gooniesneversaydie

Here are some of the things I learned after going through 2 application cycles: -Get application fee waivers (should you be eligible) asap. Some programs only give out a set amount, and they could be gone by Sept/Oct. I did this in my second app cycle and saved a lot of money. -Not to sweat GRE’s/Subject scores. My GRE scores weren’t great (V 154, Q 137, A 4.5) and my Subject was abysmal (400). I have terrible test anxiety. The two schools I was accepted to this round required both, so obviously it wasn’t weighed heavily. Many programs are ditching this requirement anyway. -I did not do this but read this on the forum and wish I did – reach out to POIs before you submit apps to foster a connection. Even if you don’t get accepted, who knows what could come out of your reaching out. -Try to make your SoP/PS as personal as possible and not just a list of accomplishments. Get as much feedback from mentors/advisors/professors as possible. -Your past doesn’t define you. As a non-traditional, I was terrified of having to submit transcripts from my first undergrad institution because my last 2-3 semesters before withdrawing were awful, and my GPA suffered. While I’ll never know if that one transcript did influence any decisions, it didn’t stop me from getting into good programs. -Not to give up hope if it doesn’t work out the first time. After having to walk away from a program in 2019, I did not believe this was going to work out for me again – especially after getting hit with so many rejections this second cycle. However, when I got my Tufts acceptance, I could see light at the end of the tunnel again. If this is the dream, keep going. Try again. -Do not apply to Boston University unless you have the patience of a monk, mother of 3, or someone who enjoys watching paint dry, because those folks will keep you waiting. Good luck to all future applicants. This process is crazy stressful, but you can do it! Also, eat as much cheesecake as possible. It helps. It really helps.

I've officially accepted my offer to Tufts! What a wild ride. I was quite petrified when I decided to decline the deferral Oregon offered me for 2020, but deep down I knew I wouldn't attempt that move for a second time after the first was such a nightmare. I think Tufts is a better fit, and I'm looking forward to having a more personal experience with my POI's and the department in general. The substantially higher stipend and lighter teaching load don't hurt either! Thank you to everyone who has endured my complaining, poor attempts at humor, and obsession with my cats over the last few months. Not being alone this time made the experience much more tolerable. For those of you who have a place to go in the fall, I wish you the best of luck! For those who will be trying again next year, don't give up if this is truly the path you want! It doesn't always work out the first time (even with offers!), but each setback provides new lessons to learn and overcome. You know what this means? Celebratory cheesecake!

BU decided to grace my inbox with a rejection today! I never thought the day would come when I would shout-out with excitement for a rejection. What a bizarre cycle it has been.

So, I think I'm going to officially accept my PhD offer soon. At this point, best case scenario with BU is that I get accepted to their MA program, but if I'm not willing to go into further debt for BC, I'm sure as hell not going to for BU - especially after this aggressive silence. I'm officially over waiting for them. While I'd like to have the option of my WL accepting me, I'm not really sure I'd take them over this offer, even though it would mean I wouldn't have to move. The prospect of finally committing has me anxious af. Last year was such a disaster that I'm afraid something is going to go wrong again. However, moving 2 hours away as opposed to 47 hours away should be exceedingly less stressful. *knock on wood* *knock on so much wood* My cats are going to be super pissed.

Am I really going into April still not having heard from BU? What is with the 2-3 rejections a day malarkey? I imagine some person sitting in a dimly lit room with my app pulled up onscreen and the person giving it the bird. Just flipping it off 24/7 in complete silence.

I got some good vibes for you too! I'm sorry it wasn't better news, but hope you feel some relief from finally hearing from them. Good things are coming (she said looking around at the state of the world laugh-crying)!

My heart. I'm sending you all the good vibes I possibly can that it borders on being creepy. Take time to heal. I will say this from my own experience: At 22 I had to drop out of undergrad. Cut to me at 29, sitting on my living room floor sobbing, holding a rejection letter from a local state school I tried to get into to restart my education. In that moment I thought I was completely f'ed and would never achieve my dream. After my sob-fest, I reevaluated and called the school asking how to improve my application - started cc 3 months later - graduated at a better state school 3 years after that. Last year, I got into a bomb PhD program, but the move didn't work out. I thought I was completely f'ed again because I had to walk away from my one chance. But, I reevaluated again, redid my personal statement and applied to even more schools. I've been lucky again to get into one PhD program, and one that suits my personality/lifestyle better than the one from last year. What I mean to say in all this rambling, is that if this is truly the path you want, don't give up. If it's not going to be financially/mentally/spiritually harmful to you to do this again next year then go for it. Reevaluate your materials and see if something needs improving. You can only control what you have in front of you. And I'm sure you've learned many lessons this time around that next year might be more manageable (also, you'll know not to apply to BU, so there's that!). I wish you the very best and hope you know that it'll work out how it's supposed to in the end, even if the journey takes longer than you originally hoped. You're not alone!

BU rejection on the board! Is today the day we are finally set free!?

Nope! I was so angry about it yesterday, like "scorched earth mf'' mad. I'm really glad they gave you a good impression though!! All irrational rage aside, I'll definitely take a course there through the consortium. Then I can take down the establishment brick by brick from the inside.....mwhahaha!

Wow. Just wow. Two weeks out and still nothing. C'mon BU, please please please just send rejections already (if they do waitlisting, I'll literally throw up). I already have my bitter, hilariously juvenile comment ready to put on the main page.

I would make a guess that any waitlist etiquette has been cannon-balled out the window at this point, so take your time because it's a big decision.

Do you have any gut feelings toward one or the other? Sometimes what's "best" on paper isn't necessarily the right choice. I think you'd be successful at either with the resources they offer!

Posting about BU now almost has a sense of nostalgia attached to it. Oh BU, do you remember when we were both young? Full of hopes and dreams and laughter. How naive we both were that summer. To be that young again...

Just had a virtual meeting with the dean of the grad school of arts and sciences. They are going to accept decisions after April 15th, as long as they're made aware more time is needed. Hopefully this is happening with other schools.

WHAT THE F*CK!? How?! That is a level of heartbreak I literally cannot fathom. My god, haven't applicants been through enough with applying, waiting, and the virus-related setbacks? That poor person.

In my attempt to spread humor during this tumultuous time, I finally figured out how to add photos. At long last, here is Coraline (and Charli too!). May they bring a hopeful smile and a reminder that we never had actual control over anything anyway, because cats are our supreme overlords and we exist solely to do their bidding. Grad school wasn't even my idea, it was theirs.

Are we at a point yet in society where we can start leveraging our toilet paper supply for acceptances? Or maybe even reconsiderations?? Would Brown rethink my application for 6 rolls of 2-ply? 12? Okay, okay, 15.

So, we're just over 3 weeks away from the April 15th deadline. The silence has become absolute. I'm reminded of the episode of Spongebob where he visits Glove World and gets stranded in Rock Bottom. "This isn't your average everyday darkness. This is...advanced darkness."

Fully agree. There is a stereotypical academic environment that I've had my heart set on since I graduated high school 16 years ago, and the closer I get the more that ideal picture disintegrates. There are very little tenure jobs, many profs adjunct and don't have an office, many teach online, etc. While I understand how privileged I am to be at this point, I'm bummed at the thought of there being an asterisk attached to this next chapter. I hate to pout and throw a first-world tantrum, but I'm over the road being so difficult when it was such a pain in the ass to even get to this point. I am/was really looking forward to being in the classroom and enjoying this for a little while before the reality of the job market hit. I know it's fine and I'll enjoy the experience, it's just annoying.

I was so looking forward to the feeling of relief and alleviated stress come April...........................................................................AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA *inhale* AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH. As a non-traditional, I've experienced a hell of a ride to just get to this place, but good gravy boats ya'll, this is a lot.

Would you mind elaborating on this? Do you mean what support they'll provide towards navigating the impacted job market?

My heart hurt reading that I hope you get some good news soon. Or, if you have to reapply next cycle, you get so many amazing offers your head explodes.

Wow. My intimidation of entering academia is starting to *slightly* decrease. Dumpster fires and hot messes. Still for it!

Omg! These grad students are champs! Definitely going to have to pay it forward in the future. I'll send 25-50 questions and they'll immediately respond with, "um, let's chat on the phone!" One student was actually submitting her dissertation the day she spoke to me! Like, focus on you, girl, my inane questions can wait!

I am curious to see how next year will play out for the 2021/22 applicants. Will there be more openings in programs due to the cancellations/lack of communication? Are the cohorts going to be drastically larger? Would that impact potential funding? Will there be a ripple effect that impacts the job market in 5-6 years? I was at my first undergrad institution during H1N1 in 2009 (I had to be escorted off campus and self-quarantined, because I had it) and schools shut down for about a week, but I don't remember it being this intense, or what the overall impact on academia was.