PhDreams

So excited for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best of luck. Knock it out of the park! This is the perfect plan. You can do it, ion_exchanger!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhh!!! Now I wish I had a LinkedIn so that I would know if professors googled me! This thread could easily cause an increase in LinkedIn profiles... lol

Thank you for your encouragement.

One of my schools will announce in 2 weeks.

Congratssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep ^ this is all true. One month notice is actually kindaaaaaa short. It's in the OK range. 2-3 months is about right. I've had to show up in people's office, stop by events that I knew where they would be, bring up the app process randomly just to keep it on their brain (omgggg ... i sound like a stalker in a LIfetime movie ) As headcold has noted, it's a super frustrating process but this is the way it is.... sadly.

Awwwwwww......even if the email itself doesnt mean anything, it's not to say that you wont soon get in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Classes don't begin until the end of the month and school didn't reopen until today. So, I really doubt that anyone in the department had any chance to look at apps until today...if they are even back yet (most faculty is still out). However, you have to stay positive and know that as soon as apps do get read, youre going to knock their socks off! Have faith!

Congrats!!!! Some schools start to notify in two weeks... can you believe it?!

First, take a deep breath and know that it will be ok. Second, this is pretty common... unfortuneately My last recommender barely submitted my recs and my deadlines were LAST MONTH. lol Luckily, my committees have not yet met and it really doesnt matter. If you take a quick glance at any of the LOR threads you'll see that you are in very good company. That being said, you still have a month. This is good!! Two things- Most professors are busy (as you noted) especially right before and during the holidays. Also, they are pretty well intentioned. I believe that if they didnt want to write you those letters that they would have said so. Gentle reminders are helpful too. You can send a quick little chart with your next email and send something with the subject line like: Approaching deadlines. But as you will see, professors like to submit these letters right at the last second. I think you learn it in professor school- How to give your students a heart attack 101. lol Good luck!!!!!!!

I think I answered this in another topic... Good luck!!!!!!!!!!

I think this is usually the best kind of addendum to add because it doesnt sound like an "excuses" essay AND you have another chance to highlight your strengths. Take an opportunity to talk about how great you are! lol Not applying to Harvard?? Too bad. The K-School is great!

Fuzzylogician has great advice. One place you can start is to look up those names you find on the school websites at places like Academia.edu if they don't already provide their CV.

Sounds like you are on track! You know, I know that this process is really intense. One resource that really helped me was a book by Don Asher called Graduate Admission Essays.... It was really easy to understand and really broke down the admissions process. I borrowed a copy from the library when I was applying for the first time last year and it really helped me navigate the craziness that is applying to grad school. Additionally, you might find that there may be books specifically geared towards your field.

Lots of views...very few posts. Anyone applying this season??

Many departments have sections in their websites that say something like " We are looking for students that.... " and emphasize those qualities. CV is a must. You can create a short bulleted list for things to highlight- scholarships, projects, etc. Good luck!

I actually started looking at programs during the stress and I found a program that I really like. I was originally going to apply to the school but in a different deaprtment and then I found out that a Prof who's research I've often cited is at that school but in a different dept. I decided that I would take it as a sign if for some miracle it had a January 15th date because most doc program deadlines have passed.... and it did. Wow. So, now I'm sitting here applying.. it's been a crazy day.

You all are so wonderful. It's been like a giant virtual hug seeing all the kind things you have been sharing. Thanks for being there for me today. I really needed that. <3 Now we can all go back to losing our minds... it's comforting knowing that we're all going to start our new adventures very soon!

I have a friend who is from Alabama in the program now.

Yes, we all will. <3

You all are the absolute best. I'm still processing. I look forward to celebrating all the successes of all you wonderful folks in the coming weeks. Thanks for your support.

Thanks everyone. It really is nice to have a group of people here that really care enough to share a few encouraging words with each other to make our lives a little bit better. <3

Still in shock.... So sad. Thanks for your words.

I feel sick. I just found out a colleague of mine passed away yesterday. He's the one that encouraged me to apply to grad school and really was the first to help pair me up with resources. Meeting him changed my life. Now I'm even more anxiety ridden about getting into a program...it just means so much more now. I can't stop crying...

It sounds like your story of navigating undergrad as a non-trad is a better and more authentic story. However, some apps have spaces where they ask you if youre a legacy, you can fill that info out there. But I really think it makes more of a difference in undergrad or if your parents are prominent alumni. Ivies graduate thousands of people a year and I imagine a good deal of them go on to have children. I can't see how that would make you a stonger candidate.

Allouette, you're amazing! <3 Thanks