upam

Hoping Stanford, UNC and MIT start/finish their notifications this week (and I'm on the list at one of them...) Think that's realistically the only ones I've applied to that will be out this week (unless schools that have previously admitted a slew add to their lists). Cheers to a night of sleep before the obsessive grad cafe/email/status check/snail mail/missed calls begins again for the week...

Agreed! Isn't it the school that required you to send out your own recommender links?

Congrats to the MIT acceptances! Around what time was your phone call?

Claiming another UT-Austin admit!!

In terms of the safety school idea (that it looks like we're debating as we hit refresh on the results page over and over... anyone else doing this even though it's too late at night?)... I think the safety school idea is not that it's a guarantee but perhaps in the docket of schools you applied to there are reach schools (those that you would practically faint upon getting an acceptance from), the middle set that you hope for and would be excited for, and perhaps another set that you know may be a good fit but that does not come with the levels of prestige (real or imagined) as some of the other schools you applied to. Of course, I think this breakdown is insanely individualized... for me, it's very much about the sub topics I want to work in and who is actually working on those issues in directions I want to go. I think my ideal schools and someone else's ideal schools could have completely flipped wantlists if we happened to apply to the same places. Additionally, I've been told that sometimes strong candidates are rejected from "lower" ranked schools (certainly even within the top 40, let's just say not top 5 maybe not top 10) with the expectation they will get into one of the higher ranked schools and the assumption they will take that offer. Of course, at times this is also a fit issue. Yet, it's a bit of luck at the most competitive places, regardless of what you're coming in with, that certainly even a strong applicant can get strike out completely. It honestly makes me wonder the requirement or request of many schools to list the other schools you're applying to. Did anyone else feel like listing a slew of schools could potentially hurt you in the process? Yet, I wanted to be honest (since you sign that oath at the end of every app!) and I applied to the slew of schools because I felt every single one provided something unique and quality that could make for a Phd experience worth having. Summary: This process is emotionally painful. More people are baseline qualified for every school that any accept (still waiting for the Oprah moment mentioned several pages back). Congrats to admits and fingers crossed for everyone still waiting!

Alright - we had the joys and disappointments from Chicago and Minnesota yesterday... any guesses for what might come out for today? (Because yes we're all neurotic enough for conjecture.)

How many IR did they take last year?

Anyone else waiting for Texas-Austin or Chicago?

Any guesses on what might come out today?

It seems like more will come out next week and the week after rather than this week... but then again I may just be trying to calm myself about this!

Oh! I stand corrected. Thanks for the optimism on that.

All schools that seem to make main set of offers on a single day, and the acceptances received same email earlier today. Meaning, either rejected or a later acceptance which often means less/lack on funding.

Alright - looks like the day is done for anything being known. Based on a lack of info, I'm assuming I'm out at UCSD, Duke and NYU. Anyone willing to admit their dream schools now? Or safer to wait until all the cards are on the table?

Was it under 'Messaging'?

So do any schools actually only update the status checker (in lieu of email, phone, mail, etc)? Haven't actually been checking these yet.

Agreed - definitely congrats. Tir is fantastic, hope some of you are planning to work with him.

Any thoughts on the earliest admitted students weekends will be? And how late they will run? (Not counting chickens, just trying to keep options open!)

Informal conversation, definitely not an official interview. I'd consider my status equal with someone who hasn't been contact for any interview.

Thanks! Putting off concern for a couple of weeks then overall.

Any thoughts on whether UNC has sent out there whole first list of acceptances or whether more will come in the next week or so? I spoke with a professor earlier this week and thought it went well, but didn't realize others had already been accepted.

There are many opportunities, depending on what type of research. Try checking with professors you've worked with - some have grants to pay students for research time and many others have projects that they're willing to have students work on. Otherwise, try opportunities related to the field such as http://www.start.umd.edu/start/education/research_support/internships/