Long weekends and big decisions

Hurray for long weekends! Over President's Day weekend I went to Denver to visit my sister. It was awesome to get some one on one sister time AND I took my two oldest nieces out to dinner, just the three of us. I can't believe how fast those girls are growing up! It was so fun to get to spend time with them just talking about their lives. It was so much fun that I think we'll have to make it a tradition.
So the latest count is in for grad schools--I got into University of Missouri's Master's program, but I have been a bit under impressed with their professionalism so I'm thinking that's a no go. Other than that the only school I have left to hear back from is Oklahoma State. Oh here is funny story about this school. So I get an email this week from them saying they've received all my application materials and will be reviewing my application for the PhD program. However, they also tell me that I have to get a Master's before I can apply to the PhD program so if I haven't already gotten a Masters would I like to change my application to one of their Master's program. I was a bit stunned when I read the email and immediately felt like an idiot. So I go double check their website--under admissions requirements for their PhD program it doesn't say anywhere that you need a Master's degree and in their program description it sort of eludes to it, but never really explicitly says that they require a Masters. So then I felt a little less dumb and I emailed them back and asked them to change it to the Masters program. The good news is that this really narrows my options down if I want to do a PhD program-- it's either Iowa State or Purdue.
Good news about Purdue though. They got me in touch with a first year PhD student to answer questions and what not. The best thing is she graduated from BYU a few years ago in my same major so she should be able to give me some idea of how the schools compare and other such information. So I'm looking forward to being able to get, what I hope will be, some fairly accurate information about the program.
Well other than all that--life is pretty much life these days:)

BYU..check; Purdue...check; Iowa State...CHECK

Ok so in the wee hours of the morning I was dreaming about grad school. One dream was about the graduate program secretary at Iowa State. I've never seen her but my brain apparently did some fancy work and conjured up what it thinks she looks like in my dream. Weird! The next dream was about U of Missouri and I dreamed that all of the other students in my program were these blond California babes--it was sort of awkward. Needless to say I was a bit out of it this morning when I woke up--weird dreams tend to throw me off balance a bit.
But that aside the latest count is in for grad schools. I received an email this morning that I've been accepted to Iowa State's PhD program! I'll get official notification in the mail in a few days and find out who my temporary advising faculty member is. However, they didn't mention anything about funding so it's possible that I won't get any. This of course will influence where I decide to go. As much as I've been leaning toward Iowa State if they don't give me any money I'm afraid I will definitely be going else where. A little disappointing but I guess I'll just have to wait for the official letter and see what it says!

Feeling a bit light headed...

So I just got an email from Shawn Whiteman associate professor at Purdue University...and I got ACCEPTED! I'm not going to lie I teared up a bit when I got the email. I have had my doubts about whether I would get accepted to a PhD program anywhere and I definitely thought Purdue was a huge stretch as far as the realm of possibility goes. WOW that is pretty much all I can say. I have unofficially been accepted to the Family Studies PhD program at Purdue University in Indiana. They've offered me $500 towards coming out to visit and are hoping to be able to offer me some good funding (I'll find out in a few weeks what "good funding" actually means). Needless to say at this moment I am totally blown away... In the words of my little brother "There is a God in heaven and He loves me!":)

Graduate school update...I got accepted?

haha! This was totally my response Saturday afternoon when I opened the letter from BYU graduate studies. Per a previous conversation with my professor, who I believe is on the admissions board, I did not think I would be getting in. He never said anything straight out, but it seemed he was hinting at my not getting in--clearly I was wrong. Lo and behold the letter came yesterday and I have OFFICIALLY been accepted to a grad school program! (well actually I have to apply for graduation before I'm officially accepted, but you know) I'm hoping this will be the first of at least two acceptance letters since BYU is my safety school, but I will keep you updated as the letters come in. Oh by the way for those who aren't aware (because really I can barely keep all the schools I applied to straight) this was for the Masters in Marriage Family Human Development at BYU.

In other news it appears that I have a very forgettable face. Seriously, rarely a week goes by that someone in my ward doesn't approach me and ask if I'm new in the ward. Haha! It mostly just cracks me up, but occasionally I get approached by one of those people who prides themself on knowing everyone in the ward and they are almost offended when I tell them "no, I'm not new". Really maybe those people crack me up the most! But in happier ward news I have actually started to make a few friends--not bosom friends, or kindred spirits, but at least someone I can sit by during sunday school and relief society. So I'm feeling pretty good about it:)

Um in other other news life goes on pretty much the same. I am fighting a bade case of senioritis somewhat unsuccessfully (anyone have any suggestions on how to cure that?) and trying to adjust to my new job. Oh I am going to see my sister in Denver over President's Day weekend and I am totally stoked! It should be some seriously good times and a much needed break. Hurray for airplanes!

The beginning of blogging--you gotta start somewhere

So I decided to start a blog. I've really enjoyed reading my friends blogs and I though it might be a good way to keep people updated about the latest and greatest in my life--everything from grad school applications, to dating stories, to the latest old movie I've seen. Anywho it should be all sorts of fun--well hopefully funny at least:)