EDIT@~1am:
SOP = 3 pages, double-spaced.
Diversity statement = 3 pages, double-spaced.
Why grad school = 2 pages, double-spaced.

WHOOT.

Now to bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Opinions, please, from those either who must read these types of application essays, or have done this before...

SOP Content
If they say the limit is 3 pages, is it:
a. better to stick to the limit, and not go over, even if it means cutting out something you think you want to say, or
b. cut down as much as you can, but still have it go over (and to what extent)?

My places want 3 page essay, double-spaced. My SOP. Right now, it's 3 pages - single spaced. >.< I don't know what to cut out, or how, without it feeling incomplete. It was about the right length before I went back and said "ok, I learned this and this, and THIS is why this skill is needed for genetic counseling". The paragraphs relating it back to counseling are what made it longer, but I've heard they're important. Is it better to stay in the limit and leave out some stuff that might be important...or? If there were two equal applicants, but one had a 4 page paper and another 3, would they pick the one with the 3 page paper b/c they followed the limit?

How strict are word limits as well?

Diversity Statements
I have a feeling I got a bit too long-winded.

How long should a diversity statement be? Mines 3 pages, single spaced. Could probably cut it down to 2.5.

I have the things that are "different" about me, and what I learned from them, but not how it ties into genetic counseling (which would extend that 3 pages to something more like 4 or 5). Is it important to include why those different things make you awesome for this specific field, or is it enough that they make you awesome? B/c the people reading it know the characteristics they're looking for. I feel sorta like a moron sometimes for saying "and I have this skill, and a counselor needs this skill, so that's why I'd make a good GC" when it's obvious that it's a skill they should have. Like, oh, communication ability or something.

*sigh* This is a pain in the butt.

I also have more writing to do on other things tonight, and to eat dinner, and get things to be faxed over to Nica's so she can fax them in the morning. Whee.

All I want is a weekend where I can sleep in!

And I'm currently hating myself for the procrastination, which put me in this place. I know I do it, and I've known it for at least a decade. Can't fix it. Why not? No idea. I don't like the stress it causes, I hate it. But still, I procrastinate anyway. And it sucks ass. But motivation just isn't there; time goes by WAY faster than what I expect. I KNEW I would be applying. I KNEW the deadlines. When did I start? End of November. BAH. I realized earlier today it's because I sometimes see things in "steps". This has to come first. Then this. Then this. And if I can't finish step b, I put off c,d,e and f. Even if they're something I can do without b being done. And that's part of the problem.

Sunny's trying to help, but I keep snapping at him b/c I'm stressed and need someone to rant to (though he believes ranting doesn't help at all b/c it's not productive and just gets me more riled up about the situation instead of thinking of solutions). He can't give me advice other than "follow the directions" and "write the best application you can that fits their guidelines" and "email Lorraine". XD All of which I know. So I turned to you guys.

Top it all off, internets is SLOW today, for some dumb reason, making it harder to check the dictionary page (no, I don't own a paper one, and there isn't one on my computer).

Anyway, that all ranted...


Anyone up for reading some Pieces of Crap (TM) writing and giving concrit?


I'm tired of staring at them, and maybe some fresh eyes can inspire me. Even if it's just "that's crap" or "this paragraph serves no purpose" or "like this, get rid of that". I don't need very strict editing of grammar and stuff, just general feel stuff.

H-E-L-P?

I wanted to write about something more fun, but that shall have to wait.

Whew!

Less than 3 hours later, the first rough draft for Thursday's essay is finished. I really wanted it done yesterday, but the prof didn't reply early in the day (due to some email problem) so I didn't work on it. I really could have, though; I figure I was procrastinating. I guess I like torturing myself. >.<

My paper still needs a conclusion, and of course to be reread and most of it will end up rewritten and reorangized (lots of re's!). It'll be ok, though, or so I hope. I have to make sure my argument is clear, since I'm using one source to prove the influence in another. It's a little tricky to write properly, to pick the best references. There's still some from the play I want to include, but as it's already 5 pages long, and that's how long it's supposed to be, I don't know if I'll bother. *double checks* They're short quotations. I'll add them in tomorrow. I'm tired.

So, off to bed. Here's hoping I get up early enough tomorrow! No classes means I have the tendency to sleep in. >.< I want at least 6 hours. All the "recouperation" sleep happens in the first 3-4 anyway, so I should be fine, in theory.

At least the material is interesting. I didn't notice that nearly 3 hours had gone by.

Spent about an hour talking to the English prof after class (meant skipping a psych tutorial - oh well, it's about cell membranes, which I think I can handle) and I actually made PROGRESS on my essay topic! WHOOOHOOO!! This has me excited since it's sorta finally coming together.

I just needed someone to talk to who could make me really think about the book and different directions to take and questions to ask myself when reading.

I think I have my main points which I now have to work into a thesis, and then an introductory paragraph, which the prof says he'll read and give advice (to anyone in the class, not just me).

He actually suggested writing the intro paragraph first, but I just had to get my ideas down before I forgot them, and now that I have them sorta vaguely written, I can compose a thesis. I managed to incorporate some of the other ideas and points I had, so that made me happy.

I'm so glad I picked the Aenid. I don't dread reading it over and over, and still like the story. I see something new, or think about something differently, every time time I read it (ok, only the first 6 books). YAY!

So the task for tonight is to write that paragraph and then edit it tomorrow and email it to him. I want the rough draft done soon. I want to write it now, but I have to get ready for my classes this afternoon.

Allow me to take this minute to say: AUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHH!

1. Finding a paper for socy to write a critical review on is HARD. I can find a few interesting things, but they usually turn out not to be the type of article I need. And if I find an interesting one, I don't know how I can tear it apart/disagree, since the ones I found I tend to agree with (which the prof says is ok, but I don't know how I can agree and include original ideas).

GRAAAH!

2. Stupid sympathetic character stuff for my English essay. Really suck on my 3 main points... drat. >.< It's due in 10 days, and while I really wanted to get a head start and have a rough draft written by the 14th, NOTHING IS COMING. The few ideas I have just don't really work. UGH.

Is it any wonder I really don't like writing essays?


Good thing from today:
I paid for CC25 membership via paypal. WHOOOO. And verified that I don't have any finals that weekend (though they start about 5 days after that time...).

If anyone who doesn't have paypal and wants me to pay for them, just say so. You know, provided you pay me back, of course!

I'll be booking a hotel room later today, I hope. Yay!

And still no costume progress.... >.<
Why is solid yellow so hard to find? And with a stretch, even harder!


Other Stuff:

- going out for an oil change
- apply for a job
- reread Aenid and think more about topic
- read socy papers and see if any of them interest me, then email them to TA and see if they're approved
- read stuff for socy for tomorrow's class

Today was a busy day!

Although progress on two fronts was made:

1. English Essay Thesis
I talked for an hour or so with my English prof while he was waiting for someone else, since I needed help with my essay topics. Of the works we've read so far, I like Lysistrata and the Aenid the best. Lysistrata because it's so unlike anything else I've read before and not at all what I expected for a 'classic'; and the Aenid because it's a good read. I like the epic-ness. I had some problems in the beginning, since all the different words for things were confusing me (and people with 3 different names?), but after reading it again I got more into it and understood it better, so it was all good.

I think I'm going to end up writing something about Dido - if she's a sympathetic character, and if so, why. So now I have to reread the relevant bits and make notes and all that so I can have a thesis for the prof to check by Friday so I can work on my rough drafts.

Also have a critical review for socy and haven't started. :(


2. Talking to Ex-Teachers
The Extra English thing I went to (talk about sub-somethings and coordinators? I forgot) was in the room where the Japanese 200 class was, so I went after the sensei and said hi. She sorta ignored me at first on the stairwell, but then she remembered who I was. She took a moment to remember my name (I was always called by my last name in Japanese, since there was another girl with the same first name), and when I said "You remember me!" she responded with, "I wouldn't forget you!" (I didn't know how to ask if that was a good thing or a bad thing). We spoke entirely in Japanese, and I confessed that my Japanese sucked, and was jealous of the 200s, but she said "Oh, no, you can do it! You can do it!" and we talked for a few minutes. I had wanted to visit Aoki-sensei (who I saw today) and Reeve-sensei earlier, but I have classes during their office hours, so I was hoping to see them between classes. I was told I could come by anytime, since Aoki-sensei was sure that Reeve-sensei wouldn't mind and would want to talk to me. I feel good about speaking some Japanese; I was nervous, seeing as it was with my sensei and all and not random Japanese person, but after it was a rush, and now I'm looking forward to seeing Reeve-sensei.


Had yummy spicy chicken curry for dinner, courtesy of the pseudo-in-laws, and pumpkin pie for dessert. Printed off an essential, got a little bit of Sunny time, and then came home.

And now, back to pondering other things that I have to work on... it's nice to be somewhat busy again.