What applications look like

[Lauren the Librarian]

Yesterday, I got to see my application packet to a program I was accepted to. I wasn't allowed to read the whole thing, but I was glancing at it while my advisor and I were meeting and "getting to know each other."

I wanted to share with the forum what my packet looked like (one data point is better than none).

It was a plain, manila folder with a label on the tab with my name on it. In my opinion, it was really thick, at least 75 pages or more filled with papers, some stapled together. Every stapled section of the pile had a cover page (for each LoR, for example). Throughout the folder I could see highlighted spots on some pages such as my GRE score, my program or speciality and GPA. It looked like a typical "file" but it was much thicker than I would have thought. Everything I sent them or they sent to me was in that file, including every email exchange printed out and highlighted for key elements. "Received on" dates were stamped on the upper corners of most of the pages. My SoP-submitted with the online uploader-was printed out in a Courier-type font, size 8-10. Looking at it, my main thought was, "Omg, the adcom has to look through how many of these?"

I have no idea how the adcoms do it. And I totally sympathize with the notion of having GRE and GPA cuttoffs in the first round. A "holistic" review for every applicant seems like it would be a total nightmare.

[LifeIsGood]

This is really interesting. Can you clarify something for me? When you say that "every email exchange" was "printed out and highlighted for key elements," what kinds of emails would those have been? With your potential advisor? The graduate secretary?

[Victorianna]

Hmmm.. This is very interesting. I am also curious about those emails.

[Lauren the Librarian]

The ones I saw and could identify were to/from the grad coordinator. I never contacted potential advisors. But there were 5-7 emails that I couldn't identify. (Maybe they were from advisor to advisor?) Whether I wanted to go full-time or half-time was highlighted. At least two other items were highlighted but I don't know what they were.

[coyabean]

Awesome. I live for this kind of minutiae. The email thing is very interesting. It makes me want to go back and check all of my emails for clarity and verbiage!

[ristastic]

That e-mail bit is a little terrifying, though I think [hope] I presented myself well in all communication so far.

[Lauren the Librarian]

I've written them assuming that the person who reads my email could have some role in deciding whether I get in.

That's the message I took out of it.

[Victorianna]

Oh no! Another thing to obsess over. Time to start re-reading those emails

[NeuroNerd86]

Maybe that file also included all your GradCafe forum posts and blogs

[johndiligent]

Maybe that file also included all your GradCafe forum posts and blogs

Haha, that's horrifying. Maybe The Grad Cafe is secretly operated by graduate schools as a means of acquiring further information about candidates and observing them when they don't know that they're being observed....

ZOMG! CONSPIRACY!

[modernity]

Haha, that's horrifying. Maybe The Grad Cafe is secretly operated by graduate schools as a means of acquiring further information about candidates and observing them when they don't know that they're being observed....

ZOMG! CONSPIRACY!

I've had enough stress and lack of sleep to almost find this idea plausible!!

That and I just find conspiracy theories fun.

[socialcomm]

Haha, that's horrifying. Maybe The Grad Cafe is secretly operated by graduate schools as a means of acquiring further information about candidates and observing them when they don't know that they're being observed....

ZOMG! CONSPIRACY!

Love this!

[jlee306]

This was very interesting information, thanks for sharing Lauren!

[tarski]

Suddenly very happy that all my random emails to secretaries were super-polite and checked over for grammar, heh.

Edited January 14, 2010 by tarski

[Lantern]

I, too, am glad to hear about the email record. I am always so hard on myself for taking an hour to write a simple email to a professor because I obsessively proofread it. I guess my sometimes-perfectionist tendencies may pay off.

[solairne]

Hopefully somebody will notice my meticulous use of whom and the subjunctive... lol

[caputmundi]

Suddenly very happy that all my random emails to secretaries were super-polite and checked over for grammar, heh.

I find it fitting and hilarious that this post was edited.

[tarski]

I find it fitting and hilarious that this post was edited.

Yeah, yeah .

[whereiscarmen]

That's why I don't post my stats and schools. I'm afraid I'll be figured out on here.

[tskinner]

Thank you for posting this! I love hearing information and details like this! It gets me anxious and excited for some reason--thinking that there are seven bulging files on me scattered across the nation!

[Anita]

I wonder how old we have to be before people stop watching and judging our every step, and we get to watch other people?

[socialpsych]

I wonder how old we have to be before people stop watching and judging our every step,

If you're going into academia, never!

and we get to watch other people?

If you're going into academia, right away. It's all about everyone judging everyone! Starting your first year, you'll be writing critique papers for class and commenting on your colleagues' research ideas in lab meetings...and soon after, you get to start reviewing for journals!

[melusine]

If you're going into academia, never!

If you're going into academia, right away. It's all about everyone judging everyone! Starting your first year, you'll be writing critique papers for class and commenting on your colleagues' research ideas in lab meetings...and soon after, you get to start reviewing for journals!

it's an academic panopticon!! (wouldn't Foucault be proud?)

[mario]

it's an academic panopticon!! (wouldn't Foucault be proud?)

i'd say Barthes

[downtownchick]

Email printouts?! That's scary!