Patience Is A Virtue... RIGHT?!?!?

[NYnicole726]

Hi, everyone!

I am new to the forums and SO glad I found this site... Nice to know there are a LOT of other impatient applicants out there. I have absolutely NO patience so it is really driving me crazy every single day when I run to the mailbox and see nothing but junkmail and bills. What a disappointment! It has only been 18 days (July 1st deadline/submittal of app). I graduated SUNY Empire State College (www.esc.edu) in December (2010) with a Bachelors in business and economics. I knew I wanted to (eventually) apply for Graduate school but wasn't sure about WHEN I would do so. I decided to apply @ Empire State College - MBA program. I am currently a stay-at-home mom (operatig a web design and marketing company from home). I figured it would be best to begin now: before my som starts school, before we have a 2nd child, before I return to work.

The suspense is KILLING ME!!! It has [only] been less than 3-weeks - after reading some of the threads here I have come to realize I could be waiting awhile...I haven't waited nearly as long as some other members here...But with the semester beginning in less than 2-months - I am HOPING it won't be too much longer...

Has anyone here applied to or have any experiences with Empire? My undergrad acceptance letter took maybe 2-3 weeks so I hope Graduate admissions is about the same....!!!!

[fiber0ptik]

Hi, everyone!

I am new to the forums and SO glad I found this site... Nice to know there are a LOT of other impatient applicants out there. I have absolutely NO patience so it is really driving me crazy every single day when I run to the mailbox and see nothing but junkmail and bills. What a disappointment! It has only been 18 days (July 1st deadline/submittal of app). I graduated SUNY Empire State College (www.esc.edu) in December (2010) with a Bachelors in business and economics. I knew I wanted to (eventually) apply for Graduate school but wasn't sure about WHEN I would do so. I decided to apply @ Empire State College - MBA program. I am currently a stay-at-home mom (operatig a web design and marketing company from home). I figured it would be best to begin now: before my som starts school, before we have a 2nd child, before I return to work.

The suspense is KILLING ME!!! It has [only] been less than 3-weeks - after reading some of the threads here I have come to realize I could be waiting awhile...I haven't waited nearly as long as some other members here...But with the semester beginning in less than 2-months - I am HOPING it won't be too much longer...

Has anyone here applied to or have any experiences with Empire? My undergrad acceptance letter took maybe 2-3 weeks so I hope Graduate admissions is about the same....!!!!

Hi there!!! What can I tell you, it is exactly the same thing I've been dealing with too!!! School at which I applied had extended deadline for Fall 2011 admission so here I am, waiting it out, its been roughly like 10 days since the deadline passed so I am still waiting, every freaking day!Same as in your case, my program should start in a bit more than a month so I guess there shouldnt be too much of a timeframe to find out what is going on, at least I hope!I've emailed some people at University if they could give me at least a rough estimate but everybody seems to keep their mouth shut when it comes to that, but I can understand that...those guys probably have their hands full in making decision and setting up everything.

I wish I could help you in any way, but there is really nothing that you or anybody else can do for you, we will just have to be patient about it as you say. I too have rough days sometimes but usually if I keep myself busy with stuff is bearable...the day goes by faster and there is next one to come...with potential decision lol

It is hard and it is annoying but we will have to survive somehow. I wish you luck and all the best, I hope you get what you want and I hope they dont "cook" you on a stove for too long

Cheers!!!

[Mal83]

Hey I totally understand the complete and utter lack of patience thing, I have none of it. And the waiting for my decisions to come in was absolutely awful. As much as I disliked my job at the time, I was grateful to have it because it was something to do and it was one of the few things that actually took my mind of the whole process....a little. But just to put things into perspective, you guys with these extended deadlines will not have to wait nearly as long as those of us who applied under regular deadlines...back in winter and early spring, not that that makes it any easier for you, but the months of waiting really was torture for a lot of people, if you just comb this "waiting it out" thread for a while you'd see it. The extended deadline thing to me is just crazy, I guess if they made decisions on a rolling basis that would be OK, but it sounds like your particular schools didn't start the process until the deadline passed, but I couldn't imagine finding out if I was going to grad school only weeks before the semester started. My fastest decisions came only 3 weeks or so after a mid-March deadline, but I essentially had my application done for the other schools with much earlier deadlines months before so it didn't feel fast. Then another decision came in 6 weeks after, and then the longest was 2 months...2 months for a rejection. Of course I had my applications submitted much sooner then the deadlines so that added to the torture. But others were waiting even longer without a word from their schools, months and months. Just depends on the schools. Some schools give you absolutely no idea whatsoever where they'll get around to gracing you with a decision and others mercifully give you a time frame. One of my schools actually gave a "you will have a decision in mid-March" notice after submitting...so that was kind of them, but with the others it was just..."you'll find out when we find out." Anyway, you shouldn't have to wait so long simply because there isn't much time left until the semester...I would consider that a good thing.

[NYnicole726]

Thanks for your replies It makes it a LOT easier knowing I am NOT alone here... I guess I needed to vent here because my husband (although VERY supportive and PATIENT), doesn't "get it"... I think he can't wait for the letter so I stop moping around! The only thing keeping me busy since I am a stay-at-home mom (besides my son) is studying accounting.... Empire has a (goddamn) prerequisite for accounting.. I WISH I knew this prior to graduating (since I already planned on Grad school) but I clearly wasn't thinking ... SO - I am told a conditional undergrad accounting for semester #1 is what will happen since I do not have ACCT... So I have been studying accounting nonstop to prepare myself for September. I dont want accounting to bog down my other Grad level courses as I prefer to focus on those rather than ACCT.

The "best" time of the day is the morning... then the mai comes around 1-2PM and I run down the steps - grab a stack of bills, bills, bills, magazine, bills, bills, junk, NO acceptance letter - then I just wanna get the day over with so I can do it again with tomorrows mail. Sundays - those are the WORST! No mail on Sunday... not something an awaiting applicant needs.

You are right - I should absolutely be grateful I don't have to wait too long. The original deadline was June 1st. I made the finalized decision to apply in mid-April! Although I had my resume already, I did need to spruce it up Thereafter collecting recommendations and writing essays was a chore. Then my (brand new MacBook Pro) crashed - NATURALLY... and I was out of commission for 2.5 weeks! Luckily Apple replaced the system (with a BRAND NEW Mac) AND saved my essays - WHEW... So this is all pretty new to me. Not to mention the application process was a complete disaster but everything came together VERY well in the end... So I feel very confident but that doubt is eating at me.. I don't want to be TOO confident and then a denial comes and I am let down.. Plus I only applied to one school. I can only take online courses and didn't like any other online MBA programs... If I need to research others - I will if that happens.... But if I am not accepted to Empire, I will take another year to decide what path to take. Ok, I'll stop ranting...

Time to check the mail!!!

[Mal83]

I know how you feel completely, no need to justify ranting and venting here. I was the same way with the mail thing, I hated Sundays too. Although, sometimes I looked at those days as a reprieve from the anxiety and anticipation of waiting for the mail. I figured at the very least, I knew that I wouldn't get a reject letter on a Sunday, sometimes it worked sometimes it didn't. It's a mental battle for sure and the more important it is to you the harder it is. Once I finally completed all of my applications there was probably a modicum of relief for a few days and then that went away as the anxiety and need for instant gratification came crashing down on me. It's the same though for many applicants. I would drive home from work thinking that I could have something waiting for me at home, then I'd walk in and there was nothing, that was the worst part of the day. One of my schools released all of the decisions at the same time through email, well you get a message saying your decision is ready online, which is of course better than waiting for a letter in the mail and you don't have to wonder if the letters are being sent out according to decisions, like all of the acceptances go out first and then the rejections. All kinds of theories as to how schools do it start swirling around here because that's how anxious and desperate for information everyone becomes. That sucks that you have to do a pre-req but it's a small price to pay for getting in and pursuing the degree you want. For the school that I'm attending this fall, I submitted my application I guess the end of December, the deadline was February 1st, then I got my waitlist notice in mid-March, of course I was crushed, but the worst of it was that they told me I wouldn't know until the 3rd week of May...so at that point it felt like an eternity. I received an acceptance in the meantime but this other one was my dream school so I had to wait to find out, I wasn't going to just give up on it so I stayed on the waitlist, it all worked out though, I got in and I haven't looked back since. This is generally a terribly long and emotional process, this site provided a lot of comfort and support while I was going through it so keep reading through threads and talking to people here...it's definitely helpful and enlightening.

[NYnicole726]

Congrats! Happy it worked out for you... I am sure wait-list was disappointing but still you were able to have that hope - and it worked out in the end! So far I have checked the mail 4x today... Usually I don't bring it in unless I go out -- my husband will carry the mail upstairs when he gets home at night.. Now I am looking for the mailman to walk down the street! I am pretty annoyed about accounting but you are right - it is the price I will have to pay... I actually took (and failed) accounting in... 2003-2004. It is NOT my thing... which is another reason I am worried to take the course. My husband saw my transcripts while I was working on my application (before I knew about the prerequisite) and said himself, "Wow - all good grades...A's... 2 or 3 B's... then you got an F in accounting?" and I laughed it off... "Yeah! Thank GOD I didn't have to take it @ Empire for my Bachelors!". Doh... So now I am studying accounting 3-4 hours per day while my son naps - I hope to be a pro by September and not have to worry about the class. I'd rather focus on my MBA. It is keeping me busy and helping me get back into the groove of studying.

There is a 3-day residency I have to attend in September also... So I am really excited for Grad school. My husband says I am a total nerd ("...Who gets excited for a Grad school residency? 3-days of seminars and workshops? YUCK!"). I graduated in December and so far 7-months out of school and I hate it! Never thought i'd say that but I actually miss school.

I am going to definitely keep reading the forums to try and whither away the anxiety. I feel a lot better already being able to talk to others and read stories about the waiting game. Like I said, my husband has NO idea what this process is like so I feel alone in the house here. Most of my friends have either completed grad school, already enrolled, or not interested after Bachelors - so I really had no one to vent with and felt like I was talking to myself (I probably was actually..).

[fiber0ptik]

Hahaha...Nicole, the things you've been saying is like I am listening to myself over and over again. It is definitely nice to know that we are not out there alone in this mess...this forum helped me a lot too to relieve the anxiety and horrible wait.

I went to SUNY Upstate so we kind of share the same background :-) NY is the sh$t :-)))

I just graduated and I was very busy in my final semesters and had a lot of responsabilities + academic job so I almost lost any hope in getting in grad school for this year. I just didnt have any time whatsoever to study for gre, organize applications, call this, call that...etc. Buried in my studies, literally.

But then I got a chance of getting admitted into this biochemistry grad program and I did all in my power to secure everything that was necessary. So it is only one school in my case as well, I haven't applied anywhere else.

The thing with me is that I made it into supposedly very limited pool of applicants and I was granted an interview. So I flew over there and I think I did a good job of representing myself, I liked the professors and general environment was very appealing and nice to me. It also seemed that some of the professors had a "thing" for me considering that I was doing some research that was very specific to the type of research that they do. But in my later correspondence some of them replied to my messages, some have not and others stated that right now they are really busy but that they would love to have me in the future. I don't know, could be a double edge sword, the more I think about it, the less I know lol It is weird.

God knows how many times I have analyzed things in my head, thinking what did I say, what I could've/should've said, did I make this right or wrong, could I do it other ways etc. It is something that is constantly there and the more I analyze, the more confusing it gets. So I just try to keep an open mind and be ready to embrace any possibility although,knowing my very driven mentality and stubbornness, whatever the outcome, my reaction to it will be pretty strong. Thats how my personality is...I'm just a very competitive as a person and as an athlete and I take my successes and failures very emotionally and with a lot of sentiment. I've had some great moments so far in my life and I also took some horrible blows at times, so I will be able to internalize it somehow, like I always did in the past.

I just hope for both of us that they don't keep us on fire for too long and I wish you all the peace of mind and strength in this world to lessen your anxiety and wait, and I hope for the best outcome!!!

God bless.

[NYnicole726]

Thank you! I hope the best for you as well.

I am actually going nuts right now. My son is asleep and I don't want to open the bedroom door since landscapers are outside and the noise will wake him.. and I can't check the mail!

Glad to know someone else that only applied to one school! I didn't think much of it - I only have interest in one school and didn't think (hope I thought correctly..) that I would need a backup... The problem with online programs is required residencies. I am on Long Island so Empire is about 3-4 hour drive from me... There are 3 residencies I must attend throughout my time as a Grad student - which isn't bad.. I looked into some other MBA programs online and the only schools I would consider had residencies... and were too far of a drive from New York...OR, some had weekly or monthly requirements. I can't do that ... It will be difficult enough making arrangements for 3-day residencies (3 times)... So if I am not accepted, the process of finding another A) MBA program that I like/fits in with my goals, etc. Is 99.9% ONLINE; C) Local enough for a drive IF residencies are required.. Very picky situation I have! I cannot attend a traditional brick-&-mortar in-class program because my husband doesn't have a SET "quitting time" work schedule. Some days he may be home at noon while the next day he walks in after 9PM... So I would probably never make it to a class!

And... GRE is NOT a requirement @ Empire... So I would have to most likely take the test since I have't (hope I don't have to take that road and instead receive that acceptance letter!)

[fiber0ptik]

Ha!

I got accepted today!!! Oh boy...is this great feeling or what! I feel like drugged!

I hope the same thing goes your way too! Wish you all the best!!!

[NYnicole726]

CONGRATS! {super jealous}... I can imagine - and cannot wait to feel drugged myself LOL

Yesterday not ONE piece of mail came.. not ONE.. NO BILLS, JUNK, NOTHING!!!! Like a sick joke already....??! Top it all off - I am actually sick this week.... So my son is going bananas locked in the house pretty much, I run downstairs every 20-minutes to check for mail that never comes... and we are having a heatwave here in NY (over 100+ degrees today).. My birthday is on Tuesday - so it needs to come ASAP or i will be miserable! (Ok, not miserable - I am exaggerating.. but I would be a lot happier plus anxiety/worry FREE!)

Congrats again! -- AND I hope to deliver the same news today....(would be nice)... !!!

[Lanie]

I've been on a wait list since the app was due in February. Waiting is NOT FUN. THink there's any chance at all at this late date?

[Mal83]

I've been on a wait list since the app was due in February. Waiting is NOT FUN. THink there's any chance at all at this late date?

I would call them to find out what the deal is, at this point it's a little ridiculous to still not know. Tell them you're still really interested and committed to the program and that you need to know so you can start planning.