OR_Dan

I don't think I'm much moodier but I'm up to 3 packs of cigarettes per week. I had managed to cut down to a pack per week. If I don't get some replies soon I'm afraid i'll end up a pack a day guy (like my dad). Just for my health some program should take pity and accept me

When is it?

Well, I think if we are applying to graduate school we're all probably kind of over-achievers. And hence when something doesn´t have a measurable top (i.e. SOP, LOR process, writing sample, etc) we always end up thinking "I could have done better". Truth is I also feel this way about many parts of my apps. But I think I'm reaching the "F*** it" stage. I no longer obsses about what might have been, I think about the SOP or a typo in an app for a second and then say "F*** it". Quite frankly I don't believe doing anything differently would have seriously improved my chances. Come March I'll know whether it was enough or not. I really hope it is, but if it isn't... well.... "F*** it!".

Got this emal form Columbia's IEOR department today: " Dear IEOR PhD Applicant, Thank you for your interest in Columbia University’s PhD program. Please note that applicants will be contacted by the IEOR Department with an admissions decision or a request for more information by the third week of February. We appreciate your patience in this matter. Best, IEOR Department"

I'll be 29. I graduated undergrad at 23, MSc at 26. I think it is actually a plus, I took time to find my ideal path, I got my MS in a more focused area than my BS, and now I am really 100% focused. Hope adcoms see that.

Just let it go. Professors need to read dozens of CVs, and they eventually don't even read the heading but dive directly into what they are interested in (research, education, etc.) What you don't want to do is swamp them with MORE documents and make them sift through a huge pile, which they'll find annoying, and probably won't get them into a very "accepting mood".

Well you got in after all!! Hope we are all as lucky.

hahahaha, I have thought of the shark connection, but I think there is more to it, otherwise, why the fear of lakes? anyway, it feels great to know I'm not alone.

A movie I think everyone here can relate to is ACCEPTED. Yeah it's about getting into college not grad school but, whatever, it's really funny. Here's the IMDB description and link: A high school slacker who's rejected by every school he applies to opts to create his own institution of higher learning, the South Harmon Institute of Technology, on a rundown piece of property near his hometown. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0384793/

Absolutely, "See you in the fall" killed me. I laughed out loud, I was at work, people stared.

How about this one: Them: So how long will it take you to get your PhD? about a year? Me: Actually its like 4 to 5 years. Them: It takes 4 years?? Me: Yes, Them: Why in the world do you want to go to school for four more years?? Me: shoot me now, please.

I'm terribly afraid of fish. I dislike going in the ocean for fear of meeting fish. Taking me snorkeling is tantamount to torture.

I totally get you. I've been open about the process but the first thing people ask is what my top choice is. I always answer all seven shools I'm applying to are great, it would be an honor to get into just 1 of them, etc. etc. But I do have a mental ranking, but just thinking about telling people I didn't get into my tops makes me lie. But yeah positive thinking... positive thinking.... come on 7 acceptances, come on.....

I think you have an excellent profile. All you need to do is focus on what you really want to do later in life. If it's academia, go for the PhD, otherwise, an MS would probably be enough, at least for now, and later you can decide wether you want to pursue further study or not. It's a bit late now, but I think it wouldn't hurt to re-take GRE to help verbal / AWA. However, I know that foreign students tend to get away with lower scores here, but the same doesn't always apply to locals. Oh and if you're into combinatorial optimization I'd definetely add Georgia Tech to the list. Their deadlines are still over a month away.

Well, the applications are sent and what's done is done. I decided to go for broke and applied to really competitive programs. Now I guess its waiting time. I don't think I'm going to be sleeping well until next March. Let's hope it's worth it. How's everybody else doing with the application process??

Hey, you're right, we might as well get started. I'm applying to a PhD in OR at the following schools (I think): GA Tech MIT NCSU Penn State Columbia Berkeley Quite frankly any of those would make me really happy. I'll be taking the GRE in a couple of weeks, so far practice runs look OK, but we'll see when I get to the real thing. Anyone esle for Operations Research in 2011???