LLajax

No reason not to start them, just saying. You don't have to finish them in one sitting.

Many applications send an email to LORs when you register them, so that your LORs can upload their letters before you've submitted. This is the case with all 9 of the school I'm applying to. Some applications don't send the email until after you've submitted. You should be able to tell which of your applications are which looking at the application instructions or the section dedicated to registering LORs.

I haven't eaten on-campus in years, but I don't remember it being good- luckily there are tons of options here. I LOVE Wawa- for those not lucky enough to have Wawas in their parts of the country, its kind of a convenience store but jazzed up. Yummy, relatively cheap food 24/7. LOVE Wawa, don't know what I would do without it.

A suggestion I've gotten from a friendly graduate program coordinator: Wait a week after you send/submit everything, then call then and politely ask if everything is complete.

I think that you should probably consider ways to relax- panicking like you're doing does not sound healthy. Find something that relaxes you- anything (I go with scented candles and copious amounts of hot chocolate). YOU CAN DO IT. Admissions doesn't know you're panicking if you don't tell them. Find strategies to help you get through the stressful times, like a schedule or checklist (try to put only the 2-3 biggest things you need to get done that day on the checklist to avoid adding anxiety). Set aside 45minutes to an hour of each day just for relaxing thing- during this time you may only do things that calm you down (music, candles, video games, tv, etc.) Viciously suppress all worries during that allotted time.

Thanks. Clearly I have issues with instructions.

Wait? Are we really in that final stretch? I'm not ready for the final stretch! I think I'd like to be in denial and pretend I'm still "ahead of the game" for a bit longer, but I guess you're right. Dang. I've done 2/9 apps, and for 6 of the remaining 7 I only have to write new SoPs (I've written two now, they should only get easier, right?) For one of them, I still have to re-write one of my writing samples for a particular school. Mostly I just have to wait to get paid (in order to send of the last of my GRE scores, in order to pay those ridiculous application fees). That's what's most frustrating- I can't submit another app until I get paid even if I write all their SoPs, because I already don't have enough money for groceries this week/month.

Haha except that now the online apps just arrange everyone alphabetically anyways!

When are your first deadlines? You should have at least a few more weeks- I wouldn't start to get worried/anxious yet. Additionally, I don't think any place penalizes you for turning an app in on the deadline (I used to work in an office where I processed apps- believe me, a LOT come in on deadline day). Some schools will even give you a grace period of a few days after the deadline if you email them about it. Don't worry! It will all be okay!!

I think perhaps this is the wrong place to ask for a sample SOP (IMO, you shouldn't be asking anywhere for an SOP)- I'm sure the people here would be more than willing to help discuss what should go into a SOP, content-wise (dig around in the forum specific to your field), and maybe even help you revise it (again, see your forum for potential SOP swaps), but the writing of the statement itself really ought to be both personal and original (and not, therefore, designed off a sample).

My second recommender just submitted all his! Just the last one left now. I'm not terribly worried about reminding him (he definitely knows already, I see him practically every day and am always telling him where I am on my apps). In other good news- I submitted my second app!! ...Just 7 more to go... dang. I had the realization though that even the "submitted" ones aren't done- there's still that recommendation still to come it, and all the stuff that has to travel via post. Sigh. Will this never be over? I'm getting jealous of those spring application people who are hearing back now.

Hey everyone! One week in on this thread- I'm just checking in with everyone. Any progress made this week? As for me, I've written two SOP drafts (for different schools), and sent them out to professors for comments. Hoping to get another app done this week, but it definitely won't be today (my calendar is completely booked from 9am til midnight!)

Sigaba- I think that might just be my favorite advice/phrasing of that advice I've heard yet.

Yes! This is happening to me too! I keep having dreams about getting in- in my dream I'm sitting in class and I get a call from an unknown number, then I sit there thinking about taking it ("hrm, well I am in class, but no one calls me during the day...oh fine I'll go out to the hall and answer it"). So I go out and get the good news- weirdly though I haven't actually dreamed the words, I just dream the happy feeling. Then of course, I do the happy dance in my dream, text everyone I know, and go back to class. In some variations of the dream, I am in a classroom that has windows to the hall, and all the other students see me doing the happy dance. In some versions, the TAs or other people in the class ask me what's going on and I tell them. I think it might be a cruel trick of my subconscious. Then again, at least I'm getting in in my dreams! I would probably sink into depression if my subconscious hit me with rejection dreams.

Anyone applying to Yale art history?I'm caught in an endless instructions/link loop for the supplemental materials- what the heck do they actually want? Writing sample, I'm going to go ahead and guess they want that. What else?

Safferz, I'm mostly there with you mentally at this point. I have so much on my plate that I can't help but be relieved to click submit. I'm sure after finals (42 until my semester ends...not that I'm counting) and after submitting my last app, I'll start to freak out (way) more (than I already am).

Great job on the V and Q! I would say don't worry about the AW- as far as I've heard, adcomms don't really look at it (and some of my apps don't even ask for it), because they already have your writing sample, which is a better judge of your writing ability than the GRE anyways. I think you're set, so don't worry!

Just what I've been told: SoP, Writing Sample, LOR But of course, everything is important and nothing should be focused on to the detriment of others. Being compeltely outstanding in one way could always make up for a weakness elsewhere.

I would say include them if the size limits allow. Just my $0.02.

This question is driving me crazy too! Some of the apps say directly in the instructions NOT to include pictures, so for those ones, I think it is probably best to follow their instructions. In some cases, If you're dying to give them your pictures or a bigger writing sample, you can ask to mail a hard copy to them (but I think it is always best to err on the safe side my following the instructions they give you). Some of the apps make the writing sample size limit so ridiculously small that there is not way to include pictures (I'm looking at you, 500kb limit). I think my solution to the issue was just to include my pages of figures from the end of my paper with the all text and a note where the pictures would be "This image was removed to accommodate the application size limit, please contact _ for a full copy."

I'm also fond of humming Monty Python's "Always look on the bright side of life" just another option