Sh*t people say when you are applying to grad school

[DaisyAdair]

horrid."

 

Another student:

 

Me: "-explaining about research fit, etc-"

Student: "...why do you worry about that, anyways? Couldn't you just lie on your application and say you want to study something?"

Me: "...well...yes, you could say you want to study A when you don't want to..."

Student: "I'll just do that, then."

 

Is it horrible that my first thought was that I hope that student gets into the same program as I do. That would actually be entertaining to watch - in a demented, weird way.

[Bearcat1]

Is it horrible that my first thought was that I hope that student gets into the same program as I do. That would actually be entertaining to watch - in a demented, weird way.

I'm hoping people with that same attitude applied to all the programs I did, because it will greatly improve my chances of acceptance!

[nohika]

But then... you'd... have.... to... do... that... research... lololololololol

:facepalm:

I know, right? I was just like...uh...um...

 

And she's a really good student, too - straight-As, etc. The lack of knowledge about PhDs at my school in my department is ridiculous - I'm the only PhD-seeking student. Another student told me she didn't want to get a PhD because she didn't want to "spend the rest of her life behind a desk at some corporate job".

 

...uh...

[EdYouKateOr]

My mom has already bought me a sweatshirt from the school...my app hasn't been there 16 days!!

[Allouette]

My mom has already bought me a sweatshirt from the school...my app hasn't been there 16 days!!

 

I feel your pain; when I was visiting one of my schools back in September, my mom was like 'You should bring a t-shirt home for your dad!' and I was like 'Um, how about I apply first and then we can talk about t-shirts?' 

I utterly refused to step foot into the bookstore, actually. I didn't want to jinx my applications by preemptively buying any paraphernalia. Not to mention how shitty I'd feel if I don't get in and have that t-shirt hanging in my closet as a constant reminder. 

[Bearcat1]

My mom has already bought me a sweatshirt from the school...my app hasn't been there 16 days!!

I love this and hate it for you all at once. Maybe the sweatshirt will be your good luck charm?

[PhDreams]

 "spend the rest of her life behind a desk at some corporate job".

 

...uh...

LOLOLOL I obviously don't understand how PhD's work then.

 

My mom has already bought me a sweatshirt from the school...my app hasn't been there 16 days!!

Oh wow. Oh wow. Parents just have a knack for making things more stressful, huh?

 

Mom: Why wouldn't you get in? You did everything you were supposed to, right?

Me: Uh mom.... you don't just sign up for classes. It doesn't work that way.

 

Just like Allouette, I refused to purchase anything school related on my visit last year. I couldn't bring myself to do it. But the second I got in, I purchased the sweatshirt though. Ahhh...and it felt good. Hopefully it will be your lucky charm 

[PhDreams]

I've also been getting a lot of classics lately. My friends always come through.

 

Friend: Which school is your number one?

Me: Um... The one that lets me in.

 

Friend: No, really....

 

Me: -________________-         Yeah... really.

[nohika]

I've also been getting a lot of classics lately. My friends always come through.

 

Friend: Which school is your number one?

Me: Um... The one that lets me in.

 

Friend: No, really....

 

Me: -________________-         Yeah... really.

 

Same...everyone asks me that question. I'd generally be happy at all of the schools I applied to (four). Some have slight advantages (funding, fit, etc), but the one that lets me in and offers me the most money wins, hands down. Even if it's across the US (if anything, that's a boon).

 

My Mom is the one that continues asking. My mentor/the other professors don't, thankfully. It's lovely having people that understand this whole process!

 

Edit: And yes, I am sitting here refreshing this page every couple minutes. I have no life.

Edited December 30, 2012 by nohika

[EdYouKateOr]

Friend: When do you find out if you get in?   Me: In about two months...   Friend: Wow. That's really soon.   Me: (smh) No...no, it's not. (On the inside: Gahhhhh! Why doesn't anyone understand?!?!)

Everyone I say that to, says.Why so long?!?!

[EdYouKateOr]

I love this and hate it for you all at once. Maybe the sweatshirt will be your good luck charm?

I hope you're right! I've decided that's what I'll wear to tell people I'm accepted! I know I won't have much other use for a sweatshirt in Florida!

[PhDreams]

 

Edit: And yes, I am sitting here refreshing this page every couple minutes. I have no life.

 

Awwwwww..... me too :/

 

I stayed at school during break to get some papers (and apps!) done and it's so so so sad. I waver between extreme stress and utter boredom.

[nohika]

Awwwwww..... me too :/

 

I stayed at school during break to get some papers (and apps!) done and it's so so so sad. I waver between extreme stress and utter boredom.

 

My school was closed all this past week, but it sounds like I'll get to go in next week and start working for my mentor early...soooo excited to go back and have some type of distraction!! I've missed school so bad.

[gradorbust]

Dad just told me

 

"I dont think you will make it through graduate school"

 

Well on one hand it puts a lot of his recent commentary in perspective so it is more understandable.  On the otherhand it adds a new stresor before I am even admitted anywhere.

[PhDreams]

Dad just told me

 

"I dont think you will make it through graduate school"

 

Well on one hand it puts a lot of his recent commentary in perspective so it is more understandable.  On the otherhand it adds a new stresor before I am even admitted anywhere.

 Ouch. I'm sorry.

 

I refuse to talk to my parents about grad school anymore. My parents are on the opposite spectrum. They think that grad school is this glorious walk in the park and that I must skip to school every day, my pig tails bouncing in the wind. And after classes, I sit pool side getting a tan sipping umbrella drinks ocassionally reading coursework. (Basically living in a fantasy world as a way to not get a "real job.")

 

Well, this is what I would be doing...if I got into school in Cali. A girl can dream. Sigh....

[nohika]

 Ouch. I'm sorry.

 

I refuse to talk to my parents about grad school anymore. My parents are on the opposite spectrum. They think that grad school is this glorious walk in the park and that I must skip to school every day, my pig tails bouncing in the wind. And after classes, I sit pool side getting a tan sipping umbrella drinks ocassionally reading coursework. (Basically living in a fantasy world as a way to not get a "real job.")

 

Well, this is what I would be doing...if I got into school in Cali. A girl can dream. Sigh....

 

Mine's kind of similar...assumes the schools will be fighting over me and that I'll get into grad school and ("because I'm so smart") I'll just breeze through it, and do "grad school stuff". My Mom doesn't exactly know what grad school consists of...just that I'll be doing research.

 

Sigh. The faith would be so inspiring if it wasn't so terrifying. I'm going to struggle, almost guaranteed, and fight imposter syndrome too.

[PhDreams]

Sigh. The faith would be so inspiring if it wasn't so terrifying. I'm going to struggle, almost guaranteed, and fight imposter syndrome too.

 

If you ain't failin, you ain't tryin. LOL

 

My friends and I laugh about this all the time. We all feel like frauds at least once a week, but then there are days when you are like, "Omg, I'm awesome. I completely get this sh*%! I'm the smartest one here!" I never thought I could read so much. I never thought that my best friend would be a highlighter. I never thought that I would get through my first semester... but it happens. You can do this. You will struggle. You will laugh. You will cry. But you will make it if you just don't quit. And that's guaranteed.

[nohika]

If you ain't failin, you ain't tryin. LOL

 

My friends and I laugh about this all the time. We all feel like frauds at least once a week, but then there are days when you are like, "Omg, I'm awesome. I completely get this sh*%! I'm the smartest one here!" I never thought I could read so much. I never thought that my best friend would be a highlighter. I never thought that I would get through my first semester... but it happens. You can do this. You will struggle. You will laugh. You will cry. But you will make it if you just don't quit. And that's guaranteed.

 

I hope so. I don't plan to quit, that's for certain.

 

Another thing my Mom says that gets my goat is: "Oh, if you don't get in, that means God has another place for you."

 

Well gee golly wiz, if it was that simple, then why doesn't he just tell me and I can go do it now? Not like I've spent hours agonizing over this decision in the first place...or worrying over it...

[sansao]

This gem:

Friend: "I thought you were doing that last year?"

Me: "Yep, so did I." -______-

I've promised to stop glaring at him if and only if I get in somewhere.

Edited December 31, 2012 by sansao

[viggosloof28]

My mom says the same thing, "but your grades and test scores are so good, I'm sure you'll get in somewhere."  I keep trying to tell her that EVERYONE'S grades and scores are good...not sinking in, though, I'm afraid.  She had a dream the other night that I got into two programs, though, so I'm going to take that as a good omen.

 

Like PhDreams, I'm refusing to buy anything from any of the schools I'm applying to.  Also trying not to get my hopes up too high for any one particular school.  I made the mistake of doing that when I applied to MA programs - was checking out apartments online and everything.  Was absolutely crushed when I didn't get in...so I'm trying really, really hard to avoid that this time around!

 

I wish I could just fast-forward to April when I'll (probably) have heard back from all my programs...the wait is killing me!

[nohika]

My mom says the same thing, "but your grades and test scores are so good, I'm sure you'll get in somewhere."  I keep trying to tell her that EVERYONE'S grades and scores are good...not sinking in, though, I'm afraid.  She had a dream the other night that I got into two programs, though, so I'm going to take that as a good omen.

 

Like PhDreams, I'm refusing to buy anything from any of the schools I'm applying to.  Also trying not to get my hopes up too high for any one particular school.  I made the mistake of doing that when I applied to MA programs - was checking out apartments online and everything.  Was absolutely crushed when I didn't get in...so I'm trying really, really hard to avoid that this time around!

 

I wish I could just fast-forward to April when I'll (probably) have heard back from all my programs...the wait is killing me!

 

I've had people (Mom + friends) suggest looking at apartments near the schools because I'm a planner, but I refuse to. I don't want to jinx my chances...

 

They, of course, think I'm insane...

[viggosloof28]

That's exactly how I feel, nohika!  I'm a huge planner, but it all went so badly last time, I just can't bring myself to look too much into any one situation...once I get admitted somewhere, though (knock on wood!), that will all change!

[PhDreams]

Awwww...

 

My mom says the same thing, "but your grades and test scores are so good, I'm sure you'll get in somewhere."  I keep trying to tell her that EVERYONE'S grades and scores are good...not sinking in, though, I'm afraid.  She had a dream the other night that I got into two programs, though, so I'm going to take that as a good omen.

 

Like PhDreams, I'm refusing to buy anything from any of the schools I'm applying to.  Also trying not to get my hopes up too high for any one particular school.  I made the mistake of doing that when I applied to MA programs - was checking out apartments online and everything.  Was absolutely crushed when I didn't get in...so I'm trying really, really hard to avoid that this time around!

 

I wish I could just fast-forward to April when I'll (probably) have heard back from all my programs...the wait is killing me!

 

April?!? Are you applying to MA programs? Last year was torture when I was applying because I didn't hear from schools until about March. Geeeez.... hang in there. I know that it's pretty rough.

 

I started looking into back up plans, but that too is hard. I don't want to give up too soon.

[PhDreams]

This gem:

Friend: "I thought you were doing that last year?"

Me: "Yep, so did I." -______-

I've promised to stop glaring at him if and only if I get in somewhere.

 

 

That one hurt.

[nohika]

Awwww...

 

 

April?!? Are you applying to MA programs? Last year was torture when I was applying because I didn't hear from schools until about March. Geeeez.... hang in there. I know that it's pretty rough.

 

I started looking into back up plans, but that too is hard. I don't want to give up too soon.

 

I have a vague back-up plan in place...working, maybe re-taking the GREs (improve my quant score), seeing if I can TA/do research for a couple professors in my department...but my main mentor is going on Sabbatical next year (hopefully!), so that'll be interesting. I want to get her opinion on it, but I'm afraid to mention back-up plans to her because I don't want her to think me /too/ pessimistic. She took me shopping for Christmas for an interview outfit (we're close), so I know she's much more confident than I am. I'm guessing I'll be "taken care of" by my department (been working here three years) if I have to (I know the head of the department is working on a project next year that I'd love to be part of), but I'd rather not worry too much about it if I don't have to...

 

I probably won't hear until late January...was hoping for mid for my first program. Feels like torture, regardless.