Ouch

[GhostsBeforeBreakfast]

I hope everyone is doing okay today.

[grad_wannabe]

It's startling how many people I know (going on four now) who each applied to multiple graduate programs (one person is in art history, one is in economics, and two are applying to MBAs) and got NO acceptances. It's brutal out there. 

 

I texted one of them and said "any word?" and hours later he wrote "nope."

 

I replied "how are you feeling?" and he never responded. 

Edited March 5, 2015 by grad_wannabe

[attackonthedoctor]

It's startling how many people I know (going on four now) who each applied to multiple graduate programs (one person is in art history, one is in economics, and two are applying to MBAs) and got NO acceptances. It's brutal out there. 

 

I texted one of them and said "any word?" and hours later he wrote "nope."

 

I replied "how are you feeling?" and he never responded. 

 

When I went to my interview weekend, there were people who were at one extreme, like me, in which they only heard back from the school we were all visiting, to the other extreme, in which they had acceptances from everywhere they applied.  Meanwhile, we were all pretty much in similar stats.

 

It really does come down to fit and who knows your recommenders.  Coming from a SLAC, I was lucky to even get the one acceptance and double-lucky for it to be my top choice.

Edited March 5, 2015 by attackonthedoctor

[maelia8]

@attackonthedoctor the same thing was true for me. I only got accepted to one school, it was my top choice, and I came from a small semi-local SLAC. I did get waitlisted at two other equally good institutions, but considering the level of naïveté that I went in with, it's a miracle that I was so lucky. I knew a little bit about fit, but knowing what I know now, I realize I was really just shooting in the dark and got lucky by hitting the bullseye.

[attackonthedoctor]

It must have been a pretty good shot.  From what I've heard from my mates in liberal arts, getting into a PhD for history and English is hella competitive. 

 

Now, it is just a matter of affording fees and moving expenses. I'm going to have to get creative when it comes to that, but I love creating new knowledge so it's worth the financial pains.

[Chai_latte]

I'm doing okay today.  But, yes, I thought that I'd have my ish together at this point...and I don't.  

I thought that I'd be done with school (I'm applying to my second set of grad programs) and living in a condo (I call campus housing home) by now.  NO!

But, that's okay.  My apps are done, I'm patiently waiting it out and I'll be back into the lab tomorrow.  I can't complain.

Edited March 5, 2015 by Chai_latte

[brown_eyed_girl]

When I went to my interview weekend, there were people who were at one extreme, like me, in which they only heard back from the school we were all visiting, to the other extreme, in which they had acceptances from everywhere they applied.  Meanwhile, we were all pretty much in similar stats.

 

It really does come down to fit and who knows your recommenders.  Coming from a SLAC, I was lucky to even get the one acceptance and double-lucky for it to be my top choice.

 

Same. I recently attended the open house of a top-ranking program. I have only been accepted there so far, and the same was true of several other incoming and current students I talked to in the program. We all had stats good enough to get into one top program, so clearly it came down to fit. I will also say that after talking to my adviser and learning more about their work and interests since my acceptance, I've realized how well we align - including in ways I hadn't considered when I applied. 

Edited March 12, 2015 by brown_eyed_girl

[attackonthedoctor]

Same. I recently attended the open house of a top-ranking program. I have only been accepted there so far, and the same was true of several other incoming and current students I talked to in the program. We all had stats good enough to get into one top program, so clearly it came down to fit. I will also say that after talking to my adviser and learning more about their work and interests since my acceptance, I've realized how well we align - including in ways I hadn't considered when I applied.

That's pretty awesome! Yeah, I've two professors from my top choice that both felt that we clicked in our interests.

I wanted to wait until other offers came in, but since no one is getting back to me from the other schools, I'm thinking that I'll accept this one and be done with the stress. It IS my top choice after all.

[victorydance]

My definition of having my "shit together" is a lot different than popular culture. I don't care about starting a family, owning property, or having a stable job and/or income. So maybe I don't have my "shit together" but those were never my goals anyways. 

[TXInstrument11]

My definition of having my "shit together" is a lot different than popular culture. I don't care about starting a family, owning property, or having a stable job and/or income. So maybe I don't have my "shit together" but those were never my goals anyways. 

I've always just seen it as someone who has goals set and sticks to them, but a lot of folks do seem to use the more traditional definition. 

 

FWIW, my very conservative Southern family seems to think I am responsible even if they don't understand why I don't want kids. 

[Chiqui74]

My definition of having my "shit together" is a lot different than popular culture. I don't care about starting a family, owning property, or having a stable job and/or income. So maybe I don't have my "shit together" but those were never my goals anyways. 

I have a family, own property, have a stable job and I still don't have my shit together.  Sure, those things are nice, but they are not the be all and all (yes, even the family).  Of course, my family thinks I have everything a person could want and wonder why the heck I'm messing it up to pursue "yet more school."

[Cheshire_Cat]

I think I have my shit together, and then I fail at something.  It is all a process, and if I did have everything just right I'd be miserable, because there would be nothing to strive for, no new goals to chase.