Owlie

It depends--some places will make decisions on a rolling basis, others wait until after the deadline. If they make decisions after the deadline, then yeah, you'll be waiting until May. I applied to one place whose decision deadline is "four weeks before registration begins for the quarter you wish to enroll." The beginning of open registration for fall is August 1. So I'll be waiting until at least July to hear back, unless they decide on a rolling basis.

I've written off the one university that I haven't heard from yet. I figure after multiple calls and e-mails, they're not getting back to me. I'm still waiting on the MS program I applied to, but their deadline is "four weeks before the beginning of registration for the quarter you wish to enroll", so I may well not hear anything until AUGUST!

Interesting. I think it depends on the university's policies, then. At the one I applied to, it seems like it's next to impossible for someone originally out-of-state to qualify for in-state tuition. The TA/RA-ships at that university cover in-state tuition only. The department has to make up the difference.

I think it depends on the state/department. They showed us the numbers at the interview session. It costs them ~$30,000/yr for in-state students, and ~$49,000/yr for out-of-state students. Yes, they try to shoot for a balance, but it seemed to be weighted toward in-state students. (I had a number of conversations with present grad students that went like this: "Where are you from?" "Here." "Where'd you go for undergrad?" "Here." )

The department at the public university I interviewed with won't take more students than it can fund, so if you get in, there's no preferential treatment. However, they did say (in an unofficial capacity) that they prefer to take in-state students, not because of the cost (though I'm sure that plays a role), but because they're more likely to go there for whatever reason (family, significant other, etc.)

If it's an academic advisor, then they do have access to your academic records. However, otherwise, at least at my undergrad institution, faculty members don't have access to your grades. Of my LOR writers, two asked for unofficial transcripts (one was a former advisor, but since I'd graduated by the time I applied, he no longer had access to my transcript).

Me too! I am an entertained.

Me too! I am an entertained.

Shmuey, I'm in the same boat you are. If I don't get into the master's program I applied to, my plan is to see if I can get a lab tech (initially, at least) kind of job--or any job, for that matter--and try to take some non-degree courses in my area. Hopefully they'll transfer, even if I don't choose to go to that university. My only concern is being able to afford the tuition, even in-state. (Of course, that goes for the master's program as well...)

I didn't add everything up until now, but I think I spent just under $600 in application fees, transcripts, 2 GRE exams+sending scores. Then add the suit and other stuff for interviews since I didn't have one, then travel expenses...Not as much as some of you paid, but yikes! I did take a trip to visit one school way before the interview, but that's because I was visiting my boyfriend's family in the same state, and it was only two hours away.

Awvish, are you left-handed, by any chance? Nope! I'm quite an introvert! I think it's like michpc said--it's harder to not get work done than when I'm at home. I do work better with a snack/drink at hand and some background noise, though. Quiet, even with background music, is a little...unnerving.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who hates wide-ruled paper! I've never had a problem with the RSVP pens until they start running out of ink--only with the black and blue ones, though. I really like those Zebra mechanical pencils (the metal-bodied ones), and those clicky erasers. And for drawing mechanisms and pathways, I have a set of fine-point markers in ten different colors.

Hello! I know what you mean--my parents are both from the UK and did their PhDs (biochemistry type things) there. They loved it: No coursework, just research. Alas, the financial situation... Welcome to Grad Cafe!

I'm not an engineering student, but I'm dating one. I think he can relate. (Some of this may also apply to my physical chemistry classes...)

A lot of my anger is self-directed--if only I had had a better idea of just how crazy and competitive this process was, I could have/would have/should have done X or Y or Z. I am a little angry with the one program which has said nothing...even after I e-mailed and called. Is it too much to send a two-sentence e-mail? Anger is too strong a word for what was my top school. I'm just a little confused as to their recruitment process. The grad coordinator said explicitly (in an unofficial capacity, mind) that they prefer taking local students because they're more likely to go. ("Local students", of course, generally means "their own students.") (Since it's a state university, I'm sure there are cost reasons too.) There were six spots in that program. Four of those at the interview session were from that town, did their undergrad at that university, and did research in that department. If they prefer to take their own students (and they're more likely to go) why hold interview weekends and spend money on hotels, airfare and so forth for people whom they are going to reject anyway? I'm sure there are reasons for it (gauging fit with the department, for example), but then there's the issue of taking your own students...

I'm still waiting to hear back from one PhD program, even though I'm pretty sure I know what that answer will be. I'm also waiting on the MS program. They probably won't let me know for another week or two.

I hear you on the notebooks. I like the ones with the plastic covers because I'm rather rough on them. It gets expensive. Oddly enough, I work better with people around than without. That means I have to head either to Starbucks or a local place up the street to work. That gets expensive too, since I don't think it's fair of me to take up space without paying a little something for the privilege (and a beverage).

I'm still waiting on the last PhD program. Knowing the way the school does things, I'm pretty sure they just don't notify those they reject. I sent an e-mail last week, and haven't gotten a response.

If you were to ask the head of an adcomm from your top choice program (from which you were rejected) for feedback on your application, how would you do it? What would you say?

The rejection letter from UofA was actually rather nice--sort of a "we're sorry, but we're poor!" letter. My mom's reaction was initially sympathetic, then she tried to make me look at the bright side by saying "Well, Arizona's really far away, you'd need a car, the funding isn't great...if you go to Case, you don't need a car and the funding's better!" (She didn't like the idea of Arizona to begin with, never mind the fact that the research there was a much better fit than Case's. Also never mind the fact that since I haven't heard anything, I'm assuming it's an implicit rejection.) Best reaction: A friend who I haven't seen for a while said "Well, screw them. They're just worried that you'd show up the rest of the students."

Definitely. Part of it was that I couldn't afford more than three, and part of it was that I didn't realize quite how crazy competitive the process is--most of my friends in undergrad were pre-med (uh..) or engineers, where grad school isn't perhaps so much of an issue. My GPA as an undergrad was just above 3.0, so it wasn't a certainty that I'd make the cut anywhere; another reason to save my money. (Doesn't help that I applied to one school that favors its own students and another one that hates taking its own students...) If nothing else, this was a learning experience. Now I know, right?

I applied to 3 PhD programs and one MS. I couldn't afford more, once you add up the GRE score reports, the transcripts and the fees! I wound up being rejected by all three PhD programs, though I was interviewed by two. I think I know where the deficiencies in my application were, so next time I'm going to apply to more (and a bigger variety) of places. I'm probably not going to apply for more than ten, as that gets rather expensive!

Sounds to me that the only thing that's stopping you going to Berkeley is the money thing. Can you call someone there and see what the situation is, regarding the likelihood of being funded were you to accept? You may or may not get a useful answer.

hands off

I'm guessing, but many universities will award a transfer student credit toward graduation (provided you passed with a C or better) for courses taken at the first institution, but it won't count toward the GPA--you start over. At least, that's how my undergrad institution worked...