LLajax

I had a POI ask me the same question, and I thought I was going to pee my pants. I was like (mentally) "are you for real right now?" I, being the face of calm, cool, and collected, immediately gave him an extremely abbreviated version of my list. Then he went through and asked why I was applying to each place, which had me sweating. Easy enough to answer why (after all, I've written why in all my SOPs), but tricky to walk that line so I'm not fawing over another school while talking to this POI at a different school.

I think that they already know you're applying to other schools. Almost no one applies to just one school, and faculty members know that if they had a student applying to grad school, they would encourage their student to apply to several (at least). I've also been told (by faculty members) that they will discuss applicants with their colleagues at other schools, so I definitely think they know your applying to more than just their schools (and expect it).

I'm working on the second financial aid part right now. Is it wrong that I see this technical difficulty as a justification for my procrastination?

Love love love this. We need our positive thinking! I had the most seriously productive day the other day, got like three essays written and all my errands taken care of, and I totally felt like the man. Haven't done anything in the three days since, but I'll take what I can get. We are the man (men? guys? Gender neutral "people"? We are the people just doesn't sound as good.)

Lots of chocolate. Alternately, alcohol. Also, trashy tv makes me feel better (its not hard to seem stable/smart/sane in comparison to the people on trashy tv).

Applied to Duke Art History here! Submitted my app a while ago, but my last recommendation came in just last night.

Way to revive! Yeah I feel the same way- and I hate how formal it is. My first is due on Dec 7th- but I've got it all finished. Of course, the next one is due the day after that, and it isn't finished. (Third recommender- I'm counting on you- why you let me down like this?) The whole thing is starting to scare me (more?). I could watch tv, but I have to wait 8 days for everything to appear on Hulu.

Definitely a good call remenis.

I think it might be troublesome if your POI is on leave and completely disconnected from the department for the semester (as in, off in another country researching). Since they won't be at all involved in the admissions/deciding process, there's no way they can pull for you (assuming it is a department that might work that way). Also, you might want to try and email the POI and see if they're taking on students for next year- some professors who are on leave decide not to take students (so they can focus of researching/writing up their books/etc).

I'd go ahead and name him (only adds two words to the totally if you're tight against the word limit).

Which of the Ivies have religious affiliation? Sorry, I know the question was "does affiliation matter to the quality of the education" (again, I apologize if that wasn't it), but to start off your statement with an incorrect assumption is a little strange. Penn, Princeton, and Cornell are all historically non-affiliated, and none of the eight are Jesuit. (Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth= Calvinist; Columbia= Church of England; Brown= Baptist, historically). I'm just saying. I don't mean to be in any way rude, mostly just wanted to clear it up.

Well here's the prompt: How have your background and life experiences, including cultural, geographical, financial, educational or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan?For example, if you grew up in a community where educational, cultural, or other opportunities were either especially plentiful or especially lacking, you might discuss the impact this had on your development and interests. This should be a discussion of the journey that has led to your decision to seek a graduate degree.Please do not repeat your Academic Statement of Purpose. I mostly just wrote about how I landed in my tiny and otherwise completely-unrelated-to-me-personally field...amusingly. Which might be completely wrong/risky. Timshel- a thought- since we're in different programs, I would propose a trade-and-read if you want. Or not, that's okay too.

Thoughts: do you think it has to be terribly serious? Not like "I'm not taking your application seriously" but like "I am a naturally cheerful and self-amusing person." If I don't have a sad or serious story to tell, can I at least use a happy/upbeat/maybe slightly amusing narrative instead? I am weirdly concerned that happy might be risky (I've got that applications-fueled need to analyze everything now).

Nooooo, I don't believe that. I mean, we were all students, right? As a student, I would definitely disagree.

If you're worried about asking them and being unable to provide them with finalized versions of your docs to help them write your LOR, I wouldn't worry. It is definitely better to give them as much time as possible. If they ask for your supporting docs (CV, writing sample, SoP, etc.) as an aid for writing their letter, let them know that you're still working on it and give them non-finalized versions to use.

I'd say do it- especially since he's in your minor field. I asked professors from three different departments for mine (because they know me best and can speak best to my abilities in those various fields, but also as a student, researcher, etc.) It can only help- the adcomm will get the picture that you are a well-rounded person, who impresses profs not only in your English/lit classes, but also in Classics.

I'm also finding it ridiculously hard to do the Personal Statement! I hate the feeling like I have to make something up, because I can't just write "honestly, I want to study medieval monks because I think they're cool, not because I'm particularly religious, or a man...or medieval?" I don't have a fascinating life history, nor have I overcome any truly terrible hardships (unless I can somehow spin coming from a hick town?) What do you want from me Michigan?? At least it is only 500 words, otherwise I would really die.

I'd say four lines on another page would be a really noticeable "not following the directions." Like Sigaba said, I'd find ways to fiddle with margins. Additionally, If you're really close, You can try making all the spaces one font point smaller (use the find and replace feature on whatever word processor you're using). That should get you pretty close.

This is meant to be kind of a cheerful thread- it is literally getting cold and dark outside and I would like to hear from people what they're doing to combat the early winter blues. (Plus if I really like someone's strategy, I might take it in myself). Personally, I throw myself whole-heartedly into the winter holidays. I've got the tree all up (sorry militant post-Thanksgiving-ers...I need the cheer and glad tidings), and I've got old timey Christmas tunes playing while I draft SoPs and write papers and do class readings (you know, Bing Crosby, Glenn Miller Band, Nat King Cole, etc.). Also, I love winter themed candles (how can you be stressed when everything smells so good?) Stress. Breathe in. Destress. Repeat. Thanks to daylight savings time (seriously, whoever invented that clearly doesn't have a schedule anything like mine. A legislator of leisure, I think. Or a vampire.), it gets dark absurdly early now, and unfortunately, its only going to get earlier for now. Why is it getting dim at 4pm? Why? Do you have any idea what this does to my circadian rhythms? Anyways, to combat early-darkness-depression-and-sleepiness-syndrome, I think I'm going to put some holiday lights up (not the multi-colored kind, since I get too easily distracted), both for festiveness and for some extra light in my room. What is everyone else doing to combat stress/cold/darkness?