Submitted Applications 2016 Entry

[Ancient Artisan]

GRE scores are beginning to be matched with applications.

I have no idea what to do with my life now other than to keep refreshing to make sure all my documents are there and that the scores have arrived.

Is it February yet?

[Guest SIPA_MPA18]

4 hours ago, lasirko said:

I have no idea what to do with my life now other than to keep refreshing to make sure all my documents are there and that the scores have arrived.

Is it February yet?

I'm waiting for MPA/MPP Early Action decisions (I submitted end of OCT) and I swear I'm going to use up all my data (and all of my sanity) searching for tidbits and clues trying to anticipate when decisions will be released. I need to chuck my phone into a large, deep body of water. 

[StrongTackleBacarySagna]

Am I the only one who doesn't remember any of my programs' acronyms and thus doesn't refer to them as such (except for WUSTL DBBS because it's posted all over their site)? Is that the kind of thing that gets you rejected!?!?!?!?!??!?!!!?!?!

[Extra Espresso]

3 hours ago, StrongTackleBacarySagna said:

Am I the only one who doesn't remember any of my programs' acronyms and thus doesn't refer to them as such (except for WUSTL DBBS because it's posted all over their site)? Is that the kind of thing that gets you rejected!?!?!?!?!??!?!!!?!?!

I sure hope not! I made the grievous mistake of mixing up bioengineering/biomedical engineering multiple times in my applications, and I am terrified it's the kiss of death. I'm also now second guessing EVERY SINGLE THING in all of my applications. Did I structure my SOP okay? Did my personality come through? Was it too much like just listing my CV? Did I apply to the right schools? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! 

[hippyscientist]

I'm so envious of all you people who have threads where you can discuss which schools are sending out invites, nerves etc. My area is relatively small anyway, pretty new (the discipline was officially concocted in the late 60s early 70s) and I think I've seen maybe 2 people in the same field in the survey ever. I just want to know when I'll be finding out! From other programmes in the collages/departments I've applied to it looks like it could be anytime between now and March! 

Anyone else in a similar situation? 

[SAH]

I finally finished all 14 apps!  Application season for me ended at the same time as the quarter, and I'm having a really hard time now that I suddenly have nothing to do. I'm lucky because a few of the school that I applied to are supposed to send out interview notifications this month.  I don't know what I'd do if I had to wait until Jan/Feb for any news.  

[Extra Espresso]

3 hours ago, piglet33 said:

I'm so envious of all you people who have threads where you can discuss which schools are sending out invites, nerves etc. My area is relatively small anyway, pretty new (the discipline was officially concocted in the late 60s early 70s) and I think I've seen maybe 2 people in the same field in the survey ever. I just want to know when I'll be finding out! From other programmes in the collages/departments I've applied to it looks like it could be anytime between now and March! 

Anyone else in a similar situation? 

My program has a thread but it's not nearly as popular as many of the others, especially since we don't start getting notifications until mid to late January... I just want to get my nerves about with other people!

[artsy16]

After receiving an email from a program the other day saying my application was forwarded to faculty for review, I received an email today that says they're closed from today until the 4th ( ._.)

[hippyscientist]

2 minutes ago, Extra Espresso said:

My program has a thread but it's not nearly as popular as many of the others, especially since we don't start getting notifications until mid to late January... I just want to get my nerves about with other people!

Extra Esprosso - you're in a similar field but just more on the molecular/cellular level than what I want to do! I'm with you on that, I think the remaining 3 programs will come in January/Feb time. One program which had a 1st November deadline has offered me an interview (YAY) but I had to ask for a skype one instead, and the admin lady hasn't got back to me about that yet (but the PI said that would be fine, and she wants to skype with me a day or two beforehand to "prep" me, which seems to be a good sign). One program doesn't close apps until 1st Feb (!) so I'll be waiting ages for that one. My top choice doesn't seem to be giving any indication at all, but from other programs there it looks like mid jan. My last program has got all my application stuff, but they ask you to apply, then contact an advisor to agree to be your advisor before they'll look at your materials. I contacted the person I'd like to work with and she hasn't got back to me at all. I'll be really annoyed if I've dropped $75 on thin air and rude emails from admin staff.

Starting to regret only applying to 4 schools now, and of those 4 there's really only 2 I'd be happy at. Ahhhhhh nail-biting time.

[Extra Espresso]

@piglet33, what type of biomechanics are you looking at doing? There's definitely a good bit of that research that falls under the BME/BioE umbrella as well. I've discovered in looking at programs that it's a rather large umbrella! I do want to go more the cellular route personally. I'm looking at a lot of tissue engineering research as my top choice. It bites that your deadlines are so spread out! All of mine were December 1 or 15 except Cornell who has a January 7 deadline. 

[hippyscientist]

@Extra Espresso I'm really interested in injury prevention/rehabilitation of the knee, using simulations and modelling to improve people's situations. One area I'd like to get into in a bit is looking at how orthopaedic surgical techniques can be adapted to allow the body to heal faster - for example the neural pathways in tendon (and hypothetically ligaments) get disrupted in knee replacement surgery, is there a way surgery and/or PT can help keep those feedback loops in place? I come from a kinesiology background, am doing a biomechanics masters but a lot of the BME programs I looked at required a high level of cellular knowledge or cellular modules and they just don't do it for me! Who knows, if this app season doesn't work out maybe that's the route i'll have to go. 

This wait is horrible! Thankfully I have MSc exams to study for (yep, I have exams January 7th, 8th, and 12th) which gives me a good distraction.

All your schools look so impressive. Columbia and Cornell and Johns Hopkins were on my list - I actually looked at their BME programs but figured I just wouldn't be competitive. Good luck!!

[Ancient Artisan]

Does anyone know if Art History has a thread? 

[Extra Espresso]

On 12/18/2015 at 2:47 PM, piglet33 said:

@Extra Espresso I'm really interested in injury prevention/rehabilitation of the knee, using simulations and modelling to improve people's situations. One area I'd like to get into in a bit is looking at how orthopaedic surgical techniques can be adapted to allow the body to heal faster - for example the neural pathways in tendon (and hypothetically ligaments) get disrupted in knee replacement surgery, is there a way surgery and/or PT can help keep those feedback loops in place? I come from a kinesiology background, am doing a biomechanics masters but a lot of the BME programs I looked at required a high level of cellular knowledge or cellular modules and they just don't do it for me! Who knows, if this app season doesn't work out maybe that's the route i'll have to go. 

This wait is horrible! Thankfully I have MSc exams to study for (yep, I have exams January 7th, 8th, and 12th) which gives me a good distraction.

All your schools look so impressive. Columbia and Cornell and Johns Hopkins were on my list - I actually looked at their BME programs but figured I just wouldn't be competitive. Good luck!!

There's definitely some BME programs out there with orthopedic research! If you end up applying again in another season, you may want to look at programs that have a strong partnership with the surgical program in their medical schools- there are some programs that have people with surgery background advising students, and that may be a good fit. Some schools even have a biomechanics track for a BME program, and I doubt they require too much cellular background. 

But the fact that you already have an interview for this season is a really good sign! 

And thank you! I am super nervous. I am in love with the research at the schools that I applied to, so I would be really happy anywhere. There are so many amazing programs out there, and a lot of the schools I applied to have a great research fit for me, so we'll see! I just know how competitive all of my programs are, and I don't know how competitive I am one way or the other. 

11 minutes ago, lasirko said:

Does anyone know if Art History has a thread? 

It does not appear so. The best I see in the Art subforum is a thread for MFA applicants. You could always start one!

[Guest SIPA_MPA18]

1 hour ago, lasirko said:

Does anyone know if Art History has a thread? 

There's one under the Humanities section.

[Ancient Artisan]

Thanks guys!

 

 

[msmalcolmx]

Hello folks... I am applying to PhD programs. From my reading it seems like this is a great place to join folks in worry!  I've completed 7 apps so far and have another 8 to finish. Two are due the 31st... not in... and sooo many are due between the 1st and 15th. I am trying to churn everything out before the new year...

Edited December 26, 2015 by msmalcolmx

[lovekilledinos]

I wish I felt ready for PhD. Instead MA here I come! Just waiting on letters of recommendation and my final transcript to be mailed, since I made the mistake of ordering it just before Christmas.. while campus is closed for the holidays. Oh well. 

[lovekilledinos]

I wish I felt ready for PhD. Instead MA here I come! Just waiting on letters of recommendation and my final transcript to be mailed, since I made the mistake of ordering it just before Christmas.. while campus is closed for the holidays. Oh well. 

 

ETA I have no idea how to delete double posts, sorry! 

Edited December 28, 2015 by lovekilledinos
Confusion

[Need Coffee in an IV]

I'm still waiting for one of my references to send her letters....why is she taking foreverrrr?! I've seen a couple people posting about getting an MA in Museum Studies but we seem to be a very small group ha. 

[hippyscientist]

2 hours ago, Need Coffee in an IV said:

 we seem to be a very small group ha. 

The way I see it, this is a good thing! I was searching PhD programs today, and realised there's only 41 in the US that have the broad subject area, and even fewer with the specialisation I want to do. Add in the fact that I have yet to see anyone on here doing what I will be - similar yes, but not the same collages/departments and definitely not the same program - and I feel like there can't be too many applicants. This either will swing in my favo(u)r or not...time will tell! 

With the reference, it is still the holidays and I know a lot of places are closed until January 4th so maybe try to relax until then? The other thing you can do is bug them incessantly by saying the university has got in touch/said they'll auto-reject if it's not in by a certain date etc. That's what I ended up doing with one of my LORs and it worked! 

[Need Coffee in an IV]

@piglet33 Ha yeah that's exactly how I feel. I will either have barely any competition or I will be buried by other applicants. I've been internalizing my angst so I haven't bombarded her with emails. I just sent my first reminder email today, I just want to increase my chances of funding. I asked her in September so I didn't wait until the last minute. I'm sure she will get them done! I'm an obsessive person ha. 

[Nolagirl]

The applications gave me something active to do toward reaching my goal. Now that I'm just waiting, I feel helpless. The waiting is the worst!! Good luck everyone ❤️

[DrZoidberg]

I have submitted three out of six! I have been really hopelessly late with everything, and just going through this thread made me realize that Stanford actually needs official transcripts (what now?), and my deadline is mid-January, so that might be an issue. I just mindlessly uploaded scanned copies same as the other applications. So, yeah, there's that.

Do any of you write your POIs after submission to let them know you applied, or is it kind of obvious?

[onceinalifetime]

6 hours ago, DrZoidberg said:

I have submitted three out of six! I have been really hopelessly late with everything, and just going through this thread made me realize that Stanford actually needs official transcripts (what now?), and my deadline is mid-January, so that might be an issue. I just mindlessly uploaded scanned copies same as the other applications. So, yeah, there's that.

Do any of you write your POIs after submission to let them know you applied, or is it kind of obvious?

Yes I emailed a few after I'd applied. I did feel kinda dumb asking if they were accepting new students after I'd already applied, because if the say 'no'.... But fortunately, I haven't had any of the 4 or 5 ppl I've emailed so far say they weren't gonna take anyone new. Also, I don't know when your deadlines are, but a good thing to do is go to your dept's website and see how much the encourage you to email PoI's. Some emphasize this a lot, and if they do, you should make sure to do it, and then mention that PoI in your SoP. However, some schools of mind have explicitly stated on their sites that acceptance is not based on 'openings' in a particular prof's lab, so for those schools, don't feel as pressured to write emails.

Writing to PoI's was kinda the last thing on my application checklist, that's why I ended up emailing some of the after the app was already submitted.

[onceinalifetime]

Wow, many of you applied so early! Some people finished Fall 2016 apps back in November?? And I think I saw a few who received decisions or interview invitations as early as December - that's unfathomable! I submitted all my apps no more than a few days before deadline. So my last two, which were due Jan 4 and 5, have just been submitted in the past couple days! But now I'm officially done!

I hate schools that have crappy tracking ability. UCR and USC don't let you send out emails to LoR writers until the app is fully submitted! And even after that you still can't see the status. Most schools have a status thing that will change from pending to received or something along those lines.

My other reason for waiting until nearly the last minute was so that I could keep rereading my Personal Statement and SoP. I kept thinking I may have a better idea or think of a smarter way to state something. I was also paranoid about submitting them with typos, so I would reread them obsessively, and guess what - I found some pretty nasty typos haha! I have a bad habit of typing 'you' instead of 'your', and sure enough that made an appearance in the SoP. So I told some professors that I'm 'very interested in you research lol.

Oh and worst of all, there was a misspelling in that I'm pretty sure I didn't catch until I had already submitted my first 2 apps - I spelled 'aberrations' as 'abberations'. I know spell check puts a red line under misspellings, but I guess I missed it among the many other red lines that were on my document because of things like professors' last names, or industry terms like 'biosensing' or 'biomaterial' which are not real words according to MS Word, but still used in literature all the time. This just goes to show that you need to actually run the full spell check thing and not just rely on you own eye balls to be able to pick the typos, even if there is a red line underneath!