PhDreams

I'm about to submit my Yale app. I'll keep this tip in mind. It's my last one. FINALLYYYYY! Good luck to you and to all! Best in 2013.

My stanford app says that my GRE scores have arrived but says my application is complete because I am missing a TOEFL score. I don't even need a TOEFL score lol .... I'm figuring that things just not have been fully updated yet. I wouldn't worry about it just yet. They are still in the process of batching things to apps. I think most schools are not back in session until Jan 7 anyway.

I just emailed asking if they would let me swap out my writing sample. I accidentally submitted a draft that didn't have my final edits. I have so many versions of every document that now Im freaked out that I may have submitted other "in progress" documents. Ahhhhhhhhhh

Most of my apps didn't have a space where they asked for profs you want to work with. However, I think most had spaces to identify what professors with whom youve corresponded. I mentioned 3 professors at each school and wrote a sentence about how each could help get my research to the next level.

I guess I don't understand how you think being gay would give you an "edge." I think that if you strongly feel that your background is what informs the kind of work that you would like to pursue, then include it. But if you feel like you are just adding information that doesn't fit well with the story that you are trying to tell about yourself, then don't. It's just like anything else... if you were an artist, an athlete, etc... what ever you feel defines you. Always include the parts of your story that really support why you are qualified to attend the program. However, if your really want to lay a claim for diversity, there are often spaces uniquely dedicated to this on your app.

Hahahaha I just realized that I said that the dept was quite large...and to me it was!!! About 40 professors!!! I didn't even realize that there were 150 faculty member departments out there. WOW

Happpppyyyy 2013, everyone! Best of luck!

FYI- I think EdLds find out much sooner.

This thread might help you feel better.

That's amazing! I think that this sounds very promising. Although I have no idea what this is, If it was me I would put together the one pager that is focused completely on the project that you are trying to pitch and the questions that you want answered, why this research is important, etc. One page is very short but I would work with what ever format fits your needs to convery the amount of information that you need to.. 1, 1.5, or 2 spacing. Good luck! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited to hear back about this. I'm just so excited that people are starting to get responses. It means that we're all so much closer!

Parking in Cambridge is pretty difficult. However, it can be done. Some people just choose to stay at Harvard housing which is very accessible to campus and negates the need of a car. Cambridge is very walkable and Boston is easily accessible by the T. Lots of families choose Harvard housing, but it is a tad more expensive. It does include all utilities, but I'm sure you can find places that are cheaper but further out. Also if you choose to live closer to campus (through harvard housing or not) you will have access to all of the free museums, etc. It's pretty nice, especially with all of the late nights you will probably spend at the library. EdLd is only 3 years so I'm sure you can find something reasonably priced that is convenient for all.

THIS... AND THIS... Not only is it difficult to be in an English PhD program...it is extremely difficult to get into one. Lots of really great advice here. 5-8 years is quite a time investment.

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I just pictured it too. But let's hope that someone just forgot to update the system and that it's arrived safely at your school.

1. Honors are like Dean's list or if you graduated with honors or recieved dept honors, etc 2. Volunteeing can go on relevant employment section on your app. If not, just put it on your CV 3. I would also include those things on your CV. I think of achievements like awards you may have won in school, Best Paper, etc 4. I wouldn't list anything in HS unless it was a scholarship that carried through undergrad, like a Gates Scholarship, etc. Hope this helps. Good luck!

So true... I really don't get the safety school thing at the doc level either. Even if the program is lower ranked... if you don't fit, you don't fit. This is at least five years of your life we're talking about. I can't even imagine being stuck in a program with a fit that youre not thrilled about or one that doesn't have the resources to help you get your specific research to the next level.

So lame. I got a 5 and I was an English major. I have no idea why ... I was pretty bummed.

Awwww! She sounds amazing! Are you hoping to stay at your school for the doc program?? Sounds like an awesome environment. Good luck!

That one hurt.

Awwww... April?!? Are you applying to MA programs? Last year was torture when I was applying because I didn't hear from schools until about March. Geeeez.... hang in there. I know that it's pretty rough. I started looking into back up plans, but that too is hard. I don't want to give up too soon.

So interesting! I was actually worried about listing 4 or 5. I decided that 3 was the highest I would list considering that there are about 20-30 profs in each department. That's about 10% of department. It sounds like you guys are using the 10% rule too. LOL Wow...100 prof departments. I didn't even know those existed.

Thank you. You too! Also, thanks for the tips. I can't wait to hear back from these schools! I'm sooooo nervous!

I was working on Yale last night and it seemed to be fine. However, this is good to know. I still haven't finished yet. I'm sooooooo close!! Has anyone heard back from any programs???

Same! My grades don't officially post until Jan 7.

If you have a car you can live out in Newton, Lowell, or Medford. There are plenty of places for families if you are willing to commute a bit to HGSE.

I was actually lucky enough to talk to a dept coordinator at one of the schools I am applying to about professors to identify. Not only did he say it was necessary to identify professors but he said it was the only way that you would make it to their reading list. Meaning if you mention them in your SOP, they will read it. Now I'm just wondering how many is too many. I definitely could not see mentioning 10-12 people in one SOP for the kind of departments where I am submitting applications. In the end, I just identified 3 profs and sort of left it open about how my work examines big picture kind of things too.