WINE, WAIT, AND WHINE THREAD

[katpillow]

26 minutes ago, knp said:

This is exactly how the other interviewees at MSU reacted when I told them how many programs I applied to. This is a golden use of this gif.

 

[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

15 minutes ago, katpillow said:

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny, I certainly hope so. Part of the reason for 22 was a need to play a numbers game, though. My UG GPA is legendarily low (2.4, affected by domestic factors + engineering curric) so I figure many of my schools will throw me to the dogs without much hesitation, nevermind my ~4 years of research experience, recs, GRE, publications, etc. I wish I could say we live in a world where GPA isn't everything at some institutions, but they've got to find some way to help sift through the hundreds of applicants. I don't blame them. (Doing my best to uphold the 'whine' portion of the thread)

I do love your enthusiasm, though. So I'll be borrowing a bit.

Not to mention that GPA is majorly affected by which school you go to. I go to a shoddy school and have a 4.0, but anywhere else and I think I'd be a 3.1-3.2 student. In engineering, my GPA would be <2.0  So it's just silly. Fortunately, looking at your signature, you seem to have made it through the first sifting (though I'm not sure how reliable your "assumed rejections" are).

[katpillow]

19 minutes ago, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:

Not to mention that GPA is majorly affected by which school you go to. I go to a shoddy school and have a 4.0, but anywhere else and I think I'd be a 3.1-3.2 student. In engineering, my GPA would be <2.0  So it's just silly. Fortunately, looking at your signature, you seem to have made it through the first sifting (though I'm not sure how reliable your "assumed rejections" are).

Well I can at least say with some pride that I went to one of the 'top 10' (though I think we only just made it to #10 this year- when I was there it was more like #14). All of my assumed rejections are mostly based on seeing invites on the survey page. I am dead certain of Rockefeller, as they have a strong pattern of inviting on the Wednesday of this week, and then rejecting on Friday, so at least I'll probably be able to confirm that one... Either way, anyone who decides to invite me will have to take the time to look beyond GPA and be a little open minded in that regard. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[sociologyapp2016]

2 hours ago, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:

Not to mention that GPA is majorly affected by which school you go to. I go to a shoddy school and have a 4.0, but anywhere else and I think I'd be a 3.1-3.2 student. In engineering, my GPA would be <2.0  So it's just silly. Fortunately, looking at your signature, you seem to have made it through the first sifting (though I'm not sure how reliable your "assumed rejections" are).

Many of the top 10s are notorious for grade inflation. You shouldn't sell yourself so short.

[hippyscientist]

I'd love to know what my GPA would have been going through the american system. The way the UK is there is no direct comparison. We specialise at 16 and specialise further at university, and our grading system is all skewy! WES converted me to about a 3.2 but when I asked my American LOR (who taught at my UK school) he said that at his old university the poorest student in his class would have been on a 3.8. It's just so frustrating!! Oh well, at least my masters is a straight 4.0 (i'm assuming. I have distinctions in everything so it translates as the highest grades lol).

This whole process is such a mess!

[kingslayer]

1. I noticed a big mistake on one of my applications. 12 out of 14 of the school psychology programs I am applying to gives you two degrees upon completion (a masters and an educational specialist degree). I accidentally said I'd get an EdS at this program, when in fact I'd only get an MS
2. I basically begged my contact at the program to let me upload a revised personal statement. They agreed.
3. I was looking at it today, and I noticed ANOTHER mistake.
4. I'm done. The senioritis has taken over. All I can do now is wait. 14/15 of my applications are complete, so I just need to finish a 500 word PS and inquire as to where my last transcript is (it was sent over a month ago, it should be uploaded by now.)

Honestly, I can't wait until school starts so that way I can have a distraction. I work 8 hours a week once a day per week, so the days have been bleeding into each other. I've been waking up at noon. It's that bad. Winter and summer breaks always murder me. I like being busy, I've decided, as long as I can manage it. When school starts back in a week, I'll be taking 17 units, 18.5 hours at work, 6 hours of internship, at least 3 hours of lab, and hopefully 3 hours at the gym (all of this per week). It'll basically be 6 AM- 6 PM nonstop of things to do. 

Also, I should probably apply for scholarships. I've never done them before, but I'm broke and need moving money. I just feel so awkward asking my professors for letters even though they are nothing but nice and helpful.

[katpillow]

6 hours ago, sociologyapp2016 said:

Many of the top 10s are notorious for grade inflation. You shouldn't sell yourself so short.

Yeah, you're right about that. Though my school's got a bit of a rep for being notoriously brutal if you're in engineering/sciences. Then again, we're no Ivy garbage, so inflation isn't really our thing.

[haltheincandescent]

A few of my programs accept/reject by phone, around this week, according to the results board.

My dear brother has a phone that is notorious for pocket dialing whoever last called him (seriously, it's bad--like, once every half hour. [He really needs a new phone]). 

I had to call him last night. Hence, I've been getting phone calls all day. 

I usually never ever get phone calls, so every time: "Wait! Maybe that's the school! Ahhhh!....Nope."

[raaawr]

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny @anthrostudentcyn Thanks for the welcome  I'm just glad to be here where I have someone to freak out with. I've been either checking my email or checking gradcafe results page every few hours. All the waiting is making me stress eat. 

[sjoh197]

10 minutes ago, raaawr said:

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny @anthrostudentcyn Thanks for the welcome  I'm just glad to be here where I have someone to freak out with. I've been either checking my email or checking gradcafe results page every few hours. All the waiting is making me stress eat. 

I have been known to want to stress eat... in determination to remain fit, I find that stress "sipping" tea or coffee, along with dividable snacks like plain stove top popcorn help keep me from putting on the pounds. 

[Neist]

I've more or less turned off my brain, although I haven't been horribly stressed.

According to Gradcafe's results, most of the programs I applied to do not contact applicants until early February. Although I can't find any results for Drexel's STS program. Doesn't seem to be any reported statistics. Weird.

[anthrostudentcyn]

I've been trying to work out more, I had hoped that once I finished apps I would magically start working out more but it hasn't happened. I'm going to make an effort, starting today!

[sjoh197]

29 minutes ago, anthrostudentcyn said:

I've been trying to work out more, I had hoped that once I finished apps I would magically start working out more but it hasn't happened. I'm going to make an effort, starting today!

I just booked a climb over the Salkantay pass into Machu Piccu this week for early summer, and realize that I need to begin intense elevation training... but last night I just sat and ate buttery popcorn and watched How to Train Your Dragon for the 30th time while wearing my toothless hat and trying to not think about my future.

 

Tonight will be different though.... I will watch HTTYD 2 instead. (for the 30th time)

[nevermind]

Is anyone else having weird admissions dreams? Last night I had two....one where (in my dreams) I worked for my first-choice department (I don't) and was able to listen in on admissions committees decisions, only I fell asleep and didn't see if I made the "yes" or "no" pile. Another where I logged in to check my status and it updated to "recommended for admissions" but quickly changed to "DENIED: LOW GRE SCORES AND NO KNOWLEDGE OF SCIENCE!!!" (only my quant. GPA is low but I've taken 3 graduate level environmental engineering seminars, TA'd an undergrad level class, and my adviser/LOR writer was the chair of an engineering department...) 

I will be glad when this cycle is over.

[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

24 minutes ago, nevermind said:

Is anyone else having weird admissions dreams? Last night I had two....one where (in my dreams) I worked for my first-choice department (I don't) and was able to listen in on admissions committees decisions, only I fell asleep and didn't see if I made the "yes" or "no" pile. Another where I logged in to check my status and it updated to "recommended for admissions" but quickly changed to "DENIED: LOW GRE SCORES AND NO KNOWLEDGE OF SCIENCE!!!" (only my quant. GPA is low but I've taken 3 graduate level environmental engineering seminars, TA'd an undergrad level class, and my adviser/LOR writer was the chair of an engineering department...) 

I will be glad when this cycle is over.

I seriously LOL'd. 

I also stress-eat as some of you have mentioned. However I got a FitBit for Christmas so I'm in a challenge with one of my friends on there to see who can take the most steps each day. It's been helpful to funnel all of my anxiety into pacing around the block instead of laying into a bag of chips. Plus I've lost 5 pounds since the first of the year 

Unfortunately I also have a sleeping problem, since labs and such haven't really started yet. I don't have class until 3PM, so I keep forcing myself to sleep in until 2PM just so that I wake up, the day will be mostly over so maybe I'll have an admissions offer! 

[gingin6789]

@nevermind, two years ago, I had TONS of admissions dreams. This year I only had one, and I posted about it earlier in the thread. In the dream, I heard back from both of the programs on my list with apps due December 1st. I got a really competitive fellowship from the one program. I said to my fiancé in the dream "see, and this isn't even a dream either!" 

Then I woke up and chuckled about it between sobs. 

Edited January 15, 2016 by gingin6789
Excessive use of the word "even"

[artsy16]

I, too, sleep through the better half of the day in hopes of waking up to an admissions email. Hasn't worked yet, no emails 

Edited January 15, 2016 by artsy16

[raaawr]

So far I haven't had an admissions dream, but I did dream about my teeth falling off during application period. It's such a common dream but it was the first time I ever dreamt of it. Lately I've been stress eating chocolate cookies and drinking a lot of caramel macchiatos and iced tea while watching romcoms on netflix and now I just got caught up with american horror story. I also can't sleep lately. Since I submitted my application I've been sleeping around 4 or 5am. I just lay in bed for hours waiting to fall asleep and when I check the time it's suddenly morning and then I have to get ready for the day already. I think I'm really going to pack a lot of pounds by March 15th. 

I have never been to Machu Picchu but I once did dream about trekking the Inca trails. 

[honeybee77]

I applied back in November, haven't heard back in the 6-8 week time frame they gave, so I sent an update email and no response! I'm taking this as a rejection. But then again, I think, well If they wanted to reject me why not go ahead and send the email already? So all I can do now is turn my brain off and prepare for the worst. 

On a happier note, this is the first weekend of my last semester of undergrad so I'm due for a little stress relief!

[haltheincandescent]

37 minutes ago, raaawr said:

So far I haven't had an admissions dream, but I did dream about my teeth falling off during application period. It's such a common dream but it was the first time I ever dreamt of it. Lately I've been stress eating chocolate cookies and drinking a lot of caramel macchiatos and iced tea while watching romcoms on netflix and now I just got caught up with american horror story. I also can't sleep lately. Since I submitted my application I've been sleeping around 4 or 5am. I just lay in bed for hours waiting to fall asleep and when I check the time it's suddenly morning and then I have to get ready for the day already. I think I'm really going to pack a lot of pounds by March 15th. 

I have never been to Machu Picchu but I once did dream about trekking the Inca trails. 

Come to think of it, I also had weird teeth-dreams for the first time while applying. But since, I've mostly just been repeating my tried-and-true school-stress-dream script: being late for my first class, just totally forgetting that I even had it, trying desperately to will myself back in time so I didn't look like an idiot, then showing up the next time without having done the required reading and being asked pointed questions by the teacher/prof. about it without being able to come up with a response. Every time before the beginning of a new semester since like, 9th grade. Except I'm not in school anymore currently, so I guess my brain is just still stuck in the habit/schedule. Eegh.

Edited January 15, 2016 by haltheincandescent

[raaawr]

@haltheincandescent I've been having a recurring dream lately too. I keep dreaming about this certain mall food court. LOL I know it's so weird but for some reason it's a recurring venue but completely different dreams every time. I also don't think that food court exists in real life. LOL. So far no school dreams yet. I will probably get those later the nearer it gets to March. 

Oh, by the way, just out of curiosity, how near to the deadline did you guys submit your applications? My deadline being January 1, I submitted on Dec. 28th and according to the application checklist they received my LORs on Dec. 29th. So near the cut off and I'm thinking and being paranoid at the same time if the nearness of the submission to the deadline affects the overall application? It's almost 3am here so my paranoia is creeping up to me again.  How near or how early did you guys submit yours?

[J. R., MPPA]

Shoot.. I submitted most of my applications in October and September!  My anxiety is so bad right now I'm having trouble focusing on my masters thesis.  I'm not getting admission dreams though.. mostly just bizarre nightmares involving zombie hoards.  In of itself is kind of cool.. I mean.. can't go wrong with zombies.

[haltheincandescent]

2 minutes ago, raaawr said:

@haltheincandescent I've been having a recurring dream lately too. I keep dreaming about this certain mall food court. LOL I know it's so weird but for some reason it's a recurring venue but completely different dreams every time. I also don't think that food court exists in real life. LOL. So far no school dreams yet. I will probably get those later the nearer it gets to March. 

Oh, by the way, just out of curiosity, how near to the deadline did you guys submit your applications? My deadline being January 1, I submitted on Dec. 28th and according to the application checklist they received my LORs on Dec. 29th. So near the cut off and I'm thinking and being paranoid at the same time if the nearness of the submission to the deadline affects the overall application? It's almost 3am here so my paranoia is creeping up to me again.  How near or how early did you guys submit yours?

Unless it's admissions are rolling, it doesn't matter how close you get, as long as it's in by the deadline. Personally, I submitted all my stuff fairly early, because I had one super early deadline, and by that point, I had everything pretty much ready to go. But, 2 of my letter writers submitted their letters the day-of (one, literally one hour before the cut-off, haha), and I had no problems with it. Getting stuff in early can be helpful for you, so you have time to deal with any computer errors or still-missing materials before the actual deadline hits, but, if you turned it in right at the deadline, as long as everything got there, then you're good!

[Neist]

8 minutes ago, raaawr said:

Oh, by the way, just out of curiosity, how near to the deadline did you guys submit your applications? My deadline being January 1, I submitted on Dec. 28th and according to the application checklist they received my LORs on Dec. 29th. So near the cut off and I'm thinking and being paranoid at the same time if the nearness of the submission to the deadline affects the overall application? It's almost 3am here so my paranoia is creeping up to me again.  How near or how early did you guys submit yours?

Some people says it matters. I don't think it matters all that much. Like @haltheincandescent stated, rolling admissions are a different matter entirely. None of my programs do that, and I don't think their applicant pools are large enough that they wouldn't simply review them at one single point, beyond the application deadline.

Two of my applications were submitted fairly early, because they didn't require writing samples. However, the remainder of my applications were pretty close to the deadline because my writing sample was my capstone, and I just finished my capstone in December. I didn't really have it polished up to my standards until late December.

I'm not really concerned.

 

[raaawr]

2 minutes ago, haltheincandescent said:

Unless it's admissions are rolling, it doesn't matter how close you get, as long as it's in by the deadline. Personally, I submitted all my stuff fairly early, because I had one super early deadline, and by that point, I had everything pretty much ready to go. But, 2 of my letter writers submitted their letters the day-of (one, literally one hour before the cut-off, haha), and I had no problems with it. Getting stuff in early can be helpful for you, so you have time to deal with any computer errors or still-missing materials before the actual deadline hits, but, if you turned it in right at the deadline, as long as everything got there, then you're good!

My letter writers actually submitted their letters approximately 3 weeks before I submitted my application (lol!!!) because I was nagging them to death to submit already. I kind of told them I'm submitting in a few days so they would hurry up. haha! For some reason though the admission page wrote it down as having been received on Dec. 29th but it was already included on my file weeks before. Oh well, I'm good with that as long as it got there before the deadline.