. BUBBLE bath! 
8. Yoga. I typically do yoga when I don't feel liking walking, but know I need to move my body. I can't do yoga without someone to tell me what to do, so I watch Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube. She is funny and really good at teaching yoga.
9. Meditation. This can help you clear your mind. I use an app called Oak to learn how to mediate.
10. Nap. Sometimes what you need is some shut eye.
11. Talk with someone I am close with. Getting a different perspective on something that's bothering me can help me rethink about it. It's also good to talk with someone who cares about you and who you care about.
12. Face masks. It's nice taking off the mask and having a soft, clean face.
Please share any tips or advice you have for self-care! I also found this forum where you read some other self-care tips.
 
I wish everyone the best!

I was in a relationship like this once.

What an eloquent way to describe my current mood!

Hi there, and welcome to GradCafe!
So I first off wanted to say that it is great that you are already starting to think about how to prepare for applying to grad school. It's a smart move and will definitely make you feel more prepared when you have to do it. So, here is some advice I will provide based off my own experience:
1. Start looking into programs now. When looking for programs, you want to look at a variety of things. Before doing this, I suggest making a list of deal breakers either in your head or written down so you can narrow down the list of schools you would like to apply to as you go about doing your research. These deal breakers could be funding, location, the number of professors doing work in the field you want to study, etc. But because you don't to apply to schools you really don't want to go to, it's best to start eliminating them as soon as you can in this process.
So, once you start finding schools you do want to apply to, I would highly suggest organizing the information of the programs in Excel. The information you could put of this sheet is this:
The name of the school (duh!) The specific department and degree (another duh!) Tuition costs (usually you can find the tuition for the previous year) The location of the school The specifics of the programs The types of classes you are required to take (core classes plus electives). Do they interest you? Are you required to TA? How are the facilities, like equipment and institutes, in the department? What do you have to do for the qualifying and general exams? Are their any training programs or certification programs a part of the department that can help you gain more experience outside of your doctoral research? How is funding? Do they typically give students a stipend while also covering fees and tuition and providing healthcare insurance? Application materials When does the online application portal open? Number of recommenders CV or resume Essays such as personal statements, statements of purpose, diversity statements, etc. (you could start writing these over the summer, the earlier the better) Application fee (look into waivers) Official or unofficial transcript (do you need to send an official transcript to them before or after being accepted?) Required test scores (GRE, etc) and information on how to send them to the school The professors you would like to work with I would maybe write down a few bullets summarizing their research and maybe save one or two of their recent papers 2. Start working on applications as soon as possible. I would highly suggest working on applications during the summer, but you can obviously start working on it once you get the information above. Usually schools/department have some general outline of what their applications will be like, including the essay topics/questions. I would also start creating or updating your CV and resume. I know you said that you don't really have anyone to ask as recommenders, so I would try establishing relationships with professors and research advisors so they can comment on you as a student and/or researcher when the time comes to ask if they can write you a STRONG letter of recommendation. You typically want to give them a month before the deadline, but I would give them at least two months in my opinion.
3. Search for fellowships and scholarship you can apply to for grad school. In grad school applications, they usually ask if you applied to any fellowships and scholarships. I think it looks good when you say you have applied to some. Also, funding is always good in grad school. While you are researching schools, some of them may have a list of internal and external fellowships. Definitely take a look at those!
4. If you have to take a test, start studying now. I would sign up for a test in late summer or start of your fall semester before school starts to get super busy. I would also do this just in case if you need to retake the test. You need to provide enough time for scores to be processed by the test company and then enough time for the school to receive them on time.
 Additionally, read this forum.⬇️⬇️
So, now onto the answers to your question. Also, FYI, I am no expert, so I am just going off my own knowledge and opinions.
1. How do I connect with faculty and research supervisors for possible assistantships/projects? I would email professors that you would want to work with. This is where your CV will come in handy. In the email, introduce yourself, shortly talk about your research interests and how they correlate to the research done in the professor's lab. Then say you are interested in joining their lab and ask if they are available to talk about their research with you in person, and that you have attached your CV for them to look. Also, you can connect with professors that you are taking classes with by going to their office hours, and then maybe you can ask about their research and see if they have any spots open for an undergraduate researcher. You might have to work without funding, and if you are okay with this, be open with the professor about this fact.
2. Is my GPA enough for R1 institutions? I honestly don't know much about GPAs on a 5.0 scale. As a warning, most schools you apply to might ask you to convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale. Sometimes they don't and allow you to enter the scale, but be prepared to not able to do that. I found a website that could possibly help you with the conversion: https://www.admissions.iastate.edu/apply/gpa_calc.php
Anywho, I think a 3.5 out of 4.0 is really good. I even think if someone has a 3.0 out of 4.0, they still have a chance of getting into a R1 institution. Look at the GPA requirements for each school, though. When it comes to graduate school applications, establishing fit within the program is probably one of the most, if not the most important, part of your application. You could have a top-notch application, but if your only flaw is that you didn't establish fit, I am 98% sure you aren't getting in. However, it seems like your GPA is really good, and you shouldn't worry about it.
3. Will the Master's program benefit me in preparing for grad school? I think getting a Master's will only benefit you if you feel like you need more research experience before getting into a PhD program. However, it seems like you had a good amount, especially if you had published papers. I think this all depends on how prepared you feel. With PhD programs (if you just have a bachelors when you start), the first year or two involve pretty much getting a Master's, so it is all dependent on your feeling. If you have about a year of research experience, I think that's good, but more is always better.
4. Should I take the GREs for a potential added plus for GRE-optional schools? If you have the time and money to study for and take it, I would. It won't take away from your application if you don't take it, but it will add to it if you do take it and the scores are decently good.
5. Should I mention my mental health issues and disability to research supervisors/advisors and in grad school applications? In the applications, if I remember correctly, I think they ask about disabilities (and I think mental health follows under that). However, I am not sure what to do beyond this. I think if you feel comfortable to talk about it, I would, but expect some people to sadly not take it well. I would think this is a red flag because people should be understanding and welcoming, and this could help you determine who you feel comfortable working with. This is a tough one to answer, though, because you can't predict how people will take it.
I am sorry for bombarding you with some much info all at once, but I really hope this helps! Good luck with your grad school adventures!

Hi Everyone,
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Hi all!
I thought it might be a good idea to create a forum where people can share their self-care tips, especially during this time period where grad school results are coming in (or not, which can be stressful). This is definitely not a cure or a 100% solution,  especially for those that have a mental illness, but I hope these tips/advice will be of some help during the waiting.
So, here are some self-care tips I TRY to utilize:
1. Walking. Being stationary is not good for your body in general, so it is always good to just take a walk outside and enjoy nature.
2. Binge watch movies or TV shows. Even though it is good to move around, sometimes it is also good to be lazy and laugh or cry or both a little. It's all about balance.
3. Read. It's a good distraction where you can improve your vocabulary. A win-win!
4. Listen to podcasts while I clean the house. Cleaning my house always me feel better. I take a long shower after cleaning and it feels good to chill in a house that won't stress me out anymore. I love listening to podcasts while I clean because I can listen to stories or learn something new while doing something that isn't the most fun thing to do.
5. Drink some herbal tea. The comfort of holding a warm cup of tea feels like home. I say herbal tea because it has little to no caffeine in it. Caffeine can sometimes increase my anxiety, so I try to avoid it all costs when I know my mental health is not doing very well. 
6. Hydrate. Water can help flush out the cortisol in your body when you are stressed and/or anxious.
7. BUBBLE bath! 
8. Yoga. I typically do yoga when I don't feel liking walking, but know I need to move my body. I can't do yoga without someone to tell me what to do, so I watch Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube. She is funny and really good at teaching yoga.
9. Meditation. This can help you clear your mind. I use an app called Oak to learn how to mediate.
10. Nap. Sometimes what you need is some shut eye.
11. Talk with someone I am close with. Getting a different perspective on something that's bothering me can help me rethink about it. It's also good to talk with someone who cares about you and who you care about.
12. Face masks. It's nice taking off the mask and having a soft, clean face.
Please share any tips or advice you have for self-care! I also found this forum where you read some other self-care tips.
 
I wish everyone the best!

I think the Graduate School has to approve you before you can be accepted, but the department is telling the Graduate School office for that school that they want you. That’s awesome! 
Same! This forum has been so great! 

Yoga's the best! I find any kind of exercise to be extremely helpful. I personally like dance, and I've also started doing barre, which is a combination of ballet, pilates, and yoga (so all the things I love).

Hi all!
I thought it might be a good idea to create a forum where people can share their self-care tips, especially during this time period where grad school results are coming in (or not, which can be stressful). This is definitely not a cure or a 100% solution,  especially for those that have a mental illness, but I hope these tips/advice will be of some help during the waiting.
So, here are some self-care tips I TRY to utilize:
1. Walking. Being stationary is not good for your body in general, so it is always good to just take a walk outside and enjoy nature.
2. Binge watch movies or TV shows. Even though it is good to move around, sometimes it is also good to be lazy and laugh or cry or both a little. It's all about balance.
3. Read. It's a good distraction where you can improve your vocabulary. A win-win!
4. Listen to podcasts while I clean the house. Cleaning my house always me feel better. I take a long shower after cleaning and it feels good to chill in a house that won't stress me out anymore. I love listening to podcasts while I clean because I can listen to stories or learn something new while doing something that isn't the most fun thing to do.
5. Drink some herbal tea. The comfort of holding a warm cup of tea feels like home. I say herbal tea because it has little to no caffeine in it. Caffeine can sometimes increase my anxiety, so I try to avoid it all costs when I know my mental health is not doing very well. 
6. Hydrate. Water can help flush out the cortisol in your body when you are stressed and/or anxious.
7. BUBBLE bath! 
8. Yoga. I typically do yoga when I don't feel liking walking, but know I need to move my body. I can't do yoga without someone to tell me what to do, so I watch Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube. She is funny and really good at teaching yoga.
9. Meditation. This can help you clear your mind. I use an app called Oak to learn how to mediate.
10. Nap. Sometimes what you need is some shut eye.
11. Talk with someone I am close with. Getting a different perspective on something that's bothering me can help me rethink about it. It's also good to talk with someone who cares about you and who you care about.
12. Face masks. It's nice taking off the mask and having a soft, clean face.
Please share any tips or advice you have for self-care! I also found this forum where you read some other self-care tips.
 
I wish everyone the best!

I can't figure out how to edit this; if it's possible someone please tell me how and I'll delete this post.
I got ACCEPTED (woo) to work with a computational mat sci professor. I didn't list him on my SoP, but we did have a skype conversation a few weeks ago that went quite well.

I love this! Here are some of mine:
Hydrate! I always feel a million times better if I've had enough water.  Eat healthy! Microwaving some frozen fish and a bag of vegetables takes ~10 mins, and makes me feel super replenished.  Yoga! I love the way I feel after I do yoga.  Hot shower! Just being able to get clean makes me feel amazing, and I love to sing in the shower.  Journal! I've found that bullet journaling has been such an awesome outlet for when I need to express my thoughts.  Go to the library! Maybe it's just a history major thing, but I find spending time in the library, even just looking at the spines of books, to be so relaxing. 

Thanks @Moods, I'll check it out!

If you like romcoms, there is a new French TV show on Netflix called The Hook Up Plan. It’s super funny/silly and super cute! 
I wish I could encourage myself to draw more, but that’s good that it works for you! 

For me, the most important self care is not to check gmail and gradcafe website ☹️

I've been doing a lot of reading, drawing, listening to audiobooks, and walking my dog. Drawing is nice because it forces me to focus on something else and it can be quite cathartic. I have to work on other relaxing things, such as watching Netflix. Haven't sat down to watch a show in a long time, but perhaps I'll watch something in French!

Good idea! These are great tips! 
I try to eat healthier and exercise more. I do workouts from home and usually in the morning so I start my day energized and positive. Taking care of the body is just as important as taking care of the mind. And it goes hand in hand!
I also keep a journal, which is cathartic to just get out all my thoughts and feelings. 
 
Good luck, everyone! 

Boston seems like a super likable city. I would love to live there. Hopefully the department and faculty are on point, too.

Hi all!
I thought it might be a good idea to create a forum where people can share their self-care tips, especially during this time period where grad school results are coming in (or not, which can be stressful). This is definitely not a cure or a 100% solution,  especially for those that have a mental illness, but I hope these tips/advice will be of some help during the waiting.
So, here are some self-care tips I TRY to utilize:
1. Walking. Being stationary is not good for your body in general, so it is always good to just take a walk outside and enjoy nature.
2. Binge watch movies or TV shows. Even though it is good to move around, sometimes it is also good to be lazy and laugh or cry or both a little. It's all about balance.
3. Read. It's a good distraction where you can improve your vocabulary. A win-win!
4. Listen to podcasts while I clean the house. Cleaning my house always me feel better. I take a long shower after cleaning and it feels good to chill in a house that won't stress me out anymore. I love listening to podcasts while I clean because I can listen to stories or learn something new while doing something that isn't the most fun thing to do.
5. Drink some herbal tea. The comfort of holding a warm cup of tea feels like home. I say herbal tea because it has little to no caffeine in it. Caffeine can sometimes increase my anxiety, so I try to avoid it all costs when I know my mental health is not doing very well. 
6. Hydrate. Water can help flush out the cortisol in your body when you are stressed and/or anxious.
7. BUBBLE bath! 
8. Yoga. I typically do yoga when I don't feel liking walking, but know I need to move my body. I can't do yoga without someone to tell me what to do, so I watch Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube. She is funny and really good at teaching yoga.
9. Meditation. This can help you clear your mind. I use an app called Oak to learn how to mediate.
10. Nap. Sometimes what you need is some shut eye.
11. Talk with someone I am close with. Getting a different perspective on something that's bothering me can help me rethink about it. It's also good to talk with someone who cares about you and who you care about.
12. Face masks. It's nice taking off the mask and having a soft, clean face.
Please share any tips or advice you have for self-care! I also found this forum where you read some other self-care tips.
 
I wish everyone the best!

I  know what you mean by wanting to have options. I am afraid that when I visit BU in two weeks that I might not actually like it, but it is a good feeling to have an acceptance with funding! I am so grateful for it! And thank you!? I hope more good news comes your way too! 

Hi all!
I thought it might be a good idea to create a forum where people can share their self-care tips, especially during this time period where grad school results are coming in (or not, which can be stressful). This is definitely not a cure or a 100% solution,  especially for those that have a mental illness, but I hope these tips/advice will be of some help during the waiting.
So, here are some self-care tips I TRY to utilize:
1. Walking. Being stationary is not good for your body in general, so it is always good to just take a walk outside and enjoy nature.
2. Binge watch movies or TV shows. Even though it is good to move around, sometimes it is also good to be lazy and laugh or cry or both a little. It's all about balance.
3. Read. It's a good distraction where you can improve your vocabulary. A win-win!
4. Listen to podcasts while I clean the house. Cleaning my house always me feel better. I take a long shower after cleaning and it feels good to chill in a house that won't stress me out anymore. I love listening to podcasts while I clean because I can listen to stories or learn something new while doing something that isn't the most fun thing to do.
5. Drink some herbal tea. The comfort of holding a warm cup of tea feels like home. I say herbal tea because it has little to no caffeine in it. Caffeine can sometimes increase my anxiety, so I try to avoid it all costs when I know my mental health is not doing very well. 
6. Hydrate. Water can help flush out the cortisol in your body when you are stressed and/or anxious.
7. BUBBLE bath! 
8. Yoga. I typically do yoga when I don't feel liking walking, but know I need to move my body. I can't do yoga without someone to tell me what to do, so I watch Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube. She is funny and really good at teaching yoga.
9. Meditation. This can help you clear your mind. I use an app called Oak to learn how to mediate.
10. Nap. Sometimes what you need is some shut eye.
11. Talk with someone I am close with. Getting a different perspective on something that's bothering me can help me rethink about it. It's also good to talk with someone who cares about you and who you care about.
12. Face masks. It's nice taking off the mask and having a soft, clean face.
Please share any tips or advice you have for self-care! I also found this forum where you read some other self-care tips.
 
I wish everyone the best!

Hi all!
I thought it might be a good idea to create a forum where people can share their self-care tips, especially during this time period where grad school results are coming in (or not, which can be stressful). This is definitely not a cure or a 100% solution,  especially for those that have a mental illness, but I hope these tips/advice will be of some help during the waiting.
So, here are some self-care tips I TRY to utilize:
1. Walking. Being stationary is not good for your body in general, so it is always good to just take a walk outside and enjoy nature.
2. Binge watch movies or TV shows. Even though it is good to move around, sometimes it is also good to be lazy and laugh or cry or both a little. It's all about balance.
3. Read. It's a good distraction where you can improve your vocabulary. A win-win!
4. Listen to podcasts while I clean the house. Cleaning my house always me feel better. I take a long shower after cleaning and it feels good to chill in a house that won't stress me out anymore. I love listening to podcasts while I clean because I can listen to stories or learn something new while doing something that isn't the most fun thing to do.
5. Drink some herbal tea. The comfort of holding a warm cup of tea feels like home. I say herbal tea because it has little to no caffeine in it. Caffeine can sometimes increase my anxiety, so I try to avoid it all costs when I know my mental health is not doing very well. 
6. Hydrate. Water can help flush out the cortisol in your body when you are stressed and/or anxious.
7. BUBBLE bath! 
8. Yoga. I typically do yoga when I don't feel liking walking, but know I need to move my body. I can't do yoga without someone to tell me what to do, so I watch Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube. She is funny and really good at teaching yoga.
9. Meditation. This can help you clear your mind. I use an app called Oak to learn how to mediate.
10. Nap. Sometimes what you need is some shut eye.
11. Talk with someone I am close with. Getting a different perspective on something that's bothering me can help me rethink about it. It's also good to talk with someone who cares about you and who you care about.
12. Face masks. It's nice taking off the mask and having a soft, clean face.
Please share any tips or advice you have for self-care! I also found this forum where you read some other self-care tips.
 
I wish everyone the best!

Thank you! Honestly, I'm really hoping something turns around this month so that I actually have options, you know?But having that first acceptance is such a relief. Hope good news also comes your way.

Accepted at WashU! It's nice to have good news for once