nocturne

I was accepted, but by the time they'd gotten around to offering, I had my heart set another acceptance. They e-mailed me to follow up because, being busy myself, I hadn't replied yet, and I informed them of my decision. I don't want to "badmouth" them, though; I assume they have a reason for making late decisions.

I am going to UCSD because: - They are willing to provide rigorous theoretical background the first year. Coming from a socio-heavy school, I need this. - The research interests of the faculty interest me. - I got a more generous funding package than I expected. - I really liked all the people that I met, and instantly knew with which faculty I would like to work. - Proximity to Mexico is a plus for me. - I like the West Coast. - Recent graduates from the department are finding jobs, even in this economic climate.

No master's, though I have taken some grad-level classes as an undergrad. Not a whole lot of lab experience.

Is anyone here planning on going to UC San Diego? I know a few of you have gotten in, and am curious about who is going...

My "day of reckoning" (i.e. when I expect to hear back from UCSD) is tomorrow...well, actually later today since it is past midnight. Still no word from Washington, but their results from years past seem to indicate I have a week or two left to wait. Fingers crossed!

To be honest (and feel sheepish), the reason I didn't quote the whole sentence is that I am not sure what you mean by "have a good shape without worrying about living expense." Weight loss by starvation? (LOL)

I would say that for me, of course fit is important, but money is important, too. I come from a poor family, and as a non-traditional student (27 at graduation in May), I have many "adult bills" to pay for, too. If I don't get some sort of financial package, I probably won't be able to go, and the bigger the better, since most of the areas I am looking at moving to are quite expensive. I wish that could be the case for all of us, but I know it's not the case for me. After all, I gotta eat!

I had a phone interview with a prof some time ago, with the final outcome being that they thought I needed to take a few more classes before they could admit me (basically a rejection with an encouraging "try again next year). Not sure what that means for people who haven't heard anything, though.

There are lots of gay people in Raleigh. I am pretty familiar with the area, and there are gay bars, a Pride day, you see lots of gay couples out in restaurants, etc. Some of my good friends who live in Raleigh are gay.

The first interview I had (a phone interview), I was contacted by the professor whom I had mentioned in my statement of purpose, which made me stand out to her, because we shared a common interest. She made the first contact by e-mail, and we set up a phone appointment. I didn't end up getting accepted, though, because I lack sufficient background training for their program.

Wow... yeah, I would have been a LOT less stressed if I'd gotten two of the verbal. I was completely zapped at the end of the two math sections. I don't know how I got the idea that there were always two math, then. Eh, whatever.

I'm normally not a huge math person, either, but I do well at it if I put my mind to it and/or use it regularly. For the GRE, I studied "Cliffs Math Review for Standardized Tests" and a couple of other general GRE books that I forget the name of, and did some practice tests online. And I hadn't had a real math class since high school in 1998. I definitely recommend the Cliffs book, if you're looking to take it again. Six weeks with that puppy and I got a 710, after knowing next-to-nothing at the outset. Also, I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure it's always the math section that there are two of.

Yeah, for a minute there I looked like a street person talking to myself. I've never been to Santa Cruz... what's not to like?

Wow, if you have all that going for you and don't get in anywhere, then I haven't a snowballs chance in hell with my 3.65 GPA and English B.A./Comm B.A. combo. I, too, was urged to go to grad school, but I guess I might have to aim a little lower than direct entrance into a Ph.D. program. I did get good GRE scores, though (720V/710Q). I guess I have been living a sheltered life here at Podunk State U, because I haven't had half of the opportunities you've had access to at UCLA. Maybe I should have stayed in Los Angeles after all (I lived there for 4 years). I'm down to UCSD (which I visit next week) and my "safety schools," which suddenly aren't looking that safe. Until I read your info, I didn't know the competition was quite so steep. I was judging my chances based on the students I know here, but I guess it's the whole size-of-fish vs. size-of-pond issue. My backup plan isn't even all that great: move to Santa Cruz and take their undergrad classes as continuing ed and reapply next year. I don't know what I'll do if I don't get in next year; all I want to do is study linguistics, which isn't exactly a layperson's pursuit.

After finding my 4th rejection this morning (fully half of the schools I applied to) I am very curious about how much background the people have who are getting in. I know my grades, GRE scores, and letters of recommendation are good. I've had or am currently taking seven linguistics courses at my non-linguistics-degree-offering school, and had As in most of them, with a couple Bs during a particularly rough year that I explained in my statement (someone very close to me passed away). This is the equivalent of a minor at my school, but they won't allow it to be officially called that if you have an English major (which I do, in addition to a Communication major). I've also taken a couple of grad-level classes in the field, since my school DOES offer an MA. I go to a large Southern research university with a middling reputation. So what sort of background do you have? Does everyone else but me have a master's or a linguistics B.A.? I'm trying to figure out what is going wrong, so that I can strengthen my application for next year, if need be.