Grimm101

Washington will be sending out decisions at the end of February, early March. I don't know about UCLA. Wait it out until March. If no news, perhaps then will be the right time to contact their graduate coordinators, etc. @TMP: Are you the only person on this thread who was offered funding from UW-M? I thought funding decisions were still in process.

Somehow, I feel the race is done for me even though it's hardly begun. I feel as though my applications this year weren't very strong and though I wouldn't mind getting into a PhD program, I don't think I can do this again next year. This process has been negative from the get go. I am happy for all of you that have gotten into your dream school or any program for that matter. Perhaps, this isn't my path. Sorry....just rambling.

Delurking for a moment. Any Cornell applicants in the group? If so, has anyone heard anything?

Congrats to all the admits and condolences to all that received rejections. Has anyone heard anything more from UW-M? Also, what about U of Washington and Pittsburgh?

Has anyone received rejection news from Wisconsin? I still haven't heard anything and I'm assuming this means I was rejected. Congrats to all the admits!

That is BRILLIANT! Thanks for the laugh. We certainly need it right now.

Thanks, Sapperdaddy. I was beginning to wonder what happened! If you don't mind me asking, what is your area of interest? I hope you haven't answered this in an earlier post....

My appliation says "pending" as well. I don't plan on hearing anything for another two weeks or so. However, it would be nice to find out earlier! I would like to know if I should continue on the path to a PhD or move on to plan B. I'm sure we are all in the same boat. Good luck to everyone.

Lms13: Yes, I received the same e-mail from Wisconsin. Has anyone heard from University of Washington?

From past experience, Utah contacts accepted applicants by e-mail at the end of February and sends letters in the first week of March. PhD candidates are most likely contacted by phone.

Another thing graduate admission committees look for is the increase in your grades. If you did poorly, but suddenly had an upsweep (B- to A-) toward the end, then this looks promising. The entire package is crucial. A high GRE score, a great statement of purpose, good recommendation letters, and of course extra work like internships always look impressive. Don't expect too much from ivy league schools. I mean, you can apply but I chances are slim, since they have so many applicants. You can save that for your PhD applications!

I had a general idea of what I wanted to write about. Throughout the process of research, prior to finalizing the topic idea, I found ideas and concepts which really stood out. This helped me narrow my topic enough to write my prospectus and later, my thesis. The key is in the literature. Since you already have an topic of interest, start flipping through sources. Also, if you have access to it, online dissertations done in the field. See what they are missing and what is being covered repeatedly.

Thank you Geekoric and rsldonk for sharing your experiences and also for the advice. I'm going over everything with a fine tooth comb and will be for the next few weeks. I'm excited to talk about my research!!!

Thank you so much, EricaMarie!

Hi there! Just a quick question. How many of you have defended your MA theses? If so inclined, please share your experiences. I've heard many horror stories from those in the hard sciences and social sciences, but I would like to hear from my fellow humanities group.

Be proud of your accomplishment. I went through the same thing thinking that A's were the norm and overall expectation in grad school. You'd be surprised at the grade point averages of some grad students. Don't discount your hard work, be proud of yourself.

All I can say is that it's tough. I have one child, but the hours dedicated to attending classes, TAing, grading, studying, and writing papers left little time for my family. I feel like I've missed out on a lot. However, my husband has been more than supportive and really stepped up to the plate with things at home. For that I am truly grateful. Since you don't have kids already, perhaps you should wait and see how things go within the first year or two. A collicky baby and coursework don't go well together, nor does a sick toddler and preparing for comps. I'm not saying to choose one over the other, but gauge the stress level in that first year or two to get a feel for that added element in your life.

I am happy that you are having such a positive experience. I believe that most people have inherent "ups and downs" in their programs and when they hit the "downs," they need positive reinforcement to pull through. I know that when I'm feeling anxious or stressed, these graduate boards are extremely helpful. It provides a chance to vent while maintaining anonimity. As a student of psychology, I'm sure you understand. Yes, my graduate experience has provided me with increased knowledge and overall growth. At the same time, it can be frustrating as I cannot control all aspects of my educational experience. The truth is that no one can be prepared for the rigors of graduate school prior to the experience itself. What is wonderful, is the commaraderie that we share in our journies together. No two programs are the same, likewise, no two people are the same.

Just a quick question. Are you expected to create your own syllabus or is the professor you are working with providing one? I TA'd for the past 2 years and the texts and syllabus were provided by the professor in charge of the course. I hope they make a decision soon, but since you are new to this, I don't think (at least I hope they don't) drop you into a class and expect you to teach it. I started out holding study sessions and grading papers and exams. The second year, I ran my own courses. Best of luck for the upcoming semester!

It's really unfortunate that he doesn't share in your enthusiasm, but people handle things differently. While doing all the work you do is commendable, it seems exhausting. You're working 10x harder than your husband for the same result; a degree. It's great that you are getting extra funding, but maybe he feels that you've taken control away from him. I know, why can't he just talk to you about it? Well, men don't function that way. They aren't great communicators and they definitely don't respond to nagging. Also, the two of you are in graduate school at the same time. This just begs for increased competition between SO's. I've heard from a few profs that academic couples sometimes hit rock bottom and enter splitsville by competing. It starts with research funding, tenure track and pay, published works, and conferences. These academic/professional issues spill into the home and create problems. Instead, maybe try to establish a happy middle ground with your SO. Some couple's therapy might help not only your relationship, but help you understand why you tackle things so differently. I wish you both luck and hope that everything smoothes out soon.

Like everyone has already said, don't feel bad. Grad school is rigorous enough even if you enjoy the field. I can't imagine how hard it must be to dislike what you're doing. If this isn't the thing for you, then cut it loose and find something that is more appealing to you. I've known a few grad students that changed programs after the first year and were better off for doing so. Good luck to you.

Don't beat yourself up over it. There might be a reason that you're avoiding it. Sometimes, we don't realize why we do what we do. Before I started writing my thesis, I wanted to run away. Why??? Because I was afraid of going through the defense portion. Nothing worse than critique...even if it's meant to help you. When I sat down and actually worked through my chapter outlines and lit review, I knew it was manageable. I'm still nervous about the defense! Just remember that this is a necessary step that you have to take in order to move on to a PhD. You can do it!

Ethnomusicology is such a fascinating field. If I could do it all over again, I would have ventured into that arena. I think if you have a good idea of the chapter breakdowns, you should be able to meet your deadline. Remember to give yourself a break on days that you can't seem to get the words out. I spent most of this past summer writing my thesis and getting ready to defend in a little while. Are you handing in each chapter to your advisor as you write them, or the document as a whole? Good luck, you can do it!!!

I was not prepared for the rigorous nature of grad school, but I'm about to defend in a few weeks. So, I've made it at least this far. Grad school is without a doubt tiring. There will be times when you doubt your decision to go and times when you feel like you've made the right decision. Also, I felt really dumb sometimes. That's normal. Think of it as a hazing process....a competitive process as well. Prioritize your coursework and paper writing and you should make all your deadlines. Another thing, I'm not sure about your program, but when it comes time for your advisor to review your thesis/dissertation, don't assume they will read it quickly. Sometimes they do, but other times it takes them months. Grad school requires dedication and putting off other plans in order to keep up. I know, this might seem like a harsh response but this is what I had to sacrifice in order to keep up. I was also a TA that ran and graded three sections for two semesters, while taking the required full time load to keep my funding. I wish you luck and hope everything works out well or you.