neshmi

I think it would be hilarious if a rejection letter included a kleenex....

jail bait

You don't want to seem overly desperate. The whole application process is a mindgame, you want them to know you want them, but you want them to think you want some others too, just not as much. Anyway, hold back as much as possible, I think even a week into February can be pushing it. As soon as you get an acceptance from one school, that is a great opportunity to contact POI's or departments and push them to move forward with you. They then know they have to get on the ball and get you in (and they also know that University X wants you!). Financial packages from other universities can also be great bargaining tools to help entice your university of choice to step up to the plate, I have heard of some grad students doing that with success, but again, proceed with caution on that one.

look up

blow over (resisted other options on that one)

zombie, RUN!

Hah! Thanks... plenty more bad puns where that comes from!

sounds like that one was aimed at me, since my career is in ruins.... oh sorry, bad archaeology pun... but yes, my "future profit" is in the "past".... yikes.

my wife

jumping spider

I've been invited to interview at my school, but the details have yet to come... I hate waiting.

hahahaha! so true!

There are fantastic suggestions on here, and people are certainly being real. It is hard to just jump into the field if you didn't do something related to it for your BA. That being said, I have seen people get into archaeology and be very successful in it despite having completely unrelated fields for the BA. But, it means you gotta really work hard to get there. As people have said, take classes, attend lectures, attend annual meetings, do whatever you can to get to know the people in your field. My BA was in a field not directly related to my PhD application, however things are wide open for me now because of extensive networking and field work directly related to my field of interest. For you, thats the best thing you can do. If you're going to dig, apply to digs in your field of interest, don't waste your time with digs in other areas unless its a last resort. Don't give up the opportunity to dig, of course, but really make sure you're aiming high and getting to digs in your field. If you do get to a dig that interests you, try and stay connected with that dig. I have been working 4 seasons (5th this summer) with one single site. My work at this site has made it so now I am a core staff member of the project. This has really added to my credibility for the application and has made it possible for them to look past my less than stellar stats. Back to being realistic. Be prepared to not get into the best schools, a GPS less than 3 is a real hinderance and there isn't much you can do about that. If you do get into a big name school, you're going to face little or no funding because you won't be as competitive as others applicants who may have really high stats. Be positive, and pursue your dreams. I am six years out of my BA and am just now applying for further studies. I applied right out of my undergrad to do Assyriology studies at Yale, but I didn't get anywhere with it and just started working, but I did keep up with the archaeology on my own dime. So.. best of luck to you, and here I am waiting myself to see what comes of my applications this fall.

Celebration will probably be a special dinner, a good glass of wine, relaxation... enjoy the glow of acceptance!!!

Things have gotten worse for me after I got contact from my POI. Now I am just waiting to get the flight out to the school coordinated and this waiting is even worse than not knowing anything. Now rather than just waiting for something, its like they've dropped a sealed envelop in my lap but refuse to let me open it until they decide I can know something... but they won't tell me when that is! ARGH! *sigh*

I'm thinking positively. No rejections will come!!! (I keep telling myself this).

Public Institution

mental fitness (something we're all lacking right now???? )

That sucks! Rejections are no fun! Keep your courage up though... plenty more to go! It is a really strange process they went through, what with that bizarre status update in the middle of it all... I'm afraid to check my application status now!

name: This is a name given to me by the local workers at the site I dig at in Jordan, the name just means good, generous, kind... avatar: Handpresso, a small portable espresso machine. Goes with me to field projects so I can get a decent cup of coffee

I can sympathize. Historically all the applicants to my program were either accepted or rejected. Me, no.... they want to interview me. So they like me, but not enough to full out accept me. It really is disconcerting to not fall into the "normal" category that you see happening elsewhere. But I'd say the same, hang in there, and ride it out. You never know what is going on until they tell you something.

all aboard

Personally, I would like a limo at the door, with a man in a tuxedo with a rich English accent coming to tell me I'm accepted, fully funded, and they're moving me out. But, an e-mail would also do.

editorial review

fat lie