miratrix

I'm not sure if I want to know what this "apply corner" is.

I think she just means you're finished with your end of the application process, and can sit back and not do anything anymore. It doesn't actually say anything about what your chances of getting in are, except that they'd obviously be very low without GRE scores.

Anyone else still finishing applications? I'm also already hoping for notifications against all reason...but it's hard to get anxious when I still haven't finished with my end of the process!

I am not sure what my top choice is, so I would react the same way to pretty much any admission with funding: 1) Call my mother, and possibly father even if it's the middle of the work day 2) Celebrate with friends AND large quantities of alcohol 3) Immediately make a list of all the reasons I can think of NOT to go there and make an appointment to talk to someone from the program about all of the reasons that are in the program's control (this comes from not having a top choice - some places have better locations, some have better funding, some have better research matches, etc.). [Edit]

I'd say current age, and you may be overthinking it

I was late for work this morning due to taking the T (am still having trouble calling it that and not "the metro"). THANKS NEW ENGLAND, I'm glad you can handle snow. On the other hand, driving would not have been fun either. One of my co-workers witnessed an accident on her way in. So I guess it's a toss-up. How is Peapod? Is it worth the delivery fee?

Mine is x.x9, I so wanted to round up that last hundredth but didn't

I didn't include time I spent doing relevant field work that was not professional (i.e. internship/volunteering), which would push it over the 1 year mark).

I have a friend who was given an assistantship working in the Dean's office, and funded by the university, rather than her department specifically. No idea whether this is usual or unusual, but I guess it can go either way.

Coincidentally, I just talked to someone who's in the BU grad program (not a new MA program though), and she said she heard back sometime in late March, and I should expect to hear then or in early April. Can't stand the idea of waiting that long! This isn't rolling admissions, though, maybe that makes the process go faster.

You could probably live on $10K without a stipend, unless it's NY or something, but even then you're talking $45K a year. Which is still kind of crazy. As for applying to the schools with the best reputations and the schools with the best specific programs...I'm not sure what to think about that. I definitely went for the second route because there's a somewhat unusual specialty I'm interested in, which is the most important thing for grad school itself. But it does worry me that eventual hiring committees will probably be looking for people to complement the expertise that's already there, meaning they will not themselves be well-versed in unusual specialties, and so will still prefer the person from Harvard (or whatever the applicable example is here). That's really getting ahead of myself though...have to get admitted first.

It doesn't mean you will get funding in subsequent years either, though. I wouldn't sign up for five or six years of that kind of uncertainty. Also, if your top choice ISN'T Harvard, it might not pay off that much in the job market compared to your second anyway. I only applied to one Ivy, and no way would I go there without funding, even though it probably would help my job prospects I don't think it would help to the tune of hundreds of thousands in increased earnings.

Most of my local friends are currently grad or law students, and while I enjoy not having homework or finals, I have been so jealous of their long holiday breaks. Some of them are still not back in school, and I've worked every day since Jan. 3! I can't WAIT to have those long breaks again.

There's nowhere I'm positive I'll get in, but I think my chances at the MA programs are pretty good....

I would dress as for a job interview, i.e. wear nicest business-type clothes I have. I've been "overdressed" for job interviews (based on what the people in the job are wearing) and it hasn't been a problem, I don't think trying to look professional would hurt you here either.

If there's no place for it on the online application, I really don't see how mailing it could make you look bad. A few of my schools asked for writing samples but didn't offer space to upload them, so I mailed them, and one of the schools didn't even have anywhere on the online app to put in the SoP, so I had to send that along too. Some schools have more sensible online apps than others....

I'm not even positive what my top choice is, but if the one I'm leaning toward rejects me, I'll probably come up with a rationale for why wherever I decide to go was actually my top choice, or would have been had I known more. And I will BELIEVE it.

Yeah, a few of my friends are trying to figure out living arrangements for next year and I have to say, "I'll tell you in March or April whether I'll still be in the city." Better than moving a family, but it would still be nice to know.

I really don't care about these, I'm interested in way too specific a subfield in way too huge a field for them to matter in the slightest. Makes researching schools harder, but it's nice in a way too.

Yeah, going into debt is a bit of a nightmare. That, or having the choice between moving somewhere I don't like or going into debt to stay where I do enjoy living. Honestly, I don't expect to get rejected across the board, but a couple of iffy choices could be hard to decide between.

Maybe you should've started drinking Monday I think unrealistic optimism is very important for us during the waiting period. If we don't get in, we'll be disappointed no matter what, so might as well feel more at peace while we're waiting to hear.

Hi everyone! I feel similar about having a really specific subfield...we'll find out when acceptances come in if it was the same one Haven't heard anything yet, in fact I still have one application to finish (due Feb. 1). Good luck!

Oh dear, good luck. I also applied to Maryland but didn't have that problem, I hope you are able to get in touch with someone tomorrow.

Anthro majors - make it 3 (I'm not applying to any of the ones you list though - I'm applying for archaeology, but I'm too paranoid to be more specific on the internet!)

No WAY am I tempting fate this way!