medianerd

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your help- for those who haven't considered replying, this project is an attempt to help us- it's an argument for greater transparency in admissions. I really want to know if the profiles of graduate students match the impressions I have Again please feel free to ask me any questions or request a copy of the final paper.

Hello folks! I am an 'alum' of this forum, having used it for moral support last year when I was applying. I remember so well how tense the process was. So now I am working on a paper about graduate admissions (catharsis, anyone?) and I would LOVE your help. It's a ten question anonymous survey. I will not be able to see any identifying information about you- nor will anyone else. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=M3JrV5F9ecc3aaCLEtljuw_3d_3d This project is partly an attempt to begin getting answers about the largely undocumented process by which applicants are decided upon. I've been conducting surveys among faculty for months and am adding student input fairly late in the process. If you'd like to see the resultant paper, please don't hesitate to drop me a private message on here. Thanks! (Please do forward this link along.)

I got in, fully funded with a generous stipend and my math scores were abysmal. I hadn't taken a math class in ..ohhh 12 years by the time I applied. Seriously.

[quote name="Louiselab

I thought my husband and I might be able to afford a small house SOMEWHERE in the bay area. I must have been high. Now I'm actually considering married student on-campus housing. That is, if they allow dogs. p.s. I am currently on the Sford campus and I have no idea how I got where I am right now because I lost sight of the clock tower. What a gorgeous campus though.

Louise- what building is History in? The HHumphrey? Did you see the funny biz school building? (The dept I was visiting took me to the Starbucks there.)

Visiting next week. Staying in the 'Hotel California'. Teehee. Should I be worried about that? (Based on the song lyrics- not anything about the hotel.)

Not yet. Would you believe I haven't heard from all of my schools? Flying to one for an interview early next week!

Minnesotans ARE really nice. Coming from Chicago it was a really pleasant surprise. While there, I saw someone cut another person off with his car, and the 'wronged' party didn't even honk.

Heh, I know what you mean. I'm an east coaster living in exile. Moving to Chicago a couple of years ago was very weird. I'd never been to MN before this past week.

Wow, I didn't know they made PhD offers without funding I'm so sorry. I'm waiting to hear whether I'd have to T.A. or not during my first year. The professors seem to think it's a great idea, but I'm on the fence.

I am in MN right now! It's really nice, everyone is super friendly, and we've had some amazing food here- two recommendations so far- SpoonRiver for a nice night out (new american cuisine- lots of vegetarian options) and Quang's for some of the best Vietnamese/Pho I've had in a long time Renting a car might not be a bad idea, esp if the U is putting you up in the Holiday Inn (which we've loved). The buses don't run as often as we're used to, and we wish we were more able to explore the cities. We haven't even seen St. Paul!

I just hope the whole business is settled by this time next week. I need to plan my move and would like to know where I'm moving! I do wish people who had already firmly decided where they're going would withdraw their apps from places that haven't sent out notice yet. Argh. I know a few such cases of people who have accepted an offer but are leaving themselves in other pools "just out of curiosity". Sigh.

My big demon right now is jealousy.... everyone I know who applied got into a school they really wanted to go to. And I don't even know where I'm going yet. I am asking myself lots of useless, unproductive questions like "what's wrong with me?"

You aren't alone. I still need to hear from 2- and feel VERY guilty that I am going to visit one next week. I can't promise them anything, and I can't even commit to any of the houses I'm going to be looking at.

They haven't notified anyone yet. They typically don't until next week, and there will be a flood of emails in that case.

Still haven't heard from 2 schools so don't know for sure if I'm coming here, but I am flying to visit next week. While there, my husband and I are house-hunting. And believe me, coming from a major city, the prices there look AMAZINGLY cheap. The city also looks like a really nice place- I am excited to visit and see it.

That's true. I've been told I can get 45 credits for my MA- or a full year's standing. Of course, I had one of those moments of "but I -like- classes"

Tonights and Sunshine, I have totally been there and it's been devastating. I have -two- MA degrees and the debt to prove it (only one came with any aid), the second of which I got after being rejected from every PhD program I applied to. I went into the PhD process thinking I was pretty amazing, and would surely get in most of the places I applied (I thought it would be like undergrad apps, and I'd have my pick.) The head of my present MA program said this is the toughest year EVER in grad school applications. I know that's small consolation (for me too), but there are just too many of us and between 40-60% fewer slots depending on the school. He also told me a lot of programs prefer students with an MA who have had to apply more than once because those students are less likely to drop out of a PhD program. Anyway, I'm really sorry. But it's not you, it's the 'system'.

I'm still waiting on 2 programs, but have managed to achieve a bizarre state of relaxation - I just would like to know by March 24, when I'm visiting one of my accepted programs! God, there are just so many of us motivated, smart applicants with amazing records. It's no wonder the process becomes so arbitrary!

I haven't been reading the forum, but I weakened because I am curious about news from here.... :/

Yeah, I'm guessing in my bitter, defeated state that this equals tuition + stipend. :roll:

*wanders in* Hello! (That's all for now until I'm sure if I'm accepting the offer )

Wow, I just got another negative email. That's a record 5 in one day....

Me too.... added to the two I just got via email it's been a helluva day. I am crying at work :cry: