imonedaful

If I won the lottery, it would give me more reason to go to graduate school. I could do it, have fun, and not have to worry about finances. I would set up a scholarship fund and name it after myself (because I have always wanted something named after me, haha).

I went back and forth on the same thing you did. I hadn't heard from 2/3 schools I applied to yet and did not know if it was appropriate to e-mail them. I was thinking in my mind about what it would be like to be on an admission committee or the head of the department and hundreds of applicants are e-mailing you for status updates. But I decided to go ahead a shoot over a short e-mail that DID NOT sound impatient. I just asked for a time frame on when decisions would be made so that I could plan my life accordingly. Now, let's see if I get a response.

I haven't heard from 2/3 schools that I have applied to. However, I learned from somebody on here they did not find out from one of my programs until May 15th last year. So, I may still be waiting for awhile. I am pretty sure admissions committees are not doing it on purpose just to torture you. It is a long and complicated process.

I am in a similar stituation as well. I applied to ODU and have not heard back yet either. I sent an e-mail late on Friday so I am hoping somebody will give me a time frame next wek sometime. Maybe. I know their deadline was April 1st, so who knows how fast the turn around is.

I filled out all my applications early. Like in 2011 early, haha. I had everything submitted in December/ January so they have had my application for a long time. I read people on these forums posting about contacting schools but I don't really want to pester the University too much. Imagine if you were part of the graduate department and 400 people applied and they all sent you e-mails every week inquiring about their status. But I am considering it. What about the school with a possible June deadlline?

Steak n Shake coupons... I guess if I don't get in I can always drink a discount milkshake.

Just like everyone else on here, I hate making back-up plans but they are essential. Not having gotten in anywhere yet, it is hard NOT to worry about it. My mother keeps telling me "well, at least you have two jobs, you don't HAVE to go to graduate school." I tell people if I don't get in, I might have to do my PHD in Mexico. Haha. If I don't get in, I am working and I suppose I could keep my jobs and continue to save me money, if they don't drive me crazy in the near future. I am an administrative assistant at a college (ironic, I know) and I work as a personal trainer at the gym. But these are obviously not things I see myself doing for the rest of my life. I have been making a short list in my head of different schools I might apply to next year if I were to reapply and go through this process over again. And if I did, I would definitely sit for the GMAT again since I think my scores were the weakest part of my application. Everybody faces the same issue if we don't get in, how BADLY do we want to do this and HOW MUCH effort is it worth?

kathy griffin

I am still waiting to hear from two schools. However, I haven't contacted them either because one of their appliaction deadlines was April 1st, so I would think they would start making decisions after that point and the other school I am not really sure about their official deadline. I looked over the website plenty of times for specific deadlines for the program I am applying and it just sent me back to the general overall graduate studies program page which has a deadline at the beginning of June. Is that not extremely odd or what?

A lot of master's degree programs require a 3.0 and above. However, that is not all schools. I know at schools here in the U.S. they have a sliding scale of test scores to GPA. When I applied to my MBA program I had a good GPA so they told me I only needed to score a 400 on the GMAT to meet their admission standards. So if you are an awesome test taker you could take that into consideration. I agree with the poster above me, look at regionally accredited schools. Most master's programs like to recruit a diverse student population not just good students straight out of undergraduate degrees. I would presume international affairs would be a lot like business where your work experience will be a huge factor that will help you.

chocolate bunny

I think we should all take a vacation

Be happy that I have a job and am not living in a cardboard box. I have actually been planning a vacation for June so I can have something to look forward and to slightly minimize my obsession of knowing the admissions results. So if I get in, it will be a celebratory trip, and if I don't it will take my mind off of my dreams being crushed. haha.

They shouldn't be allowed to reject you on your birthday... not without sending a card at least, haha. Well, at least next year's birthday will automatically be fantastic!

It is a little bit comforting knowing that the decision is taking forever probably because of busy faculty schedules rather than just for pure torture! haha.

I stumbled upon this article the other day. Somebody wrote a blog about being a member of an Admissions Committee and the process that happens once you submit your application. It is about the program they were reviewing but nonetheless it gives some interesting insight into the general process. Check it out, here is the link: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/01/29/the-other-side-of-graduate-admissions/

blood sucking

From what I understand, once you are on a waitlist the main thing that influences whether you are accepted or not is whether the people in front of you end up attending the program or not and what kind of funding the program is able to give out. I doubt that adding extra credentials will change being on a waitlist. If other students who are offered admission end up attending then they go to the next person the waitlist and so on down the line. If you add an extra letter of recommendation I don't think they would un-offer admission to somebody and offer it to you instead. That is just what I think, but I am 100% positive.

dry humor

I could go for one acceptance right about now.

Being from the west coast I know that after completely one year of school in California you can apply for in-state residency and get the in-state tuition rate. I believe you have to show "intent" to live there (i.e. registering to vote or getting a California drivers license.) Depending on how long you plan to be in school, that might seriously help you out financially.

Well I had someone on the admissions committee contact me a few weeks ago asking if I was still interested in their program because the committee was meeting and I was one of the applicants they were "particularly" interested. I took this as a good sign. A few weeks later I saw the status updated on the webpage of my application change from "under review" to "decision made." The exact words were DENIED COLLEGE. Lovely. Got my hopes, only to not even send me a personal e-mail. Everybody on here who had some form of acceptance only for it turn out to be not what you wanted or some sort of rejection my heart goes out to you. If not at that particular school or not in graduate school at all, I am sure you will find a way to apply your talents!

ugly boy

UNC Charlotte is a very nice school and Charlotte is a great city. I have visited the campus before when I considered transferring there for my undergraduate studies. With a graduate degree from this university especially in engineering it would not hinder you from getting a job here in the United States. I went to school with a lot of engineering students at a similarily ranked university and a lot of them made great contacts and did very well. Things are always what you make of them. I really don't know much about the university in Singapore but if it is your dream to go to a U.S. university you should definitely do it.

great lovin'