<p>I keep getting these e-mails from a Johns Hopkins address with the prefix ADMISSION. Literally in capital letters. The subject line will be like "YOU'RE INVITED!" but it's always some mid-week reception for a guest speaker or something.</p>
<p>I mean, it's nice that they want to get their applicants involved and everything (even though most applicants, presumably, do not live in DC anyway), but seriously. The only way they could get me more excited about nothing would be to send an e-mail titled "YOU'RE ACCEPTED..." and then have the body read "...as the person you are; please come to our Applicants' Diversity Spaghetti Feed at Noon on Tuesday".</p>
<p>I would lose my mind if I got repeated emails like that. Perhaps it's some bizarre psychological test to see if you can hold up to the rigors of grad school. You're still coherent and cracking jokes, so you'll be accepted...right?</p>
<p>Yeah, it's impossible to believe they don't understand how the applicants feel. You just imagine maniacal laughter eminating from the Admissions Office after hours: "Dance, puppets! DANCE!!1!"</p>
<p>I can't wait for the "YOU'RE INVITED ... to apply for less prestigious schools!" e-mail.</p>
<p>DF,</p>
<p>Hang in there, man. If we both get accepted, I'll buy the first round of tequila shooters at orientation.</p>
<p>I don't know. Probably relieved. But if we applied to the same program (SAIS Master's), it's a little weird that you wouldn't get the same e-mails.</p>
<p>GopherGrad: Deal. We'll need it after all this.</p>
<p>drosophilist, they don't seem like anything more than generic emails (and wouldn't be, as I doubt they're done reviewing applications at this point), but it is strange you're not receiving them. Maybe they're being sent to a different e-mail address?</p>
<p><wiping tears="" of="" laughter="" away=""> Seriously, guys. Thanks for entertaining me with your neurotic grad student creativity. I needed it today! <grin></grin></wiping></p>
<p>Gopher, just saw your response in the other thread. I did attend an information session before deciding to apply to SAIS, and I'm afraid this will just be a repeat of that-- I think you're right about them timing the session for people who might be attending conflicting admitted student days come spring. Guess it can't hurt, though. I've been trying to be chill about this whole process and not let it interfere with my work or my life too much, but I'm feeling a little bit obsessive recently. I'm grateful that this board (this thread, at least) seems populated with friendly, well-intentioned people. My SO is applying to med school this year, and those discussion forums can get downright vitriolic. </p>
<p>At this point, I almost wish I was getting spammed - at least I would know that they acknowledge my existence! I did get a few 'open house' emails from GWU for a little while, but they stopped as soon as the application deadline hit. I'm starting to get paranoid about not receiving anything...</p>
<p><em>shakes her fist in anger at The Man</em></p>
<p>What it is (if you can take yourself outside of it) is freakin' hilarious.</p>
<p>We're so wound up, and so absolutely powerless. </p>
<p>From: ADMISSION
To: Chump
Re: CONGRATS</p>
<p>...on completing your application three months ago! SIPA will hold a reception for all students not too dumb to navigate the on-line system in Madison Square Garden!* Free bagel bites! SIPA hopes you wander around for long enough to bump into someone more likely than you to be admitted.</p>
<p>The firm and immediate establishment of an unofficial drinking team during law school has aided my legal career in more ways than anything else I did those years.</p>
<p>I admit GopherGrad as my new favorite poster. There were many qualified applicants, all of whom had high standardized scores. However, GopherGrad has met the elusive "fit" requirement, primarily by making me laugh repeatedly throughout this thread. Unfortunately, we have no funding available for this position. Congratulations!</p>
<p>
[quote]
The firm and immediate establishment of an unofficial drinking team during law school has aided my legal career in more ways than anything else I did those years.</p>
<p>Well, passing the bar was helpful.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Why would an unofficial drinking team pass a bar?</p>
<p>Hey guys-- I went to the session yesterday evening. It was packed-- far more people there than the info session I attended in the fall. I live in DC and it's easy for me to take a couple hours from work on a Friday afternoon, so it was no big deal to go (and I wanted a second impression, anyway), but some people traveled quite far to get there and that surprised me. They showed the video, had a Q&A panel, then released everyone to happy hour. PM me for details if interested. </p>
<p>A question, though: I understand that a lot of people attending SAIS are headed for government jobs, positions in the finance industry, some World Bank, etc. I'm a human rights person through and through, with interests in distributive justice and civil society in conflict areas. I like SAIS because it seems academically rigorous, I know the econ will serve me well, and I wouldn't mind staying in DC. But is there a healthy contingent of human rights-types there (whatever that means)? I have a positive impression of the chair of my concentration area, but I've had a really hard time getting a sense of the student body after two visits. This is vague, but any help would be much appreciated.</p>