peppermint.beatnik

I would gladly go to any of the four schools, to which I applied. I have different reasons for liking each one. One has been THE school I've wanted to go to since undergrad. My dream advisor is there. It's in fantastic city. My family vacationed there, when I child, so I have fond memories. The second, I LOVE the advisor, and the school community is the best of the four schools (my impression) It's close a major, desirable city, too. The third, is a major school in my field; love the work of the advisor; went to school with people already attending. The fourth school is probably the best fit. Am really interested in the program focus and work of advisor. So, I have things going for all. If I could randomly choose a school, based on the school and not whether they actually have my field of study, I'd choose the Sorbonne, Princeton, or Berkeley.

This is totally off-topic, but ever since you put up the cat avatar, I imagine this cat typing responses, imbued with esoteric knowledge, in an MIT lab. You know, like the magic cat Salem on a show I watched when I was younger, "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." The username "fuzzylogician" adds to image.

Thanks sweetnlow. I was wondering the same thing. However, I didn't remember seeing any February acceptances, from Drew, on the results page--I panicked a little! Didn't expect to hear anything from my schools until March.

Anyone want to own up to the Drew acceptance on the "results page?" It's for Masters, but it's a month early. I know they moved up their app deadline by a month. I applied for the PhD. Would appreciate any information. Want to know if I can relax until March. edit: I just found another Drew MA under "biblical studies." I guess they moved everything up a month. Any additional info appreciated.

who do you want to work with at u of t?

Sounds like the deal has a lot of qualifiers, too.

don't compromise if you don't want to. Re-apply next year.

yup, I do religion and social sciences using ethnographic methods. I am only applying to religious studies (no anthro; no interdisciplinary).

In that sense, yes, you're right. People liked to go out and eat a lot. Drinking, on top of that, leads to more poor food choices.

I have the opposite happen during stressful situations--I loose weight. The anxiety upsets my stomach so much I have trouble eating. And, re: above, during my MA exercise was a welcome relief from the computer, so I didn't have too much trouble fitting it in. Judging from my colleagues, during my MA, alcohol would be the major obstacle to ones waistline. Seem grad school and alcohol go together; they were big drinkers!

UT Austin is a state school, right? It's more difficult for them to come up with the money to fund internationals.

Congrats on your acceptance!! You must be SO happy Are you going back to Turkey? I visited there last April when I was living in Hungary. I couldn't get enough of these pastries called "borek" (I think)

I know this feeling, well, because it's the way I felt last year. I applied to three Ph.D. programs in the U.S. As an international, it was the worst time to apply. All of my applications were due at the beginning of December, so by the time I knew the gravitas of the recession, it was too late. I didn't apply to any programs, in my own country, which was epically stupid. I wouldn't say I was confident, because I'm never one for confidence, but not getting in was a shock. I wrote to all of the programs, to which I applied, in April. Two of the three didn't take any internationals, in 2009, the third was an Ivy school, so didn't loose any sleep over that. December and January I pretty much forgot applications. In February I was filled with dread. March was a nightmare (I even got a rejection on my birthday). I was living overseas, at the time, and even turned down an invitation to go to St. Petersburg for the weekend. Now, of course, I'm like "what was I thinking," but I was a total self-absorbed mess. I recovered in mid-April after a minor identity crisis. Now, I'm glad I went through all that. I still get nervous, but I have a better perspective. Someone on gradcafe, last year, said that they feel the only people that understand what they're going through (in terms of application angst) are on gradcafe. It's true, my family and friends have no idea how difficult and demanding this process is. In that sense, this year is not any easier. I don't think anyone (and I mean anyone) can be too confident they are getting in. I've learned there are a lot of factors that have nothing to do with your strength as an applicant. Someone, who got in last year, said "I feel like I've one the lottery." I can totally relate. I'm still waiting, patiently, for my winning ticket.

I've done ldr, successfully, on and off for four years. A PhD will make it another 4-5.

What about Boston? You could day trip to P-town?

I spent 2.5 months. Took a course.

I agree with above. There are too many factors, in this process, that I don't put much stock in anything until I receive an acceptance. I'm sure others will disagree, but it's usually based on their experience. This is an exaggeration, but "I contacted a POI, got a great response, got in, so that means a great response=acceptance."

Good luck at your interview

I'm in completely different field, too, katalytik, but here's my 0.02. I'm continually surprised by how focused applicants are on "brand name." I recall reading one post, in a sub-field on the forum. The person said they were only applying to top 10 schools because they "wanted a job" upon graduation. I get what they are saying, but they seem to put an enormous emphasis on the "brand," even if it's at the expense of the type of supervision they may receive. I think the supervisor is even more important that the school. My perspective is also skewed due to the fact that I am Canadian. We do not have the same number of post-secondary institutions, and it is standardized to a greater extent. There are not as many tiers of universities, quality-wise, in Canada. I also worry far less about getting a job, than people on this forum. I don't if that's the Canadian in me. I'm not just optimistic, either. Everyone who finished at my MA institution, while I was there, got a job right away (Canadian, UK & US placements).

I just found this looking up another city! Ottawa is a very politically correct bilingual. If you want to work in the public service, you must be bilingual. I work for the service. I'm bilingual, not fluent. I can talk to anyone, but my writing is adequate, at best. All of the signs, in this part of Ontario, are bilingual. Drive across the river to Quebec, all the signs are French, no English, thanks to language laws. Language very sensitive issue, here. Ottawa probably 50/50. West Ottawa, more English. East Ottawa, more French. Montreal is mixed English-French, but, of course, French trumps English. If you go towards east Quebec and Quebec City, it's mostly francophone. That area is primarily separatist, too. Lots of people who don't speak any English. If you go to Quebec City (Highly recommend) you'll find them quite snotty and kind of Parisian about their French. The city is gorgeous, very European, so worth putting up with them! Public transit is very good in Montreal. I haven't been to that part of Germany, but I can say that most European cities I've been to the transit system is superior to anywhere in North America. You can get a pass in Montreal, or pay per ride. Montreal is also right on the border, as you know, so if you have or rent a car you can get to Vermont, New Hampshire, Mass, and NY in no time at all.

My grandmother (who used to take me to visit the convent near her) always says "be a nun, get none." Sorry, everytime I see a reference nuns I can't resist--she's a 98 year-old women who insists men are still after her. I lived in Budapest for a year, worked and travelled around--it was great!

Good!

there was a thread on this last year. it's worth looking for. Here's ONE of them

j.d.--did you resolve your LOR issue?

I would recommend the above. Probably the best way to get a good letter at this point. I don't think what the profs you contacted said was mean, they just could have phrased it better. If they can't write convincingly about you as a student, it's best they didn't offer to write a letter on your behalf--would be lukewarm, at best.