MammaD

One of the three, yes. I've already got 2 others lined up. I did a major study for my thesis so (I think) application will be much stronger next year. Hoping to publish some, too.

Finally got my rejection letter tonight. I'm looking forward to the year to rest and figure out what to do next. Thanks to all for your support this season and good luck to everyone!

Thank you so much! Ethnomusicology, eh? I was a music major in undergrad. Left my career as a professional clarinetist a year ago (after 17 years). Good luck to you! I got my rejection letter about an hour ago. I am extremely relieved and looking forward to the pause. I will apply again next year and see what happens. If I'm rejected again, there will be tears and devastation but this year? I'm A-OK. Thanks to all who've pulled for me these last few weeks and I sincerely wish all the best to each of you.

I got an email back: decisions have been made and I should receive notification shortly. I'm taking that to be a rejection, since it would make sense that the graduate coordinator probably would tell me herself if I got in? At this point, rejection would be a relief, and I can get started thinking about my application for next year.

Perhaps a MPH in Behavioral Science and Health Promotion might be the right balance?

I emailed my program today to see if I'm ranked, what the situation is, etc. I just want to KNOW!

Thank you so much, MSW13! I have been in touch with the faculty member I hope to work with, but she says she knows nothing and really hopes I get in. She is not yet tenured and isn't part of the admissions committee but she does bring a lot of funding to the school in research grants ... This program is very small and you are right, they know me by name. I will email on Monday and see if any details are available. My application next year would be undoubtedly stronger because I've done original research for my thesis (from which we hope to publish a few journal papers), and I'll have graduated (after taking and doing well in some important skills classes). Thanks for your insight and encouragement. Did I mention this process has been awful?

I have the ability to fund myself (military veterans' benefit), but my advisor in my master's program suggested that those self-funded in PhD programs may be viewed as in a different group than those who are at least partially supported. I suppose this varies by program but it was enough to stop me from offering to pay my own way.

I'm still on a wait-list. Each day that passes without a decision is one day less I have to prepare my family for a move (sell a house, buy a house, move 600 miles, school placements, activities, locate childcare, and ... um, prepare myself to start a PhD program) and at this point, I'd rather take a year off and apply next year to the same program. Will withdrawing and ending my uncertainty about August hurt my chances for getting in next year? Or should I just keep praying for a rejection soon? Or, if I somehow get in, reject their offer with full intent of applying again? I don't want to blow any chances with that program, but I also don't want to jump into serious study with loose ends around myself and my family. My kids are elementary and middle-school age. My husband is active Army and would have to stay here until retirement, which could be as long as 4 more years (but could be sooner with downsizing). Any guidance is appreciated. This whole process has been really awful.

Wow! UNC is the school I'm waiting for an answer from, too! I emailed around March 19 and was told I had been wait-listed. It's a teeny tiny program so I figured I'd hear something by yesterday but, no. If it were just me and an apartment/lease situation I might be more flexible but I have a house to sell if I'm moving, a house to buy down there, 3 kids to uproot and get settled before school starts ... I'm considering withdrawing my application if there's no decision by Friday but I don't want to ruin my chances for admission next year. Such a quandary!

I didn't hear anything from the program I'm wait-listed at, but I got an email today to the account for the study I'm conducting, asking me if I'm hiring any postdocs in 2014 ... seems someone who participated in my study would love to join me in research. She's finishing her 4th year in the program I was rejected from a couple of months ago. Good times.

I spent 17 years as a professional clarinet player in a military band and the wind symphony conductor where I'd like to get my PhD (totally different area -- my undergrad was clarinet performance, I'm finishing a public health degree now) was getting his Master's where I was in undergrad -- we were in the same studio! I'd love to play under him again but I'm not sure I can swing it. I also have 3 small-ish children. I'm thinking maybe during the dissertation years?

Yes! I'm so happy for you!

Hooray for the acceptances! Keep the good juju coming, everybody!

I could have totally written exactly this! I hope you had a great birthday (that maybe included an acceptance). Mine is this weekend, too!