lulu

Thanks for your advice, everyone. Actually, I think I've solved my problem -- I fell in love with the school, the program, and the faculty after my campus visit. Of course, I'm going to take two weeks so that the euphoria can wear off, and also so I can talk to the students at the other school(s) about the other programs before I make my final decision. I found what seems to be the "best fit" purely by accident, so I'm definitely not feeling dejected anymore.

I'm in something of an unusual (or maybe not so unusual) position. I have pretty much given up hope on any outstanding schools -- it's March, let's get real: if I haven't heard from them by now, it just means the rejection letter is in the mail. So, I have some offers to choose from, but here's the problem: none of the schools were my top choice, and none were my "best fit," especially for what I specifically want to do. Next week I'm going for a visit at one of my choices (choice by default, really), and, quite frankly, the only other offer I have that comes close on my list to a viable option didn't offer me an expenses-paid campus visit. (I think I might have to spring for this one). I'm at that point where, quite frankly, I don't know which school would be better, simply because my initial criteria is shot -- advisor, department, school strenghts, and resources. Can't use those, really, except perhaps in a modified fashion. Aside maybe from the intellectual environment at both schools, how do I even begin to weigh the pros and cons of each institution? Does anyone have any good advice on how to decide schools if they weren't your top choices?

*laughing* This whole grad process sure had my knickers in a twist -- the earlier message I posted about Stanford rejecting me, was actually Columbia. I had someone else open the letter for me because I was too terrified to look myself! When the envelope is a thin one, I don't have the heart to open my own mail. But yes, I'm confident that I will be rejected from sunny California, too!

Hey BruceL, While I don't mind sharing, I feel so weird posting the nitty-gritties of my acceptances in a public forum, so, if you're a member, drop me a line and I'll be glad to divulge . . . On a more general note, I can tell you that I've been accepted to four schools so far, with a variety of funding packages -- all the way from full fellowships at a couple of places down to wait-listing for full fellowships at another, and some "mid-range" offers in between. Unfortunately none of the schools that I've been accepted to were even among my top choices. I have yet to hear back from Harvard, but I'm 99.9% sure I'll be rejected from there, too (since, I've already been rejected from Columbia, and, as I haven't had a phone call or e-mail yet from Stanford, we can pretty much rule out me going to sunny, gorgeous California in the fall as well!!! I am expecting my rejection letter from them sometime in the mail next week). How many schools did you apply to, BruceL? With your credentials, I can't imagine that you won't be going at least *SOMEWHERE* in the fall. Since, as you say, you had the great "hard stats," and what sounds like a very impressive CV, I'm actually surprized that you've been turned down from even one school! You sound like the very competition that I was afraid of going into this grad application process!!!! It's the applicants like you that had me up at night, biting my nails and worrying! Maybe the best is yet to come, i.e. Harvard!?!? Hang in there, I'm sure a great offer is on its way!

Stanford doesn't want me. :cry: At least I have other offers . . . but oh, how I would have adored the warm weather!

I thought my CV was especially impressive -- a couple of articles, numerous awards, honors, and scholarships, and a lot of languages. I also had excellent (and highly respected/"famous") references, as well as extensive research experience. My field is Modern Europe . . . . and I am so insanely worried that I'm losing sleep at night!!!!!

I wish I knew. I didn't really ask for details from this friend -- I think I wanted to live in denial. You know: "They just haven't had the opportunity to e-mail me yet" (which is quite plausible, since, at some schools I've been relayed the good news by my potential supervisors), or "It's just that mail takes a while to get here from Cali/NY." I noticed, though, that one person posted that they received something from Columbia by mail -- and it wasn't good news. I think they said it was sent by snail mail. Which is how I think they're sending their acceptances/rejections. I was perusing their website the other day and I think I came across something to that effect. I had tried checking through that "Track your Application" website, but nothing had changed since December (for Columbia, I mean). As for Stanford, I'm not sure how they're conveying them. I had this other friend who got into a completely different program/department, and he got his notification by e-mail. In which case, I'm worried!!!

I'm waiting on those two schools as well (and Harvard, too). I haven't heard back from any of those three -- although a friend of mine said he knew someone who had just heard from Stanford history and that person got in. I'm a little worried since I thought my credentials were really good.