Didn't get in...

zissou'smom

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I've been applying to grad school for the past, well, year. It's just been a waiting game.
Awhile ago I found out I didn't get into one school, but its ivy league and only accepts 4 people a year for the program I want (PhD in Linguistics), so I wasn't very sad. But then yesterday I found out I didn't get into another school and I am sad. Everyone who read my application essays and wrote recomendations really really thought I would get in to this school, its in-state, accepts more students. They're all just flabbergasted that I was rejected. My gpa is 3.95, and my GRE verbal was in the 98% percentile, so I really thought I had a chance.
So now I'm holding off graduation until August instead of graduating in weeks so I don't have to start paying off loans as soon in case I don't get in to the other two.
And I'm really really not good at not having a plan. I mean, what am I going to do? I'll reapply next year, but I just don't know. I can't think of anything that I would do for over a year aside from go to grad school.


Has anyone been in this situation before? What happened?
HELP
 

ugaimes

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I am so sorry to read this
. Who needs the snobby Ivy League, right?
The right school is waiting just around the corner. With grades like yours, you'll get in a phenomenal program in no time!
 

solaritybengals

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Yes! I applied for a Masters in Bioinformatics this year as well. I was rejected. The program is very competitive and if you don't have perfect math gre scores then evidently you don't get much consideration (I had a 720). I had great recommendations though. So I e-mailed the head of the program and asked why did I not get in? They told me my GRE Math and my GPA were not high enough. So I said well I thought my GRE math was fine, I knew my GPA was at the minimum of consideration but then I stated all the stuff I had going for me, work related, how I could immediately apply my education, etc.

Well they re-reviewed my application and accepted me, partially due to my determination and interest in the program and partly because I honestly don't think they looked at everything in the app.

So I would show determination, act like you want to find out why you didn't get in so you can fix it next year, and who knows, maybe they will admire that.

It is sad though. I was so upset when I first found out I was rejected
. Actually I was thoroughly depressed.
 
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zissou'smom

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I haven't gotten in anywhere yet
which is why I'm soo worried. I really wanted to stay in Ohio, which is also upsetting. Now I'm facing going to either Chicago or Minnesota, if I even get in! Its not so much the place as just that I don't know anyone and I'll be so far away from my support systems-- friends and family in Dayton, friends here in Kent, family in Cleveland. I've lived in Ohio my entire life, in the same house the first 18 years, and I'm just terrified.

I really really wanted to go to this school. I was already looking hesistantly at apartments, planing the move, etc. And I just feel so... lost. I'm not good at the real world, I'm really good at being in school.

Solarity Bengals-- that is a great idea. The terrible part of all this was I was just checking my app. online, so all it says is "Your application was not approved. You will be notified of this decision by mail". So I don't even know why! Once I receive the letter, I will call them if it doesn't explain anything. I still want to go to grad school. I hate the whole cubicle/office 9-5 thing so much!

I can keep things as is until August. I can only be thankful that my sister is there for me, and I can move back in with her w/o worrying about rent. I'm delaying my thesis until then, so I don't have to pay for hours.
 

adymarie

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I don't know what to say as I have never had to go through this, except good luck and my fingers are crossed for you! Please keep us updated!
 

krazy kat2

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I am so sorry you didn't get in the school you wanted. Are those your only choices, or the only ones you really wanted? Excuse my ignorance, but I know very little about such programs, and it sounds very interesting. Hopefully another door will open for you soon. We will keep sending you good luck vibes.
 

solaritybengals

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Originally Posted by Zissou'sMom

Solarity Bengals-- that is a great idea. The terrible part of all this was I was just checking my app. online, so all it says is "Your application was not approved. You will be notified of this decision by mail". So I don't even know why! Once I receive the letter, I will call them if it doesn't explain anything. I still want to go to grad school. I hate the whole cubicle/office 9-5 thing so much!
The rejection probably won't be very enlightening. I would jump on this right away. My boss is always telling me that people in academia always take things at face value. That just because requirements say something you don't have dosen't mean you don't have a shot. That just because someone says one thing dosen't mean it can't be changed. This is a good example of this. I found out before I got the letter as well. Actually I had e-mailed the head of the department asking if my application would be reviewed because my check was never cashed so thats how I found out. If you are good on the phone then that sounds like a good decision, I'm not very good at talking on the phone so I opted for e-mail so I could craft a response. I'd also make sure you are talking to the head of the program, someone you know is in charge and has a say-so.

If they say well x wasn't what we were looking for, then I would say but I was hoping you could take into mind x strengths that would be really great for the program. I would say why you wanted this degree and how you would like to use it in the future, either in the program, or outside the program as practical application. Of course you have nothing bad going for you! I did, I had one bad thing and that was my GPA so I had to walk around that one to show them that I WAS good enough for their program.

Anyway thats how I would procede. It might not work out for this year but then you will be armed with the knowledge of what they want for next year.
 

lunasmom

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Maybe its a way to say that you should move (as scary as it sounds). I believe that everything happens for a reason. So by you not getting into the first two may mean that you get into one of the other two because a new life is waiting for you there.
 

lionessrampant

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As a music major, I know ALL about small programs that generally have a 5-10% acceptance rate.

My paln for grad school is to just continue applying until one of the ones I want to go to lets me in. I have no epectations of being accepted to any of them on the first try, but my year's gotta roll around at some point.

There's this line in the Desiderata that I carry around in my head at all times: whether or not you believe it or are aware of it, the Universe is acting in precisely the way it is supposed to.

Never forget that you have nothing but time left and that you are worth it: make your life how you want it to be.
 

momof3rugratz

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Originally Posted by Zissou'sMom

I've been applying to grad school for the past, well, year. It's just been a waiting game.
Awhile ago I found out I didn't get into one school, but its ivy league and only accepts 4 people a year for the program I want (PhD in Linguistics), so I wasn't very sad. But then yesterday I found out I didn't get into another school and I am sad. Everyone who read my application essays and wrote recomendations really really thought I would get in to this school, its in-state, accepts more students. They're all just flabbergasted that I was rejected. My gpa is 3.95, and my GRE verbal was in the 98% percentile, so I really thought I had a chance.
So now I'm holding off graduation until August instead of graduating in weeks so I don't have to start paying off loans as soon in case I don't get in to the other two.
And I'm really really not good at not having a plan. I mean, what am I going to do? I'll reapply next year, but I just don't know. I can't think of anything that I would do for over a year aside from go to grad school.


Has anyone been in this situation before? What happened?
HELP
Do not let those letters get you down. It is not good for you. Keep a positive and open mind. You can do it.
 

commonoddity042

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Originally Posted by Zissou'sMom

I've been applying to grad school for the past, well, year. It's just been a waiting game.
Awhile ago I found out I didn't get into one school, but its ivy league and only accepts 4 people a year for the program I want (PhD in Linguistics), so I wasn't very sad. But then yesterday I found out I didn't get into another school and I am sad. Everyone who read my application essays and wrote recomendations really really thought I would get in to this school, its in-state, accepts more students. They're all just flabbergasted that I was rejected. My gpa is 3.95, and my GRE verbal was in the 98% percentile, so I really thought I had a chance.
So now I'm holding off graduation until August instead of graduating in weeks so I don't have to start paying off loans as soon in case I don't get in to the other two.
And I'm really really not good at not having a plan. I mean, what am I going to do? I'll reapply next year, but I just don't know. I can't think of anything that I would do for over a year aside from go to grad school.


Has anyone been in this situation before? What happened?
HELP
This is why the fact that college applications aren't a one-time thing in awesome. It's not the end if you didn't get in this time. If your heart is set on it, reapply or contact them about it. If your heart is set on it, there's no reason not to. Good luck.
 

esrgirl

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Maybe you should try applying to a state school that is less competitive. I remember looking into anthro masters programs and finding just how competitive they are, I'm sure linguistics is the same way. I know a number of people with excellent grades and scores who just couldn't get into a private school, or a top public school. Try applying for some of those schools that you normally wouldn't have thought of. There isn't any harm in calling the schools you've already applied to.

I can feel your pain right now though, as I found out yesterday that I didn't get an internship that I wanted badly. Try not to take it personally and keep in mind that this could be an opportunity for you to go out and explore, step outside your comfort zone and see where it takes you!
 
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zissou'smom

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Well, its the biggest school in the state, is public, and is the only one with a linguistics program...
I'm trying to not take it personally, but its hard


Thank you everybody for all the support. I'll def keep you posted.

I actually applied as an undergrad transfer so I can get a linguistics major there and then have a better chance of getting in? that is if I still don't get into the two left. Is that a stupid idea?
 

beckiboo

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Do whatever you need to do to increase your chances. My brother and his wife have PhD's in english...when they finally graduated, I thought they had lots of time to find a job...but as he pointed out, the colleges and universities want to hire either a new grad, or someone with experience. If they hadn't gotten jobs the first year, their chances would drop A LOT!

I'm guessing it is the same for you, keep going to school, making whatever adjustments you need, to reach your goal.

Also, when you talk to the person at that school, as suggested by Solarity, remember that one thing school administrators really like is for their graduates to succeed and do well. Although I just went to a diploma level nursing school, they loved to tell of the numbers of thier graduates who did well, and found jobs right away. What every school is looking for is a student who will complete the program, and go out and make them look good. Emphasize why you want that school, aside from it being close to home. But do let them know you love Ohio, and plan to stay there and complete the program. Let them know in whatever way you can, that you will be one of the student's they can brag about!

I'm sorry you didn't get in right away.
 

esrgirl

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Transfering might actually help. You would get to know the faculty and would probably get them to advocate for you. If you have time to do it, go for it. Maybe you could add another major or minor to make it worth your time.

I have no idea where you are in Ohio, but here are some Indiana options:
Is your interest in Linguistics more along the lines of Anthropology or English? IU has a really good linguistic anthropology program. http://www.indiana.edu/~anthro/lingo_anthro.html
Purdue also has a good linguistics program (non-anthro): http://www.cla.purdue.edu/linguistics/graduate/
 
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zissou'smom

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I actually considered Purdue, but I didn't like it as well as the others. My roommate also told me I wouldn't like it there, and I trust his evaluation (He's from near Ft Wayne). I originally sent them my GRE scores, actually.
I'm interested in theoretical linguistics of English, so anthropology isn't really the same thing, although that's a good suggestion.
The reason I wanted to go to the school I applied at is that they have a Historical Linguistics program, which is rare these days and kind of looked down on by other linguists...especially in America.
 

commonoddity042

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Originally Posted by Zissou'sMom

I actually considered Purdue, but I didn't like it as well as the others. My roommate also told me I wouldn't like it there, and I trust his evaluation (He's from near Ft Wayne). I originally sent them my GRE scores, actually.
I'm interested in theoretical linguistics of English, so anthropology isn't really the same thing, although that's a good suggestion.
The reason I wanted to go to the school I applied at is that they have a Historical Linguistics program, which is rare these days and kind of looked down on by other linguists...especially in America.
Why is it looked down on?
 
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