Datatape

Deep healing breaths, guys, deep healing breaths. And muffins. Blueberry.

Just having been through this before I think will automatically give the second (or third) time applicants a bit of a leg up. I know I was much more prepared this go-round than last year and I was able to focus in on what image I wanted to project of myself. Last year, I applied to seven schools, was rejected outright at four and waitlisted at three. This year, with a stronger writing sample, much stronger statement of purpose, and several promising contacts with professors at various institutions, I feel much better about my chances. Oddly, I've also been a little more detached about the whole process; I certainly am checking the forums and having my email close by at all times, but I've taken much more of a que sera sera approach to it. Last year I was so emotionally invested that each rejection (even from the schools that weren't high on my list) felt like a slug to the gut. This year, I'm aiming to be as zen as possible about it.

Well...

I just submitted my last application. Charlotte, tell 'em how I feel.

First page: full name and "Writing Sample" in the top corner, with the title two lines down and centered. Just last name and page number for the header. Like HHEoS said, most online applications add information anyway, so you probably don't need a great deal more information.

Alice Walker Cheryll Glotfelty Ursula Heise Jean & John Comaroff (technically cheating as they make it five, but they were co-authors of the book I found so illuminating)

Nope. Specifically marked for U.S. citizens and permanent residents only. "The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia requires that any student applying to Georgia State University must provide verification of their lawful presence in the United States before their admission to the university can be finalized." And, in fairness, you could alternately upload a copy of a Georgia driver's license, a U.S. Certificate of Naturalization or U.S. Certificate of Citizenship, a U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad, or a Permanent Resident Card. Golly gee, thanks for all those options, GSU. I really wanted to have to stop everything in the midst of completing my last two applications, dig up my passport, drive downtown to my office, scan it in, and drive back so I could finish this.

Okay, now I've seen everything. Georgia State wants you to upload, as part of your application, a scan of your passport so they can run a background check.

Yaaaaaaaay!

I've been fortunate not to have any complaints about grades, but one of the things I did at both midterms and before the final was to provide a printout of my students' grade at that point in the semester. I also verbally told them in our final conferences before their portfolios were due what the maximum grade possible they could get for the semester was. Several of them told me they really appreciated this because they knew exactly where they stood and how well they had to do in order to get a grade they'd be happy with. I know from first-hand experience that college grades sometimes can seem arbitrary, so I tried to cut that argument off at the pass.

Oh, you. But, remember:

Don't fret, asleepawake. Remember, this is how we all feel inside:

All right, my turn. GRE: 93% V/76% Q/92% A GRE subject test: 56% Grad GPA: 3.87 at a SLAC ranked #3 by the USN&WR for Southern Masters granting colleges Applying: Delaware, Emory, Georgia State, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana State, Nebraska, Nevada-Reno, UNC-Chapel Hill, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee-Knoxville, WUSTL.

UC Davis. Would have loved to apply, but circumstances made it impossible for me to take the subject test in October as I planned and the November test scores wouldn't have arrived until well after their deadline.

"Didn't you do that last year?"

I have almost exclusively As, one A- and yes, a dreaded B. The B, however, comes from the hardest grader in the department, one of my letter recommenders, who noted in her letter that she rarely, if ever, gives out As to students of any level and even an A- is almost unheard of. My GPA overall is a 3.87 and I have a 4.0 in four out of six semesters of course work. Everything has context and there are exceptions to every rule.

Ohhh, that's a good idea. I may have to steal that for future use.

Dear Dr. von Blonderbutt: I recently checked my letters of recommendation for the University of BFE and noted that yours hadn't been uploaded. The deadline was December 15 - I don't know whether this will affect my eligibility or not, but could you please check your email to see if the notification is there? I know things are very busy at the end of the semester, but I would really appreciate it if you could get my letter uploaded at your earliest opportunity. Thank you again very much for writing these letters for me, Virago

bfat - don't throw in the towel. Get on the phone with the graduate secretary today and ask him/her about any alternate way to get your letter in. Explain the situation and that you have every other aspect of your application in, including the fee. Be insistent without being pushy. If the answer is still no after you've exhausted all other avenues, then ask who you need to contact to get a refund on your application fee. Programs have students with last-minute crises all the time; this is what the graduate secretaries get paid to handle. This application season, two of the three programs I thought I'd have to cut because my GRE subject scores weren't going to be sent until after their deadline told me to go ahead and just submit everything because the GRE scores only needed to be in by the graduate school deadline, not the departmental deadline. Don't give up, especially after you've worked this hard.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: it is going to be all right, guys. There is literally nothing you can do at this point to change what the outcome is. I know that is a terrifying thought, but it can also be liberating. You have put out the best package you could and now it is up to the adcoms. Breathe. Take some time for yourselves. Enjoy the holidays. Now is not the time to start freaking out about acceptances - I doubt any of us will be hearing anything until at least mid January. And also, listen to the manatees: http://calmingmanatee.com/

I'm almost certain, yes. I have several schools that use ApplyYourself and I've never had any trouble with recommenders uploading letters after I've finished my application.