gradstudent84

Two schools I'm applying to uses Embark; NYU and Syracuse. I look under the uploaded documents for Syracuse and I see that all the documents I submitted for NYU a week ago is there as well. What the heck? That is so weird. I know it's the same system but a totally different school/program, so I have no idea what that is about. Also, I uploaded my resume (I tried this twice) and the application inspector keeps saying that it's incomplete. What is going on?

Thanks!

I had a question about electronic letters of recommendations. I know that some schools ask that an additional reference form be included in addition to a separate letter. For electronically uploaded letters, are these reference forms available online so that the professor can complete it electronically? Do the schools have it figured out how to incorporate these forms electronically along with allowing professors to upload separate letters? I just wanted to make sure. Specifically, I am referring to Chapman University's applyyourself system. In the secion "Recommenders", it says that for paper based letters, the student should download the separate reference form, print it out, and give it to the letter writer to attach to the letter of rec, but doesn't mention anything about electronic letters.

Thank you for your replies everyone. I decided not to address it. It IS a course that is relevant to my field of study, but I have a feeling I might end up shooting myself in the foot if I discuss it rather than highlight my good qualities.

There is a section in my application that lets applicants explain extenuating circumstances due to a bad grade. A little more than a year ago, I received a C in one class (All of other classes I've received A's and a couple of B+s) because I completely bombed the final. I was also a full time high school teacher during this time period, and school begins in August, and the final exam was inconveniently scheduled around the same time. Due to staff meetings, assessment preparations, orientations, etc I really couldn't invest enough time to study for the final exam, also because my place of employment and the school I attended are really far away from each other. Would it be wise to explain this so that I can somehow "justify" my C grade? I'm typing it up at the moment and I can't help but feel that I am making excuses for myself. What I'm also wondering is, even though it's not exactly a stellar grade, it's not like I failed the class either, so is it even worth discussing

Is this true for ALL online application systems (Embark, Applyyourself, etc) or for certain programs?

Thank you fuzzylogician...I feel more relaxed now and yes, i think i will give her the benefit of the doubt..she did give me her word and she's always been professional for years.

The professor was VERY good about responding to emails ...she would even reply within the same day on the weekend..until late in the Fall quarter, I'm thinking she got super busy with work/teaching/whatever, because lately she hasn't been responsive. After I sent her the links to online apps, she didn't let me know she had received all of them; I had to stop by and check in with her, and she told me right away they were received. So at this point, I really don't know if she will respond to emails...she was very good about it in the past...but recently, not so much

I was thinking of that too. But should i email again or give her a phone call? I would think a phone call would be more effective? I'm glad I have a chance to see her before the deadlines...at the very worst situation, I may need to wait around and stop by her office

In the email I just gave her an update that a member of the adcomm committee (he is the department chair so I assumed he'd be on the committee...and a well known professor from what I later found out) wrote to me saying that the letter wasn't received, so naturally i sort of panicked and decided to send her the email. She didn't reply yet but i'm not surprised, given that it IS Christmas...I will see her once the new quarter starts in a few weeks so I can remind her then too, but I will try to remain calm...I've been reading a lot of horror stories about professors who never send things in on time and I'm praying my professor won't be one of them

Thanks for your reply. I decided to email now. I figure even if she's too busy to read emails now, it will still be sent to her inbox anyway. I decided to give her a call this coming week when the school is open again.

My very first online application is due in two weeks and one writer still hasn't uploaded hers. I asked the graduate office if I could submit my application before all the letters were uploaded and I was told that was fine, but should I send her a reminder email NOW or after Christmas on the following week? Something tells me that she won't respond (since she hasn't responded to my previous reminder email two weeks ago) if I email her now but then again I know that it's better if these are sent out earlier. Oh, and one deadline got pushed back by a month and for this one (it's a paper application), I checked with the grad office and was told that her letter wasn't received either. I hate how I'm dealing with this, even though I'm trying so hard to get all of my stuff in on time, including my GRE scores, which were sent out asap. The professor didn't hesitate and in a heartbeat agreed to write me a letter and told me that if there were any questions, she'd email me. So far, nothing yet. Usually i'd get a response within two days tops but I dont' know if it's just a busy schedule or what, but I haven't gotten any response from her

If a school were to reject me because a recommender did not submit letters on time, that would really piss me off. I mean...with all the effort I'm putting into making this procedure go as smooth as possible, he/she forgets to submit a letter and I get rejected? Gah. What is a good way to insist that letters be submitted, in a firm but non-annoying way? I've already said, "Do you have any questions about the letters or anything? Are you missing any information?" and in a reminder email, I've written, "Just a friendly reminder that early January deadlines are X, Y and Z...please let me know if you have any remaining questions." I think sending another week-reminder email is a good idea, but I'm running out of things to say...I decided if the school hasn't received the letter by early next week, I will call my professor. Oh by the way...the application deadline falls on a Saturday...so does that mean that applications should be due the following business day (Monday)?

It really depends on the school. When I applied to USC three years ago for grad school, they took the best score out of each section, so I was able to take the best verbal score from test A and the best math score from test B. But the programs I'm applying to (which are NOT USC) now require that I report my best score taken on the same day, so I wont' be able to do what I did for USC. They did encourage me to take the test a third time (which I did).

You know, I'm glad you made this thread because I was thinking about the exact same thing for my situation now. I gave my LOR materials to my letter writers months in advance and two of the professors already submitted their letters, electronically, to most of the programs with deadlines as far as February. I am very grateful that they finished so quickly, and one of them even started on the one with a March deadline. He also gave me all of his paper recommendations on the day of the final, which was shocking, actually. But I am a little worried about the third writer, who was the first I asked and she is also the department chair at my school. She has yet to submit a single electronic letter of rec, but the deadline is on January 5. She has time, but I sent a reminder email a week ago, and considering sending another one a week before the deadline. I hate how these things are beyond my control...

Got it. Thanks!

I know that it's recommended FAFSA applications be completed and submitted after taxes are filed, but when do we start applying for scholarships and fellowships? Do people apply for those AFTER getting accepted when they know they will get in or before, when simultaneously applying for the grad programs? Sorry if it's such a stupid question, but I've looked at some of the schools' websites where I'm applying to and I haven't found any info, such as deadlines

Thanks! I will go ahead and email them tomorrow morning or later tonight. I'm so looking forward to the end of the applications process!

Thank you for your reply. I was thinking of waiting until the first of January because that is when I will send them a link to a school that requires I submit my application first. I was thinking I can just tell them, I'm sorry, but I realized that there is one more school I forgot to add your name to, so I have sent it as well". or something like that. Or should I just go ahead and email them now?

I just found out right now that I forgot to include my recommenders' names to one program I am applying to for next fall. In each of the LOR packets I gave my recommenders, I did note that I am applying here, but I simply forgot to add them and they did not receive an email to upload electronic letters. Thankfully, it has the latest deadline (in March), but I am a bit worried I will annoy them by sending them another link. How should I let them know that they still need to upload their letters to one more school? This past week was finals week and I doubt they will be crazy busy, but I am just worried that I will be an inconvenience. I can't believe I forgot to add them to this one, it's my top choice school too...

Has anyone mentioned CSDCAS applications? What the heck is up with typing in EVERY SINGLE CLASS you've ever taken in your postsecondary career? It is their way of calculating GPA but it is definitely NOT my cup of tea....I am watching a movie as I do it just make it somewhat bearable.

I can NOT wait for my mani/pedi tomorrow....a short foot massage wouldn't hurt either. Actually, I really am considering a hair appointment since I haven't gotten a cut in months. Oh God, I forgot about the Christmas shopping...

^ That works. Thank you for sharing that..I should do that too

So for me, finals are over, GRE is over, everything is over, and I SHOULD be relaxing. However... I have yet to get two of my final grades because they will officially be posted early next week, and I am still applying to grad programs. My statement of purpose is done, transcripts are sent, and all I need to do is submit my applications, but not all of my LORs are submitted, and I have not received my score report from ETS, so I just have to wait, maybe like another week or so. Waiting is so hard for me, especially since I'm anxious about my final grades. So I'm just curious as to how people cope with this very stressful period? I made appointments for mani/pedi and a massage since my neck is killing me. I am also making an appointment to get a facial done and hopefully this feeling of anxiety will go away after my self-indulgence period is over.

Thank you for your posts. I won't let it get to me now. I just hated the thought of a show of gratitude being misconstrued as something entirely different (and negative) but hey, I truly was sincere and however they think of it is up to them. They reacted very pleasantly and thanked me so I will take it at face value without analyzing anything...it simply doesn't seem worth it to analyze when I have so much on my plate already.