Grad School Outcome
Huge let down with grad school this year. Since I only applied to PhD programs and not very many at that...I am not going to be going straight to grad school next year. Many schools had their funding cut. Since PhD students at public schools get full tuition waivers and stipends to live on, the number of acceptances was cut substantially. I was waitlisted at 3 schools who all told me basically they could only accept around 2-3 students out of over 100 apps. Now I can deal with a 5-10% acceptance rate but no less than that!
To be honest I only wanted to go to Portland or Cali so that didn't work out for me. I am really bummed and down right now because I never anticipated the economy hurting my chances at acceptance. Although it does make a lot of sense. I did not apply to any Masters programs which was my initial plan to apply to a few in California. I ended up scratching that plan at the last minute and doing only PhD. Now I am really sad and embarrassed I spent a lot of time and money on the application process and to not have one hard acceptance letter in my hand really hurts. I know taking a year off isn't a horrible thing and I actually wasn't ready to move across the country, but rejection still hurts. I don't take it well at all.
I know I will bounce back and obviously have many options with a solid GPA and a lot of experience...I just can't help but wish I would have applied to Masters programs. I mean I was competing against many people who already have their Masters. It's really tough year. I don't know that it's going to get any better right away.
Either way I guess I can just save even MORE money. Move out and practice living on my own. Move up at American Express (I turned down a promotion a few months back ). I know this is not the end of the world. I just can't help but think of all the things I would have done differently.
I really want to live in northern California. I think my goal is to enjoy a break and save money and come back ten times as hard. Wish me luck!
To be honest I only wanted to go to Portland or Cali so that didn't work out for me. I am really bummed and down right now because I never anticipated the economy hurting my chances at acceptance. Although it does make a lot of sense. I did not apply to any Masters programs which was my initial plan to apply to a few in California. I ended up scratching that plan at the last minute and doing only PhD. Now I am really sad and embarrassed I spent a lot of time and money on the application process and to not have one hard acceptance letter in my hand really hurts. I know taking a year off isn't a horrible thing and I actually wasn't ready to move across the country, but rejection still hurts. I don't take it well at all.
I know I will bounce back and obviously have many options with a solid GPA and a lot of experience...I just can't help but wish I would have applied to Masters programs. I mean I was competing against many people who already have their Masters. It's really tough year. I don't know that it's going to get any better right away.
Either way I guess I can just save even MORE money. Move out and practice living on my own. Move up at American Express (I turned down a promotion a few months back ). I know this is not the end of the world. I just can't help but think of all the things I would have done differently.
I really want to live in northern California. I think my goal is to enjoy a break and save money and come back ten times as hard. Wish me luck!