Dr._Robotnik's_Shadow

Nothing but rejections...and then, LIGHT.

Dodger stadium

rock band

I tried to do something generic and boring and unlike me for my name/avatar for fear other posters would find out who I am...they found out anyways. But as you can imagine, last year when applying I felt like my world was coming to an end with all the rejections. I felt I had three wishes left in me and last year was my last wish and it didn't come true. When I googled "wish" the picture of the lady blowing the plant thing was of course representative of my screen name so I chose it. Looking back I realize the avatar is kind representative of my life now. I got blown away with humanities PhD rejections 3 years in a row and while this is my 4th year and I still have some pending applications I actually got blown to a new, amazing and happy world: I'm actually on a new path--med school.

You can always add schools later. Since you haven't been accepted yet, I'd just put down the 10 schools you plan on going to/think you will be accepted into that way once you made your final decision they'll already have the paperwork you need. There's no benefit or disadvantage of listing schools on there.Just make sure the school you are going to in on there or add it right away when you find out later you'll be going there.

I don't think there are any. Harvard has a December deadline but I guess that doesn't help much.I don't think there is too much of a safety net when it comes to schools in our field. You have a good mix next year around-if you have to do this again-just apply to more schools. Good luck. I hope you get in!

I've never been on a quarter system so I can't really speak for that. I love the semester system of course. Here are what I think the major pros and cons are: Semester system: Pro: Easier since it's a slow pace. You have 16 weeks to stay in a course and go over stuff. At Christmas you are done and start fresh in the Spring with new classes and this is usually after a long winter break. Also, with the semester system you start earlier (August a lot of times) but end earlier (early May) so you get a head start on the job hunt etc. Cons: You hate a class=you are stuck in it for a long time. It's easy to procrastinate here and when you do you got a lot to do at the last minute. Quarter: Pro: Hate a class? No prob, it's over in 10 weeks. Cons: It's fast paced so if you miss a class you miss out. A lot of people I know have midterms or homework during their short winter breaks because they are in the middle of their second (winter) quarter. With the quarter system I think it's so hard to adjust to a new class, professor and subject material. I like things at a slower pace. It's about quality not quantity so the semester system wins for me!

My self breathing since I have a cold today...and since I'm off of work, I hear a bird chirping, then me coughing and then peace again.

Toy Soldier

Congrats on your UCLA admit!

Lawn Mower

This is correct. Admissions can and do reject applicants even though the department recommended them because their guidelines are different than the department's.

This is a great list. I was trying to say something like this in my last post but you said it for me. Thanx!

I don't think it's a bad idea to let location be the deciding factor. Actually, I think you are in a great position now. It sounds like you know you'll like either place and they are close to each other so you can go back and forth. I bet whatever you decide it will work out for you and you'll be happy. It sounds like you've thought this through so whatever choice you make it will be the right one. I was thinking though, you might want to consider a few things about the location such as: 1. Cost of living. Is one location cheaper than the other? Is it more expensive. How will you have to adjust your life style to fit your new budget in this city? 2. Do you have any hobbies? Does either city have enough stuff in it where you can continue to pursue your studies? 3. In regards to the school, how dramatically different are the programs? Maybe on the wbsite and on paper, as suggested by the above poster they look better than the other. I think a visit might give you a better picture. 4. Or maybe for you, location SHOULDN'T be a deciding factor. Maybe you should think about how much of a life change you want. If you stay in the city where you live now and like, then great. I'm sure life will change for you a little when you start school. If you move, although it's only two hours away, maybe you will have a whole new life (new housing, new neighborhood, new friends and restaurants to try that you haven't experienced in awhile.) If this is appealing to you then do the move. It's a tough call but it sounds like either way will work out for you. Best of luck!

That's a tough one. I know where you are coming from. I think trying to find a happy medium is good. Also, how do you absolutely know you won't like it in one city or that you will like it? Have you lived there. I've found living and visiting are different things. In the end I think location is important. For my MA I went to a great program but in a miserable city and ended up being....miserable after a while. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I got out of this miserable city on my breaks and stuff--but I didn't. For undergrad I went to a mediocre program in a great city and felt good about it. Come to think of it I also did a miserable program in a miserable city and was miserable. I also did a great program in a miserable city and liked it....I think I've done every combo. It's hard to predict where and when you'll be happy. so I guess I'm not that much of a help... I think in the end it's important to think of your long term goals. If the good program is good enough, will get you where you need to go in the end and it's in a city you'd think you'd like then... go for it. If there is a great program in a "miserable" city then think it through carefully first. If the mediocre program is in a city you are "dying to live in" don't forget that you can eventually move there later one day when you are out in the work force. That's just my opinion. Best of luck!

Other than the obsessive checking like ya'll I'm trying to also do constructive things like teach myself Spanish via on-line classes, teaching myself how to make websites (I taught myself flash, built myself a website and now my friends are asking if I'm for hire with website building! Hello cash flow! Perhaps if the grad school thing doesn't work I can become a web designer) and trying to figure out what crazy thing I'm gonna do if I don't get in...or even if I do. I decided that if I don't get in I'll get a really little demure tattoo (as if I'm a teenager my parents -who overheard me telling a friend this-told me "What are you going to get a tattoo for?! Don't do that. Tattoos are body graffiti!!!!"). If I do get into grad school, when I graduate, I'll still get the tat. I'm keeping myself busy designing my dream tat now.

For me some are notifying earlier and some later.

If I end up being accepted I'll take take the painful waiting any day over a quick rejection. The happiness of the acceptance will erase the pain and be worth it in the end. The acceptance might even feel more "worth it" after a long period. It makes for a great story....Me: "After months and months of painful waiting, ocd email checking and glazed eyes from staring at the gradcafe on my computer screen.... I finally got in!!!" My Attentive Audience: "Ohhhhhh, Ahhhhhhh.....Hooray!"

Ditto to everything everyone else said. But also, if this person is still doing this to you, it needs to stop. I'd look into taking some kind of more serious action against him at this point. It sounds like his actions are unwanted and he keeps doing this to you. Sounds like stalking or harrassment to me. I'd look into taking some type of legal action on him. Sometimes all you need is a threat from some type of lawyer or police or someone to scare him straight and get him to stop. You shouldn't have to be bothered by him.

Ditto to everything everyone said. I guess we have to keep in mind that people don't understand us but they are trying to be supportive. They probably don't know what to say since they've never done it themselves. They know it's important to us so they feel like they should ask or make conversation or something. If you don't get in they probably won't be disappointed IN us but FOR us. They are scared that if they tried they would never make it. They probably admire you for trying and putting yourself out there. I try not to tell anyone I'm applying. I vent out all my frustrations on grad cafe forums like this. If anyone asks me I confidently and positively say "It's personal" or whatever and change the subject to them some how.

A resume for a job is different than a resume for grad school. What you probably really need is a CV (similar to a resume). This is more academic in that while you should list employment related to your proposed degree program, it's also good to list papers you've published or have in progress, conferences you've presented, TA stuff, you might even want to highlight certain courses you've taken, labs you've worked in or professors you've maybe helped with their research--in otherwords, more academic related stuff. Check sample CVs from the bios of potential advisors on your top choice schools' website for an idea. Also, while resumes are encouraged to be 1 page, CVs are usually longer. If a school says to send a "resume" (instead of using the word "CV") I'd still send the CV because I think that's what they really mean.

As soon as I read this I was actually caught by surprise. This sounds interesting if you can twist it in a positive way and make it relate to your major. What a way to start an SOP! Dig deep into that time you were homeless and use that as inspiration for a real eye catcher for those adcoms. I'm sure you have lots of stories of this tough time roaming the country homeless and it sounds like you've overcome great odds to get out of that situation-something adcoms love to hear.

I'd definitely get it printed on letterhead. I once made the same mistake as you and a school sent it back to me saying they needed it on letterhead or they wouldn't accept it. It's more professional looking and adcoms will put more value on it if it's on letterhead. Even if schools don't specify it needs to be on letterhead I'd do it anyways. Your recommender, especially if it was a prof should've known this.