Well. I went through excitement, procrastination, motivation, and nose to the grind stone - and now, I've hit the have-a-spazz-out stage of graduate applications
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Tekla said that usually people feel like they deserve to get in to the places that they apply, and if they don't, it's the program's fault; but I've been feeling exactly the same way as you.
I've haven't had anything published, I haven't won any awards, I haven't had that much life experience, I don't feel like I'm one of the best students in the country, I haven't done anything spectacular, and then there's all the application weaknesses (GRE writing score, non-tenured recommender, etc.) I don't feel like I can compete with everyone else!!
i.e. I don't know what to tell you except, "Me too!" And, don't let the freak out slow your progress. Write that statement of purpose! :)
Eep! I know I said that, but it was in a specific context and a specific group of people, right? A lot of the people say that partially because of posturing and partly because, well, about 1/3 of the applications really are worthy of getting into grad school, and who gets in ends up being more a matter of fit and luck than anything else. During the application process, though, it's a completely different matter. Everyone goes through periods of doubt, and no matter how good your resume is, there's always a chance that someone else will have a better one
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I know, I've heard a lot how much of it is chance and luck and just finding the right fit. And I will try to narrow down my interest to something specific - I do have more specific interests, but I guess I'm kind of afraid to commit to them and I also don't know that much about them, so I'm worried about my ability to actually talk competently about them.
And I WILL work on that personal statement soon! So I have time to let you guys fix it for me! T_T lol, just kidding. Or am I? =p
You definitely are not tied to what you write in the statement of purpose. Of course, if that's why you get in and go to a school and then you change to something completely different, you could have a big problem if there isn't a fit. But you would know the programs well enough to know if that would happen.
Tekla - I probably am misrepresenting what you said. That is just how it got remembered in my mind. So then it *is* normal to feel inadequate while you're waiting to hear back?
Wow. I can't even tell you how much your post is making me not want to apply for grad schools. You are striking fear into my heart. Of course my prob is that I'm still not 100% sure I want to go. My family says I should, my friends here in NYC say it would be a waste of time and $$ (but I think that's because of the fields I'm trying to break into). The whole thing is just a nightmare and I haven't even begun other than studying for the GRE's. I wish you the best of luck, and you know I have complete faith in you.
you need to network to get into those fields (I hate the word 'network' but hey if you're good at it have a frickin ball with it)
was art admin one of your things? that one really needs a masters i think but some of those programs are as short as 3 semesters
but if you think you'd like going back to school go for it -- it's a chance to meet more people who could help you a) find a job but more importantly b) figure out precisely what it is you're good at and want to do
So my dad got into the ND microbiology program and he'd set himself up to do research on germs that would do things like eat oil spills and styrofoam (basically save the world) and he did it for one semester, untill the ass who ran it came back from sabatical ... the next thing you know he was in the program of the guy who'd substituted for the ass (still microbiology). Grad schools can't expect you to know everything about yourself and what you want to do right away. It's preposterous and impractical! (along with pretty damn stupid since people change)
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I've haven't had anything published, I haven't won any awards, I haven't had that much life experience, I don't feel like I'm one of the best students in the country, I haven't done anything spectacular, and then there's all the application weaknesses (GRE writing score, non-tenured recommender, etc.) I don't feel like I can compete with everyone else!!
i.e. I don't know what to tell you except, "Me too!" And, don't let the freak out slow your progress. Write that statement of purpose! :)
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And I WILL work on that personal statement soon! So I have time to let you guys fix it for me! T_T lol, just kidding. Or am I? =p
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Tekla - I probably am misrepresenting what you said. That is just how it got remembered in my mind. So then it *is* normal to feel inadequate while you're waiting to hear back?
Reply
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was art admin one of your things? that one really needs a masters i think but some of those programs are as short as 3 semesters
but if you think you'd like going back to school go for it -- it's a chance to meet more people who could help you a) find a job but more importantly b) figure out precisely what it is you're good at and want to do
So my dad got into the ND microbiology program and he'd set himself up to do research on germs that would do things like eat oil spills and styrofoam (basically save the world) and he did it for one semester, untill the ass who ran it came back from sabatical ... the next thing you know he was in the program of the guy who'd substituted for the ass (still microbiology). Grad schools can't expect you to know everything about yourself and what you want to do right away. It's preposterous and impractical! (along with pretty damn stupid since people change)
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