illinoisellie

...I'd be willing to spend nine straight years of my life in school, with no break! :wink:

So, my roommate and I both have crushes on professors... haha, they're both married. Its the kind of crush where you're like: When I'm that age, I hope I've found one like that! Jeez, I just keel over when a guy is really smart and really nice... especially when he can debate extraordinarily well...

Wow! There's lots of first gen college students here! Certainly makes me feel at home, as my parents never graduated from college. At first, my dad told me that, if I got my PhD, I wouldn't be able to find any jobs because I would be overqualified. He is of the opinion that the "right" way to become successful is to be promoted several times. I just told him that I'm still "working my way up from the bottom" but in a slightly different way. After I showed him the Bureau of Labor Statistics webpage on my chosen career path, he agreed that I would be able to find a job with a PhD. hahaha. So he supports my choice now. My grandparents on the other hand....? Still think that I am getting my Masters.

No more waiting for something, anything to come back. haha Well, at least I know that they received my application. At least a couple more weeks, hopefully, until the others come trickling in...

As for more undergrads applying to grad programs just because they want to wait out the recession - I think these candidates will be pretty easy to spot, either judging from their seeming lack of commitment or reasoning behind their choice of schools in the personal statement or in interviews. And yeah, lack of funding is a big issue - not only are the grad schools cutting down on funding, but also its getting more difficult to get student loans. Without those you can't really make up for the difference if you don't get that assistantship/fellowship.

I would think it strange to date someone who is in your same graduate department.... :| I'm perfectly happy that I'm single now, because I don't have to worry about leaving anyone behind when I go for the top(well, higher than I am now, anyways)! I do hope to make some long-lasting friendships with people in the department... Maybe other new students will need a roomie to rent an apartment with??

Whether or not the acceptances or rejections come first, i don't know, but at least from the point of view of the admissions team I think it would be difficult to accept everyone or deny everyone at one time. They probably have a tiered system. I don't know if it would be better or worse(worrying-wise) to know which tier you were in/whether you got through the first, second or third round of applicants.

Perhaps they are trying to coach their phrasing into something more politically correct. Sometimes it seems to me as if everything is getting more mushy in terms of saying things but meaning others... (a zeitgeist, perhaps?)

I think as long as you've applied to a large enough range of schools, you should be lucky and get in to a couple... At least, I hope that's true.

I think I finally realized that I may be moving to a different city was when I wanted to buy some new bedding. But I also was asked if I wanted to get an apartment with one of my current roommates next year, and I can't tell them yes or no! The most nerve wracking? I'm applying to a couple jobs, just in case I don't get in. But I don't know how to tell these people, or how to disguise, the fact that I don't really think I'll be working there. So how can I fake excitement for the position? Is anyone else applying to jobs as a backup for grad programs?

Thanks for the info! *worries just a little bit more*

George Mason is supposed to be one of the up and coming best I/O departments, some places ranked it right up there with U of I. Check out their website - its awesome! That really stinks with Central Michigan; do they usually send a letter telling you that you have been denied admission? I got this strange letter from them in December telling me that they didn't have any assistantship openings, but the letter told me nothing else. But jeez! As if I wasn't worried before, I only have a mediocre GPA/GRE, so I must be in the bottom tier of applicants this year... haha, I knew I should have skipped the 3rd grade...

I would love to be a research psychologist for a government agency. Supposedly the CIA has a position like that. Going into a consulting firm is also an option.

Assesta - when did you get your information about Rice?? Did you apply to the PhD program? I was thinking it was a bit early to know from them, since the app. deadline is Jan.1st? I'm applying to both masters and PhD programs, just as backups. (Plus, I really didn't think I would be able to get into George Mason's PhD program) Central Michigan University - PhD University of Illinois - PhD Northern Illinois University - PhD Illinois State University - MA Saint Louis University - PhD Texas A&M - PhD Rice University - PhD George Mason - MA I've been told that i didn't apply to very many... One of my friends going into I/O applied to about 20/30. How many schools have you applied to?