Timshel

Oh yeah. I skimmed the first one and then decided that I would only briefly look at them but not read them. You'll drive yourself crazy if you keep looking over them.

Oh my god, you printed out your applications? No way could I do that. I just have to release them and hope for the best or I will drive myself insane!

Yeah, so far all of mine have been optional, so I just haven't answered.

Okay, so although I am no where near being done, I just submitted my UC Riverside application, so that makes 3/10 done. Hey, it's something!

This won't happen until the spring, but my plan is to have it in the mail within the next day, so a week should be plenty to just go up a few states. I hope....

So far, it seems like all of the applications ask you to list the other schools you are applying to, but it doesn't seem to be required for any of the apps. So far, I haven't put any down, but I'm wondering, are you guys?

Wow. What changed between last year and this year? That seems odd. So does that mean she didn't write you that strong of a letter last year? Why would she do that?

Okay, question. So, I have mail in materials to both UMass and Buffalo, both with due dates of December 15th. How long do you think it would take for the materials to get there? I am trying desperately to get my stuff done to mail them off, but I am swamped with grading, so I am wondering what would be the last day I could send it before it won't get there in time. I mean, I plan to hopefully have it in the next day, and I'm assuming it shouldn't take longer than a week to get there (I am also on the east coast, but not in either of those states), so that would give me until like Thursday to mail it, but I am just freaking out a little. I mean, I know I could send it priority if I had to, but that's just even MORE money. Thoughts?

I wouldn't worry too much about it. One of my LOR hadn't uploaded mine 3 days before the December 1st deadline, so I just sent her an email checking in and reminding her of the deadline, and she uploaded it the next day. I would just check in with your LOR first.

Still trying to finish the Wind-up Bird Chronicle

Quite a few of my friends have read The Marriage Plot and loved it. I haven't been able to read anything in a while, but once I am done with these apps, I think that is the first one on my list.

Thanks. I mean, at this point, it's not like I could ask him anyway. I'm just going to go with what I got and hope they notice/care.

Okay, so I am currently filling out the application for UC Riverside, and the page where you put in the info for the LORs says this: If you have been enrolled in a previous graduate program, it is required that one letter be from your research or program advisor in that graduate program. My Masters thesis advisor is not one of my letters of recommendation because he is on phased retirement and my area of interest has changed since then and I decided to go with someone else that I had grad classes with and who is closer to my area. My other two LORs were on my committee, they just weren't my chair. Do you guys think this is okay? At this point, I couldn't ask my thesis chair anyway because it's too late. Plus, I made my decision for a good reason and I stand by it. Now, I also know that the same application is used for all students, and people in the sciences directly work under someone, so I could see why that person would be necessary because they did research together, so that might be more important for them. But for me, to be honest, I switched my focus mid-thesis, so my thesis chair became less relevant and I only met with him about my thesis like 3 times and I spent more time talking to the other two on my committee, which is why they are writing my letters. What do you guys think? Do you think this will hinder me in any way? I could contact the department, but I really don't want to draw attention to it in case they don't even notice it to begin with because two of my LORs will be talking about my thesis in their letters anyway. I mean, what if my chair WAS actually retired. I wouldn't be able to get him to write it then, either. I'm just so frustrated by these minute things that seem to pop up out of nowhere. Ugh. As if I'm not stressed out enough.

I do have a sheet with all my log in stuff and what not once I start the applications, but to be completely honest, I am extremely busy so I just haven't had the time to open all of them. I teach at a university full time and I work at the writing center on campus part time, so between those two and my never-ending grading, I am just not as ahead as I should be.

Thanks! You guys are so much more on the ball than I am.

So, how did you find out that you had to mail in the writing sample? Does it say that somewhere? Did you contact the department?

Yikes. I haven't started mine yet. I was hoping to take a few days off before getting on to the rest of them. I am so mad that I have to mail things in. It's just another thing I have to worry about and pay for.

Ugh. Why would they need it in hard copy. I am seriously so irritated by this.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Please tell me this isn't true. We have to mail them materials? Seriously? That means I have to mail the stuff, like, now?!

I have officially applied to Minnesota and Emory! I don't know if I should be elated or terrified!

Just submitted my Minnesota application! Now it's on to hurry and get Emory's in by the end of the day!

I will be submitting mine shortly. It seems as though we are applying to a few of the same schools.