bfat

Rems: I agree completely. I think what is really the nugget of what is behind some of the frustration that has come out on this thread is the same as what causes so much frustration in the culture as a whole: the illusion of social mobility (and confronting its illusory nature). There is a sense that education is the one place where merit really can move you upward, but unfortunately this really isn't the case for a lot of people, and coming to a point where you have to accept this realization is incredibly difficult. For me, it's been one of the most difficult struggles of my life. I don't want it to be true, and I think that's the case for a lot of people here. My first semester in college, I thought that my perfect grades and the fact that I was admitted to my dream school and did so well meant that I deserved that brand-name degree, but I couldn't pay, and they kicked me out without so much as a "sorry to see you go." And now, I really really hope that my applications will get the same consideration as someone from a more prestigious university, but the hard naked truth is that they probably won't, and that hurts. ETA: DontHate: the problem is that it is not always a choice. Sometimes there are no other options but to go to the less-prestigious school. Also, I don't think anyone has bashed any ivies in this thread.

I don't mean to pry, and feel free to ignore my question, but could you elaborate? I don't mean "tell me about your religion," I'm just curious about religious connections to universites. There are some prestigious universities with religious affiliations (Notre Dame) but then there are schools like Bob Jones "University." Just curious!

This makes me sad. I'm in the "no-name school" boat too, but I think you might be a little hasty in assuming this is causative, rather than just correlative. More "prestigious" programs often just do a better job at preparing students for the application process and even for the idea of going to grad school. A "no name" school won't necessarily keep you out (except from some tippy-toppy-snooty programs, but would you want to go somewhere that's that classist and elitist anyway?), but it just might not prepare you quite as well for the admissions process. BUT... This too. Class issues are the #1 and only reason my degree is from a no-name school. My parents are working class and had 6 kids. I was accepted to a top 20 for undergrad but had to leave after my first semester because I simply couldn't afford even the loans, had I wanted to be that financially irresponsible and go there anyway.

Just got an email from Cornell and I think I actually HAD A HEART ATTACK. I know that none of my schools will notify for another month, and yet... part of me thought, for one split second, that I am just so awesome that maybe they were telling me I'd been admitted early. And then, oh god, the crushing shame because of course they will probably throw my app on a burning pile and laugh maniacally when they do eventually read it.

We made a lot of compromises during the application process--for example, there were certain regions of the country that were off-limits (no California, no NYC) because of my husband's preferences, and I really looked at the unemployment rate and other city factors (bestplaces.net is an amazing resource for city data) before finalizing schools. He works in a university library, so I'm hoping that he'll be able to find work anywhere we go, simply because there will obviously be at least one university wherever we're going. My advice would be to really research the cities together, and apply to places where you'd both be excited to live.

Well, it's January 2, so officially time to either freak out or distract myself with this forum. I choose the latter. I just thought it would be interesting or cathartic to talk about what's up in the air for each of us during this miserable waiting period. For me, it feels like a whole heck of a lot. I'm married with a small baby, so basically, depending on whether or not I get in (and where) I've got to deal with the following: If I get in: We'll have to sell our house in crappy housing market (in an increasingly crappy neighborhood) My husband will have to find a job in a new city We'll need to find a new (more affordable) house (or apartment? Ugh), and manage to move there with 2 dogs, a cat, and a baby over the summer We'll be moving away from our families, which means finding (and paying for) childcare from strangers in a strange city All of these things are scary, but I'm perfectly happy to do them--it's just not knowing whether I will need to and where we will need to do them... and also the pressure of getting it all done in the 4-month period or so between being admitted and actually starting the program. And of course, if I don't get in, I'll need to find some kind of temporary employment and save up money to go through this whole mess again. I'm sure there are others in similar situations. What are you anxious about besides admissions?

You guys!!!! ... it's January.

This was pretty much exactly my response. I resisted the urge to apply to more schools. Instead, I made to-do lists for my thesis and January prep for teaching next semester and then I had a panic attack. Took my mind right off admissions though!!

As I have learned, some places are pretty damned strict. I would suggest sending a personal reminder email tomorrow or Friday, as these days aren't technically holidays, and there's enough of a buffer around xmas and new year's. p.s. How lame is it to have a deadline on January 2nd? I mean really...

I told myself I'd stay off this forum until at least the second of January. Yeah, so... that worked out. If only I could channel this nervous energy into writing chapters for my thesis...

Does MLA specify font? I know that it stipulates the heading, margins (1") and font size as 12, but I don't think it specifies a particular font. The head of my English department prefers Chicago/Turabian anyway and requires it in the grad program (since that's what most journals are in), so my sample was in that format. I really don't think it's that big of a deal, or they'd specify on the admissions site. The only school I saw that actually asked for TNR was Virginia. *shrug* If they're really that picky, I guess I'm boned.

Try Garamond--it's a bit smaller than Times New Roman, and I think it's prettier. I lost a page or two for the sample that needed to be 10 pages using that font.

I know this forum is totally dead tonight because it's Friday and everyone's holiday just started, but I just have to say... I JUST SUBMITTED MY LAST APP!! (Carlton is especially festive, isn't he?)

Dear Penn State, Why is your application the WORST THING EVER? It bumps me out every 5-10 minutes without warning and is generally awful. Also, I hate you for not letting me send my recommender requests until I hit submit. Love, bfat p.s. Please admit me anyway. ETA: Also, why in the name of all that is holy do you need TWO mailed copies of my official transcripts?

At my school, what constitutes a letter grade in terms of percentage is set by the instructor. For example, I took a French course with one professor who set 92 as an A (with 90-91 as an A-), and another who set 96 as an A. The difficulty of earning certain grades varies enormously between departments and colleges. I now work in the Registrar's Office, so I see the finishing GPAs for grads and undergrads, and they actually had to restructure the honors system for undergrads because so many people in the College of Education had a 4.0, and it was unfair to students in other majors (they were never earning honors, despite the fact that their programs were obviously more rigorous). In the grad programs, nearly everyone in the College of Ed has a 4.0 (seriously, I ran the numbers once for one of the programs and it was like 84% of students). In the sciences, however, the average GPA is closer to 3.5. In Humanities/arts, I'd say it's closer to about 3.7.

With 15 apps, I guarantee you will get in somewhere.

Gifs are definitely one of the top 5 best things ever to happen to the internet. I'm kinda tempted to play this game, but I'm like 99% sure that I'd be placed in the "you fail at life!" category. Plus, I'm kinda feeling superstitious. What if the prediction becomes true because it was predicted?!? People be all

'Splain please? (Edited 'cause the quotes feature is totally f'd tonight...)

This thread: And I'm all:

I thought briefly about posting to this thread, but then I got some good advice from a friend. Thanks, Whoopi! *runs and hides*

Dudes, this thread is ridonkulous. *dodges hurled objects and downvotes*

I just had a three hour conversation with my sister who went to school to be a pastry chef about how she regrets not going to school for anthro/psychology. I was telling her it's not too late, but it is really hard to go back to school and start from scratch once you have a life established. She hasn't used her pastry degree because that world was so miserable for her. It's actually really competitive and difficult. Just kinda illustrates your point.

Um, I just cried looking at this. The part where Xander hugs Willow back from evil... *sniffle* And Randy Giles. (I have *coughroughly75cough* Buffy action figures and Randy Giles was the first one I bought.)

Also, fewer top hats these days.

Update: I just got the nicest email from my professor (she is amazing, which is why I was so surprised that she hadn't submitted for me) and she said she was super sorry and that she would personally email the DGS from each school where she had submitted late to apologize and beg forgiveness on my behalf. Breathing. I am breathing. It will be okay...