sparkle456

This is a relevant post for me too! I had a dream last night that the prof I interviewed w/at Brandeis called me. The words in the voice mail were showing up as text. It said that there was a woman, whose name now of course I can't remember...had declined her admission so that opened a spot for me. So, I was waitlisted in this dream. I woke up thanking her...it was a name that started with a "P"

Thanks for posting, I was so curious!! You were accepted to the U of MN too?! Ahh, that was my first rejection. Congrats! Do you know where you'll go? Looks like you have a lot of good options. Yeah, I was afraid that U Conn would not be able to guarantee funding for more than one year at a time. Hmm...it's so bizarre b/c I emailed the program coordinator on Thursday (the 5th) and asked whether the email we received asking if we were still interested went to everyone and whether I was still in the running and she wrote: "We did email all of our applicants and will hopefully know something shortly." Weird. I wish she would have just told me something, you know? Well...I'd love to hear what you find out and I wish you the best with your choices!!

I voted for Delaware. However, I'm waiting for more info as well. If it's for a job, go to Delaware. Even if it's for academics, I'd go to where they are paying AND offering the TAship. Sure, it isn't U of Chicago's name...but really...who cares? Unless you want to go on to another top named school, why does it matter? I truly believe it's all what you do with a degree at a decent/respectable college. If it were a toss up btwn Clown college or Monkey U than sure, I'd say pay out your ass for the name. But Delaware doesn't sound like a bad program...is it?

Congrats! I've been waiting to hear. Are you willing to share more info? Thanks!!

I appreciate your enthusiasm! However, even if they are waiting...and lets say solely as a hypothetical that we were accepted. I think it sucks that they would have already had a meet-and-greet. They could have invited people who they were maybe on the fence about. Or did interviews, anything. I'm certain we're not admitted.

Same here, no word. Honestly, I'm assuming if we haven't heard, that we were not accepted. I was re-looking and they only take 4-6 students...so, oh well I guess. But, you never know, you may still be in the running. I know someone else from here who has been contacted by the DGS. Good luck.

I think the best bet is to just ask each individual program. I know I read on one program's website that if you took it more than once, the program looks at the scores holistically. So, good luck, I'm sure it'll be fine for them to accept your latest scores (unless they're jerks).

I'm all for letting us know quickly!! I prefer it to be in the regular mail, then I can't check it in my email at work. I definitely want to know how many people applied and some sort of reasoning. It's hard to get this w/the top schools w/many apps but like a previous poster mentioned, we put in so much time and money that it seems like they owe us that at least. It doesn't have to be from an individual professor, but something...! Interesting topic.

Just curious?? All of mine provided me a copy and I was really surprised, but excited. Who doesn't love reading nice things about themselves

Good luck.

You brought up cost of living in Nashville, and I agree. That may be a deciding factor in and of itself. Good luck, talk to family and friends, they know you best and will help you sort out this decision.

Well, this is great... No, the graduate school is important. I am staff at a graduate school where all of the extra work is put on the program...and it sucks. It's so disorganized. We don't offer any kind of help w/tuition and the faculty are less than great. Oh, well I guess. This economy sucks!!! Thanks for posting the link to the info., I wouldn't have found that on my own.

There's another forum on this in Waiting it out, I think. I always figured that Dr. was the most formal and so when I don't know the professor, I just put "Dear Dr. X". In UG, after that initial email or if I had already spoke with them, I always put "Hi First Name." I've never had a problem w/this and honestly, if a prof. questioned this, I would not be too thrilled to work with them. Also, looking forward, I'd feel so uncomfortable w/people calling me "doctor." I guess I feel like that is reserved for MD's or distinguished professors (and that's why I'll email potential grad advisers using "Dr." I'd feel comfortable w/my first name but Professor is also a nice gesture/sign of respect. I think this is an interesting post, in that I wonder how the next generation of college students will handle formalities.

LOLOLOLOL this is priceless. No big, is this really the name? Monkey U...I thought it was a hoax.

I asked why I was rejected. I got a friendly response from the DGS saying "thank you for being in touch" and that she'd have the PA look into it. He wrote me the next day with very specific information. Wth, I'll just post what it said: Dear Ms. Sparkle, With 100+ students' application materials to review, our faculty could not go into great detail as to the reasoning behind their decisions to approve or decline admission. In general, however, I can tell you that the faculty perceived your application as being only average and not outstanding across any evaluation metric used in the review this spring. Specific comments provided were that the quality of your personal statement and your fit with the department was "good" and your writing and reasoning ability was "good but could use improvement." On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means "definitely admit" and 5 means "definitely do not admit," your application scored a 3. There is little doubt that you would excel in a graduate program. Unfortunately, considering the number of outstanding applications we received for this year's cohort, our department simply doesn't have the resources to accommodate you at this time. Best wishes in your future endeavors, Title SO that was what I got. I say, hell yes contact the program if you get rejected and want to know why. It's the least they can do with all the time we put into the process and the app fee.

Only b/c I work in Student Services, and am in the same area as financial aid...they have to send that kind of stuff out, ya know? They aren't in the loop about whether the students will be admitted or not. Still is annoying, I know!!

I live in a suburb of Minneapolis, check out the City Guide thread and there is a posting with Twin Cities. It's a great area. I've lived in MN for 14 years and it's a great place to live. If you have any specific q's, pm me.

I suggest looking at rent.com and doing a search for apts/studios. You can get a good idea using this site. The Mall of America is also here! I shop at Target regularly and my avg spending on groceries is $200/mo. Gas is $1.87 right now...ours only hit $4 once or so. As I mentioned before, no tax on clothes or food. A bus pass is $90/mo. There are some really going restaurants on "eat street" aka Nicollete Ave (fairly inexpensive $20-30/2 people) Parking at a ramp down town is $200/mo depending on what kind of deal you get. There are tons of apts by the University (which is it's own city--HUGE!!!) and sure you'll have UGs but I'm sure it's convenient and they run fairly cheap ($700-800). PM me w/any specifics, I'd love to help! -Sparkle

Anyone concerned about the budgeting of their school/legitimacy of their contracts/etc should really be in touch with the program and the school.

I'm 23 now and I'll be 24. I have been working a full time job for 13 months now. I think it's been great life experience. I work in an educational setting, so I didn't really veer off of my goal but just getting a feel for the politics, different time management (i used to take late classes and sleep in a lot now i work 9-5). Also, I'm able to apply sociology to everything which is the tops!

Are you being sarcastic? Sociologists are probably the most understanding and tolerant people out there!! I find this to be very contradictory!

Not applying there...but I was curious where else you're applying? I almost applied to U of Iowa, it looks like a great school for social psych. What are your interests?

Good luck to both of you! I am hoping you get into a good program, sounds like you have great stats! I'll be curious. And I'm from the Sociology bunch

I think NW looks AWESOME. Are they doing any kind of meet-and-greet? If so, you should go and figure it out for yourself! I don't mean that in a harsh way, it just seems that would be the best way. Congrats!

That is exactly what my thought was!! That's why I wanted some opinions so no worries, I appreciate all interpretations. I'm thinking what you said is right b/c they asked a)have you accepted another offer or b)are you still interested. or whatever it said. i have a cold right now which isn't helping!!! anyways this helps. the only thing is, they've had our apps for 2 months now so they must have an idea. and it WAS NOT a rejection so i'm still happy about that. thanks much!!