MoJingly Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Totally feeling the "drown your sorrows" vibe and sympathize with everyone here; I'm sorry to have started this thread! Oh, let's just all meet for a few days in the Caribbean, drink a couple of margaritas, and laugh about it. katerific and psycholinguist 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix245 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 I think I should have applied to fewer places and tried to look for fellowships instead... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tso123d Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 (edited) My application season has gone well so far so I don't really have any huge regrets. However, if I were to do the last four years again I would change some things: 1) Taking a summer off was a mistake. Doing research in the summer when you can work full-time is probably the best way to learn about your field and in some ways the only chance to make significant progress on a given project, so in retrospect it made little sense not to take advantage of an opportunity to do this, especially when I had not better plans. In addition, I didn't realize how soul-crushingly boring four months of doing nothing would be. All my friends had jobs and so I was stuck essentially on my own. By the end I was almost praying for the beginning of the semester. 2) I regret starting my applications fairly late. I actually thought I was doing fairly well early in the fall, I chose potential programs of interest, talked to people about letters, etc. But when I started working on applications, I was surprised to find that the whole thing took longer than I had anticipated. Maybe the biggest problem was that I decided to apply for the NSF fellowship only a month before it was due and in the end I was almost racing to finish the thing (good thing I work best under pressure). On the other hand, after I had the NSF statements written, I wrote my statements of purpose and other essays fairly quickly as I already had an idea of what to say and could even cannibalize the NSF personal statement/research statement. I still ended up applying close to the deadline for most programs though... 3) Finally I would probably apply to fewer schools. But it's easy to say this now after I have gotten some offers, it was a completely different situation when I was in the middle of applying and stressing out about my chances at the schools I was looking at. Edited January 17, 2011 by tso123d Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lechatgris Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 shoulda been a cowboy . . . I would go all the way back to high school and take a geometry class so that my GRE quant. score would be better than a 5th grader's. murkyama, NadaJ, sydney146 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neuropsych76 Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 It's too early for me to tell. Right now I feel like I've done okay with the process so far with my naive undergraduate wisdom. I applied to 12 schools but I might think that I should have applied to more if I don't get in anywhere... Also, I'm sure I will regret things I did or didn't do during my interview(s). Despite having an awfully busy semester I am actually content I just got all my applications sent in on time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoJingly Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 shoulda been a cowboy . . . shoulda married rich... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
augustquail Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 I regret being a procrastinator. A lot of my LORs were uploaded past submission deadlines.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OR_Dan Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 (edited) Well, I think if we are applying to graduate school we're all probably kind of over-achievers. And hence when something doesn´t have a measurable top (i.e. SOP, LOR process, writing sample, etc) we always end up thinking "I could have done better". Truth is I also feel this way about many parts of my apps. But I think I'm reaching the "F*** it" stage. I no longer obsses about what might have been, I think about the SOP or a typo in an app for a second and then say "F*** it". Quite frankly I don't believe doing anything differently would have seriously improved my chances. Come March I'll know whether it was enough or not. I really hope it is, but if it isn't... well.... "F*** it!". Edited January 17, 2011 by OR_Dan esoryma 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murkyama Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 I would have waited on sending my SOP out to my top choice until I had written about three or four of them. I should have asked professors to look over my writing sample. I wished I would have made more contact with the programs. I regret paying the amount of $$ I did. Anyone else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katerific Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Oh, let's just all meet for a few days in the Caribbean, drink a couple of margaritas, and laugh about it. Best idea ever. Although if the Caribbean is a bit out of the way for most people, we could always go to $3 happy hour down the street at La Barca.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IdealThinker Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 I wish I had improved my GRE scores No one read my application or proof read it before I submitted it. And I wish I had a higher bunch of results from grad school. Oh well... what can one do! Just hope for a miracle, it means so much to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eli- Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Totally down for some Bloody Marys - in honor of my like $2k sacrifice for tests and apps... Best idea ever. Although if the Caribbean is a bit out of the way for most people, we could always go to $3 happy hour down the street at La Barca.... lyonessrampant 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zouzax Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Just remembered something else! I wish I had taken the time to get published/ present at some conferences. Unfortunately, I worked way too much during this Master's, and I barely had time to finish the workload I was given (I am taking 5 classes a semester, one semester was 6 classes), let alone sit down and prepare a piece to be submitted to a journal/ conference. This is actually one of my biggest regrets I get so obsessed with working, once I see a paycheck I'm always thinking about how I can increase it, which means I sign up for more hours ... definitely shouldve had my priorities straight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NadaJ Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 In a lot of ways, this application season was a test run. I didn't even think about applying to any PhD program until July or August, when I told a professor I was communicating with of my plans and she steered me this direction. I had taken the GREs in 2009, but my scores were abysmal. My UG GPA is absymal too, so all I have going for me at the moment is a decent SOP, wonderful LORs, a 3.8 grad GPA, and great communication with a POI at the one school in which I've applied. If I don't get in this year, I will certainly be sad, but it won't be unexpected. And then I will add more tear-jerking statements to my SOP, retake the GRE and have my M.Ed finally under my belt. Next year is looking kinda nice actually.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zouzax Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 In a lot of ways, this application season was a test run. I didn't even think about applying to any PhD program until July or August, when I told a professor I was communicating with of my plans and she steered me this direction. I had taken the GREs in 2009, but my scores were abysmal. My UG GPA is absymal too, so all I have going for me at the moment is a decent SOP, wonderful LORs, a 3.8 grad GPA, and great communication with a POI at the one school in which I've applied. If I don't get in this year, I will certainly be sad, but it won't be unexpected. And then I will add more tear-jerking statements to my SOP, retake the GRE and have my M.Ed finally under my belt. Next year is looking kinda nice actually.... I feel the same. If I'm not accepted, Ill take the year to do the things I wish I had time to do, like get published, present at conferences, beef up my CV, etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrettyVacant Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 I wish I had contacted the program before applying. Last time I contacted a program before applying, I ended up not applying to the school because I received a very negative response. So maybe not contacting the programs was for the best. Who knows? It's hard to tell at this point. I just wish they had gotten to know me a little better. It's hard not to sound generic when you are basically telling the adcom committee what they want to hear. I hope what I presented was memorable enough. I should really stop second doubting myself. I wish more people had read my SoP before I submitted it. Most of the feedback I received was very positive, but I had trouble convincing myself it was the absolute best I could come up with. I spent about 2 months working on it, and I was never fully satisfied with it. Too late now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbanWonk Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 In cleaning my stuff out of my parents' house, I found the newspaper I was editor-in-chief of during high school. The last edition of it was an "advice to juniors" special--all about applying to college. One thing that stuck out-- "Applying to college is like taking a class. You can do it in the fall on top of everything else, or you can do it in 'summer school.'" Yeahhhh....wishing I knew now what I knew then? I did the applying for fellowships gig over the summer, and was so burned out from that and my job that I didn't start on apps until around Thanksgiving. waddle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoJingly Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Yes. I regret not contacting one of my schools to see what their interview dates were. I assumed they would have more than one... but alas. So of the two places I applied, both want me the same weekend. &$^#%@ Not a big deal in the long run, since I work at the University that I am unable to "visit," but it causes some headaches and stress that I would rather NOT deal with! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sevi Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 I regret not applying to more out-of-state schools. Originally, I was only planning on applying to Texas schools since I was born and raised here, my family is here and isn't leaving, and there are good schools here- no need to leave. I ended up throwing one out-of-state school into the bunch just for kicks not thinking I had any chance at actually being admitted. But apparently I'm way more awesome than I thought I was and I've received interview invitations from all but one school. Now it's been killing me that although I have a chance at the out-of-state school, it may still be a small chance or if I get accepted by this out-of-state school AND an in-state school I'd have to choose. On top of that, there's an incredibly sweet and supportive guy in the out-of-state school area that I've really become closer to since starting applications, so if I don't go to that school I fear I may always wonder "what if" with him.... I also regret not applying to at least one Masters program on top of the PhD programs since I've recently been doubting whether or not a PhD is worth the time commitment and if a PhD is right for me. I should have applied to a Masters in the out-of-state school area mentioned earlier. Oh well... Can't do anything about it now. Out of my hands, out of my control. Sucks.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiglath-Pileser III Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 I wish I had contacted the program before applying. Last time I contacted a program before applying, I ended up not applying to the school because I received a very negative response. So maybe not contacting the programs was for the best. Who knows? Last year I sent emails out to potential POIs. Oddly enough, the school I go the most negative email response from was also the only school that I got anything from. From the schools that expressed exuberant interest by email, I got nothing but a form letter rejection. This year I sent out no emails and am just going to let the chips fall where they may. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NadaJ Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Last year I sent emails out to potential POIs. Oddly enough, the school I go the most negative email response from was also the only school that I got anything from. From the schools that expressed exuberant interest by email, I got nothing but a form letter rejection. This year I sent out no emails and am just going to let the chips fall where they may. Very interesting. I am counting on my POI contact to help the chances of my application being received favorably. Although, I made a point to meet with the POI face-to-face so we could see if this would be a good match. That may be the kicker... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balderdash Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 I wish I had a better coffee maker. adaptations, katerific and troy.princess 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anxious2011 Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 I wish I had contacted the professors wherever I applied. I second that, though was advised that its not really a done thing in my program so I didn't have to do it. Still now I think the extra effort might have helped, but I didn't want to tick off any faculty :-/ oh well. I guess this second guessing is natural though. It happened while I was writing some of my later SOPs too. Kept finding small, probably inconsequential things that I could have caught earlier and then freaking out about them! Can't wait to be done with this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrettyVacant Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Last year I sent emails out to potential POIs. Oddly enough, the school I go the most negative email response from was also the only school that I got anything from. From the schools that expressed exuberant interest by email, I got nothing but a form letter rejection. This year I sent out no emails and am just going to let the chips fall where they may. I guess emails don't really make a difference. I can imagine the adcom going: That girl dared to email us a while back! REJECT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zouzax Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Last year I sent emails out to potential POIs. Oddly enough, the school I go the most negative email response from was also the only school that I got anything from. From the schools that expressed exuberant interest by email, I got nothing but a form letter rejection. This year I sent out no emails and am just going to let the chips fall where they may. thats really interesting!! you just gave me renewed hope ... thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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