Need motivation to finish the rest of my apps

[katiegud]

I am applying to 6 universities. I have submitted 3 applications, but still need a personal statement for the other 3 and have lost all motivation to do them. I'm obsessively checking my status at the 3 I've sent in, even though it isn't likely to be updated yet. Thought maybe if I publicly said something about it I would be motivated to finish. Anyone else in the same boat? 

[k_angie]

I know what you mean. Even I am waiting for my top choices to get back so that I can look for the suitable course of action. I mean if I don't get into those I have applied to, I will apply for the jan deadline to other schools plus diff fellowships. Though, I am not lost out on motivation. It's just the financial reasons which have influenced me to take up this step.

[Domino]

I know this isn't the answer you were hoping for, but to be honest it's probably not a good sign if you're already losing motivation after only 3 applications.  Graduate school is all about self-motivation, nobody is going to be there to cheer you on.  If you're having trouble just motivating yourself to get through the applications, you might want to reconsider getting involved with a graduate program.  I know the application process is difficult (I've applied 3 years in a row now) but it's nothing compared to the work that will be required in a program.

[Adenine_Monarch]

I know what you mean. Even I am waiting for my top choices to get back so that I can look for the suitable course of action. I mean if I don't get into those I have applied to, I will apply for the jan deadline to other schools plus diff fellowships. Though, I am not lost out on motivation. It's just the financial reasons which have influenced me to take up this step.

I was curious what fellowships you are referring to. One of my regrets about this process is that I didn't look into applying to fellowships sooner...so I missed like the NSF deadline and stuff. Do you know what else is out there that I could look into? Thanks.

[k_angie]

I was curious what fellowships you are referring to. One of my regrets about this process is that I didn't look into applying to fellowships sooner...so I missed like the NSF deadline and stuff. Do you know what else is out there that I could look into? Thanks.

Hey!

I am sorry I didn't clarify before. What I meant was that I am going to apply for two Indian development fellowships in India. I don't think so that's what you were referring to.

:/

[Brisingamen]

I'm supposedly applying to five. I've sent off four. Now, working on the fifth one, I'm rapidly losing motivation because it is so damn hard preparing this statement! I'm particularly struggling with explaining "fit"... because the fact is, the fit isn't great and this application is geographically motivated (it's within commuting distance of a town my husband could very easily make an international shift to). The other statements all practically wrote themselves, because the fit was so good -- I didn't have to think too hard to explain why I was applying to those places! 

 

A bit of me is saying, "If the fit is so poor that you are struggling to be excited while writing this statement, would you actually go there even if it were the only place that offered you admission?" Another bit of me is saying, "The fit at the other places you've applied to is so good, one of them is bound to happen, so why bother with this application to a place you're so uncertain about?" And yet another bit is saying, "But you haven't hit the magic number of five applications! This is a probability game!"

 

I have no idea. Maybe I'll send the app in. Maybe I won't. My mind changes like the weather! 

[katiegud]

I'm supposedly applying to five. I've sent off four. Now, working on the fifth one, I'm rapidly losing motivation because it is so damn hard preparing this statement! I'm particularly struggling with explaining "fit"... because the fact is, the fit isn't great and this application is geographically motivated (it's within commuting distance of a town my husband could very easily make an international shift to). The other statements all practically wrote themselves, because the fit was so good -- I didn't have to think too hard to explain why I was applying to those places! 

 

A bit of me is saying, "If the fit is so poor that you are struggling to be excited while writing this statement, would you actually go there even if it were the only place that offered you admission?" Another bit of me is saying, "The fit at the other places you've applied to is so good, one of them is bound to happen, so why bother with this application to a place you're so uncertain about?" And yet another bit is saying, "But you haven't hit the magic number of five applications! This is a probability game!"

 

I have no idea. Maybe I'll send the app in. Maybe I won't. My mind changes like the weather! 

 

Ah, this is familiar! I had trouble with fit at a couple of mine, too. Then I got rejected by one - because of fit. If I were you I would probably apply anyway though, even if you think you'll get rejected! I'm all about convenience when moving. 

[Brisingamen]

Ah, this is familiar! I had trouble with fit at a couple of mine, too. Then I got rejected by one - because of fit. If I were you I would probably apply anyway though, even if you think you'll get rejected! I'm all about convenience when moving.

Katiegud, I thought about it a bit more -- and then a friend of mine weighed in. He said he applied to five graduate programs the first time and eight the second time, and the second time round, he threw in a couple that he felt were not great fits. The only acceptance he got -- the school he attends now -- was from one of those 'poor fits'. So you never know what an adcomm I thinking, I guess!

I decided to send the app in anyway. Submitting final materials and the fee today.