tls

yay! congrats

i can relate to all of these feelings of anxiety. but let's all just breath deeply and focus on the POSITIVE aspects of our applications. just for one moment stop thinking about that one grammatical error or the missing word in your resume and think about all of the really strong elements of your apps - all of those elements which gave you the confidence to apply in the first place. every time i start stressing i just think about the great things i could bring to a phd program. holding onto those thoughts helps me get through this stressful time. also, once i hit send the apps were no longer under my control, so no amount of stressful energy will change anything. i'm not trying to be trite or clichéd, but i'm sure your applications are fine.

I would add: - Give them what they want. Review the materials for ETS materials for analytical writing. Compare the "6.0" essays to the other essays and read the graders' comments closely. - Write about what you know. The "issue" topics are purposefully broad, so you can frame the essay around something you are confident writing about. Going into the test I decided that I would write about architecture, art, or computer science. I got a 5.0 on the AW section. It's not the highest score, but it's good enough for my purposes.

ha! me too

romantic comedy

winter solstice

apple jacks

roger rabbit

if a text could suffice as the SOP: "Plz let me n yo skool..."

i have a plan for the next several months: 1. volunteer twice a month with a local org working with middle schoolers 2. read and (re-read) some of the books i've purchased over the years 3. improve my grammar by completing an online grammar course 4. take a correspondence course for reading knowledge of German 5. take a couple of "girls only" trips (vegas, miami...) and act like i'm 21 again :-) I figure this will get me through the results period and help me prepare for grad school come September! i realize that these aren't hobbies, but i think this will get me through the waiting period.

rubber cement

age defying

Seven years ago when I first took the GRE, I studied the Princeton Review and Kaplan books for about three months. When I took the test last year for the second time, I bought the latest Kaplan book and the Kaplan GRE verbal flashcards. I think either book is fine as long as you learn a strategy for the test and become familiar with question types. And I thought the flashcards were very helpful; I studied on the bus or train, or whenever I had 10 or 20 free minutes. The free test prep materials on the GRE website are helpful as well: http://www.ets.org/gre/general/prepare The GRE Powerprep software has additional questions and it helps you get accustomed to what the test screen will look like. The website also contains the pool of all possible analytical writing topics, so you can use those when you prep for the AW section. good luck!

cash money

stress fracture

brothers grimm

golden arches

yeah, you're probably right.

it does make me nervous. but i've applied to phd programs before with no success, so my perspective on the application process has changed. i was absolutely devastated when i didn't get in. i figured that i would never apply again. i didn't have a "plan b" then, but i found a great job which gave me lots of opportunities and helped me formulate my research interests. looking back i realized that i had made the first application process an "all-or-nothing" endeavor and i thought that a phd was the only thing i was meant to do at that time. of course, i was wrong. this time around, i put more effort into my applications and i know that i have a good shot at getting into the schools i've selected. AND i know that if i don't get in i will figure out a next step which is meaningful and relevant to my career and education. i am a scholar and not getting into a phd program will not take that away from me. i still feel nervous at times, but I am confident that everything will work out in the end.

My current location has great public transportation and I have enjoyed not having the expense of a car. i don't have a car and don't plan on getting one. but some of my potential programs are in smaller towns or are in states dominated by a car-culture. i figure that i'll just check out a car-share program, like zip-car. http://www.zipcar.com And if your school doesn't have zipcar, I think you can try to start a program there.

me too. i struggled financially transitioning into and during my ms program. this time around i am planning to save a chunk of money before i move. i'm going to move in with a friend next month, cutting my rent in half. i'll save all of the money i would have spent on rent and have that go towards moving expenses and the first semester of school. it feels great to do this, but i realized that moving out of my apartment with the purpose of saving for grad school was a huge leap. this means that i am committed to going to a program even before i get in anywhere. it's exhilarating and nerve-wracking at the same time!

hell cat

last call

free lunch

diaper pail