apply to grad school

At church on Sunday my pastor and former boss said he finally got around to sending in the recommendation form on Thursday. So that’s good. I still need to write my “why I think I’d make a fantastic teacher if I studied at your fine institution” essay and sign up for the entrance exams. I had originally planned on taking them this past Saturday, but with all of the family stuff going on I decided to postpone. The application materials don’t have to be in until March, but I’d still like to get a move on!

I’m practically finished with my personal statement and my resume: YEA!!!!!!

I finally (after like two weeks) texted my friend and former boss about being a reference. He said he’d absolutely do it, but now I need his new address to send the forms to!

Originally I had pulled out a crisp new folder and put all of my application materials in it as well as a checklist for what I needed to do. Now I’m thinking perhaps I should have gotten the ugliest folder I could find so I’d be motivated to do all of the tasks on the list just to get the folder off my desk! Ha! :)

I received an email confirmation from the university which also gave me the address to send my additional forms/papers/scores to. So I’ve just filled out my transcript request form and will fax that from work tomorrow, and I will also print my two reference letters tomorrow and send those in the right direction.

Next will be studying for the PPST and writing my reflective essay. I can’t believe how relatively easy this was compared to what I thought it would be! :)

Yep, that’s how I feel right now. I JUST APPLIED!!!!!!

(I’m kind of way excited right now.)

I took care of steps 1 and 5: the application and fee. I applied online, and it was super easy considering that I can email my reflective essay separately. WHEW. Such a load off my shoulders! And now the rest will all fall into place!

For heaven’s sake, I just need to bite the bullet and apply.

Things I’m going to need:

1. Application. I’m going to apply online either after my next paycheck or after the 24th (so I can either use my debit card for the fee or put in on my next billing cycle of my credit card).

2. Transcripts. I need to go online and see what the easiest way to procure these from my school’s “sister school” is. That whole system is ridiculous, considering I only live 20 minutes from MY alma mater but my transcripts are a few hours away!

3. (2) letters of recommendation. I’m thinking maybe Dave and Mark or Ken.

4. 2-page reflective essay. I’m not looking forward to this, but really, what’s a 2-page paper compared to those 10-page papers in undergrad? Though it’s far easier to write 10 pages about Yassir Arafat than myself and why I’m so awesome they should let me in to grad school.

5. $30 fee, see number 2.

6. PPST – I’m thinking November 7th. Again, I’m going to wait to sign up until I have a little more free cash, but I’ve got a study book and I would take it tomorrow if that were feasible!

And now, onward to grad school!

The hard part is over. Now I only have a couple of things left to print out, check over my work, and send.

Things I’ve learned: Don’t apply to school unless you really want to, and apply to a field you really think you’d enjoy/be good at.

This could end up being a very long term goal. I’m not sure whether I want to go to grad school in the fall or not, I haven’t made up my mind. I do know I will want to do it eventually.

I had a goal last year that I’d do research on grad schools by now, but that hasn’t happened. I still want to apply at some point in the next couple of years, but really this is something I’ve been putting off for three reasons: 1) my music is more important, 2) I’m terrified of more student loan debt, 3) I don’t feel like being on any sort of “career track”.

I have an idea of what I’d like to do once I do decide to get on that career track, but I don’t see myself doing that for a while. Am I in a rut? Or am I just avoiding becoming an adult? Both? :)

... now it’s just a waiting game!!! :-) So glad it’s over!