flotsam

I was hoping to visit prospective grad schools during my spring break...depending on who I heard back from. Um...Plan B...

That is so true! Gotta have a gimmick.

My uncle is a professor at a well-known college. When he was applying for PhD programs, he was considered to be a topnotch candidate. He was offered admission plus all the grants and stipends to get him through 5 years comfortably in some of the most prestigious colleges in the country. A million years ago. As a professor now, he recognizes that the competition has changed many of the rules for acceptance and there is a good possibility even he would have difficulty getting into his preferred grad schools in this academic/economic climate. His advice to his students that seek to go on to grad school: 1. If you have talent and the inclination, start getting your references and potential LOR's lined up asap. You can never start too early in reaching out to make those connections. 2. If your prof's are encouraging you to go on to grad school, they must have a good reason. While their advice is not a guarantee for admission, do NOT limit yourself to just a couple of choices. Shop around and give yourself a good range of grad schools to apply to, ones that you would be happy to go to. 3. If you don't make it into grad school the first year you apply, look at your academic resume and spend the next year volunteering in labs, helping profs with research, taking extra classes, and try to get a job in some area related to your field. If it's a dream to go on to grad school, try again. It's okay to feel angry, hurt, betrayed, disgusted, anxious...but use that energy to get where you want to be. Best of luck to all of you. You've worked hard to get this far... The End!

Hahaha When I first read this, I thought you said "get a new hubby." I think I'm getting a little bleary-eyed.

And a meerschaum pipe, not to mention the goatee and Montblanc pen. Tres hoity-toity!

Down, Brain, Down!! (It's alive!!!!!! It has a mind of its own, this brain of mine!) My hand reaching for my laptop to check my email is like it has Alien Hand Syndrome...like Dr. Strangelove.

When you consider how much money the school is spending on us with grants, etc., it is probably expected that we look nice enough to represent them. The profs can wear what they want, especially if they have tenure!

'Bout time the moderators at this site found a way to make the boards squeaky clean. Now we can get on with posting and reading results without the drama. If we want drama, we can come to the forum section!

My spring break is in early March. I'm hoping to be able to spend most of it visiting schools that have offered admittance to me. (Wishful thinking, eh?) But if I don't even receive acceptances until late March-April, how in the world can I juggle going to classes, working on projects, dealing with homework and STILL travel cross-country to visit schools? Do the schools schedule interviews and visits on weekends?

Shred them all and put them in Sparky's cage for bedding.

Yeah, it probably isn't too good to say- "What hurts the most, makes us stronger." "Are you sure you filled out all the essays?" "The program probably bites anyway." "Look at all the money you just saved."