The First Application

One down...  After an absurdly stressful week (in typical finals-week style panic) I submitted my first graduate school application!  I can't count how many times I decided that I didn't actually want to go to graduate school because it would be much simpler to stop where I was than figure how to sidestep the obstacle.  It will be much easier from here, I hope.  I've learned so much, and this momentum should sustain itself.

Interesting lessons revealed thus far:

1. Simply because someone agrees to write a letter of recommendation--with very advanced notice--does not mean that said person will write said letter.

2. I should have at least one extra person who is willing to write a letter of recommendation.  Just in case.  Two or more is better.

3. The people at the admissions office DO NOT CARE that the person writing the letter of recommendation might not follow through.

4. The people at the admissions office DO NOT CARE about you or me or your application or mine.

5. Although the due date may be stated as December 15th (implying that the applicant has until midnight), the due date is actually 4:30 pm central time on the 15th, or 2:30 my time (it may also be necessary to look up time zones).

6. Writing a personal statement is difficult, and people who say they whipped it up and sent it out are lying or wrote terrible papers.

7. This process is expensive: between $50 and $100 per application with transcripts and GRE scores. Robbery.

8.  Do I really want to go to graduate school?  Sure, why not.

9.  Each application is different, especially regarding the scholarship instructions, so it is necessary to strenuously wade through each.

It's just another set of hoops through which I must hop, skip, and jump.  I'm getting better at it.