Frostfire

I'll second what folk here have been saying. The verbal and writing scores are much more important than your math. Definitely pick up a gre study book and review, so you don't completely look retarded, but otherwise be more concerned with familiarizing yourself with the testing format. But the real kicker is that the GRE just isn't that big of a deal, as far as your whole application packet goes. You don't want to do so badly that the grad school proper kicks you out of the running, but everything else in your application is way more important. So focus on your writing sample and your statement of purpose. Look for good program fits. Apply to enough schools to (hopefully) have options. But don't waste money on a school you wouldn't actually want to go to, if it came down to it.

I actually gave in to the crazy and dropped an email. Seems there was a change in the online application which may be causing widespread problems. So definitely worth sending an email, if for no other reason than letting them know that their shit isn't performing as advertised. Also, it's strangely gratifying to get a profoundly embarrassed apology with the much delayed rejection. But maybe that's just me.

Right there with you. Although at this point, I can only assume that it must be rejection. If they wanted us, they'd surely have said so by now. I mean, seriously. It may be worth an email, but if they can't even notify us in anything resembling a timely manner, do you really want to go?

This is the sort of thing that's going to depend on several factors. First and foremost, there's you. If you're the sort to make friends and/or socialize easily, then you're likely to have a better shot than someone who's shy or less social. Factor #2 is going to be your grad program. Some are really, really small, so there's a "lottery" feel to it. Some are larger, but that's not necessarily going to help. If the program is competitive (within the program, not from an admissions standpoint) that can seriously hamper any comraderie or friendship opportunities. Another big factor, often overlooked, is location. As in your location in relation to your school. If you're living far from campus, that brings serious challenges. I spent my undergrad years commuting 2 hours (each way) to campus. I was also dealing with public transit schedules, which meant that I was always, always, ALWAYS aware of the clock. Some areas are better than others, but when you're watching the clock and buzzing out of there to catch the train (or whatever), it really limits your ability to hang out. Which is a much bigger factor than most people acknowledge. The difference between the 2 hour, tightly scheduled commute and my current 30-45 minute commute that only becomes time sensitive after about 11:30pm is, quite simply, staggering. So part of it is planning, part of it is luck, and part of it is opening yourself up to opportunity.

Regarding Classics departments and their attitudes towards Art History, it doesn't surprise me at all. Classicists can get snooty about people in their own department who "study rocks" ... ie, study archaeology instead of following philology. Also, about people who are Romanists vs. Hellenists. We can be a bunch of elitist brats, really. It's never fun to be the odd one out, even if it's something that's actually a regularly accepted part of the discipline. So definitely be aware of the atmosphere in any department you go to, especially if you're interests are somewhere off the beaten track of the discipline.

I've really only had to deal with one who very clearly fell into this category. Of course, I'm in a Master's program rather than a PhD program, and I can't speak to the environment for the professors. That having been said, the student in question was rather obviously a douche in more than just the academic environment. Still, the insistence on "showing up" everybody around got old really fast, and I know that at least one of the professors appeared sympathetic, or at least amused, towards those delivering the occasional smackdown. Particularly if the smackdown in question was of the "I literally just looked this up last night for another class" variety. In fairness to the guy in question, some people had no issues with him. Although even they fully admit that he was often full of unprocessed fertilizer. But other people actively disliked him, so I was certainly not alone in being annoyed by him. *shrug* But he still got into some PhD program somewhere, so ... I guess it worked for him? On the other hand, classicists being necessarily elitist, there's far more ... hmm, not quite outright contempt, but certainly the likelihood of it, for those who rather obviously can't be bothered to "do the work" on a subject. Especially if they can't at least fake it well enough to get by in class. It's hard to say how much the professors are aware of individual "rat racers" among the students. Certainly, they can tell when folk are coasting by in a class or discussion, but there IS a difference between the usual "lazy ass students" stuff and ass-hatery. And most students at least try to be on good behavior, ass-hat wise, in front of their professors. Of course, it may also depend on how competitive the department environment is too. Of course, a few weeks back I had the guilty pleasure of hearing two of my professors bagging on a very publicly well-known classicist, so my guess is that even when you make it to full, proper professor, there's still plenty of "rat race" to be had and bitched about!

Definitely make sure you've read everything in translation, at the least. Depending on your skill level, you may or may not feel a need to work through in the original as well. But one thing I can't recommend enough is this. As soon as you get to your institution, sit down with the department chair and/or grad advisor and discuss what the expectations are for the exam! The only thing worse than not passing is realizing that you didn't pass because you approached the exam "wrong." As an example, at the department where I'm doing my master's, the very same approach that has served me splendidly for six years worth of language classes (5+ at the "translation" level), set me up for failure at the MA language exam. So see if you can try a practice run, or see examples of work at the various "grades" possible on the exam, or perhaps a detailed explaination of how they're graded. And make sure you know how many shots you get at taking an exam before you run into administrative issues! Hopefully you shouldn't need to worry about that, but knowing before is always better than finding out after. Beyond that issue, focus on vocab and grammar, rather than on having a "canned" translation.

You need to add a "still waiting to hear from some places" option. Also, a "completely disillusioned with the entire process" option. Having said that, I do have some observations. 1 - Try contacting programs before applying. If they can't bother to get back to you, this does not bode well for a timely application response. 2 - Have some people in mind to work with and see if you can get somebody on your side. It seems to have done some good for others. 3 - Have a backup plan. Preferrably one you can live with in the long-term, if need be. Because the only thing that would be worse than rejection limbo is outright rejection with no idea what to do with your life outside of endlessly reapplying. 4 - Seriously examine your goals and be willing to set a limit on applications. Whether it's the number of applications, the number of application seasons, or simply a time-limit, give yourself some sort of deadline. And be willing to stick to it. Because if you can't make yourself get off the roller-coaster, you're whole life will stay in limbo indefinitely. But most importantly, have somebody who backs you upwithout reservation. Because when rejections roll in, and maybe the acceptances don't, you will go absolutely insane. And if you don't have somebody to back you up, a moment of absolute insanity could lead to something drastic. Like chucking your entire educational plan and spending the rest of your life making coffee and writing bad poems about how philosophy in general, and Plato in particular, must die in a fire. No, that isn't MY example, it only SEEMS highly specific.

So, now that the major "deadline" has passed ... has anybody heard ANYTHING from Hopkins this year? At all? I'm deeply annoyed to still be waiting on my last two rejections. Cause you'd think if it was a wait list sort of deal, they'd have said something. I have to say, this whole process has been rather disappointing. And not just for the obvious reasons. I am deeply unimpressed by the way some programs handle their applications. I find it terribly unprofessional that some programs simply do not reply to emails, even if it's just to say that they don't have an answer yet. Going through this again next year is going to be a very different process, with a much more jaded outlook on it all. And it's not because of the rejections. The ones that came in fairly quickly don't bother me much. The ones that answered emails honestly (or at all, quite frankly) with the "they've contacted the people they're interested in" soft let down don't bother me much. But the negligent non-answers and the no-response emails smack of a carelessness and a complete lack of seriousness that doesn't really fit with my impression of PhD programs. I can't decide if that says more about their expectations or mine.

Out of curiosity, what programs are people still waiting to hear from? And do you think these are silent rejections, or is there something else going on? Mostly just curious at this point. I've pretty much resigned myself to not getting into a PhD program this season. Starting to make plans for next year that revolve around writing a polished thesis (instead of banging out some frantic piece of shite - long story) and taking a serious look at what programs I want to apply to next season. And doing something related to my field for work, cause student loans are going to come bite me in the ass. But mostly, taking the upcoming year as a time for recovery and regrouping. Anybody else?

So I've decided to give my last two programs till the end of the week. Then I'm sending out ANOTHER email asking for an update. Which is kind of tricky, since I think my master's thesis is so far from approaching finishable this semester that I would probably have to defer admission even if I got in. (Damn Plato and his fucking Greek language to the ninth frozen level of Hades. Seriously.) The thing is, I'm pretty sure that at this point, it's rejections anyway. Why they don't just send that info out already is beyond me. It all kind of makes me ponder, again, what my goal with all this shit really is. And while I would love to get my PhD and do ... PhDish things, I think it is entirely within the realms of possibility for me to be ... ok ... with my life if that doesn't happen. Or maybe I just need this semester of suckage to end so I can get some perspective on it all. I think I am officially losing it.

Breaking the news is simple. "Oh my god, I applied to grad school, and holy shit I got in!!!" Anybody who can't be excited for you is inherently made of fail. Sure you may get questions about why you didn't say something about it sooner. That's simple too. "Didn't expect to actually get anywhere." More explaination is not required. If they're proper friends, they'll just tease you mercilessly. Seriously though, just let yourself be excited and tell them!

I'm actually wrapping up the master's program in classics right now. My current thought on the program are ... less than charitable. I'm having a frustrating semester, as a Romanist stuck in a graduate seminar on Plato. (Also, it should be noted that I despise philosophy with the fire of a thousand suns and reading it, even in translation, makes me want to gauge my eyes out with a spork. So, yeah, most hated semester in ages.) That said, you can get some pretty serious language strengthening in this program. And if you're a Hellenist, there's all sorts of great/interesting/Greek things going on. Including the recent hiring of another Hellenist professor. If you're a Romanist ... let's just say that in six semesters there's been only one Latin seminar, compared to four Greek seminars and one offering of the Proseminar. On the other hand, there is Latin teaching credential available here, so that's a good point. Another down side (depending on your focus) is that the department is very philology heavy. There IS a classical archaeology specialty, but it's been terribly frustrating. On the other hand, they just made some changes to the master's program that should make it a little less stupid (but obviously that doesn't help me much). Of course, it also might get balanced out somewhat with the new hire, since (if I remember correctly) she's a bit more on the material culture side. It's a pretty small department, and right now there's really only one "real" archaeologist around. So ... if you're wanting to do classical archaeology, it's pretty frustrating. But you can't get anywhere in classics without all that language stuff, so it's hard to say how much room they really have to change it. At least, if they want people to be able to go on to PhD programs. Not that it's looking that great on that front this year ... Bleh. Don't mind me, I'm just bitter and hating this semester. It's really coloring my judgment about the entire experience.