4 essays, 200 words each.

[slow99]

What exactly is it that they want to hear? Obvious answers?

1. I want more money 2. This school is reputable and close to me or offers online courses for ease of use. 3. Cause I need to get this shit done before too much time goes by, so I don't waste my time and so I can more quickly get more money.

Lets be real here, those are the real answers.

Sounds like you have it figured out, Justin. I'm sure that'll catapult you to the upper echelon of the 10-20 applicants vying for each available spot at the good programs.

[Cooter]

Sounds like you have it figured out, Justin. I'm sure that'll catapult you to the upper echelon of the 10-20 applicants vying for each available spot at the good programs.

lol, he's a smart guy

[Strychnine]

Any word back yet?

Not yet. I decided to apply for the Dec '15 start instead of June '15 which meant I didn't have to rush the application (that was not the driver for the decision though). My portion of the app was submitted Feb 27. One rec letter is still outstanding and I need to follow up on that this week. Hopefully an interview will happen in the next couple weeks and I'll be on my way.

[Gasser64]

Sounds like you have it figured out, Justin. I'm sure that'll catapult you to the upper echelon of the 10-20 applicants vying for each available spot at the good programs.

Sounds like the point went whizzing right over your head, Tom. I was simply pointing out that the questions aren't ever going to be able to net their real answers. Just fluff to blow up the skirt of what seems like their egos. And NOT what I would be putting on mine.

[Denny]

I'd shoot for as close to 172 words per essay as possible.

[Denny]

Sounds like the point went whizzing right over your head, Tom. I was simply pointing out that the questions aren't ever going to be able to net their real answers. Just fluff to blow up the skirt of what seems like their egos. And NOT what I would be putting on mine.

That's where knowledge and talent come in.

[Gasser64]

That's where knowledge and talent come in.

I know. I just thought the questions were dumb.

[Ruffdaddy]

I know. I just thought the questions were dumb.

No...you just haven't learned how this stuff works. They already knew all the answers you said. Nobody goes to college to make less, but they want to know your plan. If you don't have a plan they don't want you hurting their reputation.

Prestigious programs dont want people like you getting their degree until you grow up and realize how this world works.

[Strychnine]

What exactly is it that they want to hear? Obvious answers?

1. I want more money 2. This school is reputable and close to me or offers online courses for ease of use. 3. Cause I need to get this shit done before too much time goes by, so I don't waste my time and so I can more quickly get more money.

Lets be real here, those are the real answers.

Dude... Really?

[Gasser64]

No...you just haven't learned how this stuff works. They already knew all the answers you said. Nobody goes to college to make less, but they want to know your plan. If you don't have a plan they don't want you hurting their reputation.

Prestigious programs dont want people like you getting their degree until you grow up and realize how this world works.

Obviously. I know what they want. Doesn't change the fact that its still dumb. Why ask a question you already know the answer to? Do you want my money or not? You think I'm here to fail and waste money, or to try my damnedest to get a degree and succeed? In short, it seems pointless. Again, this has no bearing on what I'll do personally. I'll jump through whatever hoops they want since I don't really have a choice. Reminds me of those "recommended" classes some of them make you take, so they can get more money.

Its just a simple opinion man. And you know what they say about those. No reason for you guys to get all butthurt over it and read way too much into it.

[Denny]

Obviously. I know what they want. Doesn't change the fact that its still dumb. Why ask a question you already know the answer to? Do you want my money or not? You think I'm here to fail and waste money, or to try my damnedest to get a degree and succeed? In short, it seems pointless. Again, this has no bearing on what I'll do personally. I'll jump through whatever hoops they want since I don't really have a choice. Reminds me of those "recommended" classes some of them make you take, so they can get more money.

Its just a simple opinion man. And you know what they say about those. No reason for you guys to get all butthurt over it and read way too much into it.

When you have people lining up, fully funded, the only smart thing to do is take the cream of the crop. The review board came up with a way to quickly sift through the masses.

They can tell if it's someone they want or not after 200 words. They could ask about their favorite color or describe the weather. These applicants know they have 200 words to shine above the others. I bet some really good answers might not even necessarily answer the question.

[Ruffdaddy]

Obviously. I know what they want. Doesn't change the fact that its still dumb. Why ask a question you already know the answer to? Do you want my money or not? You think I'm here to fail and waste money, or to try my damnedest to get a degree and succeed? In short, it seems pointless. Again, this has no bearing on what I'll do personally. I'll jump through whatever hoops they want since I don't really have a choice. Reminds me of those "recommended" classes some of them make you take, so they can get more money.

Its just a simple opinion man. And you know what they say about those. No reason for you guys to get all butthurt over it and read way too much into it.

I'm not butt hurt... I'm telling you why its that way. They know you want more money but if you think that the degree alone will do that...you're wrong.

Imagine going to a bank to ask for a business loan without a business plan...

[Gasser64]

When you have people lining up, fully funded, the only smart thing to do is take the cream of the crop. The review board came up with a way to quickly sift through the masses.

They can tell if it's someone they want or not after 200 words. They could ask about their favorite color or describe the weather. These applicants know they have 200 words to shine above the others. I bet some really good answers might not even necessarily answer the question.

How exactly do they do that? When it comes to the creme of the crop, my estimation is that most people don't just absolutely love their field and want to spend all their time doing it. And want to be workaholics and skip holidays to do it. Most people are indeed just looking for a job and a paycheck, albeit a better job and a better paycheck. So if they're looking at 20 or 30 applicants, and 3 of them are just shining examples of people who they'd call ideal, what about all the rest? What about the others that they need to fill that space? Should they turn them away just because they "know what they're looking for"? Why bother with this when they must know that these people just want an education so they can join the workforce at a certain level.

Maybe I'm just projecting myself onto these people, and they all love what they're going to do with the firey passion of a thousand suns. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate it. In fact I rather enjoy it. But I think like most people, if given a choice to go to work and get paid, or not go to work and STILL get paid, I'd probably sit home and play video games. Or insert what you'd rather be doing besides work here.

[Strychnine]

How exactly do they do that? When it comes to the creme of the crop, my estimation is that most people don't just absolutely love their field and want to spend all their time doing it. And want to be workaholics and skip holidays to do it. Most people are indeed just looking for a job and a paycheck, albeit a better job and a better paycheck. So if they're looking at 20 or 30 applicants, and 3 of them are just shining examples of people who they'd call ideal, what about all the rest? What about the others that they need to fill that space? Should they turn them away just because they "know what they're looking for"? Why bother with this when they must know that these people just want an education so they can join the workforce at a certain level.

Maybe I'm just projecting myself onto these people, and they all love what they're going to do with the firey passion of a thousand suns. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate it. In fact I rather enjoy it. But I think like most people, if given a choice to go to work and get paid, or not go to work and STILL get paid, I'd probably sit home and play video games.

I would say you are wrong here, and that is skewing your perception.

[Gasser64]

Probably right. Its just what I've observed. But maybe I've been observing burnt out people.

Do you love what you're going to be doing? Me, I merely like it.