Toyo

There is a saying in my culture about karma and dharma. Something like we must do what we have to do without worrying about the result. This seemed like nonsense from successful people (words from a God’s reincarnation on Earth) to me before I entered this application cycle. I have done what I could do. Now things are out of my hand. Many factors influence the decision and my merit is not the only consideration. So, I will wait for now. Knowing that many good people like yourself are my companions on this journey has been soothing. 

I also read this before I wrote my SoP. It was very helpful as most of the SoP samples or suggestions we get to see focus on accomplishments. 

Hi again jk25✋ sorry I do not know whether you are a man or a woman...wanted to ask: did you have an interview? (sorry if you mentioned that earlier, I might forget this among all different nicks and a lot of info..
I do not know how men deal with stress. It's good I am a lady and can afford crying. Its 2.26 at night here. I was trying to fall asleep but could not keep all this stress inside me, so i went to the bathroom and was crying. And I cannot sleep at all. I mean, i do want to sleep (my body) but my mind, my head is thinking over and over. 
I think that the fact that I did not have an interview diminishes my chances so much.
And it looks like there is no way that I will get asleep tonight, and the coming nights....
 

After many webinars, youtube channels, and forums the very best advice I got was from the GSE website itself. This  small article is only 3 pages long but there is sooooo much to breakdown. You would need to really pick out all the little clues they are giving you. Here are the main points that forced me to think if GSE is the right place for me at this moment in time. It could very well be that I need to grow more before I give it another shot. But I think it's important to not give up on yourself regardless of the outcome:
"The statement should be narrowly focused on convincing the intended reader – i.e., a professor at GSE who teaches in the program to which you are applying – that you have a serious and well-considered purpose in applying to that program. A compelling statement will convince the reader that you are the kind of student likely to thrive in the program to which you are admitted and who would contribute to (and not merely benefit from) our academic community. Too often, statements of purpose are poorly focused, vaguely autobiographical essays, in which case they become inadvertent disclosures of purposelessness.
The reader of your file will make a judgment about whether you merit admission on the basis of many considerations, and your file will include much material including your transcripts, what your referees say about you, etc., that reveal your academic and other accomplishments. There is no harm in mentioning a particular accomplishment in passing in your statement when this is relevant to explaining your purpose in applying to the program. But statements go astray once the author assumes that his or her purpose is to persuade the reader that he or she is highly qualified for admission. Remember that we will be quick to deny admission if we have insufficient evidence that the candidate is well-suited to the program by virtue of his or her interests and ambitions, regardless of how intellectually well qualified the applicant might be. The statement of purpose is usually the only part of the applicant’s file where one can find strong evidence of whether the program will really mesh with the applicant’s interests and ambitions. If you devote the statement to a list of the things, the great things you have done, then you will merely exasperate the reader.
When your file is being read by members of the faculty, it will be reading it alongside many other files, and they will typically be reading under severe time constraints. People tend not to be especially tolerant of verbosity under these circumstances, to put it mildly. If your reader has evidence that you will take ten words to say something that another, equally qualified candidate will say in six, you might well find that the other candidate will be preferred over you."
Good luck to everyone here. The hardest part of the application is sometimes the waiting. But you've already come this far. 

If the GSE professor told you we'll hear back by March then I think tempering our expectations of hearing back this week is warranted. We're making these assumptions based on past cycles, however, due to COVID and an increase in applicants I wouldn't be surprised if they are operating a bit behind the schedule of past cycles. 

By the way guys, I was watching Stanford admissions reactions last night in YouTube..there were mostly undergrads and GSB reactions...(and no PhD reactions by the way) and you know what ?? I decided to film my reaction too?? well if it is positive may be i even post it in YouTube as well??? and it will be the first Stanford GSE PhD reaction ????

OMG ???????????

Definitely let us know the result. I will do the same. I really appreciate you guys on here!

I hope we get in together!

It is too early to worry. The fact that she called you is a hopeful sign!

Best of luck. Which program did you apply to? I think you have a good a chance as any. 

2-5 days max from what I hear! I think I have attained enlightenment after weeks of tossing and turning. Anymore and I will attain sagehood. 

2-5 days max from what I hear! I think I have attained enlightenment after weeks of tossing and turning. Anymore and I will attain sagehood. 

2-5 days max from what I hear! I think I have attained enlightenment after weeks of tossing and turning. Anymore and I will attain sagehood. 

2-5 days max from what I hear! I think I have attained enlightenment after weeks of tossing and turning. Anymore and I will attain sagehood. 

How many more days before we get a reply? I can't bear it. Sheer torture.

I would love Stanford to be my Valentine! ?

You are keeping us sane and maintaining our spirits with your posts. Thank you!

I have no publications. I used to work in the k-12 publishing industry which made me a witness to the realities and struggles of education in developing countries. That’s why I decided to do another Master’s, this time in education. I had only 1 normal semester when COVID hit. And now I am here.

Well guys, i just remembered: i read earlier (somewhere here it was written) that the decisions are made by faculty by the first week of Feb, and then for the second week of Feb they are sent for approval, and after that (by the end of the second week of Feb) the decisions are released (you probably also seen this, I do not remember where exactly I read it here, otherwise would copy a link here).
Anyway..why I am saying this? To calm myself, and probably you as well...Because it looks like all the decisions are already made by now (the end of the first week of Feb) and now it is only approval of the decisions which have already been made, and then just a technical thing - sending them out.
So, this makes me think that I do not have to worry any more about the selection & interviews (and to check my email hundred times a day whether I get an interview invitation or not), since they are over by now. What I am waiting for now is just a technical thing, i.e. when they send them out. This is it.
I mean, according to that post I saw earlier, the decisions are already made....this somehow calms down my nerves as I understand that there is nothing left to worry about..just wait when I get their ready decision..and that's it.
 
 

To everyone here and who applied : ) 

You must try things that may not work, and you must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from. Your only limit is your soul.
Ratatouille (2007) a quote from one of my all time favorite movies.

Thank you..the article is ????and very inspiring....Well....I do really hope that Stanford professors look at each application like that.
I am coming from a country (not ready to name it now) very corrupted, with autocracy regime where no research and no freedom of thought and freedom of word. Education system is destroyed. I did everything I could with the resources I had. I need the knowledge of SHIPS edu policy to be able to move on in here, to change the situation in my country. 
I am becoming very personal here..but anyway....Again..what is said in the article you sent - this is exactly what I hope for?
So thank you for giving some hope FreeZapata??

You are keeping us sane and maintaining our spirits with your posts. Thank you!

I have no publications. I used to work in the k-12 publishing industry which made me a witness to the realities and struggles of education in developing countries. That’s why I decided to do another Master’s, this time in education. I had only 1 normal semester when COVID hit. And now I am here.