rufzilla

Bowdoin, you don't have to explain or justify yourself to anyone if the process you are going through will help you sleep at night and get you to make a more solid decision in the end. However, I do feel that people are entitled to their opinion and if you are going to put your conflicts on an internet forum then you have to be ready to accept both criticism and encouraging words. I think that it was unnecessary of posters to imply that what you may not be a "decent human being," but their opinions are warranted given the lack of information you provided and the empathy/ sympathy that you were trying to solicit in the original post. This is why I suggested explaining what your anxieties and concerns about making a final decision were so that it would not only clarify what your problems were, but also to explain to others why you are in such conflict over making a resolute final decision. I understand and appreciate how big of a decision this must be for you and agree that if you are undecided that you are warranted to take as much time as you need so that you can sleep at night knowing that you made the right decision. Just remember, you asked for opinions and feedback and you got it. Of course people are jealous of you and want you to hurry up and make a decision! YOU GOT IN! Take their input in stride and know that they don't know the whole story behind your conflicts. The best you can do is explain your situation (without insults, generalizations, and accusations -- and this goes for all parties) and let that be that.

Sorry, bowdoin, but I'm going to have to agree with the other posters on this -- please notify the other schools ASAP. This is more about your own fears and anxieties about having to write the actual e-mail than any fear or anxiety you have over making the decision. Just think about it, you're in a really good place where you know where you want to go (or at least made that seem the case) and now you're simply dilly-dallying until April so that you can make yourself feel better. Honestly, I don't think the schools you're rejecting will have any hard feelings. However, I will give you the benefit of the doubt -- is there an issue other than just not wanting to write a rejection e-mail? Are you still unsure whether you confident with your decision? If so, maybe you should let the other posters know so that they can at least help you. Otherwise, it does sound like you're just being selfish and have no empathy/ sympathy for the people stuck on waitlists.

I will definitely have to second goose's request! Although I have found this back-and-forth bickering somewhat amusing, both of you have forgotten the purpose behind this topic and have taken each other's opinions and statements to personally. Nel: I can understand your desire to know where the OP is from, if only to get a better sense of where he is coming from and even help out his case. I don't think it's wrong of you to ask or delve deeper into the topic. Jakrabite: I can also understand why you would think knowing where the OP is from is irrelevant, if only to save him and other international students from being finger-pointed at for being "less academically ethical" than the US. You both have good points that could have led to an interesting argument about the different codes of academic conduct. INSTEAD, you both turned this into a war of words centered around your own egos and proving the other wrong. GET BACK TO THE TOPIC AT HAND AND GET OVER YOURSELVES, PLEASE. I understand and appreciate the need to clarify one's self, but this is going over board. You guys are irritating the other posters that only want to talk about the original topic. I agree with goose: if you guys absolutely must continue this trivial battle of the egos then do so in PMs.

Honestly, although I would like reasons for rejections, I don't think that any student "deserves" a reason. Those reasons are usually entirely subjective, unless you got cut simply because of test scores or GPA. Also, in the case of the latter, if the applicant is rejected s/he should simply work on improving those quantitative aspects of their application. When dealing with LoRs, SoPs, and samples I think that it would simply be too time consuming and tedious for the graduate committees to deal with. You paid them to review their app and they do -- after that they have no obligation to you and certainly no obligation to explain themselves. Moreover, I also agree with previous postings that the subjective nature of graduate decisions could lead to legal issues for the department if people were to find be given detailed reasons about their rejection. I guess, in the end, if an applicant is rejected it is their responsibility as an aspiring scholar to simply improve their applications in all aspects. Is it hard to figure out if you were rejected because of "fit?" Absolutely. But, I think that it's the applicants duty after rejection to further research the school and try to figure that out. Is there room for improvement in all applications? Yes (unless you're God, which I don't think you are). If you are rejected I think it's good and I encourage others to ask their department if they can receive reasons, but I don't believe that any applicant, no matter how much you pay in app fees, "deserves" anything other than acceptance/ rejection at the end of the process. If departments are unwilling to tell you the reason, and I feel they have every right to do so, it is simply the responsibility of the applicant to work hard, raise their GPA and GREs, edit their SoPs and samples, and talk to their LoR writers about where they may have gone wrong. Furthermore, I think that if you were to get a rejection letter from a school and found out the reason was simply "not enough slots" or something to that effect then people would just end up resting on their laurels and thinking that there is no reason for improvement. As potential scholars we should all work hard, no matter what -- which is why I don't feel a "reason for rejection" is super dooper important.

I was told by my advisor that the only letters that adcoms take seriously are those from other professors (I wanted a GA to write a LoR for me but was advised to make her a supplementary recommendation instead). I would really suggest that you figure a way to get a professor to write you a LoR -- it is totally fine to contact your old professors, especially if you did really well in their classes, and ask them to write one for you. I would e-mail the professors and ask: 1. if you could drop off a packet of your old work, tests, SoP, and grades, and 2. If you could meet with them in person to discuss how you did in their class and why you want a LoR from them. By doing this I'm sure that (since you were a good student) a meeting will jog their memory of how you were in class. Also, meeting with them will also give you the opportunity to tell, or at least hint to, them what you want them to say in your LoRs.

So, I was browsing through the "Results Search" today (as I dutifully do everyday) and finally came upon a UH Manoa English applicant that said s/he got a rejection letter from the PhD program yesterday (3/17). The question I'm wondering then is: Has anyone heard from the UH MA program yet??? I know that a lot of MA-ers are receiving their acceptances/ rejections this week and I was wondering if anyone could tell me if this guy's rejection is considered "late" and the MA letters should be on their way soon (rejection or acceptance) OR if this rejection means that MA letters have probably not been sent out yet? I know, I know, I'm probably just trying to rationalize and analyze why my letters have not come in yet, but its the only thing that is giving me a glimmer of hope... :|

Honestly, the OP made a really stupid, really elementary mistake that s/he should have known better about. I know that the OP may be an international student where the codes of academic conduct may differ from those of an American university, but plagiarism is plagiarism and anyone in a graduate program should know that they HAVE TO cite their sources whenever referencing an outside source. Obviously the plagiarism of the material was blatant enough that the professor of the class either knew where the material came from or the OP used the material in such an unoriginal fashion that it mirrored the other classmates that are also in trouble for plagiarism and cheating. In any case, the OP is, no matter if he is an international student or not, at fault for his mistake. As a scholar he should know the correct codes of conduct and the basic rules of citing sources. However, I do believe in second chances and hope that the OP was scared sh*tless after making this mistake and can contribute to the academic world in a manner that is both honest and honorable.

I only applied to ONE school and I still haven't heard anything yet! It is agony checking the mail everyday. Have any of you MA students heard back from schools yet? I know that MAs go out after the PhDs, but still... It sucks a fatty.

Do you have a significant other or partner that works for the city or state? I know its a long shot, but that's how I was able to get covered after I graduated and had to take a semester off (I graduated in December and my program only has a Fall admission). My SO and I live together so we were able to apply for a domestic partnership and through that I was able to get both medical and dental after losing my parents' insurance. This may not apply to your particular situation, but its a way to get insurance without having to marry someone, get a full time job, or take it out yourself. Other than that, though, I would definitely emphasize that you should not go without insurance! You just don't know what will happen and you don't want to get stuck in a situation where you will have to pay everything out of pocket. Even medication for ailments like the flu can cost a lot if you don't have insurance.

Was it a class you needed for your major? Is it integral to the field you are applying to? If not, I would just explain the grades in your statement. Graduate committees know that classes cost money. So, unless you failed or if Alg1 is integral to your profession, I would just let it go. There isn't really any use in spending so much money on something that may not even really help you in the long run. I guess what you have to think about is: will this class help me in the future or am I simply going to re-take it to re-take it? You've obviously proven that you can do the work and that you've improved your grades a lot more. I think that is more important to graduate committees than a little A in Beginning Algebra. However, you also have to do what helps you sleep better at night. If you truly feel re-taking Algebra will put your mind at ease then go for it. It is your money, after all.

I would definitely call, shoot him another e-mail, or ask him in person. He said he would write you a letter of recommendation for you and it is not wrong of you to make sure that it gets to the graduate admissions committee in time. Did you tell him what the deadline was? He may be procrastinating because he knows that the admin committee won't be reviewing apps until later this month that he is putting it off. Two of my LoR writers didn't turn in their LoRs until a day before the due date (I'm applying to the school that they teach at), so he may think that he has more time. In the mean time, though, I would definitely ask the other person to write you a LoR. If anything, that person can be used as a supplementary recommendation to be used in your favor. Ask the admin secretary if they take supplementary recommendations. If they do you're good to go and don't have to worry too much about your procrastinating prof. However, if they don't ask them if you can withdraw it should your other LoR show up. This is about you and your future, so don't be afraid to be assertive and go for what you need. No one will blame you for it.

I have a question about reapplying to schools you've been rejected to: If you were rejected do your letter writers have to submit new letters when you reapply? Or can they use the letters from last application (say your reapplying again next year)? I'm asking because I still haven't heard from my school yet and if I don't get in I don't want to have to ask my profs to write another LoR just because it seems so bothersome and tedious to do so again.

Confidence: I knew I was smart before. Now I feel like the biggest dumbass in the world. Stress Level: I get butterflies in my stomach for the whole day until the mail comes at 3 -- then I start the whole process over Patience: I had very little before. It is non-existent now. I feel like killing the mailman when he come even 1 minute late. Income: I've found out that anything that can take your mind off of app. season stress costs money! Shopping, movies, online shopping, food... therefore, I'm also now a dumb brokeass Empathy/ sympathy I have no empathy for anybody that got into at least one school. I have a huge amount of empathy/ sympathy for those that have not because I believe I might be joining your ranks Health: My eyes are now near the point of blindness due to looking at the computer for a bijillion hours. My fingers are at the bone due to looking up when I should get a response from my school. Overall: I now feel like a dumb, angry, depressed, anxious, broke individual

I wish GREs didn't matter. They are the only thing in my application that freaks me out -- especially since I only applied to one school. I have a pretty average GRE score (why I didn't take it again I do not know) of 1200 (V-540, Q-660), but a pretty good GPA of 3.9 that was gained through a lot of 400-level classes (no elementary basket weaving for me!). My SoP was good, although I could have worked on it longer. My LoR writers were all people that work either in the department I'm applying to or at the university: a chairperson, a director, a religion prof (my minor) and a supplementary rec from a GA whose class I tutored for -- so I think those are pretty solid. However, I'm still freaking out. I think its really a crap shoot and totally depends on the standards that your department wants to uphold. I would be sad, but wouldn't be in total denial if I were turned down because of my average GRE scores. However, I think that if I made it past the first round of cut-offs (I hope!) the other items in my application would totally help me get in and the GRE scores would be obsolete at that point. In the end, I guess there is no excuse for not trying your best to make sure that EVERY PART of your application is stellar. All of us here are trying to become masters of our potential field, so we should all try and make sure we look like the strongest candidates possible. Sorry for sounding preachy, but if you're not trying your hardest there is always a more qualified person or more ambitious person willing and eager to take your spot.

I know and I hate it! I'm gonna have a little pity party for myself.

I don't think that it will be weird to show your appreciation to your LOR writers, especially if you are getting positive responses from the schools you applied to. Nothing fancy is required -- I'm sure your letter writers would love to hear if you got into a school and it will not doubt make them feel good to know that their letter may have had a part in it. For example, maybe you could write: Dear Dr. X, I hope that your semester is going well (presuming that they teach)! I wanted to let you know that I was accepted into X school and I am going to be enrolling there in the fall. I wanted to thank you for taking the time and effort to write me a letter of recommendation. I really appreciate your help in my application process. Sincerely, Or something to that effect. That's about what I wrote to my LOR writers (although I've yet to hear from my grad school yet) and I will shoot them another card should I get into my school. No gift is needed (IMO). A simple "thank you" note will suffice.

Anyone heard anything about their Master's program specifically? Everything I see for acceptance/ rejection dates have been for the PhD program. Well, since PhDs heard in February and the time they wanted to finish processing everything is March, then should I just sit tight until the mid/end of March for the Master's program's response? Sorry if I'm getting annoying, but I only applied to UHM since I've lived here all my life and didn't want to go to a mainland school. I'm kind of in a make or break situation. Ugh, I hate waiting!

Is anyone else trying to formulate a Plan B just in case? I know, I know, I'm trying to be optimistic about my application status (I only applied to one school, so everything is riding on my one application!), but as the days go by I can't help to think about what I my future may hold. Anybody else have thoughts about this?

Hi all, Has anyone heard anything from University of Hawaii's Literary Studies in English program (MA)? Or from the English department in general? UHM's English Dept website said that they want to finish PhD decisions by March and MAs by April, but should I be expecting a response soon? Or should I just chillax and wait until April finally rolls around? It seems that most graduate programs are letting applicants know already. Do you think I should be worried? Anyone have any past experiences or been accepted/ rejected to UHM for Fall '09? Thoughts?