DrPepper-olic

drum beat

Mint. Chocolate. Bailey's. I got two rejections last week, no positive emails, and headed into the weekend with the news that my dream school had been calling acceptees. I cleaned house and drank. Drank and cleaned house. I am the kind of person who wants to be alone to let bad news soak in so I can process it and then come out on the other side. I'm married now so being alone is ten times harder than it used to be. Fortunately no one wants to be around when you're scrubbing the floor behind the toilet. I secretly hoped all weekend that someone had tried to call me from the dream school. No such luck. I will just have to hold my breath every time I check the mail until the rejection comes. Until it comes, I'll just drink bourbon and diet coke to take off the edge. The actual rejection day will be more ceremonious. I plan to eat and drink and cry, in my closet. I've saved half a box of Thin Mints and Mint Chocolate Bailey's saved for the occasion.

Yay! I feel like we're kindred spirits. I work for a university now, and one of the perks is that two classes are paid for each semester. Since I've gotten 2 rejections, a wait list, and no word from several other programs that have notified acceptees with funding already, my mind instantly starting thinking of a plan b that would make the most of my job. (I mean, I got a job right after I finished my masters. I should be stoked.) Most people ask the question, "Why don't you get a PhD where you work?" Although they have the broad field of my studies here, there are only a few programs in the country that specialize in what I have spent the last 8 years of my life writing about. So last Friday I had this same epiphany. I am considering getting a masters in a related field (math) that would help me with my research in the future. I would have nothing to lose, and, with summer school, I could possibly finish it next summer. I know that I kind of lucked out in the paying for a second masters. I will say this, though. My first masters came from a state school, which waived most of my tuition in exchange for part-time labor. Even if the department you're applying to doesn't have funds for an assistantship, there may be another place on campus willing to call you a research assistant (even in an "unrelated" field) so that you can get your tuition waived. It worth the effort of calling around. In the end, grad students are always cheaper than hiring salaried employees because grad students don't get benefits. To echo your sentiments: Yay academia!

Um, I've gone quite nuts. In order to stay away from my computer all weekend (but I did still have my phone nearby), I cleaned the floors of my apartment WITH CLOROX WIPES. The Swiffer just haven't been cutting it, and the linoleum is at least 20 years old (as is the spruce green, maroon and wheat paisley wallpaper). I felt a little like Cinderella, scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees. It kept me "sane" though. And now maybe the 5 second rule can apply inside my apartment. I'm also irrationally convinced that since I did something to tidy up my house, I'm sure to get some (good) news from grad programs this week. I hope an email comes while I'm in class!

wheat bran

oral hygiene

I agree with jblsmith. I do have all the courses required for a BA in math, some of them taken while I was getting my MA in econ, and there was still concern about my strength in mathematics. I thought that I had met the sufficient conditions for a PhD in econ already, but I'm starting to feel doubtful. My admissions stats were shaky coming out of undergrad. I had a bad year, and my profile reflected it. Rather than apply to PhD programs (when I wasn't sure I even wanted to do the research), I opted to take more math and to get an MA from my alma mater. It turned out to be a wise decision for me because (1) I was accepted there, and (2) I was able to prove wrong some of the naysayers in my past. Since MA and MS programs usually have later deadlines than PhD programs, I might recommend you look at a few. Funding isn't usually as strong in those cases, but you can get a good feel for your future career, diversify your research areas, and boost those grades. And your GRE scores don't have to be as high. (When I took the test in 2005, I had 500V/660Q, and I got in without question.) Also, regarding the GRE, I really hope you won't have to take it again. It stinks. But having a high score can help with funding at the lesser known schools, where they may need to boost certain enrollment stats to increase their rankings. If you don't like your funding options this year, I'd recommend taking it again. Shoot, take the test again anyway, and see if there isn't some extra money floating around your chosen school's graduate school. I'm sure you already know the quant section isn't really a math test. (The subject test is, and holy crap!) So many people from all over the world do really well on the quant section, and, in math/econ/engineering especially, you have to make yourself competitive with them. Many programs won't specifically say what their arbitrary cut off score is, but you can bet they won't be happy if you're below the 80th percentile (which is a score somewhere around 720). From what I read on the Kaplan site, your odds of scoring better on the test will significantly decrease once the revised version of the test comes out later this year. If you do feel like you're going to need to take the GRE again, start now. I used the Kaplan 800 Quant book (and the same for verbal). I also memorized values of common fractions/decimals/factorials and brushed up on my probability theory. That helped immensely. I hated studying for that test after I had "paid my dues" by taking the appropriate course work. Adcoms don't really care if you hate it or not. They just use the score. Best of luck, MylesBaker!

I will add that reading a foreign language becomes decidedly easier when you can imagine what it sounds like in your head. I studied French for two years in high school, but took a proficiency test 2 years after college. I listened to/watched French movies and YouTube music videos while studying or when I didn't feel like studying. It really made reading my old grammar books easier. (After all, languages were spoken before they were written, etc., etc.) Happy reading!

Me too. I also feel like I'm more likely to get an acceptance email. I want one so bad. I can't help it!

flash dance

double cheeseburger

Since I'm going through my first round, I probably can't offer much much. (Except, I can't believe you survived the GRE subject test! I looked over the ETS sample, and DAMN it's hard! Props.) You seem to have strong research in your favor, which not many math students I know have going into grad school. If your recommendations are good, and your interests align with the programs you applied to, I think you could still be competitive. I am also not the "whole package" as an applicant. Have you considered taking more math courses (i.e. real Real Analysis) this semester or over the summer? That was information I included in my applications. It might be something that would make the CU-Denver people happy to know. I think even sitting through the classes that you didn't do so well on, starting now, could better prepare you for what does happen in the fall. (If economists have to know real analysis, I can only imagine what mathematicians have to know ) Chin up. There are still a few days till March. AND you do have an acceptance. (Which is more than I have.)

bottoms up

scheduled programming

rugby shirt

tied hands

hippy movement

All of this. Ugh. At least we're in it together?

oh dear

If I am reading this correctly, (1) the application isn't due until May and (2) you're not 100% certain they're going to pick you. It would be tricky for any of us to say without knowing the particulars, and even then, it would still be up to you... I think that it would be a really good idea to run this buy one or two of the people who wrote your LORs. Professors, in particular, could give you insight about how this information would be taken by other professors. Someone who already wrote an LOR for you wants you to do well AND knows the particulars (AND has a professional interest in you looking good to the adcoms). It is what I would do if I were in your shoes. Best of luck!

I had to reread it. And then I remembered chem lab.

That was so cute! A real mood lifter too!