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

[oseirus]

cokohlik and oseirus:

That test really doesn't measure competence in my opinion. I think that schools should really interview everyone to see if they know their field, I mean it is like a job right? But hey, I am not on the admissions committee! I am just hoping they don't deny me based on the GRE alone but will truly look at what I could offer the school. Good luck to you guys!

I agree about the competence part b/c I am sure we ALL know someone who is dumb as rock who scored well on the test. If Saved By The Bell has taught us anything in life, and I know it has, the Stanberries of this world only care about the 1501 SAT scores and those schools suck, so go to Cal U!

[Clou12]

I agree about the competence part b/c I am sure we ALL know someone who is dumb as rock who scored well on the test. If Saved By The Bell has taught us anything in life, and I know it has, the Stanberries of this world only care about the 1501 SAT scores and those schools suck, so go to Cal U!

Lol...I learned so much from Saved By The Bell! Good reference.

[duckiesandbees]

Been lurking here for awhile so I thought I'd add my own experiences:

My Mom: “Which school is the closest to home? Yeah, I hope you get in to that one.”

My Dad: “Are you SURE [bf] wants to move?”- at least once a week

My Boyfriend: “You’re going to have to work [outside of school]” (He was more understanding when I explained that it’s not like undergrad and most grad students work for the department)

Pretty much everyone at work: “Will you be doing that at [local university] then?” or “But you’ll still be working here, right?”

Extended family: “I thought you already went to graduate school?” (I did)

My boss: “If I write you a really bad recommendation letter then you have to stay” NO!!!

However, when I'm feeling pessimistic, bf says "If necessary you can just keep applying until you get in. This is your dream and you will make it happen"

[rkg2012]

My mother last year: "I'm afraid you won't get in anywhere, and I can't afford to start paying back this loan right now."

Gee, thanks for the support. Thankfully, after I got into 4/4 masters programs last year and refused to tell her about my acceptances until April, she decided to be nicer this year.

Everyone this year:

"You applied to how many schools?!?! (10ish) How much did that cost?"

Yeah, I'm really trying not to think about that part.

Edited February 9, 2012 by rkg2012

[v834]

I've gotten the "I'm sure you'll get it", but not somewhere, because, while this is the second time I'm looking at grad school (already have one masters), just like last time I only applied to one place so it's this or nothing.

"Have you heard anything yet"....yes I just haven't mentioned it because I hate you !

"Are you sure, that's quite a change"...career change grad degree...that's kinda the POINT!

"Oh, but it's really cold there, are you sure about that"....oh yes, silly me, I forgot to filter my school choices based on WEATHER, because that is of course the most pertinate issue. Also, most of these people already know that this is the only type of program like this ANYWHERE, so whether I like it or not (and I do), I don't have much of a choice.

"You should apply to MIT"

"You just like school" Well, I do, but that's hardly a reason I choose to go to school and take on potential debt.

"Don't go into any debt..." This is mostly said to PhD candidates and usually if it's in humanities, but still, I think some debt is inevitable even when funded and not all advanced degrees take as long to see a ROI as others (I'm applying to engineering masters so definitely not the case).

Not really said directly, but implied is 'But you already have a masters in [completely unrelated field that can still be of use when combined with other masters]' Yeah, so?

'You already had debt from previous degree...' right, which I completely paid off and is now done and dusted.....?

Edited February 9, 2012 by v834

[Frozenroses]

I echo that.

ditto!

[hungryhungryhipster]

I'm in the same boat as you re: GRE scores! Silly test if you ask me. :/

I agree wholeheartedly. Thankfully, though, if you went to a Canadian undergrad school and are applying in Canada (which is all my applications), GRE/TOEFL/etc are not required.

[cokohlik]

I agree wholeheartedly. Thankfully, though, if you went to a Canadian undergrad school and are applying in Canada (which is all my applications), GRE/TOEFL/etc are not required.

I'm applying to U of Toronto and thank God the GRE scores aren't required. My POI is literally a perfect match for my interests so I'm REALLY excited about the results. Whoo hoo! What isn't fun, though, is figuring out immigration if I get in and we decide to go there (my husband is American and I'm dual).

[hungryhungryhipster]

I'm applying to U of Toronto and thank God the GRE scores aren't required. My POI is literally a perfect match for my interests so I'm REALLY excited about the results. Whoo hoo! What isn't fun, though, is figuring out immigration if I get in and we decide to go there (my husband is American and I'm dual).

Well, if you're dual there should be no problem, but be advised that your husband might not even be able to immigrate. We don't just take in anyone, lol.

[crazygirl2012]

"Haha... that's a lot of money!" At the registrar's office at my university, as I was writing a check to them so they would send my transcripts. I know it's a lot of money. You're the ones charging me for it. Thanks for the reminder though.

[cokohlik]

"Haha... that's a lot of money!" At the registrar's office at my university, as I was writing a check to them so they would send my transcripts. I know it's a lot of money. You're the ones charging me for it. Thanks for the reminder though.

LOL!!l That's absolutely hilarious!

[cokohlik]

Well, if you're dual there should be no problem, but be advised that your husband might not even be able to immigrate. We don't just take in anyone, lol.

[hungryhungryhipster]

Well, we don't. Though I think spouses of Canadian citizens might get preference or something. It's entirely possible that he won't be able to get in. Not everyone who applies is allowed to immigrate.

[cokohlik]

Well, we don't. Though I think spouses of Canadian citizens might get preference or something. It's entirely possible that he won't be able to get in. Not everyone who applies is allowed to immigrate.

Spouses of Canadian citizens do get priority and they can come to Canada with their Canadian spouse but the Canadian citizen has a couple options to get the spouse to be at a point of being able to legally work. From my understanding, the Canadian can sponsor the spouse or (or and, still figuring it out) the non-Canadian can get a work visa and in both situations eventually get a PR card.

[coonskee]

I agree wholeheartedly. Thankfully, though, if you went to a Canadian undergrad school and are applying in Canada (which is all my applications), GRE/TOEFL/etc are not required.

I'm Canadian but went to a US undergrad - still didn't have to take the GRE! Though I applied to a Master's at U of T for entry last year; not sure if that makes a difference.

I enjoyed the GRE though... I have a soft spot for silly math questions and vocabulary.

[koolherc]

"Don't go into any debt..." This is mostly said to PhD candidates and usually if it's in humanities, but still, I think some debt is inevitable even when funded and not all advanced degrees take as long to see a ROI as others (I'm applying to engineering masters so definitely not the case).

how do ya figure? they're paying you to go to school, and often paying extra for you to "work" for them reading things, grading, and talking to students. and there's the plethora of scholarships that merely require that you write some things and further that the very individuals that populate the institution write rec letters for you that are read by other individuals within the same subculture. PhD study is one of the sweetest deals out there, IMO.

if the concern is standard of living---there is plenty worse out there. plenty. "middle class" in this country is minimally 40k for a family of 4, and half of the country currently lives below that.*

*not intended as a justification for the wealth gap and destructive political policies of the "left" and "right"

Edited February 9, 2012 by koolherc

[pelevinfan]

I met with an adviser/one of my recommenders today. I mentioned to her that I had only interviewed at one school. She paused, then said 'well, you can always hope for a spot on the waitlist!'

[oseirus]

"Aren't you getting a little too old to be going back to school?"

[hungryhungryhipster]

"Aren't you getting a little too old to be going back to school?"

I've gotten that before. Then I happily remind them that I'll make more than they do while I'm in school.

Edited February 9, 2012 by hall1k

[oseirus]

I've gotten that before. Then I happily remind them that I'll make more than they do while I'm in school.

I wish I was entering a field that was so generous w/their emoluments & honorariums

[hungryhungryhipster]

I wish I was entering a field that was so generous w/their emoluments & honorariums

Well, you did have a choice in the matter at some point along the line. You can't really expect a history degree to leave you swimming in cash. No offense, of course.

[oseirus]

Well, you did have a choice in the matter at some point along the line. You can't really expect a history degree to leave you swimming in cash. No offense, of course.

LOL I did but the engineering professors put me to sleep so after 2 weeks of trying I had to get out for my own sanity but don't worry when I go work for the history channel making lies we'll see who has the last laugh!

J/K I don't hate myself enough to ever work for the history channel

[hope4fall2012]

"You applied to how many schools?!?! (10ish) How much did that cost?"

Yeah, I'm really trying not to think about that part.

I was just explaining the costs of application to my friend who intends to apply next fall..

Coming from India, the application costs for around 6 colleges is around INR 60000 or $1200..This amount is really expensive and if you're a student, it takes close to a year to save up this much of money..

The expression on his face was not good when I told him how much the whole shenanigan costs..

[v834]

how do ya figure? they're paying you to go to school, and often paying extra for you to "work" for them reading things, grading, and talking to students. and there's the plethora of scholarships that merely require that you write some things and further that the very individuals that populate the institution write rec letters for you that are read by other individuals within the same subculture. PhD study is one of the sweetest deals out there, IMO.

if the concern is standard of living---there is plenty worse out there. plenty. "middle class" in this country is minimally 40k for a family of 4, and half of the country currently lives below that.*

*not intended as a justification for the wealth gap and destructive political policies of the "left" and "right"

I can only go based on others as I've not applied to a PhD, but from what I've seen many people seem to need to take some debt on for cost of living, though this is minimal compared to the full tuiton cost of a PhD, which I too would advise against ever taking on. This is of course dependent on the person, cost of living of the city, and size of stipend, but my main point was simply that graduate degrees that aren't fully funded can be worthwhile as long as you take that into consideration when making the choice and it's truly what you want to do in life.

"and there's the plethora of scholarships that merely require that you write some things"

What scholarships are those? If they are that easy to get, sign me up! Most I've seen are limited and pretty damn competitive, especially in the current economy.

[hungryhungryhipster]

LOL I did but the engineering professors put me to sleep so after 2 weeks of trying I had to get out for my own sanity but don't worry when I go work for the history channel making lies we'll see who has the last laugh!

J/K I don't hate myself enough to ever work for the history channel

It's not lies anymore. It's reality.