hitomimay

For future reference, according to the Harvard's Graduate School of Education Admissions anyway, I wouldn't point out your weaknesses in the SOP. Your lack of practical experience or whatever other shortcomings are evident in your application, recommendations, transcripts, CVs... the paperwork says it all. When you point it out in your SOP, you're kind of digging a deeper hole for yourself. The SOP is your one and only chance to SHINE, not make excuses. There's an "Additional Information" section for that if you really want to write a short passage on why you lack experience. I asked them about that at a recruitment event, and they said don't do it. All the same, I wish you the greatest luck this year. I hope you get into a wonderful program.

I started getting depressed with a constant empty inbox (usually I feel like I never have enough time to check and respond to all my emails, but lately, it's been so strangely... empty), so I've taken upon myself to suscribe to all GradCafe Education forum updates. Now I know exactly when someone posts on this feed and it goes straight to my e-mail. I've had 20+ emails today alone. Hooray? Hah... hah... hah... this is so depressing. I'm just waiting for February to roll around so decisions can start coming in lol.

See, now THAT'S brilliant. Time to unload and sell and donate all my unused crap cuz I'm going to move to a different city for a doctoral program... (must... keep... thinking... positive... thoughts. ><'')

Most of the schools I applied to e-mailed me to inform me that my application was complete and sent in for review. Worst case, call the office?

Haha, then I guess we all should give ourselves a big pat on the back, yes? Some applause, cheering, flowers... but oh lord, no encores please.

LOL. See, I always thought it was the applications that were going to be hell. But heck, once you wrote your SOP, took your GREs, everything was pretty much coasting from there. I never thought doing NOTHING would be the hardest part of all. Who knew? Lol

Nice! Palindromes.

Hahahaha. I vote the "NANANANA BATMAN WHEEEEEE" one. I may have to post something similar to that one. "Spider PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG"

I think I'm going to treat myself to that pricey spa and massage I've been eyeing for a while. I had better survive this waiting period and stress, I want that massage! Lol. In the meantime, I'm going to post a "vacation responder" on my e-mail for a few short days as I think my poor Gmail refresher button is just about to file an assault charge against me soon. "I'm on vacation: from myself and the world. Thank you and have a nice day" Just a month away...

Haha, we are ALL in this together. Everyone's worst is out and about now! Lol. Not to fret, it's just time (even though it IS your worst enemy at this point). I find a lot of books and movies help to not only make time pass by just a wee bit quicker, but I can relate to someone else's problems. At this point, I'd rather relate to how X is cheating on Y, or how X is going to destroy the world if Y doesn't somehow save us in some crazy awesome blow-up-crap way. Sooooo much more bearable than... did I get in? when will I know?

Chips Ahoy

A favorite fact I taught my high school science students this year: Global Warming is partially contributed to the ever-growing livestock population. The animal's flatulence contains methane, a Greenhouse Gas, that increases the Greenhouse Effect. Extra nice tidbit: methane is a flammable gas, suggesting that you can light your farts on fire. Can't say my students didn't try... against my better wishes, of course ><''

Hi, I applied to their EdD program. I also applied to Stanford's PhD in Education and USC's PhD in Urban Ed Policy. So it looks like we have a few schools in common. Good luck and keep us abreast if you hear anything and I will do the same. Fingers crossed for everybody.

Haha, my high schoolers have the same logic. But I love how it gives us something to talk about besides just class content: promotes literacy AND relationship building. Well whaddya know <3. It's like a race to finish the book first (they don't know it, but I've read it just about 3x now, but they're like, haha! I'm beating you!!! ) Not a problem, I couldn't survive this waiting period alone. While GradCafe makes me go insane since I never forget about this crazy waiting period and what it means for my future (dun dun dun), you guys on GradCafe are the basis for keeping me sane. Oh the irony. Haha, oh please, try knowing my West Coast schools don't make decisions at midnight, checking my status anyway... on East Coast time. I've lost so much sleep over this, I'm up around 3AM half the time checking. ><'' lol

Good luck tomorrow with Dianne. She's so sweet, she took time out of her day to call me on Christmas Eve. Nothing to be nervous about, a very nice woman. Just curious, which professor did you end up talking to? Mine was Dr. Brewer.

Netflix...brilliant. I've been pouring through all the Hulu shows... Lol. Scary how many series I've watched from pilot to officially caught up on. too much free time when I want it the least lol.

Congrats you two! I'm so excited for you!

Yay! Just one question, what do you mean by 2nd interview with USC? O.o?! Oh wait, never mind, i see your signature now, sorry... I swear, I'm reading waaaay too much into this and turning neurotic lol. Next week is the start of February!!! Hopefully we all hear some more solid and concrete good news soon lol.

LOL. Pardon me, I laugh not at your dream or your underlying fears (although I'm guessing it's no longer underlying for any of us lol), but at how we probably all share in this terrifying nail-biting experience. You're not alone!!! Sometimes, I want to sleep the month away so I can just wake up and check the results online, but it haunts me even in my sleep! Bah...

I don't know whether to be relieved or extra nervous about that cohort basis bit of information! I wish I knew how many they were actually considering as of this point. I know results are to come out any time within the next two weeks and I'm just about ready to hurl lol. Checking this forum has turned into an obsessive compulsion lol.

Congrats on the UCI admission! That's awesome! And congrats to the USC interview too! I have a few questions, I hope you don't mind me asking: Do you think there's a difference in Skype/in-person meetings? Or do you think it's mostly due to logistics (you might be closer to California, while I'm in the MidWest?) Did Dianne contact you earlier on about being a "good fit" too? (I noticed one other person had a similar email that I received on the Results Search page) And which professor contacted you? Gosh, I'm so nervous! But it's good to know someone else who's in the same boat regarding USC. Last year, results were mailed out and received around 1/27-1/28, but I'm guessing since you've yet to meet your professor, I'm guessing Dianne meant it when she said "early Feb" maaaan As for what to wear: ask Dianne, she's so sweet and nice, I'm sure she'll be more than happy to answer your questions. Or best bet, semi-professional?

From what I know, a vast majority of programs look at your most recent work. So let's say you've been out of school for a number of years, your GPA may not weigh as heavily as the things you've accomplished in more recent years. We're supposed to learn and grow from our experiences, so your grades, while awesome, may not hold as much value after a while.

You may also want to take note that your SOP takes a huge precedence as well. ESPECIALLY for you considering you are not from an Ed background (although that won't hurt you technically), you are in a position to explain even further why Education is important to you, why you're passionate about what you are studying, and how this school and program would help you achieve your passions. Your co-applicants who are already in Education have at least half a foot in the door because they've been in the field for a little longer than you have. So the burning question everyone reviewing your apps would want to know is: "why the change?" I come from a Biology background, so my SOP was key in my application. The professors who contacted me stated that it was my SOP that convinced them to contact me in the first place. Hope that helps some. Good luck on your other applications.

Congrats!!! I've PMed you, hopefully you can pull something from it. But I'm sure you're going to rock this! @litjust: You just keep impressing everyone! Keep it up! You're awesome and congrats! I'm very excited for you! Update on USC and Stanford: So USC says that we'll hear by early February, but they've been known to mail out the letters a few days before that. (I've been on pins and needles everytime I check my mail ><'') Stanford sent out a general email stating that faculty are currently reviewing applications (although I'm sure we've figured that with wildviolet's contact lol) The waiting is killing me lol. Does anyone else feel just how time is ever so painfully ticking away second by really-slow second? ><''

That's awesome! Congrats! Definitely keep us posted on that! Fingers crossed for you!