OT: Graduate School

Well it's approaching that time...I'm studying for the GRE which I'll take in the fall, scouting out attractive graduate programs (#1 is East Carolina U, #2 is UNC Greensboro, #3 is James Madison), finding out how far these universities are from my house, trying to determine whether I have met the requirements for the programs...I'm ALREADY A WRECK. :sad: I earned a full academic scholarship for undergrad studies, so I sort of got 'spoiled' because I didn't have to pay for them. But I am a BAD test taker (ahem*GRE*), and assistanceships seem so competitive, and all the good schools are out of state, and it's so expensive! I need two transcripts and three letters of recommendation for each program, plus a statement of intent and a statement of research interest and other info for a possible assistanceship, plus pay $75 for one application and $45 for another (haven't bothered to see how expensive #3 is lol). SO MUCH TO DO. And UNC's deadline for admissions is Jan. 15th. That might seem like a long time, but it's so not when you are taking classes...the weeks just fly by! I'll be studying for the GRE alllll summer...:sick: I hate math.

Okay, just had to whine haha...I always stress about academics. If you've done graduate studies and survived, please let me know. :laugh: I know only one person who did, and he quit after getting his MS instead of staying on his PhD track. :ohwell:

Okay, I don' t have my PhD. BUT, I got my MA in one year with three kids at home (one of them TWO years old). Blood, sweat, and tears, and it is ALL worth it. Tough it out.

Wow, impressive! That makes me feel better, because I'll just be taking care of me! :flowerforyou:

I am currently a nursing student with 2 children 6 and alomost 10...i wish you the best....

peace

Well I wish you the best as well! Sounds like you will be great at taking care of everyone. :flowerforyou:

Yeah, the application process totally sucks!! You are way ahead of the game though for starting now, even if you're taking summer classes.

Not all programs have money to fling at you. In the MSW (social work) program I'm in, the assistantships are only $1,000 per academic year. Something tells me that social work programs have less money to throw around than others though... I am thinking of some folks I know in physics PhD programs in which they are so hard up for applicants that they pay YOU to attend (at least that was what I have been told).

I'm halfway through my program and am finding it so gratifying and worth it to be able to focus so intently on the topics I'm interested in. Don't let other people's horror stories worry you too much though. You seem like a very smart woman and I'm guessing you can do whatever you put your head to! Best of luck. :flowerforyou:

Thank you! I'm glad to hear I'm ahead of things...sometimes I feel like I'm really lagging behind. With all the stuff I have to write, I feel like I should've started last year :noway: My bf is a biochem major, and he also said that if you enter a science, you'll most likely get paid well. His best friend is a TA now at Colorado and making $22K a year just from that! He's in chemistry though, so I'm not sure if I'll get the same in physiology.
I'm definitely excited to start research on what I am really interested in...although major classes in undergrad are fairly specific, you still get some that are just reruns of gen eds or totally boring (i.e., Organization and Administration of Health/Fitness Clubs...snore).

I feel for you. I've been there, done that, and glad to say I walked my commencement ceremony on Saturday for my PhD in Psychology (neuropsychology is my track), so it's totally possible! Granted, I still need to complete my dissertation but it should be realistically done by the end of August. Congrats on starting early. I was a wreck when I applied too and trust me, even if they give you money, you might still have to take out student loans anyways, depending on the stipends. I was the first in my family to get a Bachelor's degree, let alone a doctorate, so applying was really confusing and difficult at first and I had a lot of people I turned to. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK! And believe it or not, everyone else applying is probably feeling the same way. You sound like you're preparing yourself with a lot of time and preparation is really half of the battle since missed deadlines and being unaware of what programs are out there make people miss the best programs for them at times. So take a deep breath. You'll probably get through it all just fine

Woohoo, congratulations! :drinker: I'm okay with applying for loans...I have $9500 of debt after paying for two cars and two credit cards, so it could definitely be worse after 4 years of college. I was the first to get a BS in the conventional way (my dad went through the military and took online courses), so no one really knew what to do for me either; no one else has gone for a PhD either. What really bugs me is that my adviser was just changed! I have been with the same one this whole time, and now my senior year, when everything has to be perfect, they put me with someone new. :grumble: That doesn't help.

Well I don't know much about grad school but deciding to go to UNCG for my under grad was the best decision I ever made. Maybe even the last good decision I have made ever.

Wow, it must have been awesome! What was your major? I really love NC..I'd like to get into UNC Chapel Hill but I don't have the correct requirements for cell phys.