PsychHopeful2020

I just can't drag myself away from graduate school content and yet I don't seem to be doing anything productive. With the hopes that I'm not alone, I thought I'd share my list with you guys and you might appreciate it. 
Things I have done instead of being productive:
- Read the class list for my top choice program and reacted as though it was my actual schedule - "That class will be awesome, but this one will kind of suck"
- Priced out a gym membership near my top choice program
- Created a Quizlet to memorize every random, tiny part of the brain??? I mean, bizarre use of mental power right now but okay, I do have a strong background in neuroscience and want to make sure it stays that way...
- Obsessively read the 43 page thread about my top choice city - a city I already live near and have lived in
- Mentally prepared for absurdly cruel interview questions, like "can you explain why your only publication is overall very uninteresting?" or "you don't strike me as someone who can handle this program. how are you planning to combat this?"
- Watched high school seniors reacting to their college decisions on youtube because I just need my fix of that excited energy
What about you? What have you been doing that, in all honesty, is doing nothing to help you?
 
 

I did a 1000-piece puzzle while listening to scary story podcasts. But my first-author paper was officially accepted for publication today!!!

I just can't drag myself away from graduate school content and yet I don't seem to be doing anything productive. With the hopes that I'm not alone, I thought I'd share my list with you guys and you might appreciate it. 
Things I have done instead of being productive:
- Read the class list for my top choice program and reacted as though it was my actual schedule - "That class will be awesome, but this one will kind of suck"
- Priced out a gym membership near my top choice program
- Created a Quizlet to memorize every random, tiny part of the brain??? I mean, bizarre use of mental power right now but okay, I do have a strong background in neuroscience and want to make sure it stays that way...
- Obsessively read the 43 page thread about my top choice city - a city I already live near and have lived in
- Mentally prepared for absurdly cruel interview questions, like "can you explain why your only publication is overall very uninteresting?" or "you don't strike me as someone who can handle this program. how are you planning to combat this?"
- Watched high school seniors reacting to their college decisions on youtube because I just need my fix of that excited energy
What about you? What have you been doing that, in all honesty, is doing nothing to help you?
 
 

I just can't drag myself away from graduate school content and yet I don't seem to be doing anything productive. With the hopes that I'm not alone, I thought I'd share my list with you guys and you might appreciate it. 
Things I have done instead of being productive:
- Read the class list for my top choice program and reacted as though it was my actual schedule - "That class will be awesome, but this one will kind of suck"
- Priced out a gym membership near my top choice program
- Created a Quizlet to memorize every random, tiny part of the brain??? I mean, bizarre use of mental power right now but okay, I do have a strong background in neuroscience and want to make sure it stays that way...
- Obsessively read the 43 page thread about my top choice city - a city I already live near and have lived in
- Mentally prepared for absurdly cruel interview questions, like "can you explain why your only publication is overall very uninteresting?" or "you don't strike me as someone who can handle this program. how are you planning to combat this?"
- Watched high school seniors reacting to their college decisions on youtube because I just need my fix of that excited energy
What about you? What have you been doing that, in all honesty, is doing nothing to help you?
 
 

In case anyone else applied to Harvard with hopes of working with KM - just got word that she isn't taking a grad student this year after all.

This is immensely helpful info, thank you! Guess I won't hold my breath any longer lol

In case anyone else applied to Harvard with hopes of working with KM - just got word that she isn't taking a grad student this year after all.

Hi! I don't think you should give up hope yet!! There's still some time before Feb 6, and there's still a possibility after that, since I'm pretty sure Harvard doesn't do interview days, so they probably have more flexibility with extending interviews. 

I'm sure that you'll be trained in it. They expect you to be wanting to learn not to be a pro. At least that's what I've been told by my advisors. 

Not sure if you've gotten an answer yet, but for one of mine I reached out to the grad assistant first by phone to inquire about timeline, and she was the one who encouraged me to reach out to my individual POI. I then said that in my email, mentioned by excitement about the program, and recognized that they were likely busy and stressed but would love some clarity about the admissions timeline
 

I overthought as well haha but ended up hitting reply all.

Has anyone talked to the Boston university grad coordinator and asked if all invites have been sent out?

UMass Boston sent out an email for Clinical PhD saying that interview invites will continue to go out through 2/7, and if you don't get one by 2/7, you should assume rejection. There's still time!

FYI, reached out to Harvard and they said faculty are currently reviewing applications and conducting interviews. Interviews would most likely be before Feb 6. Decisions to be sent out early March.
Hope that helps!

Thank you. 
I am incredibly fortunate to be in this position, but I will say it is validating after multiple prior rounds (3 and then a year where I applied to only one school) to finally be doing this all right somehow.
I am also fortunate to be in a financial and employment situation which is allowing me to do this travel.  I will be attending 10 out of 11 interviews (hoping for 11/12, come on UIUC) because I need to get this right.  I have been advised to take as many interviews as possible, even if I initially think a place will be a worse fit/location/etc. because so much rides on just what feels right. 
I was unable to fit the 11th in my schedule (either scheduled date or any alternates) and completed a Skype interview.
I cannot complain because again, I really acknowledge how privileged I am, but I will say that I am running on coffee and clif bars.

Began applying to teaching jobs in case I don't get into a PhD
Started watching old seasons of America's Next Top Model (I know...)
Refresh GradCafe a thousand times
Refresh my email a thousand times
Add another source to my thesis outline
Finish a crossword

I'm planning to make an academia to english dictionary:
Mid februay - From January till April
Several times in February: Like one time an then dead silent for months
Early March - LOL Nope

It's the 22nd there is not one soul on this blue earth that would say this is still mid-February

Trying to respond to the post by ssv003 "I sincerely hope they don't take a peek at how many times I've gone to the portal to check..."
> This, 100%.  I'm sure most people are doing it so I wouldn't look too crazy, but oh man I check the portals way too much.

Sorry for the weird edit, I don't know why the quote disappeared when I actually posted.  

Most (if not all) of the applications I filled out asked about academic policy violations. There's typically a space to explain yourself if you check "yes", and it sounds like your violation wasn't of the degree it would prevent you from being accepted if you have an otherwise strong application. Be concise and honest. It will hurt you more in the long run if it's in your records and you don't disclose it.

I'm very confused about the whole coffee and date discussion. Why would you not simply ask to schedule a "normal" meeting with these people, gender aside, in their office during normal business hours while you're in town? 
For what it's worth, if you're doing several of these meetings back to back because there are several people you'd like to meet, and they know it, someone might ask you if you'd like a coffee. If you say yes, they'll take you to a nearby coffee stand and splurge for two drip coffees. You'll probably talk on the way there/back and waiting in line. Maybe even sitting down for a few minutes. There won't be anything romantic about it. 

Hi! I am also waiting on pins and needles to see if I will get an interview for the ED.L.D program. I think I am a bit older than the average applicant, so I am curious how that will affect me. I am also a single mom and wondering how many other parents are in this program?
Program: Ed L.D
GRE score:  V: 83% Q: 34% AW: 57%
TOEFL score: N/A
Work experience: 7 years working as a preschool teacher in urban districts, 5 years working as an early childhood coach in urban districts, 4 years at the State Department of Education in the Office of Special Education Programs, 1 year in business for myself as an early childhood consultant, Adjunct professor for graduate level classes for 3 years
Undergrad information: Montclair State University: philosophy undergrad, Preschool-3rd grade post bac certification, M.Ed. Early Childhood Special Education
Undergrad GPA:  Undergrad 3.37 Cert program: 4.0 Grad 3.94  
LORs: 1 from professor at Montclair State, 1 from a colleague at the state department, 1 from a colleague in a school district
What other schools are you applying to: Harvard is it! 
Twitter handle- 
LinkedIn - Melanie Fleming
 

Using this template from the other thread. 
Program: Ed L.D
GRE score: V below average Q below average AW: 6 ( proud not not too proud)  
TOEFL score: N/A
Work experience: 3 years working in non profit, 1 year as ELL adult education teacher, 2 years working at Community College in Fundraising/Advancement and Development team. 
Undergrad information: Community College AA , State College BA,( both in Rhode Island )  Brown University MA ( did some major work at Brown) 
Undergrad GPA:  Undergrad 3.3 Grad 4.0  
LORs: 2 from professors at Brown, 1 from a professor/director of a leadership fellowship that I was a part of at Trinity University. 
What other schools are you applying to: Harvard or bust. 
Twitter handle- @javijuarez

Thanks I should have checked the results page again before asking! Resisted the urge to downvote your comment just because I did not enjoy the information hahaha

That's for counseling, if you applied to clinical they emailed to say they would go out from 2/5- 2/7!