JackieW

Yeah, I agree.... I'm pretty pessimistic. Sometimes, I'm optimistic about my chances: good GPA, not horrible GRE scores, LORs from professors who I know SO well, and what I think turned out to be a pretty good SoP... but then I remember I've never published anything and I went to a school that's known for Physical Therapy, and not much else. I applied to four schools last year and didn't get in anywhere, and this time I applied to 11. I just want to get into ONE of those 11 and I will be ecstatic.

I'm just finishing up Mansfield Park, and then I'm not quite sure what I'll be moving on to next. I have a stack of five books I need to read, and I might just go for the random historical fiction novel I found in the $3.99 bin at Borders. (We all need some mindless entertainment every now and then, right?)

I had a dream last night that I forgot to send in all of my supporting materials to Boston College, and I woke up in a panic... only to remember I sent those out a month ago. I sent my final application out yesterday afternoon, so the anxiety has certainly begun! (Not like it didn't start in June...)

So, on the main page for the English PhD program, it says the deadline for applications is January 9th. However, when you click on the PDF on the "Application Instructions," it says the deadline is December 1st!! I'm going to call tomorrow to double check, but can anyone shed some light on this??

I hate the way all applications do letters of recommendation! I have informed my schools that two of my letters will become by mail (two of my professors are old school), but the applications still send out the notification email anyway. Grr.

UPDATE: I applied to two schools last night, and it wasn't as terrifying as I thought. Well, okay. A little bit. But the worst is over, I think.

But you did it, grad_wannabe! Congrats. I think I might submit Rutgers today (my first), and it's giving me hives.

My Writing Sample is done. My Statement of Purpose is... well, done. My application is strong--- I've been working on both of these works for MONTHS now. But I am SO scared of pressing "submit"!

I'm applying, and I'm not really worried about the weather. I *like* the cold and the rain, so no worries. It's my first choice though, so I'm reallllyyy keeping my fingers crossed for this one!

As much as I would like to tell you not to apply because you're applying to two of my top schools... I think you should be fine. I don't think schools really care too much about A.W., personally. All that section proves is you know how to hit "space" five times to tab.

So, my fellow grad school appliers, what are you all doing when you're not filling out your name and address dozens of time on applications? Do you have a real job, or are you stuck in a mindless, retail one like me? Do tell!

Can I piggyback on this thread? I'm going through the same thing!

Annnd I just realized Michigan's is due December 15th. (I'm applying to the Joint PhD in Women's Studies, so the materials are a little different, and it doesn't require the Lit GRE, for which my scores were not so hot!) Such a good school. *sigh*

Really, that early?? Only two of the schools I'm applying to have deadlines in December, all of the rest are in January. However, my goal is to get my December schools in ASAP, but I'm still polishing up my writing sample and my SOP. For all of my other schools, I want my materials in by December 1st. This part is SO stressful and I just wish it were over!

So, I'm still stuck: how do I answer this question? Obviously-,I want to continue doing research and teach at the college level. What ELSE would I want to do with a PhD in English?? But, I don't want to say JUST that because it's obvious and it's what they read over and over and over. Any other ideas, my fellow SoP Haters?

I studied vocab almost all summer and did a few hundred verbal practice sets. As for the math, a friend of mine who is going for his PhD in math was VERY patient with me (I hadn't taken a math course in 5 years) and tutored me. I did not, however, do any practice GRE's. Practice GRE's absolutely freaked me out the first time around and, seeing as I already knew what I was getting myself into this time around, I didn't focus on them. But, I'm definitely not in the norm.

All right, so I know the scores aren't *terrific* for this board, but when I took the GRE last year, I got a 540V and a 370Q and, (among other factors...!) I was, unsurprisingly, rejected from all of my schools. But, I just retook the GRE this week and got a 630V, 560Q and I'm extremely pleased with my improvement. I really just wanted to share.

All right. Yet another question! So, while I haven't completed my applications yet, I do want to start getting my transcripts and whatnot in--- is it okay to send supplemental materials (GRE scores, transcripts, etc) prior to the actual application? I know grad schools lose things all the time anyway, but I just want to make sure I won't be wasting my money.

Just do standby--- I did, and there were 3 or 4 extra tests. No worries!

I agree with Antonyms: I just can't get the hang of them! I've been studying my vocab for almost three months, and I'm still awful at them. Ho hum--- still have three weeks to master them!

Well, I assume a lot of us have started to "bite the bullet," as they say, and contact professors in our disciplines. I certainly have and, I must say, all of the professors I have heard back from have been quite warm and welcoming! One professor, unfortunately, told me she didn't think they would be accepting any Victorianists, but I am glad she let me know--- that way, if they're not, I don't waste the application fee. Anyone else have any good stories? This whole contacting professor thing is making me feel good about myself and like I'm ahead of all the people who don't know to do so!

I just gave a general idea--- I didn't want to get too specific in the first email. (Which may or may not be a good idea, but I think it's one that works best for me!) And, yes, I am just sitting on TGC.

So I sent a very brief introductory email to a professor (Basically a hi, my area of study, and I mentioned a paper of hers I had read), and I got this response: Jacqueline, Thanks for your message and for your interest in Vanderbilt and in my work. I