I DID IT! YAY

So, it's been a while since I posted here, and I've already posted to a livejournal I have, but I've just been so busy. 

But it's good news!! Even though I didn't get the IRAD internship at Eastern's library, Dr. Wehrle (graduate director of history) DOES have a 9-month (1 year!) assistantship for me AFTER ALL!!!!

Needless to say, I was freaking out. Ecstatic. I danced for days! Well maybe not days, but wheeeeee! Was my general expression, out loud and on mah face. ;) Now it's sunk in a bit, and I'm SO EXCITED! This process has been so stressful at times, so tedious and full of waiting, but I FINALLY am starting! At the the end of August! I'm going to live in the grad school apartments on campus (very close to it, anyway; they're owned by the school).

Oh! For my assistantship, I get to help a professor with research and tutor undergrads in general survey courses a few days a week--I'll work for 17 hours/week. I get a stipend--I'm just--I DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR TUITION! Saying that will never get old. :D

But now, for this week: paper writing, paper writing, and more paper writing. My senior thesis is due this Friday. I'll be writing 10 pages a day till Thursday. Wish me luck! :) I'll post more soon with updates.

YAY! (ugh)

Well, I DID get into Eastern--I found out last week, and I am thrilled. Except, shortly after I got into a small car accident, and now my car is no more. :( But the insurance company bought it from us, essentially, so my parents have generously offered to use said money to get me another used car, since I'll need one for grad school.

Also, financial aid: they are offering me a 1-semester assistantship, but there is one with the grad school library that I could possibly get--I just have to interview for it. So hopefully ... !!! That'd be great. 

I also found out from other schools, the financial aid situation: neither St. Louis nor Western can offer me anything. So now it's just hearing from Northern, in early April ... but I really want to go to Eastern. It's a great program, has NEWTON KEY (which means nothing if you aren't me or my friend Katie, another history nerd, but omg it's good, hahaha) and yeah.

So now I'm chilling because allergies, they are killing me today. Blguh (that's my allergy-sinus-headache noise of disgust, hahaha). More soon.

SO!

... I got into Western!!!! Which is very exciting, and has given me the boost of confidence that I need to say, "Yes, no matter what, this fall, I AM going away to grad school." Which is amazing. I'm still waiting to hear about financial aid.

And now .... Eastern, the one I really, REALLY want to get into, my top choice, decides this week. I am SO NERVOUS. Anticipation especially is through the roof. But I just ... I get so neurotic. I can't even think (or type!) about it because I just  can't.

 Northern Illinois decides early April. St. Louis decides ... I'm not sure, whenever they get done processing my stuff. MELISSA IS SO READY TO KNOW, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

 ... But scared. Haha. I'll keep you guys (if anyone, someone, out there is reading? *waves*) updated. *sighs*  I'm like Jessie Spano over here, "I'm SO EXCITED! I'm SO EXCITED! I'm so ... so ... scared!"

I'm .... done?

I am ... done.

I have applied to five graduate schools. One, because of deadline restrictions and stuff, rejected me. :( But that's alright. The ones I really wanted are being discussed, miles away in History departments, as we ... write? lol. It's very nerve-wracking. *sighs* I nearly had a nervous breakdown over some recommendation letters, but it's all been sorted out, thank goodness. *sighs again, this time in RELIEF*

So now ... we wait. And pray, and hope for the best.

And wait.

Woooo!

*breathes sigh of relief* Alright. List: narrowed down to five schools, based on financial aid, deadlines, and other factors. Schools: 3 out of 5 done, last two in progress. INHIBITING FACTORS: my annoying student accounts office who is holding my transcript requests for these schools (and others! ugh) until my loan shows up in their system. (Hahaha, I'm so broke, really. Another loan for this last class was the only way to go). I am very frustrated with them right now.

But other than that, I am almost done! I can taste it, I'm so close. Now once I'm done, the waiting begins ... to see if I get in, if I get financial aid ... gahhhh.

Also, soon, I'll be posting a book review. I've been reading some really good stuff lately, and I wanted to share it. So many history books come out, and I know I love it when I discover something new from someone else's recommendation, whether it be in a blog post or offline, so to speak. So that's what's next! :)

Progress Update

Alright, so as of the last few weeks, my application to Eastern Illinois is done. (I'll be striking out the names of the schools in my previous posts as their applications are finished. In this case, I also have to add Eastern to the list, but that's ok. It was a late find suggested from my old professor, haha.)

Also, my final undergrad history class starts next week. I'm adding History to my B.A. at my alma mater.  Basically, it's the senior thesis class where you write a 40-page research paper. Should keep me busy. I am also officially on the Sub List at a local school district, which should also keep me busy. (I'm hoping to get called at least a few times a week.)

Hmm ... what else ... well, I found David Starkey's Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII at my heavenly local used bookstore for $5.09 (less because I get a 30% discount for bringing in old books to sell!). It is like, one of the best deals I've ever gotten on something! People who are nerds like me know that book is HUGE. I got it out at the library over the summer, but was not able to finish it. Now it's mine for-evah! I'm excited. :) I'm hoping it'll be a great reference book too, since DS is an authority on the Tudors.

Well, just gotta keep going on those applications ... until school starts and I start subbing, I'm playing the waiting game ... ugh, I am not a fan. More soon!

GRE Complete!!!

YES! Finally, I have the GRE done so I can send the scores to my schools. I got a 670 Verbal, 390 Math ... math was not so good (it's never been my strong point, AT ALL) but I don't think Math is really what History programs are going to be looking at. Plus, I think the Writing section went well. I'll have to see when they mail me (and four schools that I got to pick) the scores in a few weeks. In celebration, I'm watching Big Love--I love this show and it is finally back for a new season! Sweet.