martizzle

lab rat (me)

Dude, I swear I am HAPPY you are not in my field. 6 on analytical writing! 710/96th percentile!!! I scored 520/20% or so on my subject test (math) - supposed to be my major; my speciality I ENVY YOU lol

nice I always wanted to go there. Living there(school/work) or visiting? (if its not too personal lol)

little mermaid (my current gf

I didn't mean any offense or anything, I was just saying...lol. Well that's nice, it seems like you have everything all figured out...just waiting. Good Luck though. I Wish you the best.

dude, dont kill your self....we r in the same boat (except I dont have a scholarship or anything, and I graduated from one of the smaller schools with a 3.6 GPA)....things will work out. Be patient and trust in god....if you are not religious (like me), its time to start believing in something, and to start praying and fasting lol but seriously, just because the first four were negative doesnt mean the rest will...be confident in yourself and hopeful

Yeah, the GRE score definitely needs a boost - think double that score (minimum), idk...I'm in the sciences/math, so its really important in my field. - But you might wanna do more research into your field and the schools you are applying to: find out what the scores of past/recent applicants who got accepted (its usually in the school's/program's website, or you can ask them), what they look for in candidates, and how much emphasis is placed on different areas of the application (statements/essays, GRE/GPA, research, teaching experience...idk as to the applying next year thing...I think 'Branwen daughter of Llyr' has posted EVERYWHERE on this website, that she is applying next year (I wonder if she knows what she will actually do if she is accepted this year lol ). I applied to two programs last year; waitlisted on one, rejected by the other. Got dropped off the waiting list because I did not take the subject GRE (remember what I said...in my field, GREs play a significant role - I think). It was tough, and I cried (ok, since I'm a guy, I confess: I didn't cry, but I was close to tears...I was numb, sad, crazy depressed...u name it, I was down for months). But I applied again this year (11/12 schools this time)...people do it, and I would like to think that grad schools will appreciate seeing your application again (not just for the $). If you apply 2/3 years in a row (not that any of us has the patience/time), they will take note of you and that I think, may be the factor that gets you in the door. I would say, do whatever it is you do...be hopeful = prepare for the worst, but pray for the best. One step at a time; if you do get in...thnk god...if you dont...step it up (double your GRE score/research the programs you are applying to, etc) and apply again, to more schools next year. I wish you the best. Tell you the truth, I really don't know what I would do if I don't get into a grad program this year. I'm an international student...I need to be in school in the fall, or its back home....Africa (no internet everyday...no random visits to gradcafe @ 4:30am lol). Good luck

You guys are mad lucky...I haven't been accepted yet. So while you decide which school's offer to accept, I'm sweating blood and tears, and my finger nails have all been bitten off lol...anyone else not been accepted yet?

You guys are so lucky...you have been accepted somewhere. I do not have that privilege YET. 3 out of my 11/12 applications rejected me, and those are the only 3 that have decided....if I had at least one...my life would be so much better...and perhaps I could look forward to my birthday (towards the end of march)

I keep on worrying that because I didn't put in any professors names into my Personal Statements, I may not be accepted because I do not fit 'well the the department (professors)' or something...idk. Plus I kinda messed up the first 1.5years of my undergrad (damn all those white frat/house parties and free liquor lol). I managed to turn over a new leaf after that, but I'm afraid it will come back to bite me...add to that I graduated from one of the smallest universities in the history of man

Some of us OR applicants suspect that Cornell/Columbia may be sending out their decisions this weekend or the next. We think Cornell (may be Columbia) may be sending out their rejections this friday, and their acceptances on monday...I am definitely not going to check my email this weekend (friday through monday). I dont know how that would be possible, seeing as how I check my emails like 30 times a day (more i think, definitely more)

Yeah, I doubt any ad com would be able to know who we are unless we tell them...but just in the event that ad coms know (virtually impossible) who we are: I just want to to say "Please accept me into your program. I am a hard worker; great at sucking up and being friendly; and fun to have around. Plus, I give excellent presentations (and tell even better jokes). Pick me!!! (feel free to PM me if you need/want me to suck up a bit).

idk...last march wasnt so great for me...but this is a new year, THIS IS OUR TIME!!! We will ALL get in our no1 choices (@ least those of us on thegradcafe lol)....with full fellowships/stipends... I feel scared and yet anxious at the same time. I can't wait, but I dread not knowing. Now March is here, a part of me wishes it was January again...so I could re-write my essays for the 1000th time.

Ps. to the Naija peepz out there: Omo wetin dey?

Hi all, I am Martizzle (nickname, not real one lol, I just love the sound of it), is there anyone from Africa coming out here this year? If so, for what? I am studying/trying to study Operations Research/Math (wherever I am blessed to be accepted). I don't have a MS degree yet, so I am applying for the MS leading to PhD degree.

dude, I so...hope you are right...I applied for the PhD program at Cornell and I haven't heard anything from them too. Same thing with Columbia; I'm just hoping and praying that I'm in. I also thought/hoped that by now, I would have at least one admission offer by now...but I still haven't received any yet I sent emails to three schools, and they all haven't responded regarding when I should expect a reply...at this point, my patience is almost out. I will soon resort to my childish alter-ego, and start calling (definitely incognito) all the programs and asking them when applicants should expect to hear from them, telling them that it is unfair to test our patience this much, afterall the least these schools can do for us considering that WE PAY THEM to evaluate our applications, is to provide us with quality customer service i.e update us bi-weekly/monthly, with info on how the admin comm is progressing. Yes, I was asking a similar question (check the last 1 or 2 pages). I would say accept it a day before the deadline (3/15) if you have not yet heard from any of the other programs you applied to. You could always let SUNY know if you get a better offer and decide SUNY is no longer the best option.

I know it's not decent/right....but won't it be possible to simply accept that offer and later decline it when/if you have a better offer....idk, guys help me out. I mean, why can't applicants mess with grad schools the way they mess with our heads? They don't treat us right, why do we have to treat them nice/with respect? I mean...what stops applicants from simply accepting offers from schools, and later declining those offers for a better offer?....The only reason I would hesitate to do it (other than I've not yet been accepted anywhere), or not do it, is because I try to live by certain principles. Is there a law, grad-school-oversight-committee or something that deals with this?

Were you applying to the MS/PHD program at Columbia? To others: Does anyone know whats up with CMU? Some people posted acceptances already...did anyone get any rejections yet, or know when all the decisions will be out?

Hi all (that seems to be the formal greeting here lol), This is really weird, I've been on gradcafe for the longest time (since March or so last year), and for some random reason, I am just now posting on this topic. -- STATS -- Undergrad: Temple University (3 semesters, failed woefully - Computer Engr major transferred to Lincoln University (Historically Black College/Univ. = HBCU = not really recognized for anything in academia) - Math & Physics majors, 3.59 general (not sure if grad schools care, bt subj GPAs: 3.91/math, 3.61/physics) TA & RA for 3 years Loads of REUs (Physics, Bio/Chem, Math, Computer Sci); Loads of presentations at conferences (pity I never went to an INFORMS conference); No publications GRE: 620/V,770/Q, 3.5 writing -- Downsides: Crappy academic intro to college; come from a HBCU (no name school); No research experience in OR; only gotten a BS (no previous graduate work - idk if this counts); low (in my opinion) GRE scores and I'm not too sure if by removing the names of professors whose research I liked (but didn't understand ) from my personal statement was a good idea - A less than perfect personal statement.... Upsides: I turned over a new leaf when I transferred to Lincoln University; research and teaching/tutoring experience -- I honesty don't know what to do...I have 3 rejections, no admits, and waiting on UNC-Chapel Hill, Cornell, Columbia, George Mason.......I really want to study OR, and I'm afraid that if I don't get in anywhere this year, I may not have the chance to pursue OR again....ah well, so goes the life of an international student here in the US. God, but can't some school just take pity on my poor soul and admit me with full funding??? Hearing/Seeing other people get admits, without actually getting one is beginning to bear down on me...I'm usually not the jealous type, but I can't help but wish all the schools I applied to can just let me know their decisions (hopefully, all positive)

I have not yet heard anything from Cornell, Columbia, Carnegie Mellon Univ (CMU)....has anyone heard from any one of them yet?

For the third time now, I have seen someone post an acceptance to the department I applied to. The first time, I did a whole bunch of swearing, running around and pointless conversations with myself; and then I started this topic. The second time, I was very sad....went to check my emails (AGAIN), and moved on. I had already accepted defeat. Now - the third time around - I don't know what to do....I feel sad, but for some reason, there is also hope. Perhaps if someone got an admit today, that would mean they are still admitting people and since I haven't seen or heard anything about rejects....I must still be in the game. So this one time, I'm just going to sit back and relax....as much as I can. Later, I will worry, bite off what's left of my finger nails and fingers....and despair in my lack of admits....but for now, I'll just CHILL

SHAME ON ALL OF YOU!!! So many posts, and yet only one person mentioned the GREATEST tv show in history: MAD MEN! WHAT!!! I literally just received my second rejection (in two days) the letter is right beside me on the floor...and as you can imagine, I was quite sad...but after seeing this post, and its lack of my favorite series, I was like: 'What! I gotta rectify this.' Needless to say, I feel fired up now (perhaps the depression/sadness will overwhelm me later, and this is just my mind trying to protect me from the pain of rejection in the meantime -- Movies: Inglorious Basterds, Coraline, Running Scared, The Departed, Dirty Scoundrels, Casablanca, Twilight (and no I'm not gay, I just feel watching a crappy vampire movie can help you forget grad applications , Zombieland (Epic), Juno, Hot Fuzz And since I am a Nigerian, I will add this: Domitila (movie), Things fall apart (series, very old), Dbanj's show (I forget the name, I think its called Koko-love or something; anyway, think Flavor of Love in Nigeria....except that its more hiliarious) Series: MAD MEN, Lives and Times of Tim (Awesome), Leverage, Chuck, 24, White Collar, Sons of Anarchy, Hung, Sparticus (and nothing else lol)

(Being hysterical) THIS IS MY LIFE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN MY POST IS REALLY FUNNY!!! lol You are right, as applicants we have to handicap ourselves. But as people, we hope. It's basic animalistic instinct - I think . Anyway, thanks for your post; I know what you are trying to say: we need to be honest with ourselves. It's just that a top grad program is like your significant other; you know the type of guy/girl you are most likely to hit it off with, but still....you hope for the perfect ten. I dont know if you get my point, but that's is what it feels like....at least, for me (ps. dont tell my gf I compare her to grad schools - us gradcafe users got to stick together lol)

Got my first rejection today: IT SUCKS....I FEEL LIKE CRYING, BUT I HAVE NO TEARS I actually sold my xbox360 because I wanted to make the deadline...I miss all my fighting games now. If I still had my game, this would be the time I would be killing A LOT of PEOPLE (ad comms in my mind

9 replies out of 335 views. That's approximately 1 out of every 34 = 1/34 I only applied to 11 schools. I sincerely hope the odds of my obtaining offers of admissions are WAYYYY higher (hopefully like 10/11 Anyway, reading people's comments to this topic is really cool. I really didn't expect more than 1 or 2 people to actually view this, much less reply - Talk about low self-confidence! I hear the grad school application process eats away at a person's self-confidence Ps. For one with the username: NEUROnerd86, I would have thought you would be the one with the most outrageous comment Forgive me for being stereotypical lol