pregasauraus

Right, that seems like a life-shaping event that testifies to your strength and perseverance. Why hide that?

Thanks, StudyMom. I'm very impressed with you and your family's devotion to your PhD pursuit. I hope your husband finds a job soon.

Thanks! I have been very lucky to get fluids down enough not to have to go to the hospital. Now, if I could just start eating again. At least the baby seems just fine - she's been kicking like mad all week. I hope you're feeling better.

Hey, who is the new person who got accepted to the University of Wisconsin? Congrats to you. I haven't heard anything from them yet, but since you hear via post, I figure a rejection should be posted for me soon.

Hey, I got food poisoning this weekend. Unfortunately it hit before my 6-hour drive back home started, so you can imagine how fun that was. I hope you feel better, t_ruth. Misery loves company, but I don't think I'm good company for anyone right now. Ick.

So, no Superbowl to distract the masses this weekend. I'm actually thankful that I have to travel to Iowa for a wedding reception. It will make the weekend go faster, or at least distract me from the unanswered applications.

mims and sydney - thanks for weighing in and giving me a much needed pick-up. As far as having a baby and going for my PhD, I have the most supportive husband in mankind, and I don't think I could do it without him. At least, I couldn't do it with as little fear as I currently have. mims, I understand what you were saying about research. My internship, while in a museum, didn't really reflect my interests from outside appearances (marketing). Still, I feel like I can defend that internship, and explain how it ties directly to my interests with institutional critique. Perhaps I should have defended it in my SOP, but I figured I'd save it for an interview, if necessary. Plus, my SOP deals more directly with my interest in teaching. I do have another question - for those of you pursuing a PhD, is your ultimate aim to teach, write/research? A little of both? Something else? Just curious.

I also chose a high stress time to quit smoking (2 1/2 years ago). I think that when you feel like something is so out of your control (ie. your applications), it helps to have something that IS totally under your control (you not smoking). I found that working out really helped me not to relapse - it made quitting smoking just one part of getting healthier. And now that I sound like a public service announcement, I'll stop. Keep up the good work.

And as February hits, the nerves really start working overtime. I'm somewhat glad that most of my work forces me to be on my laptop, so I can check my email inbox every 10 minutes or so. Since I was rejected from both programs I applied to last year (yes, I only applied to two), I'm starting to feel really panicked that I won't be accepted to any of the programs again this year (I've applied to seven). I have not published anything, but since last year, I have quit my non-related job, had an internship at an art museum and started teaching art history courses at a prestigious college. My GRE scores are solid, my undergraduate grades lacking, but the grades from my Master's are stellar. Anyone want to give me some boost in confidence? That, and if I get rejected from all seven this year, what should I do for the next year? I know I can continue teaching, but would you start visiting all of your schools? Get to know professors? Publish?

Like others, I would attend my "last choice" school if that was the only place I was admitted to, but only if given full funding. I wonder, if you're admitted somewhere but not given funding, could you ask to defer for a year if you could receive funding in the next year?

Thank God for the Superbowl. Nothing like sports to distract from all this anxiety.

U of Wisconsin - one acceptance posted for Art History. Of course, they noted that they were contacted directly by the prof in their specific area, so maybe there's still hope?

I'm reading Kierkegaard. Probably not the best choice, considering the anxiety themes, but it's what I'm in to right now.

Well, I have a little hope left, then. I'm glad to hear that you're not in my exact area of specialization. Congratulations to you!

RedPotato, that thesis would be perfect as your writing sample. If I were you, I'd also make sure that you have/make some great contacts for your letters of reference. Start looking at schools and contact professors you think you'd be interested working with, and possibly ask them what steps you could take to better your chances of getting into grad school. Oh, and I haven't had the baby yet! She's not due until May.

Thanks! It's our first, and we just found out she's a little girl. I'm really hoping to find out how hard it is to have an infant and go back to school at the same time. Fingers crossed!

I am married with a baby on the way (due late in May), so I voted married with child/children even though it's not quite true. Yet. My husband is very supportive of my pursuit of a PhD and has always said that he will find a job wherever we end up moving, if we have to do so. Of course, now that the decision is getting closer and the economy has tanked, he's starting to get nervous about actually finding said job. Just what I need, more nerves surrounding this waiting process!

And how does one afford 4 Master's degrees? Holy moly! I took a year off between my Bachelor's and my Master's degree. I finished the Master's in 2004, worked in a position not even remotely related to my academic pursuits for four years (which I don't regret), and I'm now teaching in my field. Though I love teaching, I can't wait to be back in school for my PhD.

Um, Top Chef is on tonight. It seems like so many of us are practicing distraction via cooking anyway. Sure, the talent pool isn't as good this year, but it's still pretty entertaining.

I seem to be the same as many others - I distract by baking or cooking. Classes finally started back up for me this week, so I can spend a lot of time researching and writing my lectures. Plus, being 5 months pregnant keeps me from fretting too much over school - I've got plenty of other things to worry about! I do find that as we approach February, my hope is turning a bit more towards panic.

Agreed! I hope everyone gets in, but no one takes "my" spot at my top choice. If only things worked out so well. For those of you who fear that you can't take being rejected, I was rejected from both the schools I applied to last year (yeah, I only applied to two), and I'm still alive and kicking. But since we're all getting in this year (please?) that's nothing you'll have to worry about.

I know. I saw "Art History" under one entry on the results page and my heart seized for a second. I was glad that it wasn't from a program I had applied to. Believe me, I'm ready to hear something, but I'm scared to see others getting acceptances and not hearing anything myself. I have my fingers crossed for all of us!

I actually like my last few moments of hope and anticipation before opening that envelope. And I've had both rejections and acceptances in the past, so that hasn't marred my feeling. While waiting for the results of my MA application, I used to keep a bottle of scotch in the bathroom closet, and each time I'd receive mail from the school (I received 2 envelopes from them prior to their acceptance letter) I'd run into the bathroom, lock the door, and rip open the envelope. I was comforted knowing that if it contained bad news, I could run a hot bath and dull the pain a bit with the single malt without having to face anyone.

Agreed. 4-5 pages seems awfully long. I thought my statement was long at around 2 to 2.25 pages. I'm sure that the admissions board would be happy to see a work that is succinct and compelling amongst all the reading they have to do. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

t_ruth, I'm very happy for you! How fantastic to have the first results be fantastic results.