<p>Hee hee. It doesn’t get better for grad school. I’m applying to five different schools with five /completely/ different personal statement requirements (one needs to be 500 words minimum, another 500 maximum, one 750-1000 and another “in the space allotted” on a modifiable pdf in which the size of the text shrinks with every new line).</p>
<p>The expected recommendations are all over the place. From Rutgers, they should be “from people who can comment on your academic abilities rather than on your performance in the work place,” others prefer recommendations from past employers, and still others don’t bother to give a preference. Extra materials run the gamut from a “personal history statement” to “interview essays” with current professionals in the field.</p>
<p>Plus, I can’t keep straight whether they want the GRE scores or not; some say to send them on all accounts, other say to send them only if your GPA is below a 3.0. Who wants two copies of the transcript? Who only needs one? Who needs it to be sent to the grad school and who needs it to be sent to the department? Extra financial aid application or check just check the box on the regular one? Some sites contradict themselves–one school said it “preferred to receive the following in a single envelope” at the top of the page and “recommended submitting materials online” on the bottom!</p>
<p>Good thing I’m sending transcripts out in December. I don’t think I’d get in to any of my schools with the GPA hit I’m going to take by sacrificing studying to fill out these darned applications :p</p>