VioletAyame

I was rereading this thread (so much news over the last few days) and I'm just curious, did anyone here get accepted by UNC Chapel Hill? It didn't seem so or I must have missed something. I was really jealous with you at the beginning of your post since I was rejected by my first choice and now have some very difficult decisions to make. But at the end I realized you're right; I'll manage to stress myself out no matter what. The burden of responsibility to choose wisely has just passed from "them" to "us", and I seriously feel like I'm not qualified to make that decision.

One of my schools skipped the (2) email step. I got notified on the phone and now am waiting for the official offer in the mail. It's been more than a week...

I'm not entirely sure how the withdrawal process works - I feel that it can be as simple as emailing them or as complicated as going through the app system or filling out a form depending on where they are in the reviewing process. I haven't heard of anyone doing it after getting accepted to their first choice. If the waiting is really affecting you, you should go ahead and do it - first contact the admission coordinator or someone else who's in charge and ask them how to formally withdraw your application. They may ask you why and in that case, I don't know if this particular reason is appropriate, but again, something as vague as "personal reason" will do. Don't lie to them or anything, but if you're suffering and it's not harming anyone you should find a way to end it. But if it's just to save face, I don't think that's necessary. I mean the admission decision is in theory confidential between you and the school. Nobody else needs to know if you don't tell them, not your top choice school nor your future cohort. In the end, the decision is yours. IMO it's just quite a hassle to do something that's really not gonna matter at all. I can just ignore the upcoming decisions, and honestly since I already paid the app fee, I want to see how it all pans out.

Thanks everyone. I'm still walking on cloud nine. Congrats JLRC! When are you visiting OSU? I don't think they're having a visit weekend are they? Or are they having one and not telling me? Yes see you there! Where will you be flying from? I'm so excited! Oh trizzle don't make it any harder than it has to be! (I have always wanted to say that)

Agree, I forgot to ask about that. You should not pay for the expense especially if there's a real chance that you're not going there.

I definitely would. It can't hurt if you don't get funding at the end and will be very helpful if you do. Will it be a visit weekend for all accepted students or just you traveling on you own?

I learned about the CU Boulder philosophy department scandal through Grad Cafe! I know I know, I have way too much time on my hand. Congrats! I forgot to ask, will you be at the prospective student reception in March?

Big day for me, 2 decisions in my mailbox this morning. I'm gonna claim another acceptance from U Penn Annenberg! I still can't believe it myself. I absolutely thought there was no chance. On the other hand, rejection from UNC Chapel Hill. But I'm too happy to care.

I think Combinatorics & Optimization is a subfield of maths/computer science dealing with system optimization (duh!), statistical models and the likes. Very fascinating IMO.

Thanks Nate. I do have a few bottles of wine handy at home. Got to get more liquor though. I feel you on the first one. The second one, even though I'm not a football fan I'm no stranger to witnessing my beloved team's spectacular failure. You win some, you lose some I guess. In my mind that pain is kind of a rite of passage to become a true fan. Anyway, best of luck for this week and many weeks ahead! I'm waiting for mine, and one from U Penn too. On one hand it will end all the waiting. On the other hand, this app season will end very early for me. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it means I have to switch from "applying" mentality to "actually preparing for grad school" mentality, and I'm not sure if I'm ready for that. It seems that we've had a few new members over the weekend. Welcome, congrats and good luck!

Haha somehow I have the answer to that question immediately in my mind, even though I've never been asked before. I guess it's part of my "What makes you think you can do this?" internal doubt. So my answer would be: I need to grow a thicker skin and not take rejection/criticism so personal. I need to stop comparing myself to other people and just focus on me and my projects. I need to get used to being around tons of intelligent and awesome people all the time and not be so intimidated. I also need to be less obsessive, anxious and neurotic and learn to relax sometimes. And I say "less" because I still believe being a bit obsessive, anxious and neurotic is a given in grad school.

I think it's because it's an open-ended question, and just like bsharpe269 said, you get to choose what you want to tell them. It's up to you how you want to present and highlight yourself, and I think apart from the actual content of your answer, what you think is important enough to include in your answer also says a lot about yourself. Of course it doesn't hurt to ask question, but I wouldn't be surprised if the interviewer doesn't have anything specific in mind that they would like to know.

Got it. In that case I think he/she had better consult someone knowledgeable in the field. I'm gonna venture and say professional experience will be valued, but again, neither you nor I know enough to give credible advice here.

Not really. I wouldn't call my undergrad school "no-name" but it's not prestigious and definitely not a flagship of anything. I was worried about that to but in the end, I've been accepted to some very good schools and the issue has never even been brought up by anyone. Most people (adcoms, GSDs, your POIs) are much more interested on what research experience you had and what research interests you now have. Correct me if I'm wrong but if it's a 4-year BA-granting institution, there should be quite a few PhD-holding people there right? You don't need to hunt them down or anything, just gradually build a good relationship and show them your potential. I'm on my phone right now and I can't see the OP's field or interest, but if he/she wants to pursue an research PhD, of course a letter from someone who's been through the process is gonna hold more weight. There's nothing elitist about that. Now I agree that an experienced faculty member is able to recognize students' potential regardless of their own degree, but employers are not, unless it's a professional program. That makes it hard for many people, but there's still a good reason behind it.

Not in your field but I just have to chime in that I felt the exact same way when the GSDs told me they really wanted me to come. I played it cool on the outside but in my head I was all, "Are you sure you want me there? On the top of my head I can think of at least 5 reasons why you should not!" Then I settled down a bit, and then the rejection came and I couldn't help thinking, "How come you don't want me? Other people do! We're such a perfect fit for each other!" So is the mind of a grad school applicant.

When I tell my (big) family that my top choice USC just rejected me, first question from everyone was "Why?" or "How come?" Uhm I don't know, maybe they just don't want me or I wasn't good enough. How should I know? Then we settled on "It's too expensive to go there anyway. I have friends who have a (some huge number) debt when they graduate" (the program I'm applying to is fully funded for 5 years) and "They have too many Asians there already. They need other ethnicities to improve their diversity."

And so it came. The fatal USC rejection letter. This weekend is now reserved for mourning.

I'm fascinated by the natural sciences: physics, chemistry, biology, ecology, geology, etc. Now that I'm not threatened by homework or exams anymore, I also love to learn a little bit of maths, one of my biggest enemies in high school. I think most of us entering or aspiring to enter grad schools are naturally curious and love to learn new things, so side interests would be more of a norm than an exception.

11.77. I'm loving the 7s

Noooooo!!!!! I demand you come back tomorrow and upvote my post! Silliness aside, you've reduced my disappointment that there wasn't much move for The Matrix around here On the other hand, this thread has taken an unexpected turn. For better or worse I can't tell.

Congrats guys! leb^3, I almost applied to the MTS program too, but the app fee deterred me What weekend is it gonna be? On the other hand, USC rejection letter... This is kind of obvious, but I just want to make sure - hellofandom, was it a letter or an email?

Haha so I'm not the only one who thought that Fuzz is a bit grumpier than usual. And since I've long associated him/her w a cat, the face of the grumpy cat immediately came to mind.

Why? Why would that bug anyone?

Third...ed? I plan to stay and do my part so to speak, but mainly because I'm obsessive and neurotic and thus fascinated with the process, I'm likely to have many more questions of my own and I like the community. It's nice to have support in anonymity.

Thanks everyone! At the moment I'm just excited to have the option to stay on the West coast. Have not lived a day with snow in my life It's the Comm one I'm afraid. I was told their committee finalized their decision last Thursday, but I also know some other applicants who were not invited to the weekend are still being contacted, so I don't think you should give up yet. I have a feeling you would get a straight answer now if you contact them. They've been pretty quick in this process and very friendly in my experience.