Applying for Fall 2012

[JSK]

So, my top program's website won't let me fill out the fellowship application because "the deadline has passed" even though the deadline is officially tomorrow night. Isn't that swell? This would be the saddest possible reason to take another year off...

[chrisp]

JSK, give them a call. If you don't, you're effectively giving up before you try.

[snes]

The danger of leaving things to the last minute: Penn's app allows for uploading of a writing sample in one spot, 500 kb limit. They want two writing samples, and the process of combining two writing samples to somehow be less than 500 kb involved removing all images, shrinking transcriptions to tiny tiny size, going back to times new roman from garamond, then UNEMBEDDING the fonts from the PDF document, changing everything to grayscale even though I thought it already was, and REMOVING my bibliographies, and finally, desperately, going to 1.5-spaced font. BARELY made the cut.

also JSK did they fix the problem in time?

Edited December 15, 2011 by snes

[Karajan]

I thought that the Penn app allowed a writing sample (2 combined, rather) of 2.5 KB... I managed to squeeze my ~50 pages into 2.3 KB, magically...

[snes]

I thought that the Penn app allowed a writing sample (2 combined, rather) of 2.5 KB... I managed to squeeze my ~50 pages into 2.3 KB, magically...

what what what what. (I'm assuming you actually mean mb not kb)

This is what I saw:

"Beginning Fall 2010, we will begin accepting writing samples online that do not exceed 500 kbs. "

And I did try to submit something around 700 kb and it didn't let me.

Edited December 15, 2011 by snes

[Karajan]

Oh right... I think I just got confused; this happens frequently.

Sorry!

PS: We don't have to send hard copy transcripts to Penn, right?

Edited December 16, 2011 by Karajan

[snes]

nope, just uploaded.

[Karajan]

I think that's right, too, but then I'm confused as to why it still says "Application status: Incomplete." They acknowledged receipt of my GRE scores, references, application fee, and transcript (not official) ... I don't know what I've missed!

[snes]

I think that's right, too, but then I'm confused as to why it still says "Application status: Incomplete." They acknowledged receipt of my GRE scores, references, application fee, and transcript (not official) ... I don't know what I've missed!

Hmm. When did you submit? Maybe it needs a physical person to say "wait, this IS complete" like my Northwestern App which was marked as Incomplete for a while because they didn't have TOEFL scores that I never took because I'm not international.

My Penn app obviously says incomplete because I just applied yesterday and they haven't noted that they received my GRE scores, but hopefully they'll update that soon and I'll see if mine also still says "Incomplete"

[JSK]

Apparently Embark screwed my application up for a specific reason, but it's all fine now.

Often times applications don't log mailed received supplemental materials for days or weeks afterwards. I don't think you should be too concerned, Karajan, this same sort of thing has happened to me before.

I hate the limits too. I had to squeeze 50 pages (including a musical score) into 1 Mb for my Davis application the other day. Luckily the system didn't mind that I was about 100 kb over!

[chrisp]

Guys, I ran into file size limits with two universities. I just called the grad admissions departments and asked permission to email my supplemental materials as PDF documents. Size limits are ridiculous for things like scores or scholarly essays.

Also, I turned in my applications (including the GRE scores, transcripts, etc) in mid-November and one of the schools still says my application is incomplete. I gave them a call and they confirmed that they take a while to update the online application status.

The moral of the story is that you shouldn't worry. Having been through this before I can tell you that grad admissions departments take weeks (if not months) to process materials.

You're all talented, bright individuals. Take a breath!

[snes]

Working on NYU right now. Christmas music is on in an attempt to get into the season. I even have an ugly Christmas sweater on. Well hello there, Embark! Missed you from last year. Do you like my sweater? No, please don't...not again...ugh, spontaneous log-out. Yay.

My SoP. Critique for me please?

"NYU is the school for me. At NYU, I'd like to study the history of the celebratory nature of bells, especially jingle bells. I'd also like to study the evolution of the Mannheim Rocket to the Mannheim Steamroller. In conclusion, summarily, did you know I say your name like this sometimes?: Nyoo."

[JSK]

Well, it's not much worse than the SoP I sent out last year....

[Catalyst77]

Is anyone applying to Eastman? It seems prescreening is done, and interviews are being scheduled.

Has anyone gone for an interview there before?

[Karajan]

Good luck with Eastman interviews, to everyone who has them! Have a good time!

Next deadline for me is 31 Dec... Submitting apps is always fun times...

[snes]

Dammit Karajan, stop applying to half of the same schools and same programs I'm applying to. There is no way in hell I can compete!!

[Karajan]

Haha, there are lots of good applicants--including you! You'll be just fine Hope to see you in the fall!

[Dharma Bum]

I'm glad to see that someone else is applying to UC Berkeley!

[Karajan]

I'd be happy to go to any of the schools I'm applying to, but Berkeley is particularly attractive!

[Dharma Bum]

Yeah, I definitely understand. I took a class in the music department during the summer of 2010 and really enjoyed my time in the Bay Area. On top of that, Richard Taruskin is one of my idols and I would love to work with him!

[Karajan]

Hmm. When did you submit? Maybe it needs a physical person to say "wait, this IS complete" like my Northwestern App which was marked as Incomplete for a while because they didn't have TOEFL scores that I never took because I'm not international.

My Penn app obviously says incomplete because I just applied yesterday and they haven't noted that they received my GRE scores, but hopefully they'll update that soon and I'll see if mine also still says "Incomplete"

Hey, Is your Penn app "incomplete"? Mine still is, apparently...

[snes]

Thanks for reminding me to check. Yes, still incomplete. It also says they've received four GRE score reports although I've only taken the test twice.

[Karajan]

How strange! Well, let's hope that after the new year things are sorted.

[comp12]

Happy 2012 everyone! May this be the year we are become doctoral students!

Does anyone know when schools begin inviting applicants for interviews?

[snes]

I don't know. I've been trolling the history of music interviews on the results board but there's not much data. It's never clear which schools even interview, either.