Normal

I'm going through the same thing. What's working for me is getting involved in a personal project in my field. It's putting the rest of my program in context and reminding me why I'm doing it in the first place. Plus, that way, even when I'm "procrastinating" and not contributing to my coursework, I'm still contributing to the development of my career.

I'm applying to a deaf program and know some conversational sign language, but I am very nervous about this interview. I was honest on my application about my degree of proficiency, but I'm still sweating the interview (I'm worried that it will be very awkward when I can't communicate effectively for the duration). I'm very good at picking up languages in general and I applied to this program with the goal of becoming fluent through total immersion (which I am also very confident would happen as I have been in those types of situations before and been able to pick up languages much quicker than through traditional study), but for now I am just not yet at that point. I was really hoping someone who has had to interview in another language can give me some feedback or share their experiences. I've been doing some google-research but I'd love to hear more specific stories about what you guys have gone through.

I'm thinking I might get my eyebrow re-pierced (for the 3rd or 4th time) and one of my tats re-done if I get into my top choice with some money. It's an alternative-culture school so this is actually one where I think I would fit in better with the faculty if I DID have those things.

Just have to vent...I've been in pretty close communication with my first choice program and I've noticed they're reviewing my file remarkably quickly. I was feeling confident for a while, but this one program, however, has two undergraduate course requirements that I did not complete, and I thought I would be clever and register for a graduate course that I thought would fulfill one of those reqs at a nearby university. Just got an email from the program head saying they've noticed that I'm missing those two classes and the one course that I'm taking (Advanced Human Growth & Development) does not fulfill the requirement of either Child Development or Adolescent Development. So basically, I fucked up, because: A] I did not verify that this would satisfy either of those requirements (although in my defense, I also signed up for this class because at the very least, it would knock out one basic requirement at the other school I applied to), B] I misinterpreted the requirements as those classes being required for entrance into the program, not for admission (thinking I could do the other class during a summer session), and C] It is too late to drop the class and receive a refund of any of the $2k I spent. I did not think I would be able to afford $4,000 taking undergrad courses after graduation for a school that I might not get into (I make $10,000 a year and have $50,000 in student loans out already), and yet here I am looking at spending possibly around $6,000 to do the same thing. There's definitely no way I am being admitted into this program (my dream school) now, and it is 1000% my fault.

I've applied to two programs and have decided to enroll as a non-degree student (at a pretty good school) in order to take one graduate class that's an introductory course for both programs. Do grad programs see this as applicants "getting ahead of themselves", or can anyone vouch for this being a boon for the application?

These are my sentiments exactly.

Thanks to you guys for your responses. It's really nice hearing from people who have been/are going through the process, plus it's helpful knowing that there are so many others simultaneously freaking out.

I've only applied to two schools, and in neither of them did I address why I was a B/C student as a freshman/sophomore (later turned into a 3 time Dean's List student). There was a lot of other stuff I wanted to say (mainly - embarrassingly - gushing about why I was so into the program), and it didn't really seem important to me to make excuses for something that is a common story for many college students (finding focus later on in the collegiate career rather than right off the bat). Now that I've submitted my applications, I'm worried that A] I didn't apply to enough schools, and B] I've left out some very critical information. I know everyone's going through the same process of freaking out right about now but I thought I'd put in my angsty 2p.

Gallaudet and University of South Carolina, for School Counseling.

Obviously editorialized, but then this came out: http://www.avclub.com/articles/nyu-professor-fired-for-failing-to-appreciate-jame,66821/

I'm watching this thread with interest. I applied and was accepted to a couple Media Studies program but am more interested in pursuing a career in education, and I've just spent the last few weeks working up the courage to bother my references to adapt their original letter for my new field. I've been working in both fields simultaneously for a year now and have done well in both, but I am afraid that the switching may indicate to my reference that I was not sincere in my original request, and may undermine the second. I've been curious as to how true this is as well.

If a school did a search for me they would find that I have applied to one other school, and to be honest I am equally enthusiastic about both for very different reasons. I know when you are applying to schools you are meant to try to convince them why theirs is the school for you, and I don't want to be seen as being insincere when I make that case to them.

My understanding is that a Master's is generally a pre-requisite to an Ed.S. degree, but my school has told me explicitly (it's even highlighted in their handbook) that this is not the case with them, and that no graduate courses are required prior to enrolling. So I'm just trying to figure out which would be the stronger degree, or if the Ed.S. degree is strong enough to stand on its own.

I'm looking at entering the school counseling field and my school of choice offers an Ed.S. degree rather than a Master's. I'm trying to figure out if one is stronger or more advantageous than the other. Ideally, I would prefer to hold a Master's, and am considering earning an MA in a related subject and pursuing counselor certification after (still have yet to determine how feasible this is or how cost and time effective it would be). Any insight?

I'm applying to two (maybe three) schools, and have already been admitted to one for next year (UK school). When initially writing my references, I explained about my career plans and why I would be pursuing the program I was. I'm about to start my application for the other school, and have come to realize that I'd like to apply for an additional program at that school (on top of the one I was initially planning on). One program was something I've been pursuing in order to advance my career, but the other program is just an academic interest of mine that I think is just important to be educated about in general (plus it's related to my undergraduate degree, whereas the other one is not). I don't want to seem wishy-washy or jerk my references around, especially after they have already enabled me admission to one school (which I am very excited about, but that I need to have a back-up for, logistics-wise), and I was wondering if it would just be a huge dick-move to say, "Oh, by the way, I think I'd also like to apply for X as well...". On a related note, I was also wondering if it was appropriate to send my thank you cards after all admissions processes have been completed or after the first round? I am extremely appreciative of what they did for me, and I don't want to be tacky in how I express that gratitude.

Forgot I'd already posted in here, but I ended up applying to school in the UK and just got into the University of Sussex, although I had to defer due to the economy going down the crapper (thanks, Tea Party!) and so the person funding it will not be able to swing it this year.

I'm in the exact same position! I just got into a grad programme in the UK that I applied very late to but just heard today that I've been admitted. I also just started a new job and a certificate programme (I didn't want to continue my life under the assumption that I would get in and not have anything else going on if I was denied, especially as the entry requirements were for a better undergraduate performance than I had my first couple years of undergraduate). I'm debating accepting this year, or deferring and applying to a couple US schools as well (although none of them have the programmes that this school has - it's exactly what I'm looking for). I'll be keeping an eye on this thread to see what people recommend!

Is anyone in this program? What do you think of it and where else did you apply? What are you hoping to do ultimately/what are you interested in, and what do you find the program concentrates on most?

D'oh! I meant "to the continent", not "overseas"....been over here so long it's just force of habit!

Not attending there but I did live just outside Cambridge for 6 years and wanted to say that you'll love it (if you haven't been already)! Cambridge has a wonderful, comforting feeling about it, plus you're only 3 hours drive from Dover, so it's really easy to get overseas.

All right, a little background: I have two jobs, one as a film and TV freelancer (entry level stuff but I've had some pretty high profile clients) and then another as a substitute teacher. I love both fields equally in very different ways...on one hand, I feel like I've discovered my dream career in media - I love it, and I seem to have a natural flair for it - but on the other hand, I've been working with kids since I was one myself, from babysitter to camp counselor to nanny to substitute teacher. Now, I'm being offered a job in South Korea for a year, and I'm very strongly leaning toward it. I can definitely see myself falling into teaching for a second career, but my graduate plans and primary goal is to work with digital media. Since I'm applying to graduate school in media studies, I'm wondering if my teaching over there for a year might help my app at all? I realize it's in a totally different field and will be essentially be involving my field not at all, but is there any way this might help? I have a very sharp upward trend in my undergraduate GPA after a rough first year and a half of college, so I'm not too worried about my GPA, but I am worried that I won't be as competitive since I don't anticipate having strong academic references, since I was a student in mostly classes of 250+ my first two years, and then an online student my last half of college. So really, at this point, I'm just keeping an eye out for anything to makes me a stronger candidate, and I was hoping to get some opinions from anyone who might know whether or not an "adventure" like this might be a boost, even if it is unrelated to my field.

I agree with your other points, but what makes you think his credit overload is exaggerated? The number of 62 credits has been reported from several reasonably credible sources.

Stands to reason. You can do everything or you can do a few things well, but I've never come across anyone who can do everything well. At least trying is admirable, but certainly not when you're taking opportunities away from others

I can't confirm whether it's actually his, but there's a piece of writing going around that he apparently did that was exceptionally poorly written. He seems to be intelligent enough when he speaks, but I don't know how he can consistently be achieving high marks (earned, not inflated) with all that he has on his plate. I personally do not believe it is possible. Apparently he was supposed to start in 2011 but he deferred enrollment for a year. So he's actually screwing someone next year, not this year.

I used to really admire James Franco, but now I think he's being incredibly selfish. His enrollment in all these programs makes a mockery of everyone else and it makes a mockery of the educational system. What it means is that we have a very famous, very charming man who is taking advantage of that to satisfy what I am sure is genuine intellectual curiosity and desire for personal betterment. However, what that also means is that he is taking away spots in programs one of us "normals" might have taken. And there's a lot more riding on getting into a graduate program for the average applicant than there is for James Franco. Not only that, he is trivializing the programs and the graduate education in general by overloading himself on classes and programs. There is no way any human being can complete a semester in excess of 43 hours - unless there is something I'm missing here and James Franco is truly some kind of savant, it just isn't possible. But instead, what most of us see is this guy who is able to achieve, in unrealistic quantities, what we are struggling with at the normal level. For him to take up so much space in all these programs and classes while making it seem so effortless is incredibly insulting if he is not making decent grades (that he earned) across the board. I understand the desire to want to continue one's education - obviously, all of us here do - but at some point he needs to take the initiative to educate himself, rather than pursuing so many degrees in so many programs. Again, I do think he seems like a nice guy, and he is certainly incredibly talented, but at the end of the day, he's screwing us. I realize he brings a lot of funding into the department, but the fact still remains that he is taking away spots from people who deserve them and he is diminishing the graduate school struggle for the people who have to be admitted and graduate on our merit alone, rather than fame. He's always going to get in to wherever he applies, but if he is being childish if he continues applying and matriculating. Somewhere past your thirtieth graduate degree, the diplomas just stop carrying the same meaning.