List of things to do instead of checking admit status

[wheatGrass]

I check my admission status way too much, and I know it won't change from "under review" or "no decision yet" for many, many weeks. I also check gradcafe way too much. I suspect that this is a common problem (or just common and not a problem depending on how you look at it/your propensity to acholism/the frequency of your boss' visits to your workspace).

Anyway, I'm coming up with a list of useful things to do instead of checking admit status that take about as long as checking gradcafe and are equally painless/harmless.

So far I've only come up with two:

• write an email or similar message to an old friend from high school or undergrad
  
• delete undesirable posts from facebook before Timeline strikes
  

Now I will have to keep returning to gradcafe to see if anyone has any other ideas. Brilliant.

[gellert]

Learn to play the accordion.

Invent your own language.

Beat the world record at Minesweeper.

Try to kiss your elbow.

Get involved in a local Star Trek live action role play group.

Make Lazy College Senior memes (or live them).

Sew a quilt.

I'll come back later with some more serious ones.

[unitname]

This is a great thread. With that said, I will probably do none of the things suggested, and just keep checking non-changing statuses.

[purpledinosaur]

Things I do:

Knitting something (scarves are good: hard to mess up and very repetitive).

Checking google reader.

Reading the same paragraph over and over.

Midnight baking, resulting in post-midnight noms.

Eating all the edible things in my house.

Calling people to complain about PhD applications.

Drinking wine.

Watching funny YouTube videos (more time than I would like to admit)

[BrazilianGuy]

Things to do instead of checking your status:

"Check every 5 minutes your email"

"24x7 on GradCafe"

"Call every day the admission offices and ask about your status"

HEheheheheh

[Grunty DaGnome]

I'm making a list of programs where I should have applied but didn't. It will be my silver lining when my rejections start to roll in.

[gellert]

Seriously? Downvoted for being a little silly on a bad day?

At any rate, here are some more serious offers:

Learn a new language.

Pretend you're a spy and you have to recon your house and figure out all possible exit points/weapons/etc. Also works for zombie invasion prep.

Vacuum. You know you need to.

Find a new interesting recipe you've never tried before and cook with a friend.

Read a trashy/guilty pleasure book. (Gossip Girl, anyone?)

Buy yourself flowers to put on your desk and keep your spirits up.

Read the entire Guide to Getting It On.

Learn to draw.

[EastCoasting]

I'm 36 weeks pregnant so I like to make a wish list for the baby, though I imagine this is not much of a relevant project for most... Honestly there is nothing that can distract me from checking my email 15 times a day.

[snes]

Hahaha gellert I reversed the downvote because I have no idea why anyone would downvote SILLINESS in this time of need!!

Here's my boring list even though I end up running back to my computer regardless:

workout

replay Zelda Ocarina of Time

start email threads with faraway friends

puzzles

get better at basic piano skills

follow my friends and family on their travels away from my computer

clean (ha!)

gossip blogs.

[DoggieMom]

obsess about outcome instead?

[BreathingSister]

Make Lazy College Senior memes (or live them).

lolol, check.

[Grunty DaGnome]

I'm 36 weeks pregnant so I like to make a wish list for the baby, though I imagine this is not much of a relevant project for most... Honestly there is nothing that can distract me from checking my email 15 times a day.

I think you definitely win the prize for caring the most about grad school, if 36 weeks pregnant is having trouble competing.

[LLajax]

Learn to play the accordion.

Invent your own language.

Beat the world record at Minesweeper.

Try to kiss your elbow.

Get involved in a local Star Trek live action role play group.

Make Lazy College Senior memes (or live them).

Sew a quilt.

I'll come back later with some more serious ones.

I like all of these suggestions. I tried to upvote it, but I've reached my positive votes quota for the day.

I'm already looking for my local Star Trek group. If I can't find any, I'll start inventing my own language for when an away team lands and tries to talk to me- they're translators won't know what hit 'em!

[applyingfromtexas]

paint a room... then watch it dry.

[socihealth]

organize your desk

clean up your contacts list on your phone

go to the grocery store

watch a dvd

read a newspaper you usually dont

read a magazine

up vote people whose silly posts made you laugh (lol accordion)

[Hegel's Bagels]

What I should do:

Finish my thesis (Master's)

Assure adviser that I'll finish my thesis.

Back-up what I've already written for my thesis.

What I'll actually do:

Pretend to be busy writing my thesis while I'm obsessively checking GC, email, and app statuses.

[panasic]

run a lot

clean/ de-clutter (come across mailed GRE scores in the process and freak out)

read russian novel (will keep you busy for a loooong time)

make home made chai

cook/bake/invite friend over and NOT talk about grad school

i made plans for this entire week every night (except tonight) so i won't have to think about this!

[panasic]

btw, great idea about emailing friends, wheatGrass!

[PhDreams]

spring cleaning a season early (positive thinking for future move)!

go through ridiculously long netflix queue...feel like i'm in touch with reality

read the stack of books on my kitchen table... avoid leaving apartment

write thank yous to referees...before i get my decisions (to avoid uncomfortable phrases like "thanks anyway")

start running...

wake up early...

wake up early to start running.

give up coffee,

muffins too.

find another substitute for coffee.

skip dessert...have coffee in the morning.

[contretemps]

Eating all the edible things in my house.

I am doing this now, kthxbai

[abc123xtc]

Reading articles on Cracked.com

Watching ALL the queer movies on Netflix

Cuddling with my cats

Apply for jobs

Figure out my backup plan in case I don't get into graduate school

Think of tattoo ideas

Listen to music

Get in shape

Write essays, short stories, poems, personal narratives, etc

[kazoo]

Get clothes you don't wear out of your closet and donate them

Start a blog about your interests

Get out more! (galleries, shows, parcs, zoos whatever!)

and my personal favorite:

make Valentine's Day cards!

[chaetzli]

I just finished the third level of "Angry Birds Season" with *Total Destruction - Three Stars in All Levels*

[wlkwih2]

The schools should make an RPG in which the hero is our almighty WannabeGrad. There are 10 big levels, and you have to collect data, documents and LORs instead of coins like Super Mario. You fight one member of the admission committee after completing each level. And to stay alive, you have to refresh your status every 30 seconds (it's like checking inbox). If you fail to defeat the last boss - your POI - there's a consolation prize - you get another game (a new acceptance) for free via snail mail in March!

I should do this, really. This is my new research proposal, could be good for Comp. Sci., Psychology etc.

[kazoo]

The schools should make an RPG in which the hero is our almighty WannabeGrad. There are 10 big levels, and you have to collect data, documents and LORs instead of coins like Super Mario. You fight one member of the admission committee after completing each level. And to stay alive, you have to refresh your status every 30 seconds (it's like checking inbox). If you fail to defeat the last boss - your POI - there's a consolation prize - you get another game (a new acceptance) for free via snail mail in March!

I should do this, really. This is my new research proposal, could be good for Comp. Sci., Psychology etc.

Haha you are so creative wlkwih2!