iWILLgetin

Just my fiance, because he needs to know where to start looking for a job/apartment. According to the department, its been in the mail for a while. If my mom got it before I did though, I probably need another one. She is good at losing mail.

YES! I got an email from a prof at dream school asking me to join her lab with good funding. I REALLY need that letter to get here, so that I can accept. (and to relieve that feeling that its too good to be ture)

Thank you all. I will wait.

I got an email from a faculty member at my top choice school, which gives guaranteed funding to all PhD students for the entire duration of the degree, offering me admission into her lab shortly (think 1 day) after the interview. The official letter is in the mail, but I haven't received it yet. I really want to email her and say 'of course I will accept!' right now and get the ball rolling but I feel like I should wait for the official letter. Note: I know I want to go here, not the other places I was accepted or have not heard from yet. Any opinions/advice?

Hooray! They want you! They obviously have an interest in you, or they would have contacted you. Listen to their research, and why they contacted you. (In my experience, all phone conversations and in-person interviews have started this way). Then explain your strengths. They probably won't stress your weaknesses, but if they do, just stay calm, explain why they are there (no excuses) and if you have any plan for fixing them (if applicable). And relax. If you are very compatible, you are probably in. They don't do this to everyone.

That's how mine was structured, and I got in. Then again, my research interest overlapped more than just slightly. I suggest you send a thank you email or note to your interviewers and any other people with whom you had extensive contact. This will remind them that you exist and reiterate your interest in the program. You can (somewhat) judge their thoughts about you by their response. However, if your research interests are so different, you might just be better off elsewhere.

There will probably be one or several extroverted people in the department (especially students) that will try to make you comfortable and carry conversation until you get comfortable. I am very shy as well, and when I went for my interview, this is what happened. If they can bust you out of your shell fairly quickly, that's a good sign that the department might be a very good fit.

small edit: offer was day after interview

I got this from every person I interviewed with. I told them about the other two offers, but that I think their school is far better (it was). They didn't seem to be asking for malicious reasons though. Just curious.

ask for emails of current grad students. I find that they are very honest, and often have a better perspective on the grad student experience than faculty.

I'm in the same boat. I plan on withdrawing the other apps. I know I will have no way of knowing, but I would feel awful if someone didn't get the chance to go to grad school because I didn't jump on my game.

I say send a letter to each interviewer. I did (via email), and one of my interviewers replied to it that I was accepted into their lab! but you're already accepted so you don't need to worry about this. I thanked them for taking time to interview me, and thanked them again if they were not one of my originally scheduled interviewers. Also, bring up something memorable about your conversation, and why you are excited to work in their lab. Remind them of why they want you. By all means, thank them for admission, and let them know you're enthusiasm, especially if they are your top choice. hope this helps!

When applying to my top choice schools, I not only clicked the wrong button and did NOT waive my right to see my recs, but I also had 3 typos in my SOP. I also did not have a (I thought) big requirement for the program. Guess what, they didn't care. Admission offer next day. This shocked me. Lesson learned: play to your strengths, and if that's what the faculty are looking for, they won't see your weaknesses. Hope this relieves some nerves out there.

diversity in research, so you have more options to collaborate, more resources, and the prerogative to change your mind.