bgreenster

Actually, the spring can be the best time to buy these things... the selection isn't as great, but the sales are awesome! I don't go for super trendy clothes, so I love buying things at the end of the season for cheap I know that boots are on sale right now, at least here in Tennessee.

I got into my safety, University of Tennessee (I'm a Tennessee resident) which is helping sanity levels a LOT. I have my Georgetown interview tomorrow, and should be hearing back from Maryland really soon, so this waiting game is hopefully reaching an end

I HATE those emails. I don't even want to know things about my application beyond the decision. The emails freak me out every time. Thanks guys for the congrats - it's my safety, but it helps quiet the completely insane bgreenster inside of me saying that I'm never going to go anywhere and will work in a bar the rest of my life.

I finally heard from somewhere today... happy to know I'm going to school next year at least I think now I can handle waiting the next two weeks...

I received an email from UMD after applying for the Robertson Fellowship. Part of it said: "You should expect to receive a decision from the School of Public Policy by early March. You may also receive word from the Graduate School on a decision regarding your admittance and financial aid - this will likely not include the decision regarding the Robertson Fellowship. You can expect a separate notification, which will come directly from our office." So it looks like two more weeks... not too long now!

Umm.. a LOT of it depends on funding, since I mostly applied to places I would love to attend... BUT my list I believe is: 1. UVA 2. Duke 3. LBJ 4. Georgetown 5. Maryland 6. American 7. Tennessee Most schools are pretty interchangeable for me. I hope I get to have a decision ahead of me That is a difficulty I am more than ok with.

Yikes, thanks for letting us know I was thinking we should hear from them at some point soon... I vaguely remember the site saying something like decisions being made in 6 weeks (which it has been...) I applied for the Robertson Fellowship this past week, so I guess that may be part of the decision making process? Now that it's getting into mid-February, our decision time is finally getting near (!!)

I got an email this afternoon from the program, asking for a Skype interview. The message was great because it was really personal, referencing my past work and educational goals This is the first I have heard from ANY school, so it's definitely helping me feel a little more hopeful. I'm crazy excited, although now about to start my obsessive researching of what I need to know before such an interview (I had no idea any of the places I applied to would have this stage!).... anyone else get an interview invite and is busy preparing?

I definitely understand this sentiment, because who doesn't want to be the first choice? But just like a good relationship can come out of something with a guy/girl you weren't attracted to at first, you can still have a great experience at a school that wait-listed you. I went to my undergrad university after getting in off the waitlist, and while it hurt not to be in the first round of choices, I was just as happy to get accepted AND I received the same education as those who got in before me. Bruised ego aside, what matters is where you feel is the best fit and which school can help you pursue your career the best.

Congrats, you two! I assume both for the MPA?

I like to think they actually do reaad through the applications. I doubt my application would make it through some of the filters because I only had a 3.2 GPA from undergrad, but I know that a couple of the schools have read my application. American definitely did because they saw that they had accidentally sent my app to the wrong program based on my SOP, and I talked to someone at Texas during a school visit who knew who I was/my application based on me introducing myself with just my first name. I agree that they probably skim quite a few of them, but I think it's a little excessive to think that only a small percentage are even read. I know I have another month of silence ahead of me...

I just remember how awkward it was when I came home from school to see I was wait-listed at my top choice (which i then got into and attended ). What's so awkward about that, you may ask? Well, my mom had already opened it to see if she should go surprise me with a celebratory cake and balloons, and wasn't home when I got back from school ... so when she got home .... yeesh. I can only imagine what she was thinking/feeling on the drive home, knowing I was there, devastated.

As long as it's a rom-com, then I think this is a given Let's not watch an indie film about this whole ordeal.

I don't think anyone really knows of my addiction/craziness. My fiancee half notices, but he doesn't really "get" this whole thing, so I don't talk to him much about it except for a weekly freak-out. Is it worse to be a closet crazy?

... and of COURSE there has to be an extra day in February I'm going through moments of "it's okay, March will be here before you know it and THEN you'll know" and then straight to "Whhhhyyyyyyy?!?!? I will never know what's going to happen to me!!!!" It reminds me of my Peace Corps time, where I felt like I would never be finished, but now I look back and can't believe two years went by. I think maybe I need to stop my gradcafe morning ritual... but we all know that's not going to happen. It's also not helping my sanity that three of my schools don't have anything from past results on the survey, so my brain won't let me fully accept I won't hear from anywhere until March... I can't decide if I like it better now that we have online notifications, etc. I'm glad I don't have to wait for the post every day like a crazy person - senior year of high school, coming home like a little ball of stress every afternoon in April was AWFUL - but now I'm checking things online when I know there is nothing posted. I guess it at least makes me feel more "in the know" than the complete silence from December to April that was undergrad applications.

I recommend Sihanoukville in Cambodia (although you're prob already familiar) - definitely lost a week hanging out down there. Love it

UMD is making me even crazier! They're still sending me mail from the bursar on a regular basis, both email and regular mail. If I get one more fakeout envelope or message that just says "You owe $0" I am going to collapse from the stress. They're diabolical I tell you.

I might do the same - had to take mine out for teaching, and now I'm working at a bar that won't allow it (I know, right?) Although I'm not sure my SO will be behind that; he's never seen me with one

What exactly are you trying to go for grad school in? Right off the bat, I'd say it's hard to get accepted with a low GPA. The best way to deal with that is to take classes and do well in them, to show you can get better grades. I'm not sure where you're from, but I know that grading is harsher in other countries (when I studied in Spain, the professors believed that a C was a "good" grade - in the US, it means you don't get into grad school...) Maybe take some online courses through an American program?

Definitely. That's how it took unti lnow for me to apply. The whole process seemed so daunting, that it was just easier not to apply and go through this. I finally did now because it's necessary for my career. I was basically embarrassed to even ask for LORs, thinking I wasn't good enough for all this anyhow

"In a month from now, I'll know my fate..." "It won't be the end of the world when I don't get in anywhere." (slash I wonder if I can pretend I never applied when people ask about all those rejections?)

I think it depends on the person. At the moment, I would say that if I don't get in this round, I'm not re-applying. I simply can't go through this again, don't want to deal with getting LORs again, and need to just move on if this doesn't work out. Props to those of y'all that can put yourself through re-applying, but I can't bear the thought.

I don't know why, when I know my decisions won't be until March, I hold out hope I *might* hear back from someone now anyhow. Yesterday, I received an email from American because my application apparently got sent to the wrong department, and they noticed it while reading my SOP. After I confirmed which program I was applying for, it got sent to them... and now my brain is racing. All I can think is that If they're reading through SOPs right now, maybe I'll hear soon... especially since someone got into the MPA program last week. AND I get all weird nervous knowing that someone might actually be reading what I wrote at this very moment and deciding about me in their mind. Then, I have my application with Tennessee, which I just now finally got confirmation that my application is complete (after I emailed the department head). As of this morning, the overall grad admissions hasn't even released my file to the department for consideration yet.... I want to hibernate until March!

"Why are all my friends getting their acceptances already and I'm hearing nothing?!" (to said friend) : "I am soooo happy for you; you totally deserve it" while thinking... b*tch. "If I don't get in anywhere, I guess I can just stay at the restaurant and try to be a manager..." "WHY ARE ALL MY RECOMMENDATIONS LATE?!?" "Whatever, I don't think I still want to go there anyhow." (before even getting rejected, mind you... just a mental rejection ) ... all things said by me in the past week...

I just got an email because apparently my application didn't go to the MEPGA, and instead just went to the International Peace and Conflict Resolution department. Did you have a similar issue? I remember not being able to choose MEPGA, and since it's through the IPCR department, thinking that was the correct choice. Luckily, it doesn't seem to be a big deal at all, and it means they're actually reading my application right now! (they only noticed that it was in the wrong department because of my SOP)