briannemg Posted January 5, 2013 Posted January 5, 2013 I have forbidden all of my friends to speak about it unless I bring it up. It seemed really mean when I did it, but it's been very helpful in my crusade to not completely loose my mind. I wish I would've thought about that. Luckily I have my last two apps to put a lot of focus on.
amlobo Posted January 5, 2013 Posted January 5, 2013 Ok, submitted my last app today! Had one random 1/15 deadline mixed in with all of my earlier ones. 15 applications didn't seem like that many in the beginning, but it was complete insanity. On the bright side, I've memorized my credit card number and security code now... which comes in very handy for online shopping. firstsight 1
nohika Posted January 5, 2013 Posted January 5, 2013 Ok, submitted my last app today! Had one random 1/15 deadline mixed in with all of my earlier ones. 15 applications didn't seem like that many in the beginning, but it was complete insanity. On the bright side, I've memorized my credit card number and security code now... which comes in very handy for online shopping. I don't even know how you could manage 15 apps...I had to do five overall, and might do a sixth (to end up with four to five total programs applied to). It'd drive me crazy...
firstsight Posted January 5, 2013 Posted January 5, 2013 I too had a dream last night. (Probably, like someone said up there, because of this forum!) ... mine was that my fav POI at my fav school called me to tell me about an interview, heard my VM message... it's a little terse, 'cause I'm one of those people who hate having to wade through a three-minute "Oh hi this is So and So, I'm unavailable to come to the phone right now, but if you'll leave me a detailed life story of everything that I ever needed to know about you, a thirty second vignette on your opinion of me versed entirely in haiku, and every contact number that you ever have (but leave those at the end of the message and speak REALLY FAST so I have to go through all of your message TWICE or THREE TIMES to get all the numbers), and I'll call you back within twenty-four hours of me actually acknowledging the fact that you called! WORLD PEACE GUYS! WORLD PEACE!" ... "after the tone, please leave your message".)... where was I? Oh, so heard my short message (This is firstsight, leave me a message!) and decided instantly against wanting to interview me and left me this really snide voicemail about "being properly collegiate in all communications" and "maturing the nature of contact with the outside world before possibly being considered for admission". So uh... thanks for the nightmares, guys. I'm going to go change my VM message now. >.>
amlobo Posted January 5, 2013 Posted January 5, 2013 I don't even know how you could manage 15 apps...I had to do five overall, and might do a sixth (to end up with four to five total programs applied to). It'd drive me crazy... It took a lot of planning and a lot of time (and money), I'll tell you that, lol. I took a part-time job in addition to my full-time job just to pay for apps. I had this awesome spreadsheet put together months ago with all the info about the programs, and luckily my deadlines were spaced out between 12/1, 12/15, and 1/1 basically. I would have marathon app sessions sometimes, where I'd just fill out like 6 forms in a row. Then, of course, the SOP marathons where I tailored each one to word counts and programs/professors. It was basically a third job! Soooo glad to be done! But, I ended up liking my second job, so I'm keeping it. Ha
nohika Posted January 5, 2013 Posted January 5, 2013 It took a lot of planning and a lot of time (and money), I'll tell you that, lol. I took a part-time job in addition to my full-time job just to pay for apps. I had this awesome spreadsheet put together months ago with all the info about the programs, and luckily my deadlines were spaced out between 12/1, 12/15, and 1/1 basically. I would have marathon app sessions sometimes, where I'd just fill out like 6 forms in a row. Then, of course, the SOP marathons where I tailored each one to word counts and programs/professors. It was basically a third job! Soooo glad to be done! But, I ended up liking my second job, so I'm keeping it. Ha I got lucky and my mentor edited my SoPs for me. I'm the first in my family to apply to grad school so I have no idea what's going to happen and had no frame of reference for them. I've been lucky that she ended up in town enough (she's been hellaciously busy this semester) to help out. Ugh, the money part was horrible. I qualified for a GRE fee waiver but my idiot financial aid department here apparently doesn't have much of those and so had no idea what I was talking about. It took me...oh...three months? For one to come in the mail? I couldn't use it at that point because I had had to sign up and take the exam already because it was either take it or not get it there in time for apps.
amlobo Posted January 5, 2013 Posted January 5, 2013 Yeah, I am the first grad school person in my family too. Luckily, I am older, so some of my friends are actually professors already and helped me edit things and answer my questions . Lol.
Lilac13 Posted January 6, 2013 Posted January 6, 2013 Two of the programs I applied to will be back from winter break on Monday, so I am sure my constant email and application status checks will increase tremendously (as if the daily count isn't already high). I'd love to get an email from a POI requesting an informal interview of some sort (as I understand it, most of the programs I applied to don't have formal interviews). It would at least let me know that someone is interested in my application and would probably reduce some of my anxiety.
biotechie Posted January 6, 2013 Posted January 6, 2013 Yeah, I am the first grad school person in my family too. Luckily, I am older, so some of my friends are actually professors already and helped me edit things and answer my questions . Lol. Do I still count as a "first" if I started a grad degree first but an older cousin started after and finished before? She got into a 1-year social work program after I started my Master's.
amlobo Posted January 6, 2013 Posted January 6, 2013 Do I still count as a "first" if I started a grad degree first but an older cousin started after and finished before? She got into a 1-year social work program after I started my Master's. Yes. Still first!
biotechie Posted January 6, 2013 Posted January 6, 2013 Yes. Still first! Okay, now I'm not so sad about not hearing from other programs.
nohika Posted January 6, 2013 Posted January 6, 2013 Yes. Still first! Agreed! Sister's considering a Masters in Accounting (or something), but I have dibs on being the first in (hopefully...I'll find out soon!!). I never thought I'd end up with a PhD. Always thought of like vet or med or something like that. It wasn't until I started working with my mentor that I decided PhD... Ironically with it being waiting for admissions decisions, I'm getting more and more comfortable with the decision every day.
amlobo Posted January 6, 2013 Posted January 6, 2013 I never thought I'd end up with a PhD. Always thought of like vet or med or something like that. It wasn't until I started working with my mentor that I decided PhD... Ironically with it being waiting for admissions decisions, I'm getting more and more comfortable with the decision every day. Never thought I'd be applying to PhD programs either! It took 3 years of law school and 3 years as an attorney to realize it was the right path, lol. Wish I would have known in college! I'd be done by now...
nohika Posted January 6, 2013 Posted January 6, 2013 Never thought I'd be applying to PhD programs either! It took 3 years of law school and 3 years as an attorney to realize it was the right path, lol. Wish I would have known in college! I'd be done by now... I didn't even think about human development until my third year of college...so it will have taken me three years to graduate when I graduate in May. Nothing compared to a nontrad, but my whole family keeps commenting on how long it's taken. Compared to how long it takes to get a PhD, it's really nothing...I never thought I'd work at a school, but I don't mind the thought of it. It's a long road...but a nice one.
t1racyjacks Posted January 6, 2013 Posted January 6, 2013 I am dying my programs don't inform till at least feb. not taking it well. spent whole day hiding under blanket and have work tomorrow (which I dread). asthma attack then panic attack
Bearcat1 Posted January 6, 2013 Posted January 6, 2013 All the emails I've gotten had the word Interview somewhere in the subject (but most interview offers were a phone call from a prof on the ad com) So an interview request will be straight-forward. Unfortunately, (or not?) only 2-3 of the programs I applied to conduct interviews. It might be different if you have interviews but last year some were really direct in the subject line like: Admit to UMich and others didn't indicate good or bad news: Stanford Admission Decision and others yet didn't even send out an email until days after it was posted online and I had stumbled upon it on accident!So in all likelihood, I will be kept in suspense until I open the emails. Great. I'm afraid my vision will go blurry and I won't be able to read them. I might have to open all emails on my phone in the stairwell at work where I can have a private mental breakdown, rather than share it with everyone in my office. I wish I would've thought about that. Luckily I have my last two apps to put a lot of focus on.Oh, it's not too late! I didn't think about it until it started driving me crazy, then I put a moratorium on all things application related.
PhDreams Posted January 6, 2013 Posted January 6, 2013 I feel sick. I just found out a colleague of mine passed away yesterday. He's the one that encouraged me to apply to grad school and really was the first to help pair me up with resources. Meeting him changed my life. Now I'm even more anxiety ridden about getting into a program...it just means so much more now. I can't stop crying...
Lilac13 Posted January 6, 2013 Posted January 6, 2013 I feel sick. I just found out a colleague of mine passed away yesterday. He's the one that encouraged me to apply to grad school and really was the first to help pair me up with resources. Meeting him changed my life. Now I'm even more anxiety ridden about getting into a program...it just means so much more now. I can't stop crying... Wow, so sorry to hear that. Sending positive and happy thoughts your way!
PhDreams Posted January 6, 2013 Posted January 6, 2013 Oh no! I'm so sorry! Wow, so sorry to hear that. Sending positive and happy thoughts your way! Still in shock.... So sad. Thanks for your words.
RubyBright Posted January 6, 2013 Posted January 6, 2013 I feel sick. I just found out a colleague of mine passed away yesterday. He's the one that encouraged me to apply to grad school and really was the first to help pair me up with resources. Meeting him changed my life. Now I'm even more anxiety ridden about getting into a program...it just means so much more now. I can't stop crying... I'm so sorry, PhDreams. I am sure that when you get in, it will be a fitting tribute to someone who helped you so much. PhDreams 1
PhDreams Posted January 6, 2013 Posted January 6, 2013 I'm so sorry, PhDreams. I am sure that when you get in, it will be a fitting tribute to someone who helped you so much. Thanks everyone. It really is nice to have a group of people here that really care enough to share a few encouraging words with each other to make our lives a little bit better. <3
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