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United States889 Posts
Wow this is like the first 'real life' blogging I've done since high school, but I feel compelled to share my life with strangers because I'm self important.
Anyway, I'm presently sitting in a bagel shop in Ann Arbor, Michigan, waiting for 12 noon. I got up at 4 o'clock local time (3 o'clock for me; I live in suburban chicago) drove my dad to the airport and then hauled it all the way to Ann Arbor for three interviews at the big U of M.
I'm a linguistics major, son of a cognitive psychologist, brought up in the generative tradition of Jerry Fodor modularity and Chomskyian Universal Grammar. I was converted by a cognitive scientist last semester to the much more reasonable perspectives on language, and now I have to sell myself as suitable to a program based on a single semester.
Eeek. My GPA is good (3.93), my GRE is okay but not great, and I have no idea how my letters will be. Do I feel ready for this? Not a chance in hell. But I guess there's only one way out.
Now that I have unburdened myself on the sponge of emotion that is the TL community, I can go back to catching up on recent research in SLA and constraint based processing models.
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Hi I'm presently sitting in an office building in Ann Arbor, MI eating a bagel, waiting until 12noon so I can eat some lunch, so I feel like I can really relate. :p
Best of luck in your interview, let us know how things turn out.
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United States889 Posts
On July 13 2010 22:35 Pawsom wrote:
Hi I'm presently sitting in an office building in Ann Arbor, MI eating a bagel, waiting until 12noon so I can eat some lunch, so I feel like I can really relate. :p
Best of luck in your interview, let us know how things turn out.
haha sweet man. I go to Iowa for undergrad and it's depressing that there are no TL.netizens in the entire community. good to know there's at least one hanging around these parts.
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Oh definately. We had a nice showing for the flash vs jaedong final.
P.S. Need recommendations for lunch/dinner?
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I feel your pain.. or at least I will soon
I apply to psych grad schools this fall. your gpa is very nice though it should go well!
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UM Ann Arbor asks for interviews for potential graduate student? WTF?
When I apply are they going to ask me to travell from Toronto to Ann Arbor to "chat" for 30 minutes, too? God I hope not.
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United States889 Posts
On July 13 2010 22:43 Pawsom wrote:
Oh definately. We had a nice showing for the flash vs jaedong final.
P.S. Need recommendations for lunch/dinner?
I'll be around for lunch, so yeah that'd be great. I like the city a lot. Looks good even on an overcast day like today.
On July 13 2010 23:05 thedeadhaji wrote:GRE is irrelevant as long as you show that you aren't retarded, so don't worry about that part! 
That's good to hear. I'm hoping the interviews will be a way to show I'm not retarded, among other things.
On July 13 2010 23:18 illu wrote:
UM Ann Arbor asks for interviews for potential graduate student? WTF?
When I apply are they going to ask me to travell from Toronto to Ann Arbor to "chat" for 30 minutes, too? God I hope not.
No, I asked for interviews from them. I'm a linguist applying to a psych program...I need to gauge their interest in me despite my background and their suitability to my interests. Ironically enough, I'll be going to Toronto to do the very same thing with Craig Chambers at the psych department there (hopefully!) soon.
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On July 13 2010 23:19 Arrian wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2010 22:43 Pawsom wrote:
Oh definately. We had a nice showing for the flash vs jaedong final.
P.S. Need recommendations for lunch/dinner? I'll be around for lunch, so yeah that'd be great. I like the city a lot. Looks good even on an overcast day like today.
Well what kind of food do you like? There's a nice korean place near main campus.
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On July 13 2010 23:19 Arrian wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2010 22:43 Pawsom wrote:
Oh definately. We had a nice showing for the flash vs jaedong final.
P.S. Need recommendations for lunch/dinner? I'll be around for lunch, so yeah that'd be great. I like the city a lot. Looks good even on an overcast day like today. Show nested quote +On July 13 2010 23:05 thedeadhaji wrote:GRE is irrelevant as long as you show that you aren't retarded, so don't worry about that part! That's good to hear. I'm hoping the interviews will be a way to show I'm not retarded, among other things. Show nested quote +On July 13 2010 23:18 illu wrote:
UM Ann Arbor asks for interviews for potential graduate student? WTF?
When I apply are they going to ask me to travell from Toronto to Ann Arbor to "chat" for 30 minutes, too? God I hope not. No, I asked for interviews from them. I'm a linguist applying to a psych program...I need to gauge their interest in me despite my background and their suitability to my interests. Ironically enough, I'll be going to Toronto to do the very same thing with Craig Chambers at the psych department there (hopefully!) soon.
http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/craigchambers.0.html
This guy? 
Anyways, when I got in graduate school in UofT I was not asked for interviews. They give me acceptance and that's it. I guess psychology is different
However, UofT is kind of picky on international students... it's a public university and most of the fundings are for domestic students. I think you may have a much better chance with another university in the states that is similarly ranked.
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Blimpy Burger: (great burgers, was on food network, cheap diner) Packard and S. Division
Maru/Seoul Korner: (korean food) E. William and Thompson
Le Dog: (get the lobster bisque) Hot Dog stand on liberty near main I think. Really good 'gourmet' hot dogs.
Sabor Latino: (good mexican food) N. Main street, like 1-2 blocks north of E. Huron.
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United States889 Posts
On July 13 2010 23:34 illu wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2010 23:19 Arrian wrote:On July 13 2010 22:43 Pawsom wrote:
Oh definately. We had a nice showing for the flash vs jaedong final.
P.S. Need recommendations for lunch/dinner? I'll be around for lunch, so yeah that'd be great. I like the city a lot. Looks good even on an overcast day like today. On July 13 2010 23:05 thedeadhaji wrote:GRE is irrelevant as long as you show that you aren't retarded, so don't worry about that part! That's good to hear. I'm hoping the interviews will be a way to show I'm not retarded, among other things. On July 13 2010 23:18 illu wrote:
UM Ann Arbor asks for interviews for potential graduate student? WTF?
When I apply are they going to ask me to travell from Toronto to Ann Arbor to "chat" for 30 minutes, too? God I hope not. No, I asked for interviews from them. I'm a linguist applying to a psych program...I need to gauge their interest in me despite my background and their suitability to my interests. Ironically enough, I'll be going to Toronto to do the very same thing with Craig Chambers at the psych department there (hopefully!) soon. http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/craigchambers.0.htmlThis guy? Anyways, when I got in graduate school in UofT I was not asked for interviews. They give me acceptance and that's it. I guess psychology is different However, UofT is kind of picky on international students... it's a public university and most of the fundings are for domestic students. I think you may have a much better chance with another university in the states that is similarly ranked.
Yep that's him. And yeah, I understand the preference for domestic students. I assumed it would be, as are most places. I wouldn't be applying if I didn't have some cards up my sleeve though.
The interviews just give me a better shot I think than those with similar records who don't interview, provided it goes well.
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best of luck on your interview!
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On July 13 2010 22:28 Arrian wrote:
program based on a single semester.
Eeek. My GPA is good (3.93), my GRE is okay but not great, and I have no idea how my letters will be. Do I feel ready for this? Not a chance in hell. But I guess there's only one way out.
I'm not sure how it is in your field but in Economics GRE is only important up to a point. Namely, all they care is if you have high quantitative score (in top school usually between 780-800) and that's it. If you are below the threshold for the school they don't look at your application unless you have a referee who will make sure they will review it (i.e. it happens that some recommendation letter writers will call given school to indicate you are a good match). Presumably sth similar happens in most of the fields but different part of GRE are important.
And remember that there is some randomness in the admission process so never give up hope
Good luck with interviews!
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Don't worry dude you're going to do fine! Grad School is a bit more easy-going than people make it out to me. Just know that it's an advancement on your current studies and the environment that the professors give is even more easy-going than that of your undergrad equivalents.
Hope you're interview wow's them!
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On July 13 2010 23:53 Arrian wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2010 23:34 illu wrote:On July 13 2010 23:19 Arrian wrote:On July 13 2010 22:43 Pawsom wrote:
Oh definately. We had a nice showing for the flash vs jaedong final.
P.S. Need recommendations for lunch/dinner? I'll be around for lunch, so yeah that'd be great. I like the city a lot. Looks good even on an overcast day like today. On July 13 2010 23:05 thedeadhaji wrote:GRE is irrelevant as long as you show that you aren't retarded, so don't worry about that part! That's good to hear. I'm hoping the interviews will be a way to show I'm not retarded, among other things. On July 13 2010 23:18 illu wrote:
UM Ann Arbor asks for interviews for potential graduate student? WTF?
When I apply are they going to ask me to travell from Toronto to Ann Arbor to "chat" for 30 minutes, too? God I hope not. No, I asked for interviews from them. I'm a linguist applying to a psych program...I need to gauge their interest in me despite my background and their suitability to my interests. Ironically enough, I'll be going to Toronto to do the very same thing with Craig Chambers at the psych department there (hopefully!) soon. http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/craigchambers.0.htmlThis guy? Anyways, when I got in graduate school in UofT I was not asked for interviews. They give me acceptance and that's it. I guess psychology is different However, UofT is kind of picky on international students... it's a public university and most of the fundings are for domestic students. I think you may have a much better chance with another university in the states that is similarly ranked. Yep that's him. And yeah, I understand the preference for domestic students. I assumed it would be, as are most places. I wouldn't be applying if I didn't have some cards up my sleeve though. The interviews just give me a better shot I think than those with similar records who don't interview, provided it goes well.
Good luck then :D
UofT has a huge psychology department (in all three campuses). I think they are quite good.
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You will do awesome. I have read some of your articles on TL.net, they are amazing. If you show half of the talent you have, they would be lucky to have you.
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I'm in Ann Arbor right now typing away on my laptop in an apartment on central campus.
There are actually a fair amount of TL people on campus (and some on the CSL team who don't really post on TL) so if you do end up coming here I could fill you in on who's who for awhile. ^_^
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On July 14 2010 01:48 Funnytoss wrote:
I'm in Ann Arbor right now typing away on my laptop in an apartment on central campus.
There are actually a fair amount of TL people on campus (and some on the CSL team who don't really post on TL) so if you do end up coming here I could fill you in on who's who for awhile. ^_^
Apparently I went to the wrong school for TL people. I went to Western Michigan (native of Chicago suburbs too!). One person knew TL and I played another guy at a LAN, but he didn't go to the school.
OP: Good luck on the interviews. I'm surprised you're interviewing so late. I thought most the grad school acceptances went out mid-May at the latest. A friend of mine did interviews for psychology all last semester too, and he seemed to enjoy them. As an engineer, I luckily didn't have to!
I hope it all goes well
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O btw, I will definitely apply for UM Ann Arbor for PhD at the end of this year (along with possibly 6~10 other schools). :D
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Sucks that you have to actually interview for grad school =p
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EPT
