Resendes8909

@ruby chen, very creative website. where are you applying? I think that because you are showing a variety of work, design programs that are interdisciplinary might be a better fit for you.

I'm assuming the preliminary phase at all programs entails narrowing a short list of people with gpa's to par and with complete and correct applications.

For anyone living in Austin or for those who are knowledgable - What is the cost of living? I enjoyed my time there and was surprised by how many businesses seemed to be thriving (in the central downtown area, at least). Specifically, what is the cost of living in the central area (residential, but close to downtown). I understand that the condos in the downtown area are quite pricey.

Just for the future, I have always been under the impression that you do not need to send you application materials as soon as your references send in theirs. Department secretaries receive all materials separately and sort them once the deadline has passed. Did you end up replacing your statement? I think that would have been the wisest route.

One of my rec writer's letters hasn't been received by one of the programs. The deadline is tomorrow and I informed him numerous times since October of the deadline, mailed him stamped and addressed envelopes, etc. He sent his letter to my top choice program, but perhaps he flaked on the others. Frustrating. I am not too concerned... I have a friend who ended up getting accepted to all of the programs he applied to despite having a no-show rec writer. I am sure this one will send the letters as he has already told me multiple times that he would. They'll just be late. I e-mailed my contact at the one dept. and let them know of the situation.

No, I am pretty sure it IS illegal, especially if you are applying for any sort of financial aid.

Freak-out forum? I'm worried that I didn't apply to enough programs... But they are all very parallel with my research goals - interdisciplinary design programs. This is my first go-around. I am confident about my intent on graduate school - I need an outlet for heavy research and making and an academic setting makes sense, especially in the context of my work. I am curious as to where other people are in their lives. I haven't been out of undergrad for very long and other opportunities / areas of my life are desperately disappointing at this point. Mid-twenties life crisis. Must find optimism.

I really question schools that want to contain your life's research to "a short paragraph" or a specific number of words. That is interesting about slideroom. The only school I needed to use slideroom for did not have a limit to the wordcount, so that wasn't an issue for me. One school I am applying to wants a short paragraph about my undergraduate study, a short paragraph about my experience, and my artist's statement...... WHY not just let me consolidate that into one essay? Beats me.

Isn't that sort of activity illegal?

I wouldn't worry about word limitations as much as how well-written and sincere your statements are. If it says no more than 500 words, and you've written an extra 100 that are truly necessary for your essay to support why you want to go to that program, I'd leave it. If the extra words don't add anything, edit them out. My statements are 940-960 each. I have friends who've exceeded 1000 words and gotten into their top choice schools. I think that if you can be concise yet compelling you are fine, but a longer essay that is also compelling may suit some schools.

First app is submitted. And supposedly, all my letters of rec are sent. My essays contextualize everything I want them to (its multiple versions of one essay and its *long* - 960 words - any thoughts on the subject?) My portfolio looks slick. Yet..... Anyone else feel like you're gambling here? I'm applying to programs that accept fewer than 10 people a year. :-/ And I am applying to design programs, not fine art programs.

Our deadline overall is January 15th, but the online application is December 15. I am still unsure about submitted my statement with the online application, as it seems redundant if the supplemental application asks for it to be sent there. Hm. I have a couple days to decide what to do.

I don't know where to post this! I've been stalking these forums for about a year... Okay. For all of you applying to UCLA, the deadline is this week for the Graduate application. Are you submitting your ****statement of purpose**** with the online application AND with the supplemental application? Please let me know asap how you are approaching this. This program I am applying to asks for the statement with the supplemental app. I have e-mailed the department's contact but have not gotten a response.