2011-12-18, 08:18 PM
In addition to some great points from Willis (thanks for one of the best comments you've ever given me), this is, in short, the region of answer I was looking for:
I should clarify: I've made important changes to my life, but ones that aren't radical. Quick specifics: this semester I worked 14-20 hours a week in luxury retail (which, as I've recently been happy to discover, is more important for my future career as a fashion journalist than I'd thought), worked as the Media Chair for the College Democrats of Madison, and wrote as the Men's Style Consultant staff member for MODA Magazine, a fashion/lifestyle magazine that a group of students and myself are starting and building on campus and beyond. In addition I had a funky academic schedule that wasn't really conducive to fitting in all of these responsibilities.
Changes: resigned from my position on College Dems, but will still be an "active" member, though with time commitments obviously in line with what I can give, no longer forced to give. Changed jobs from 14-20 hours a week retail to 12 hours a week on campus, exceedingly flexible biology lab work. And created a great academic schedule for me with no Friday classes.
Long story short is I've perfectly cut out the excess in my life and focused it all on, like you said, the elements essential for my future aspirations. And I have bigger plans beyond the aforementioned, ones that will fit well in my schedule without sacrificing any time/effort needed in bolstering my GPA, which is, of course, the biggest issue of the moment. To give a little more information, that includes doing more creative writing in my free time to build my portfolio and submit for publication, and do a fashion journalism internship in NYC this summer.
So with all that stated more specifically, would I still make for an appealing candidate? I'd gather that the answer is yes, considering it was beforehand, but I'm curious as to your more specific commentary on this matter with this new information.
And if it helps, quick demographics: also white and 25% puerto rican (though that counts for pomegranate being less than 50%), also gay (and have an extensive history of extracurricular involvement and work in the LGBT community on campus and in the Midwest), both parents have Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
Yabloki Wrote:As far as applying though, I really don't think you'd be wasting your time/money. I think it'd be important to have a back-up school, but if you've ever looked at a graduate school application, grades are far from the only qualifying factor. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that it'll hurt you in the long run to completely drop your extracurricular activities. Right now you have low grades, and a lot of extra work. Even if you dump your extra stuff now, you've made it sound like that's just going to end up with you having medium grades and no work.
I should clarify: I've made important changes to my life, but ones that aren't radical. Quick specifics: this semester I worked 14-20 hours a week in luxury retail (which, as I've recently been happy to discover, is more important for my future career as a fashion journalist than I'd thought), worked as the Media Chair for the College Democrats of Madison, and wrote as the Men's Style Consultant staff member for MODA Magazine, a fashion/lifestyle magazine that a group of students and myself are starting and building on campus and beyond. In addition I had a funky academic schedule that wasn't really conducive to fitting in all of these responsibilities.
Changes: resigned from my position on College Dems, but will still be an "active" member, though with time commitments obviously in line with what I can give, no longer forced to give. Changed jobs from 14-20 hours a week retail to 12 hours a week on campus, exceedingly flexible biology lab work. And created a great academic schedule for me with no Friday classes.
Long story short is I've perfectly cut out the excess in my life and focused it all on, like you said, the elements essential for my future aspirations. And I have bigger plans beyond the aforementioned, ones that will fit well in my schedule without sacrificing any time/effort needed in bolstering my GPA, which is, of course, the biggest issue of the moment. To give a little more information, that includes doing more creative writing in my free time to build my portfolio and submit for publication, and do a fashion journalism internship in NYC this summer.
So with all that stated more specifically, would I still make for an appealing candidate? I'd gather that the answer is yes, considering it was beforehand, but I'm curious as to your more specific commentary on this matter with this new information.
And if it helps, quick demographics: also white and 25% puerto rican (though that counts for pomegranate being less than 50%), also gay (and have an extensive history of extracurricular involvement and work in the LGBT community on campus and in the Midwest), both parents have Bachelor's and Master's degrees.