Good Sign, Omen or Hallucination - All Are Welcome!

[Eager]

Lol...I'd buy your book because i'm sure its fabulous. I'll feel very lucky that you were WILLING to sell it to me.

 

In all seriousness, this website has been absurdly helpful and comforting. There are definitely times when I want to smack everyone who cant decided between Fully Funded Ivy League #1 or Fully Funded Ivy League #2, but 90 percent of the time it answers my questions or lessens my anxiety. Applying to graduate school can be an isolating process because not many people do it, and many people can't understand it. So many people see it as "unnecessary" and therefore not something to stress over. OR, alternatively, they see us as so smart and capable that there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. The reality is clearly so different.

 

Even my sister, who went through this whole process last year, seems to have already forgotten how crazy it makes you. It made HER crazy too, but when its not happening to you its way too easy to say someone is "overreacting". Everyone here gets it, because its happening to them.

　

On a lighter note, to ease the pain of my assumed rejection, I got good news! The director of a program I was accepted to called to say they are trying to figure out some funding for me and will pay for a visit. I’m applying to masters programs, and my understanding is that funding is never assumed and is fairly rare. Unexpected money, YAY!

It's good to hear from you - and thank you for what you said (and didn't say) about the book   that made me laugh out loud!  More importantly though, congrats! Congrats!!!!! That is such good news.  You are hot stuff!  They are finding funding (FINDING FUNDING PEOPLE!) and paying for a visit.  Excuse me!!!!  I am truly happy for you.  After your interview please tell us all the details.  I am excited for what's ahead!

[Eager]

You know life is so funny!  I have been praying for an acceptance.  Even dreaming of an acceptance and a scholarship or fellowship offer.  I just felt like a call was coming or something was coming in the mail.  I was so sure!  I'm not usually wrong about those things.  Today, when we arrived home from my son's surgery, there was an acceptance letter in the mail......for him!  And an offer of a scholarship!  He is so excited.  He said, "Wow!  I'm going to college!"  It's one of several acceptances we hope he will get.  I can't explain the joy I felt.  He was laying there in his cast, just smiling, asking me to go to the website and check out programs.  I did of course, and excitedly we talked about the different possibilities of what he could study.  We called and found out his financial package is on the way.  Unbelievable!  The things I felt, that I knew so keenly in my spirit were not for me at all, but for my son.  It's amazing how things work sometimes.  I thought I would be so upset going into the weekend.  And I am so incredibly happy!  God is good people....so good!       

Edited February 16, 2013 by Eager

[Haroun]

You know life is so funny!  I have been praying for an acceptance.  Even dreaming of an acceptance and a scholarship or fellowship offer.  I just felt like a call was coming or something was coming in the mail.  I was so sure!  I'm not usually wrong about those things.  Today, when we arrived home from my son's surgery, there was an acceptance letter in the mail......for him!  And an offer of a scholarship!  He is so excited.  He said, "Wow!  I'm going to college!"  It's one of several acceptances we hope he will get.  I can't explain the joy I felt.  He was laying there in his cast, just smiling, asking me to go to the website and check out programs.  I did of course, and excitedly we talked about the different possibilities of what he could study.  We called and found out his financial package is on the way.  Unbelievable!  The things I felt, that I knew so keenly in my spirit were not for me at all, but for my son.  It's amazing how things work sometimes.  I thought I would be so upset going into the weekend.  And I am so incredibly happy!  God is good people....so good!       

 

Talk about mom's intuition! Congrats on your son's acceptance!

[Eager]

Talk about mom's intuition! Congrats on your son's acceptance!

Thanks so much!  It's an exciting time.  Hopefully good vibes are resonating from Brooklyn to all those on this thread!  C'mon grad fam, let the good news roll! 

[DarlingNikki]

Thanks so much! It's an exciting time. Hopefully good vibes are resonating from Brooklyn to all those on this thread! C'mon grad fam, let the good news roll!

I know that's right! Let the good times roll.

[Sconnie]

I had a school unofficially accept me this week and invite me to their recruitment weekend.  They will reimburse up to $200 in travel expenses and 2 nights in a hotel sharing rooms with the other 5 or 6 students they said would be coming.  I hope the fact that only a small handful are being invited bodes well for the level of funding they will offer when it becomes official.

[kabelo]

Wahh, I'm so excited but don't know whether this is right: I recently interviewed at Yale. Emailed my POI a couple of days ago to let him know that I had won a competitive fellowship. He congratulated and asked me to get in touch with him when I get "the letter." I really don't want to jinx it but doesn't this looks super positive?

[Eager]

I had a school unofficially accept me this week and invite me to their recruitment weekend.  They will reimburse up to $200 in travel expenses and 2 nights in a hotel sharing rooms with the other 5 or 6 students they said would be coming.  I hope the fact that only a small handful are being invited bodes well for the level of funding they will offer when it becomes official.

Sconnie, that is wonderful.  An unofficial acceptance and a reimbursed visit?  You are on fire!  Please be sure to tell us how they wined and dined you after it's over.  This is so cooool!!!!!    

Edited February 17, 2013 by Eager

[Eager]

Wahh, I'm so excited but don't know whether this is right: I recently interviewed at Yale. Emailed my POI a couple of days ago to let him know that I had won a competitive fellowship. He congratulated and asked me to get in touch with him when I get "the letter." I really don't want to jinx it but doesn't this looks super positive?

What do you want?  Your name written across the sky in blazing letters?  You're in!!!! This is super sonic cool.  And a competitive fellowship? Wowzer.  A jinx has no power over your good news.  Congrats, Congrats! Keep us posted!!!! Wooo Hoooo!

Edited February 17, 2013 by Eager

[DarlingNikki]

So, I wanted us to talk about what has happened to us recently and figure out if is a good sign, an Omen, or just a hullicination  .  I'll go first:

 

I received an email last week saying:

 

Dear XXXXXX,

 

I am the Admissions Committee assistant for the Ph.D. Program in

English.  The Admissions Committee is now in the process of reading

your application.  I am writing

to let you know that the following elements are currently missing from

your application:

Transcripts from XXXXXXXX and  XXXXXXX,

At your earliest convenience, could you email them or have them

emailed to the Admissions Office at: XXXXXXXXXXXXX?  Please

do not send your materials to this address or to the English program

directly or they will not be uploaded into your file.

At this time, I would like to assure you that it is not too late to

send these materials.   Your application will be read and considered

in its entirety.  However, we appreciate a quick response to our

request to make the process easier for us.

 

I took it as a good sign.  Not strong enough to be an omen.  It wasn't an hallucination, because it did happen.  However, what if it is just a SOP (standard operating procedure)?   What do my fellow hopefuls think?

 

Received an email similar to this a few weeks back. Thought it may be a good sign. WRONG! Received my rejection today.

 

Still throwing good vibes out into the universe! Someone's getting an acceptance today! Yes, on SUNDAY! lol

[Eager]

My Darling Nikki, I'm so sorry.  I know EXACTLY how you feel.  Do you have other programs that you are holding out hope for?  I do hope so.  This is one of the hardest processes we have gone through.  This process is not so much a test of our intellect, but more a test of our character and our resiliency of spirit.  I have a feeling that by the time this is over, we will have passed this test in a way, that when we look back on it, it will make us proud. 

 

I have been praying for a sign or signs to tell me what to do, having received my own rejection.  The statement under your post has given me direction (Stay The Path).  Thank you.

Edited February 17, 2013 by Eager

[sweetpearl16]

I called up the one school I am waiting on today to figure out what a change in my status online meant. Unfortunately the change did not mean what I was hoping for, but the program coordinator said that he had a feeling that things would work out in my favor and I would be hearing from the school real soon. I really want to believe that he was giving me some type of hint, but I don't want to get my hopes up too much.

Edited February 18, 2013 by sweetpearl16

[Eager]

Welcome sweetpearl16!  Now I am not clear on what you meant when you say it was not what you were hoping for.  Rejection? Waitlisted?  In any case having the program coordinator giving you positive feedback is a MAJOR GOOD SIGN!  I love that he said things would work out in your favor.  That is a beautiful thing.  You should be excited.  I know I'm excited for you.  Keep us posted! 

[Eager]

Grad fam, I was in Barnes and Nobles on line, waiting to make my purchase.  Then I saw a little poster that asked an incredible question.  This is what it said:

 

What would you attempt to do, if you knew you could not fail?

 

(Making signs of my mind being blown)  Wow!  I am still pondering that.  I think fear of failure keeps us from so many things.  Don't get me started on self sabotage . I don't even have the mental fortitude with which to answer this question at the moment.  I just wanted to share it with you.  Anybody have the courage to answer it?  I mean really, what would we attempt to do if we knew we could not fail?

Edited February 18, 2013 by Eager

[Seatbelt Blue]

I had my interview at Boston College last week. It was short, and my fiancee, who was in the room (but out of sight) while I was Skyping with admissions, told me she thought it went really well. I've been trying to divine an answer out of it; the dude said my high GREs and my most recent work (a 4.0 in my brief seminary career) far outweighed my very questionable undergrad performance, and I'm hoping the committee agrees with them. I think I made a solid case for my interest in BC in particular, my (very reasonable) plans on what to do with my theology masters after graduation, and yada yada. It was a very pleasant conversation that ran like twenty minutes. He closed with "You'll get a response in a couple of weeks."

 

And now I'm going mad.

[Eager]

I had my interview at Boston College last week. It was short, and my fiancee, who was in the room (but out of sight) while I was Skyping with admissions, told me she thought it went really well. I've been trying to divine an answer out of it; the dude said my high GREs and my most recent work (a 4.0 in my brief seminary career) far outweighed my very questionable undergrad performance, and I'm hoping the committee agrees with them. I think I made a solid case for my interest in BC in particular, my (very reasonable) plans on what to do with my theology masters after graduation, and yada yada. It was a very pleasant conversation that ran like twenty minutes. He closed with "You'll get a response in a couple of weeks."

 

And now I'm going mad.

Wow!  My heart is smiling!  This is such great news.  I won't even be bitter that you have high GRE scores!  This is wonderful.  You should feel very proud.  I am so glad that you had your love with you (but out of sight) who could give you instant feedback.  You had the chance to not just be an application, but a real flesh and blood person, that impressed them.  What an awesome opportunity.  While this is great news, I'm looking forward to even better news from you..... Your acceptance!!!! You get my official...Wooo Hooooo! 

[sweetpearl16]

Welcome sweetpearl16!  Now I am not clear on what you meant when you say it was not what you were hoping for.  Rejection? Waitlisted?  In any case having the program coordinator giving you positive feedback is a MAJOR GOOD SIGN!  I love that he said things would work out in your favor.  That is a beautiful thing.  You should be excited.  I know I'm excited for you.  Keep us posted! 

 

Thanks Eager.   I had seen the application status of the school change from new to recommend, although the admission decision still said pending. I was wondering what recommend meant. The application deadline for the school was February 1, but historically it has a quick turn-around and usually releases decisions around this time. I was hoping that it meant recommended for admission but he said it just meant it was recommend to the admissions committee. That is when he told me that he had a feeling things would work out in my favor. I'm really hoping this is a good sign, because this is one of my top choice schools and currently I am waitlisted at my other top choice. 

[DarlingNikki]

Thanks Eager.   I had seen the application status of the school change from new to recommend, although the admission decision still said pending. I was wondering what recommend meant. The application deadline for the school was February 1, but historically it has a quick turn-around and usually releases decisions around this time. I was hoping that it meant recommended for admission but he said it just meant it was recommend to the admissions committee. That is when he told me that he had a feeling things would work out in my favor. I'm really hoping this is a good sign, because this is one of my top choice schools and currently I am waitlisted at my other top choice. 

 

Wow! That would have been my immediate jump as well. If there is a usually quick turnaround and the director is telling you to expect news soon (and fairing you well), that is DEFINITELY a good sign! He could have simply told you to wait and see. Kind responses from program directors is usually a favorable response in my head - as opposed to the generic response they can probably give most inquiries. Can't wait to hear how this pans out and I think you should expect something soon!

[Eager]

Thanks Eager.   I had seen the application status of the school change from new to recommend, although the admission decision still said pending. I was wondering what recommend meant. The application deadline for the school was February 1, but historically it has a quick turn-around and usually releases decisions around this time. I was hoping that it meant recommended for admission but he said it just meant it was recommend to the admissions committee. That is when he told me that he had a feeling things would work out in my favor. I'm really hoping this is a good sign, because this is one of my top choice schools and currently I am waitlisted at my other top choice. 

Well, the that's even better than I thought!  Anything is better than a flat out, ruthless rejection on Valentine's Day for God's sake!  Oh...sorry.  Back to you.  Recommended to the committee is a good sign and you have someone rooting for you? Awesome!  Keep us posted every step of the way.  We're your grad family now. 

[sweetpearl16]

Thanks so much Eager and Darling Nikki.    I am so sorry about your rejection, Eager. You seem like such a nice, wonderful person and who doesn't deserve to be crushed like that, especially on Valentine's Day.  I appreciate all of your warm, kind thoughts and I'll definitely keep you posted as I find out more.

Edited February 18, 2013 by sweetpearl16

[jmu]

One of my schools now has three responses in the survey, two waitlists and an acceptance. Previous years all applicants have heard back within a two day period but I still haven't heard anything. I'm ready for this to be overwith so I can knock this school of the list one way or the other.

[Eager]

One of my schools now has three responses in the survey, two waitlists and an acceptance. Previous years all applicants have heard back within a two day period but I still haven't heard anything. I'm ready for this to be overwith so I can knock this school of the list one way or the other.

I understand!  Sometimes we just want an answer.  

 

Here's some advice (that I am in the process of taking myself) that I give to you and the rest of our grad family.  It is so important that we be balanced graduate students.  We need not let the other areas of our lives suffer as we obsess about the eventual letter/email/phone call that will come.  Let us make sure that we are giving our careers, significant others, finances, families and OURSELVES the attention they deserve.  I was traveling back from Georgia with my husband and children and we went into one of my favorite restaurants: Cracker Barrel.  I had been telling my husband that my personal theme for this year could be encapsulated in one word: Balance.  As I was shopping in the little store attached to the eatery, I saw a beautiful green stone with the world BALANCE written in gold letters.  I immediately purchased it and I keep it with me.  So to all that are still waiting, make sure you are living a balanced life now, so that graduate studies do not eventually overwhelm you.  Our graduate studies are just one part of our lives, it is not our lives.  Remember: Balance is the key to retaining our sanity as we wait, and eventually as we study.

[RubyBright]

Just stopping by to give everyone here virtual cookies. If I could, they would be real. As it is, this way you get exactly the flavor of your choice. 

[Pinaman]

So after my interview (I made it categorical that funding was going to play a big role in my decision on which school to go to) with one of the school's I've applied to, the coordinator sends me an email asking if I could send her my updated CV or if she could use the one I submitted for application, so she could send it to some organisations for funding or intern opportunities.

 

What do you think???

[kabelo]

What do you want?  Your name written across the sky in blazing letters?  You're in!!!! This is super sonic cool.  And a competitive fellowship? Wowzer.  A jinx has no power over your good news.  Congrats, Congrats! Keep us posted!!!! Wooo Hoooo!

You were right Thank you so much for the good vibes!