Applications 101

Yeah!! Graduate school applications have been going out...finally! Seriously, these things are like full time jobs: write this, apply for this, have someone else fill this out, these are the following qualifications, blah!

So I am quite happy that three of my six applications are complete. The next three will hopefully be complete in a week and a half. There is a lot of research that has to happen long before a school can be added to the "apply to" list. What is the program specifically? What do the faculty specialize in? Finances coming into the school and out to the students. What city is the school in or near? What do friends, family members and former students think of the school?

There is one person I can point to who is specifically slowing me down as I try to reach the finish line. That person is my mother. With every school that is checked off of my list another is added. You see, she has this way of asking a question, that is really a demand disguised as a suggestion (every mom does it). She has recently used this maneuver multiple times to get me to adjust my school list. Originally my list included four schools, all with excellent Master's programs in my field. Then my mother got involved.

For the last month she has been pressing me about one school in particular because it is close to home. After ignoring her for a month I finally went on the school's website to do my research on the programs offered. Although the school does not offer what I am looking for they do have an international business school, so they were added to the list. Next came two entire states that my mom thought would be nice to live in (seriously, this is what I am dealing with). So I began a search for graduate schools in each state and then a specific program search. This resulted in another school being added to my list after passing all of my requirements.

So now I am up to six schools and have another three schools to research. Yet if it means applying to the right program I can not complain. And after much wailing and gnashing of teeth (on my part) my mom is finally satisfied as well. As she says, she is just looking out for what is best for me.