ThePope

As a DC native, I can tell you GW does have a better reputation. It's also ranked higher; US News and World Report had it at #50 nationally, and American at #77. Also, GW has an average acceptance rate of around 33%, whereas acceptance rates hover around 44% for American, making GW notably more selective. And everyone knows that, so people do tend to view it as the better school. Generally, DC universities are thought of this way (best to worst):
 
1. Georgetown
2. George Washington
3. American
4. Catholic
5. Howard
6. University of DC
 
The difference between GW and AU isn't enormous, and the two schools certainly share some faculty, so there's no denying American is great. I've visited them a lot, and they've got a very organized and friendly staff. You really can't go wrong either way, and I agree with Flyers that you should go to both Open Houses and get a feel for them. Whichever place you choose should be the one that feels like home, that has the best curriculum and connections for your intended career. Particularly given that the two schools aren't HUGELY apart on the ranking scale, fit and comfort matter most here.
 
That being said, GW does have name recognition that American doesn't, it's considered to be a better school, and GW's proximity to the White House is a nice bonus. If you've never been to DC, or if you've only ever been as a tourist, there are INFINITELY more networking and social opportunities around the White House than anywhere else in the city. Not like American's campus is super far away or anything-- but GW's campus couldn't possibly be more centrally located.

Previous Schools: A small, liberal arts college in Maryland.
Previous Degrees and GPAs: BA in Political Science and History, 3.8 GPA
GRE Scores: 165 Verbal, 145 Quantitative, 4.5 Writing
Previous Work Experience: 2 years on Capitol Hill, 1 campaign cycle as a Field Director, 1 year interning at a political consulting agency.
Math/Econ Background: NONE! HAAAAAAA, I suck.
Foreign Language Background: Um, I'm pretty good at one of Tolkien's Elvish dialects.
Intended Field of Study in Grad School: MPP in Program Analysis with a concentration in Environmental/Energy Policy.
Long Term Professional Goals: Legislative Aide.
Schools Applied to & Results: George Washington (accepted), University of Maryland (accepted), and American University (accepted).
Ultimate Decision & Why: GW. Because it's the highest-ranked school of them all, with the highest-ranked program, but moreover, simply because it felt like a truer fit. They take a very pragmatic, career-oriented angle to their curriculum, not all Ivory Tower academia, which I tend to appreciate at this point in my life.
Advice for Future Applicants:
 
Okay, listen guys. Everyone else has give some great practical advice, so here's something less useful but equally important: DON'T FREAK OUT.
 
Go back up and look at my quantitative score. GO LOOK AT IT. Yeah, you flinched, didn't you? That uncomfortable feeling in your gut is called pity. I pitied myself too, once I saw it. But guess what. That sad, pathetic demonstration of math delinquency didn't stop me, and neither will one bad aspect of your application stop you. Whatever your stats, do not let yourself get hung up on them. They're what you have, so stop stressing over them, and focus on the parts of your application you can currently control, such as your Statement of Purpose. Put your heart and soul into that statement, and it will make up for a great many things. It certainly did for me.
 
It's very easy, amidst all the expectation and the pressure, to second-guess yourself. It's very easy to start questioning whether you're really a competitive candidate, or whether you're just faking it extraordinarily well, which very easily spirals into an existential crisis of "what the hell am I doing?" and "what the hell am I doing if this doesn't work out?" Every single one of us has been there. But don't let those thoughts eat at you and erode your conviction. Your intuition has led you this far, so trust it. You know what you're doing. You will be okay. Chances are, you will get in somewhere, and if all else fails, trying again the following year is becoming more and more commonplace. And it demonstrates to the admissions committee that you're serious, which increases your chances. My friend applied to Georgetown 3 years in a row before he was finally accepted, and his program coordinator told him his tenacity is what gave him the edge. I know waiting another year and trying again is approximately no one's idea of an ideal scenario-- but it isn't a death sentence for your career, either. You have that option, along with a slew of others, even if it's hard to see that through the fog of stress this process induces.
 
So don't freak out. Assuming you've applied to multiple places, the odds of acceptance to one of them are in your favor, and even if the unfortunate comes to pass, you'll be okay anyway. You really, truly will.
 
And remember: you don't want a place that doesn't want you. If they reject you, they obviously weren't a great fit, so you probably would not have been happy there anyway. Give them the finger, move on, do amazing somewhere else, then send them your resume a few years later so they can see the kind of alumni they missed out on having.
 
Lastly, when it comes to making a final decision, block out all the noise. You will have a profusion of opinions with which to contend, and you should heed exactly none of them. Hearing them out is fair, but then sit yourself down and forget every word. You will be the only one who has to live with your decision. You will be the only one there, putting in the work, and paying down the loans. Not your mother, not your cousin, not your sister or your friend or your undergrad adviser. You. Just you. This is a party of one. Kick everyone else out.
 
And good luck.

Previous Schools: A small, liberal arts college in Maryland.
Previous Degrees and GPAs: BA in Political Science and History, 3.8 GPA
GRE Scores: 165 Verbal, 145 Quantitative, 4.5 Writing
Previous Work Experience: 2 years on Capitol Hill, 1 campaign cycle as a Field Director, 1 year interning at a political consulting agency.
Math/Econ Background: NONE! HAAAAAAA, I suck.
Foreign Language Background: Um, I'm pretty good at one of Tolkien's Elvish dialects.
Intended Field of Study in Grad School: MPP in Program Analysis with a concentration in Environmental/Energy Policy.
Long Term Professional Goals: Legislative Aide.
Schools Applied to & Results: George Washington (accepted), University of Maryland (accepted), and American University (accepted).
Ultimate Decision & Why: GW. Because it's the highest-ranked school of them all, with the highest-ranked program, but moreover, simply because it felt like a truer fit. They take a very pragmatic, career-oriented angle to their curriculum, not all Ivory Tower academia, which I tend to appreciate at this point in my life.
Advice for Future Applicants:
 
Okay, listen guys. Everyone else has give some great practical advice, so here's something less useful but equally important: DON'T FREAK OUT.
 
Go back up and look at my quantitative score. GO LOOK AT IT. Yeah, you flinched, didn't you? That uncomfortable feeling in your gut is called pity. I pitied myself too, once I saw it. But guess what. That sad, pathetic demonstration of math delinquency didn't stop me, and neither will one bad aspect of your application stop you. Whatever your stats, do not let yourself get hung up on them. They're what you have, so stop stressing over them, and focus on the parts of your application you can currently control, such as your Statement of Purpose. Put your heart and soul into that statement, and it will make up for a great many things. It certainly did for me.
 
It's very easy, amidst all the expectation and the pressure, to second-guess yourself. It's very easy to start questioning whether you're really a competitive candidate, or whether you're just faking it extraordinarily well, which very easily spirals into an existential crisis of "what the hell am I doing?" and "what the hell am I doing if this doesn't work out?" Every single one of us has been there. But don't let those thoughts eat at you and erode your conviction. Your intuition has led you this far, so trust it. You know what you're doing. You will be okay. Chances are, you will get in somewhere, and if all else fails, trying again the following year is becoming more and more commonplace. And it demonstrates to the admissions committee that you're serious, which increases your chances. My friend applied to Georgetown 3 years in a row before he was finally accepted, and his program coordinator told him his tenacity is what gave him the edge. I know waiting another year and trying again is approximately no one's idea of an ideal scenario-- but it isn't a death sentence for your career, either. You have that option, along with a slew of others, even if it's hard to see that through the fog of stress this process induces.
 
So don't freak out. Assuming you've applied to multiple places, the odds of acceptance to one of them are in your favor, and even if the unfortunate comes to pass, you'll be okay anyway. You really, truly will.
 
And remember: you don't want a place that doesn't want you. If they reject you, they obviously weren't a great fit, so you probably would not have been happy there anyway. Give them the finger, move on, do amazing somewhere else, then send them your resume a few years later so they can see the kind of alumni they missed out on having.
 
Lastly, when it comes to making a final decision, block out all the noise. You will have a profusion of opinions with which to contend, and you should heed exactly none of them. Hearing them out is fair, but then sit yourself down and forget every word. You will be the only one who has to live with your decision. You will be the only one there, putting in the work, and paying down the loans. Not your mother, not your cousin, not your sister or your friend or your undergrad adviser. You. Just you. This is a party of one. Kick everyone else out.
 
And good luck.

Previous Schools: A small, liberal arts college in Maryland.
Previous Degrees and GPAs: BA in Political Science and History, 3.8 GPA
GRE Scores: 165 Verbal, 145 Quantitative, 4.5 Writing
Previous Work Experience: 2 years on Capitol Hill, 1 campaign cycle as a Field Director, 1 year interning at a political consulting agency.
Math/Econ Background: NONE! HAAAAAAA, I suck.
Foreign Language Background: Um, I'm pretty good at one of Tolkien's Elvish dialects.
Intended Field of Study in Grad School: MPP in Program Analysis with a concentration in Environmental/Energy Policy.
Long Term Professional Goals: Legislative Aide.
Schools Applied to & Results: George Washington (accepted), University of Maryland (accepted), and American University (accepted).
Ultimate Decision & Why: GW. Because it's the highest-ranked school of them all, with the highest-ranked program, but moreover, simply because it felt like a truer fit. They take a very pragmatic, career-oriented angle to their curriculum, not all Ivory Tower academia, which I tend to appreciate at this point in my life.
Advice for Future Applicants:
 
Okay, listen guys. Everyone else has give some great practical advice, so here's something less useful but equally important: DON'T FREAK OUT.
 
Go back up and look at my quantitative score. GO LOOK AT IT. Yeah, you flinched, didn't you? That uncomfortable feeling in your gut is called pity. I pitied myself too, once I saw it. But guess what. That sad, pathetic demonstration of math delinquency didn't stop me, and neither will one bad aspect of your application stop you. Whatever your stats, do not let yourself get hung up on them. They're what you have, so stop stressing over them, and focus on the parts of your application you can currently control, such as your Statement of Purpose. Put your heart and soul into that statement, and it will make up for a great many things. It certainly did for me.
 
It's very easy, amidst all the expectation and the pressure, to second-guess yourself. It's very easy to start questioning whether you're really a competitive candidate, or whether you're just faking it extraordinarily well, which very easily spirals into an existential crisis of "what the hell am I doing?" and "what the hell am I doing if this doesn't work out?" Every single one of us has been there. But don't let those thoughts eat at you and erode your conviction. Your intuition has led you this far, so trust it. You know what you're doing. You will be okay. Chances are, you will get in somewhere, and if all else fails, trying again the following year is becoming more and more commonplace. And it demonstrates to the admissions committee that you're serious, which increases your chances. My friend applied to Georgetown 3 years in a row before he was finally accepted, and his program coordinator told him his tenacity is what gave him the edge. I know waiting another year and trying again is approximately no one's idea of an ideal scenario-- but it isn't a death sentence for your career, either. You have that option, along with a slew of others, even if it's hard to see that through the fog of stress this process induces.
 
So don't freak out. Assuming you've applied to multiple places, the odds of acceptance to one of them are in your favor, and even if the unfortunate comes to pass, you'll be okay anyway. You really, truly will.
 
And remember: you don't want a place that doesn't want you. If they reject you, they obviously weren't a great fit, so you probably would not have been happy there anyway. Give them the finger, move on, do amazing somewhere else, then send them your resume a few years later so they can see the kind of alumni they missed out on having.
 
Lastly, when it comes to making a final decision, block out all the noise. You will have a profusion of opinions with which to contend, and you should heed exactly none of them. Hearing them out is fair, but then sit yourself down and forget every word. You will be the only one who has to live with your decision. You will be the only one there, putting in the work, and paying down the loans. Not your mother, not your cousin, not your sister or your friend or your undergrad adviser. You. Just you. This is a party of one. Kick everyone else out.
 
And good luck.

Previous Schools: A small, liberal arts college in Maryland.
Previous Degrees and GPAs: BA in Political Science and History, 3.8 GPA
GRE Scores: 165 Verbal, 145 Quantitative, 4.5 Writing
Previous Work Experience: 2 years on Capitol Hill, 1 campaign cycle as a Field Director, 1 year interning at a political consulting agency.
Math/Econ Background: NONE! HAAAAAAA, I suck.
Foreign Language Background: Um, I'm pretty good at one of Tolkien's Elvish dialects.
Intended Field of Study in Grad School: MPP in Program Analysis with a concentration in Environmental/Energy Policy.
Long Term Professional Goals: Legislative Aide.
Schools Applied to & Results: George Washington (accepted), University of Maryland (accepted), and American University (accepted).
Ultimate Decision & Why: GW. Because it's the highest-ranked school of them all, with the highest-ranked program, but moreover, simply because it felt like a truer fit. They take a very pragmatic, career-oriented angle to their curriculum, not all Ivory Tower academia, which I tend to appreciate at this point in my life.
Advice for Future Applicants:
 
Okay, listen guys. Everyone else has give some great practical advice, so here's something less useful but equally important: DON'T FREAK OUT.
 
Go back up and look at my quantitative score. GO LOOK AT IT. Yeah, you flinched, didn't you? That uncomfortable feeling in your gut is called pity. I pitied myself too, once I saw it. But guess what. That sad, pathetic demonstration of math delinquency didn't stop me, and neither will one bad aspect of your application stop you. Whatever your stats, do not let yourself get hung up on them. They're what you have, so stop stressing over them, and focus on the parts of your application you can currently control, such as your Statement of Purpose. Put your heart and soul into that statement, and it will make up for a great many things. It certainly did for me.
 
It's very easy, amidst all the expectation and the pressure, to second-guess yourself. It's very easy to start questioning whether you're really a competitive candidate, or whether you're just faking it extraordinarily well, which very easily spirals into an existential crisis of "what the hell am I doing?" and "what the hell am I doing if this doesn't work out?" Every single one of us has been there. But don't let those thoughts eat at you and erode your conviction. Your intuition has led you this far, so trust it. You know what you're doing. You will be okay. Chances are, you will get in somewhere, and if all else fails, trying again the following year is becoming more and more commonplace. And it demonstrates to the admissions committee that you're serious, which increases your chances. My friend applied to Georgetown 3 years in a row before he was finally accepted, and his program coordinator told him his tenacity is what gave him the edge. I know waiting another year and trying again is approximately no one's idea of an ideal scenario-- but it isn't a death sentence for your career, either. You have that option, along with a slew of others, even if it's hard to see that through the fog of stress this process induces.
 
So don't freak out. Assuming you've applied to multiple places, the odds of acceptance to one of them are in your favor, and even if the unfortunate comes to pass, you'll be okay anyway. You really, truly will.
 
And remember: you don't want a place that doesn't want you. If they reject you, they obviously weren't a great fit, so you probably would not have been happy there anyway. Give them the finger, move on, do amazing somewhere else, then send them your resume a few years later so they can see the kind of alumni they missed out on having.
 
Lastly, when it comes to making a final decision, block out all the noise. You will have a profusion of opinions with which to contend, and you should heed exactly none of them. Hearing them out is fair, but then sit yourself down and forget every word. You will be the only one who has to live with your decision. You will be the only one there, putting in the work, and paying down the loans. Not your mother, not your cousin, not your sister or your friend or your undergrad adviser. You. Just you. This is a party of one. Kick everyone else out.
 
And good luck.

Previous Schools: A small, liberal arts college in Maryland.
Previous Degrees and GPAs: BA in Political Science and History, 3.8 GPA
GRE Scores: 165 Verbal, 145 Quantitative, 4.5 Writing
Previous Work Experience: 2 years on Capitol Hill, 1 campaign cycle as a Field Director, 1 year interning at a political consulting agency.
Math/Econ Background: NONE! HAAAAAAA, I suck.
Foreign Language Background: Um, I'm pretty good at one of Tolkien's Elvish dialects.
Intended Field of Study in Grad School: MPP in Program Analysis with a concentration in Environmental/Energy Policy.
Long Term Professional Goals: Legislative Aide.
Schools Applied to & Results: George Washington (accepted), University of Maryland (accepted), and American University (accepted).
Ultimate Decision & Why: GW. Because it's the highest-ranked school of them all, with the highest-ranked program, but moreover, simply because it felt like a truer fit. They take a very pragmatic, career-oriented angle to their curriculum, not all Ivory Tower academia, which I tend to appreciate at this point in my life.
Advice for Future Applicants:
 
Okay, listen guys. Everyone else has give some great practical advice, so here's something less useful but equally important: DON'T FREAK OUT.
 
Go back up and look at my quantitative score. GO LOOK AT IT. Yeah, you flinched, didn't you? That uncomfortable feeling in your gut is called pity. I pitied myself too, once I saw it. But guess what. That sad, pathetic demonstration of math delinquency didn't stop me, and neither will one bad aspect of your application stop you. Whatever your stats, do not let yourself get hung up on them. They're what you have, so stop stressing over them, and focus on the parts of your application you can currently control, such as your Statement of Purpose. Put your heart and soul into that statement, and it will make up for a great many things. It certainly did for me.
 
It's very easy, amidst all the expectation and the pressure, to second-guess yourself. It's very easy to start questioning whether you're really a competitive candidate, or whether you're just faking it extraordinarily well, which very easily spirals into an existential crisis of "what the hell am I doing?" and "what the hell am I doing if this doesn't work out?" Every single one of us has been there. But don't let those thoughts eat at you and erode your conviction. Your intuition has led you this far, so trust it. You know what you're doing. You will be okay. Chances are, you will get in somewhere, and if all else fails, trying again the following year is becoming more and more commonplace. And it demonstrates to the admissions committee that you're serious, which increases your chances. My friend applied to Georgetown 3 years in a row before he was finally accepted, and his program coordinator told him his tenacity is what gave him the edge. I know waiting another year and trying again is approximately no one's idea of an ideal scenario-- but it isn't a death sentence for your career, either. You have that option, along with a slew of others, even if it's hard to see that through the fog of stress this process induces.
 
So don't freak out. Assuming you've applied to multiple places, the odds of acceptance to one of them are in your favor, and even if the unfortunate comes to pass, you'll be okay anyway. You really, truly will.
 
And remember: you don't want a place that doesn't want you. If they reject you, they obviously weren't a great fit, so you probably would not have been happy there anyway. Give them the finger, move on, do amazing somewhere else, then send them your resume a few years later so they can see the kind of alumni they missed out on having.
 
Lastly, when it comes to making a final decision, block out all the noise. You will have a profusion of opinions with which to contend, and you should heed exactly none of them. Hearing them out is fair, but then sit yourself down and forget every word. You will be the only one who has to live with your decision. You will be the only one there, putting in the work, and paying down the loans. Not your mother, not your cousin, not your sister or your friend or your undergrad adviser. You. Just you. This is a party of one. Kick everyone else out.
 
And good luck.

Previous Schools: A small, liberal arts college in Maryland.
Previous Degrees and GPAs: BA in Political Science and History, 3.8 GPA
GRE Scores: 165 Verbal, 145 Quantitative, 4.5 Writing
Previous Work Experience: 2 years on Capitol Hill, 1 campaign cycle as a Field Director, 1 year interning at a political consulting agency.
Math/Econ Background: NONE! HAAAAAAA, I suck.
Foreign Language Background: Um, I'm pretty good at one of Tolkien's Elvish dialects.
Intended Field of Study in Grad School: MPP in Program Analysis with a concentration in Environmental/Energy Policy.
Long Term Professional Goals: Legislative Aide.
Schools Applied to & Results: George Washington (accepted), University of Maryland (accepted), and American University (accepted).
Ultimate Decision & Why: GW. Because it's the highest-ranked school of them all, with the highest-ranked program, but moreover, simply because it felt like a truer fit. They take a very pragmatic, career-oriented angle to their curriculum, not all Ivory Tower academia, which I tend to appreciate at this point in my life.
Advice for Future Applicants:
 
Okay, listen guys. Everyone else has give some great practical advice, so here's something less useful but equally important: DON'T FREAK OUT.
 
Go back up and look at my quantitative score. GO LOOK AT IT. Yeah, you flinched, didn't you? That uncomfortable feeling in your gut is called pity. I pitied myself too, once I saw it. But guess what. That sad, pathetic demonstration of math delinquency didn't stop me, and neither will one bad aspect of your application stop you. Whatever your stats, do not let yourself get hung up on them. They're what you have, so stop stressing over them, and focus on the parts of your application you can currently control, such as your Statement of Purpose. Put your heart and soul into that statement, and it will make up for a great many things. It certainly did for me.
 
It's very easy, amidst all the expectation and the pressure, to second-guess yourself. It's very easy to start questioning whether you're really a competitive candidate, or whether you're just faking it extraordinarily well, which very easily spirals into an existential crisis of "what the hell am I doing?" and "what the hell am I doing if this doesn't work out?" Every single one of us has been there. But don't let those thoughts eat at you and erode your conviction. Your intuition has led you this far, so trust it. You know what you're doing. You will be okay. Chances are, you will get in somewhere, and if all else fails, trying again the following year is becoming more and more commonplace. And it demonstrates to the admissions committee that you're serious, which increases your chances. My friend applied to Georgetown 3 years in a row before he was finally accepted, and his program coordinator told him his tenacity is what gave him the edge. I know waiting another year and trying again is approximately no one's idea of an ideal scenario-- but it isn't a death sentence for your career, either. You have that option, along with a slew of others, even if it's hard to see that through the fog of stress this process induces.
 
So don't freak out. Assuming you've applied to multiple places, the odds of acceptance to one of them are in your favor, and even if the unfortunate comes to pass, you'll be okay anyway. You really, truly will.
 
And remember: you don't want a place that doesn't want you. If they reject you, they obviously weren't a great fit, so you probably would not have been happy there anyway. Give them the finger, move on, do amazing somewhere else, then send them your resume a few years later so they can see the kind of alumni they missed out on having.
 
Lastly, when it comes to making a final decision, block out all the noise. You will have a profusion of opinions with which to contend, and you should heed exactly none of them. Hearing them out is fair, but then sit yourself down and forget every word. You will be the only one who has to live with your decision. You will be the only one there, putting in the work, and paying down the loans. Not your mother, not your cousin, not your sister or your friend or your undergrad adviser. You. Just you. This is a party of one. Kick everyone else out.
 
And good luck.

Previous Schools: A small, liberal arts college in Maryland.
Previous Degrees and GPAs: BA in Political Science and History, 3.8 GPA
GRE Scores: 165 Verbal, 145 Quantitative, 4.5 Writing
Previous Work Experience: 2 years on Capitol Hill, 1 campaign cycle as a Field Director, 1 year interning at a political consulting agency.
Math/Econ Background: NONE! HAAAAAAA, I suck.
Foreign Language Background: Um, I'm pretty good at one of Tolkien's Elvish dialects.
Intended Field of Study in Grad School: MPP in Program Analysis with a concentration in Environmental/Energy Policy.
Long Term Professional Goals: Legislative Aide.
Schools Applied to & Results: George Washington (accepted), University of Maryland (accepted), and American University (accepted).
Ultimate Decision & Why: GW. Because it's the highest-ranked school of them all, with the highest-ranked program, but moreover, simply because it felt like a truer fit. They take a very pragmatic, career-oriented angle to their curriculum, not all Ivory Tower academia, which I tend to appreciate at this point in my life.
Advice for Future Applicants:
 
Okay, listen guys. Everyone else has give some great practical advice, so here's something less useful but equally important: DON'T FREAK OUT.
 
Go back up and look at my quantitative score. GO LOOK AT IT. Yeah, you flinched, didn't you? That uncomfortable feeling in your gut is called pity. I pitied myself too, once I saw it. But guess what. That sad, pathetic demonstration of math delinquency didn't stop me, and neither will one bad aspect of your application stop you. Whatever your stats, do not let yourself get hung up on them. They're what you have, so stop stressing over them, and focus on the parts of your application you can currently control, such as your Statement of Purpose. Put your heart and soul into that statement, and it will make up for a great many things. It certainly did for me.
 
It's very easy, amidst all the expectation and the pressure, to second-guess yourself. It's very easy to start questioning whether you're really a competitive candidate, or whether you're just faking it extraordinarily well, which very easily spirals into an existential crisis of "what the hell am I doing?" and "what the hell am I doing if this doesn't work out?" Every single one of us has been there. But don't let those thoughts eat at you and erode your conviction. Your intuition has led you this far, so trust it. You know what you're doing. You will be okay. Chances are, you will get in somewhere, and if all else fails, trying again the following year is becoming more and more commonplace. And it demonstrates to the admissions committee that you're serious, which increases your chances. My friend applied to Georgetown 3 years in a row before he was finally accepted, and his program coordinator told him his tenacity is what gave him the edge. I know waiting another year and trying again is approximately no one's idea of an ideal scenario-- but it isn't a death sentence for your career, either. You have that option, along with a slew of others, even if it's hard to see that through the fog of stress this process induces.
 
So don't freak out. Assuming you've applied to multiple places, the odds of acceptance to one of them are in your favor, and even if the unfortunate comes to pass, you'll be okay anyway. You really, truly will.
 
And remember: you don't want a place that doesn't want you. If they reject you, they obviously weren't a great fit, so you probably would not have been happy there anyway. Give them the finger, move on, do amazing somewhere else, then send them your resume a few years later so they can see the kind of alumni they missed out on having.
 
Lastly, when it comes to making a final decision, block out all the noise. You will have a profusion of opinions with which to contend, and you should heed exactly none of them. Hearing them out is fair, but then sit yourself down and forget every word. You will be the only one who has to live with your decision. You will be the only one there, putting in the work, and paying down the loans. Not your mother, not your cousin, not your sister or your friend or your undergrad adviser. You. Just you. This is a party of one. Kick everyone else out.
 
And good luck.

Previous Schools: A small, liberal arts college in Maryland.
Previous Degrees and GPAs: BA in Political Science and History, 3.8 GPA
GRE Scores: 165 Verbal, 145 Quantitative, 4.5 Writing
Previous Work Experience: 2 years on Capitol Hill, 1 campaign cycle as a Field Director, 1 year interning at a political consulting agency.
Math/Econ Background: NONE! HAAAAAAA, I suck.
Foreign Language Background: Um, I'm pretty good at one of Tolkien's Elvish dialects.
Intended Field of Study in Grad School: MPP in Program Analysis with a concentration in Environmental/Energy Policy.
Long Term Professional Goals: Legislative Aide.
Schools Applied to & Results: George Washington (accepted), University of Maryland (accepted), and American University (accepted).
Ultimate Decision & Why: GW. Because it's the highest-ranked school of them all, with the highest-ranked program, but moreover, simply because it felt like a truer fit. They take a very pragmatic, career-oriented angle to their curriculum, not all Ivory Tower academia, which I tend to appreciate at this point in my life.
Advice for Future Applicants:
 
Okay, listen guys. Everyone else has give some great practical advice, so here's something less useful but equally important: DON'T FREAK OUT.
 
Go back up and look at my quantitative score. GO LOOK AT IT. Yeah, you flinched, didn't you? That uncomfortable feeling in your gut is called pity. I pitied myself too, once I saw it. But guess what. That sad, pathetic demonstration of math delinquency didn't stop me, and neither will one bad aspect of your application stop you. Whatever your stats, do not let yourself get hung up on them. They're what you have, so stop stressing over them, and focus on the parts of your application you can currently control, such as your Statement of Purpose. Put your heart and soul into that statement, and it will make up for a great many things. It certainly did for me.
 
It's very easy, amidst all the expectation and the pressure, to second-guess yourself. It's very easy to start questioning whether you're really a competitive candidate, or whether you're just faking it extraordinarily well, which very easily spirals into an existential crisis of "what the hell am I doing?" and "what the hell am I doing if this doesn't work out?" Every single one of us has been there. But don't let those thoughts eat at you and erode your conviction. Your intuition has led you this far, so trust it. You know what you're doing. You will be okay. Chances are, you will get in somewhere, and if all else fails, trying again the following year is becoming more and more commonplace. And it demonstrates to the admissions committee that you're serious, which increases your chances. My friend applied to Georgetown 3 years in a row before he was finally accepted, and his program coordinator told him his tenacity is what gave him the edge. I know waiting another year and trying again is approximately no one's idea of an ideal scenario-- but it isn't a death sentence for your career, either. You have that option, along with a slew of others, even if it's hard to see that through the fog of stress this process induces.
 
So don't freak out. Assuming you've applied to multiple places, the odds of acceptance to one of them are in your favor, and even if the unfortunate comes to pass, you'll be okay anyway. You really, truly will.
 
And remember: you don't want a place that doesn't want you. If they reject you, they obviously weren't a great fit, so you probably would not have been happy there anyway. Give them the finger, move on, do amazing somewhere else, then send them your resume a few years later so they can see the kind of alumni they missed out on having.
 
Lastly, when it comes to making a final decision, block out all the noise. You will have a profusion of opinions with which to contend, and you should heed exactly none of them. Hearing them out is fair, but then sit yourself down and forget every word. You will be the only one who has to live with your decision. You will be the only one there, putting in the work, and paying down the loans. Not your mother, not your cousin, not your sister or your friend or your undergrad adviser. You. Just you. This is a party of one. Kick everyone else out.
 
And good luck.

Previous Schools: A small, liberal arts college in Maryland.
Previous Degrees and GPAs: BA in Political Science and History, 3.8 GPA
GRE Scores: 165 Verbal, 145 Quantitative, 4.5 Writing
Previous Work Experience: 2 years on Capitol Hill, 1 campaign cycle as a Field Director, 1 year interning at a political consulting agency.
Math/Econ Background: NONE! HAAAAAAA, I suck.
Foreign Language Background: Um, I'm pretty good at one of Tolkien's Elvish dialects.
Intended Field of Study in Grad School: MPP in Program Analysis with a concentration in Environmental/Energy Policy.
Long Term Professional Goals: Legislative Aide.
Schools Applied to & Results: George Washington (accepted), University of Maryland (accepted), and American University (accepted).
Ultimate Decision & Why: GW. Because it's the highest-ranked school of them all, with the highest-ranked program, but moreover, simply because it felt like a truer fit. They take a very pragmatic, career-oriented angle to their curriculum, not all Ivory Tower academia, which I tend to appreciate at this point in my life.
Advice for Future Applicants:
 
Okay, listen guys. Everyone else has give some great practical advice, so here's something less useful but equally important: DON'T FREAK OUT.
 
Go back up and look at my quantitative score. GO LOOK AT IT. Yeah, you flinched, didn't you? That uncomfortable feeling in your gut is called pity. I pitied myself too, once I saw it. But guess what. That sad, pathetic demonstration of math delinquency didn't stop me, and neither will one bad aspect of your application stop you. Whatever your stats, do not let yourself get hung up on them. They're what you have, so stop stressing over them, and focus on the parts of your application you can currently control, such as your Statement of Purpose. Put your heart and soul into that statement, and it will make up for a great many things. It certainly did for me.
 
It's very easy, amidst all the expectation and the pressure, to second-guess yourself. It's very easy to start questioning whether you're really a competitive candidate, or whether you're just faking it extraordinarily well, which very easily spirals into an existential crisis of "what the hell am I doing?" and "what the hell am I doing if this doesn't work out?" Every single one of us has been there. But don't let those thoughts eat at you and erode your conviction. Your intuition has led you this far, so trust it. You know what you're doing. You will be okay. Chances are, you will get in somewhere, and if all else fails, trying again the following year is becoming more and more commonplace. And it demonstrates to the admissions committee that you're serious, which increases your chances. My friend applied to Georgetown 3 years in a row before he was finally accepted, and his program coordinator told him his tenacity is what gave him the edge. I know waiting another year and trying again is approximately no one's idea of an ideal scenario-- but it isn't a death sentence for your career, either. You have that option, along with a slew of others, even if it's hard to see that through the fog of stress this process induces.
 
So don't freak out. Assuming you've applied to multiple places, the odds of acceptance to one of them are in your favor, and even if the unfortunate comes to pass, you'll be okay anyway. You really, truly will.
 
And remember: you don't want a place that doesn't want you. If they reject you, they obviously weren't a great fit, so you probably would not have been happy there anyway. Give them the finger, move on, do amazing somewhere else, then send them your resume a few years later so they can see the kind of alumni they missed out on having.
 
Lastly, when it comes to making a final decision, block out all the noise. You will have a profusion of opinions with which to contend, and you should heed exactly none of them. Hearing them out is fair, but then sit yourself down and forget every word. You will be the only one who has to live with your decision. You will be the only one there, putting in the work, and paying down the loans. Not your mother, not your cousin, not your sister or your friend or your undergrad adviser. You. Just you. This is a party of one. Kick everyone else out.
 
And good luck.

As a DC native, I can tell you GW does have a better reputation. It's also ranked higher; US News and World Report had it at #50 nationally, and American at #77. Also, GW has an average acceptance rate of around 33%, whereas acceptance rates hover around 44% for American, making GW notably more selective. And everyone knows that, so people do tend to view it as the better school. Generally, DC universities are thought of this way (best to worst):
 
1. Georgetown
2. George Washington
3. American
4. Catholic
5. Howard
6. University of DC
 
The difference between GW and AU isn't enormous, and the two schools certainly share some faculty, so there's no denying American is great. I've visited them a lot, and they've got a very organized and friendly staff. You really can't go wrong either way, and I agree with Flyers that you should go to both Open Houses and get a feel for them. Whichever place you choose should be the one that feels like home, that has the best curriculum and connections for your intended career. Particularly given that the two schools aren't HUGELY apart on the ranking scale, fit and comfort matter most here.
 
That being said, GW does have name recognition that American doesn't, it's considered to be a better school, and GW's proximity to the White House is a nice bonus. If you've never been to DC, or if you've only ever been as a tourist, there are INFINITELY more networking and social opportunities around the White House than anywhere else in the city. Not like American's campus is super far away or anything-- but GW's campus couldn't possibly be more centrally located.

I've studied abroad at a UK university and have some experience with this. I'd need more information from you to really be of any help (namely, what kind of work are you hoping to get into, how important of a factor is the cost of attendance, etc). But here are some general thoughts:
 
1. LSE is a better school than American. Hands-down. It isn't even a contest. LSE is ranked top 20 in the world, whereas American University is only ranked 77 within the US. So, globally, it probably doesn't even break the top 200. LSE is like Ivy League in the UK. It's a big deal.
 
2. That being said, just because a school is incredible, that doesn't mean their program is the right fit for what you're looking to get in to. If American University's program suits your career perfectly, but LSE's program is only vaguely relevant, then I would probably go with American. Ultimately, it's less about the name and more about which program is going to launch the next step of your career.
 
3. In a similar vein, if you plan on living and working in U.S. politics, I can assure you now, attending a U.S. school-- particularly one in Washington, DC-- is almost always the better way to go. Because it's about connections. American University is going to have professors and staff who know all the right people. They're in the nation's capitol, they work with policymakers and politicians, and hell, policymakers and politicians are employed there. American University will have far better connections than LSE, insofar as the U.S. is concerned.
 
I say this from experience. I had two friends get their graduate degrees from the UK (University of London and King's College, both very good schools). And neither of them have been able to find work in the U.S. since graduating. Their English professors had no connections and there was no job placement and no internship help. So it's been very rough going for them, attemping to find work in DC.
 
Please keep in mind, however, that this ONLY APPLIES if you're looking to get into politics and/or policy. The UK is a fantastic place to go for lots of professions, even a superior place to go in some instances. But in my experience, if you want to get into the federal government in any way, shape, or form, it's best to go to school in the same country as the government.
 
That's my best insight, I hope it helps, and if you decide to share any other details of your decision-making process I'd be happy to comment further. Either way, good luck, and congratulations on getting into those schools! That's no easy task!

I agree with margarets. Just because this guy/girl is pissed off and verbally erratic here, on an internet forum, due to a seriously demoralizing rejection streak, doesn't mean we should make assumptions about his/her professional performance or character. If OP was rejected from 4 places back-to-back, having outstanding credentials and no clear-cut reason as to why (s)he was rejected, of course OP is going to feel confused, scorned, upset, humiliated. And of course his/her words will reflect that. This is a place to vent, for Christ's sake; if we aren't empathetic to each other here, then where?
 
ApexKnowledge-- I wish I had some magic words to make this all okay for you. Assuming you really do have the high GPA and research credentials you mentioned, it boggles my brain that you'd receive so many rejections. For what it's worth, I don't think you're displaying a sense of entitlement, as "entitlement" indicates you expect something you did not work for. But you worked for this. Hard. So I think your frustration and anger is warranted.
 
I know this will seem impossible, but try not to take it personally. These rejections, hard as it may seem, do not necessarily reflect on you. They may just reflect on the competitiveness of the programs you applied to. For instance, my uncle had his Master's degree, with a 3.9 GPA, stellar GRE scores, and 6 years of highly relevant research experience in his field. 2 of those years he spent working directly with the Head of MIT's department. Yes, MIT-- one of the best schools in the world. And he still got rejected from 4 out of the 5 PhD programs he applied to. He was overly qualified, in most peoples' opinions, but was dealt the same harsh blow as you. But it was only because the PhD programs he applied to were SUPER competitive. They accepted fewer than 15 students per year, and for every 1 open spot, received nearly 50 applications.
 
So he was a big fish in most ponds, so to speak, but a smaller-than-average fish in the ENORMOUS pond of PhD applicants. It's all relative. Similarly, you seem to have incredible credentials and I hope that you-- as well as your father-- are extremely proud of them. You've already come such a long way and have done a lot more than most people. Take pride in that, and never underestimate it. Just keep in mind that, when it comes to many PhD programs, you are up against the best in the world. That's a tall order, for anybody.
 
I agree with whoever posted previously that you should start thinking about Plan B, just for your own mental stability's sake. Maybe you'll get taken off that wait-list and all will be well. But having back-up plans in place is extremely important under any circumstances, not just grad school. Personally, while I wait for all my acceptances/rejections to come in, I am applying to as many jobs as I can and laying the groundwork for re-applying next year, if it comes to that. I'm writing up a personal financial plan for the coming 12 months, to make sure I have the money to retake the GRE and get higher scores; I'm sending thank-you cards to all those who wrote recommendations for me, and in those cards, asking them to keep their letters in case I apply again in the future. Basically, I am preparing myself and my life to sustain another 12 months until I can try again, just in case. You should definitely do the same. Come up with a 12 month plan for yourself.
 
And part of this plan should include things to look forward to. As you've experienced, this process can be extremely demoralizing. It takes so much out of us. So put something on your calendar that makes you smile, even if it's something relatively small. For example, I am planning a mini roadtrip with my friend. It won't be for another few months, and it will only last 4 days because we can't afford anything longer than that. But those 4 days will be bliss, and they'll allow us to escape for a while and recharge from all this grad school-related stress.
 
Do the same for yourself. You're worth that, and you'll probably need it. If you can't afford even 4 days away, plan for a friend to just come over for a whole weekend and have a movie marathon, or go see a concert, or play laser tag or do something childish and fun that you wouldn't normally do. It'll help you, really. And in the meantime, remember that you aren't alone in these experiences, that many, many others with great qualifications are being rejected too. Please don't beat yourself up too much.
 
Very best of luck, friend.

I agree with margarets. Just because this guy/girl is pissed off and verbally erratic here, on an internet forum, due to a seriously demoralizing rejection streak, doesn't mean we should make assumptions about his/her professional performance or character. If OP was rejected from 4 places back-to-back, having outstanding credentials and no clear-cut reason as to why (s)he was rejected, of course OP is going to feel confused, scorned, upset, humiliated. And of course his/her words will reflect that. This is a place to vent, for Christ's sake; if we aren't empathetic to each other here, then where?
 
ApexKnowledge-- I wish I had some magic words to make this all okay for you. Assuming you really do have the high GPA and research credentials you mentioned, it boggles my brain that you'd receive so many rejections. For what it's worth, I don't think you're displaying a sense of entitlement, as "entitlement" indicates you expect something you did not work for. But you worked for this. Hard. So I think your frustration and anger is warranted.
 
I know this will seem impossible, but try not to take it personally. These rejections, hard as it may seem, do not necessarily reflect on you. They may just reflect on the competitiveness of the programs you applied to. For instance, my uncle had his Master's degree, with a 3.9 GPA, stellar GRE scores, and 6 years of highly relevant research experience in his field. 2 of those years he spent working directly with the Head of MIT's department. Yes, MIT-- one of the best schools in the world. And he still got rejected from 4 out of the 5 PhD programs he applied to. He was overly qualified, in most peoples' opinions, but was dealt the same harsh blow as you. But it was only because the PhD programs he applied to were SUPER competitive. They accepted fewer than 15 students per year, and for every 1 open spot, received nearly 50 applications.
 
So he was a big fish in most ponds, so to speak, but a smaller-than-average fish in the ENORMOUS pond of PhD applicants. It's all relative. Similarly, you seem to have incredible credentials and I hope that you-- as well as your father-- are extremely proud of them. You've already come such a long way and have done a lot more than most people. Take pride in that, and never underestimate it. Just keep in mind that, when it comes to many PhD programs, you are up against the best in the world. That's a tall order, for anybody.
 
I agree with whoever posted previously that you should start thinking about Plan B, just for your own mental stability's sake. Maybe you'll get taken off that wait-list and all will be well. But having back-up plans in place is extremely important under any circumstances, not just grad school. Personally, while I wait for all my acceptances/rejections to come in, I am applying to as many jobs as I can and laying the groundwork for re-applying next year, if it comes to that. I'm writing up a personal financial plan for the coming 12 months, to make sure I have the money to retake the GRE and get higher scores; I'm sending thank-you cards to all those who wrote recommendations for me, and in those cards, asking them to keep their letters in case I apply again in the future. Basically, I am preparing myself and my life to sustain another 12 months until I can try again, just in case. You should definitely do the same. Come up with a 12 month plan for yourself.
 
And part of this plan should include things to look forward to. As you've experienced, this process can be extremely demoralizing. It takes so much out of us. So put something on your calendar that makes you smile, even if it's something relatively small. For example, I am planning a mini roadtrip with my friend. It won't be for another few months, and it will only last 4 days because we can't afford anything longer than that. But those 4 days will be bliss, and they'll allow us to escape for a while and recharge from all this grad school-related stress.
 
Do the same for yourself. You're worth that, and you'll probably need it. If you can't afford even 4 days away, plan for a friend to just come over for a whole weekend and have a movie marathon, or go see a concert, or play laser tag or do something childish and fun that you wouldn't normally do. It'll help you, really. And in the meantime, remember that you aren't alone in these experiences, that many, many others with great qualifications are being rejected too. Please don't beat yourself up too much.
 
Very best of luck, friend.

I agree with margarets. Just because this guy/girl is pissed off and verbally erratic here, on an internet forum, due to a seriously demoralizing rejection streak, doesn't mean we should make assumptions about his/her professional performance or character. If OP was rejected from 4 places back-to-back, having outstanding credentials and no clear-cut reason as to why (s)he was rejected, of course OP is going to feel confused, scorned, upset, humiliated. And of course his/her words will reflect that. This is a place to vent, for Christ's sake; if we aren't empathetic to each other here, then where?
 
ApexKnowledge-- I wish I had some magic words to make this all okay for you. Assuming you really do have the high GPA and research credentials you mentioned, it boggles my brain that you'd receive so many rejections. For what it's worth, I don't think you're displaying a sense of entitlement, as "entitlement" indicates you expect something you did not work for. But you worked for this. Hard. So I think your frustration and anger is warranted.
 
I know this will seem impossible, but try not to take it personally. These rejections, hard as it may seem, do not necessarily reflect on you. They may just reflect on the competitiveness of the programs you applied to. For instance, my uncle had his Master's degree, with a 3.9 GPA, stellar GRE scores, and 6 years of highly relevant research experience in his field. 2 of those years he spent working directly with the Head of MIT's department. Yes, MIT-- one of the best schools in the world. And he still got rejected from 4 out of the 5 PhD programs he applied to. He was overly qualified, in most peoples' opinions, but was dealt the same harsh blow as you. But it was only because the PhD programs he applied to were SUPER competitive. They accepted fewer than 15 students per year, and for every 1 open spot, received nearly 50 applications.
 
So he was a big fish in most ponds, so to speak, but a smaller-than-average fish in the ENORMOUS pond of PhD applicants. It's all relative. Similarly, you seem to have incredible credentials and I hope that you-- as well as your father-- are extremely proud of them. You've already come such a long way and have done a lot more than most people. Take pride in that, and never underestimate it. Just keep in mind that, when it comes to many PhD programs, you are up against the best in the world. That's a tall order, for anybody.
 
I agree with whoever posted previously that you should start thinking about Plan B, just for your own mental stability's sake. Maybe you'll get taken off that wait-list and all will be well. But having back-up plans in place is extremely important under any circumstances, not just grad school. Personally, while I wait for all my acceptances/rejections to come in, I am applying to as many jobs as I can and laying the groundwork for re-applying next year, if it comes to that. I'm writing up a personal financial plan for the coming 12 months, to make sure I have the money to retake the GRE and get higher scores; I'm sending thank-you cards to all those who wrote recommendations for me, and in those cards, asking them to keep their letters in case I apply again in the future. Basically, I am preparing myself and my life to sustain another 12 months until I can try again, just in case. You should definitely do the same. Come up with a 12 month plan for yourself.
 
And part of this plan should include things to look forward to. As you've experienced, this process can be extremely demoralizing. It takes so much out of us. So put something on your calendar that makes you smile, even if it's something relatively small. For example, I am planning a mini roadtrip with my friend. It won't be for another few months, and it will only last 4 days because we can't afford anything longer than that. But those 4 days will be bliss, and they'll allow us to escape for a while and recharge from all this grad school-related stress.
 
Do the same for yourself. You're worth that, and you'll probably need it. If you can't afford even 4 days away, plan for a friend to just come over for a whole weekend and have a movie marathon, or go see a concert, or play laser tag or do something childish and fun that you wouldn't normally do. It'll help you, really. And in the meantime, remember that you aren't alone in these experiences, that many, many others with great qualifications are being rejected too. Please don't beat yourself up too much.
 
Very best of luck, friend.

I agree with margarets. Just because this guy/girl is pissed off and verbally erratic here, on an internet forum, due to a seriously demoralizing rejection streak, doesn't mean we should make assumptions about his/her professional performance or character. If OP was rejected from 4 places back-to-back, having outstanding credentials and no clear-cut reason as to why (s)he was rejected, of course OP is going to feel confused, scorned, upset, humiliated. And of course his/her words will reflect that. This is a place to vent, for Christ's sake; if we aren't empathetic to each other here, then where?
 
ApexKnowledge-- I wish I had some magic words to make this all okay for you. Assuming you really do have the high GPA and research credentials you mentioned, it boggles my brain that you'd receive so many rejections. For what it's worth, I don't think you're displaying a sense of entitlement, as "entitlement" indicates you expect something you did not work for. But you worked for this. Hard. So I think your frustration and anger is warranted.
 
I know this will seem impossible, but try not to take it personally. These rejections, hard as it may seem, do not necessarily reflect on you. They may just reflect on the competitiveness of the programs you applied to. For instance, my uncle had his Master's degree, with a 3.9 GPA, stellar GRE scores, and 6 years of highly relevant research experience in his field. 2 of those years he spent working directly with the Head of MIT's department. Yes, MIT-- one of the best schools in the world. And he still got rejected from 4 out of the 5 PhD programs he applied to. He was overly qualified, in most peoples' opinions, but was dealt the same harsh blow as you. But it was only because the PhD programs he applied to were SUPER competitive. They accepted fewer than 15 students per year, and for every 1 open spot, received nearly 50 applications.
 
So he was a big fish in most ponds, so to speak, but a smaller-than-average fish in the ENORMOUS pond of PhD applicants. It's all relative. Similarly, you seem to have incredible credentials and I hope that you-- as well as your father-- are extremely proud of them. You've already come such a long way and have done a lot more than most people. Take pride in that, and never underestimate it. Just keep in mind that, when it comes to many PhD programs, you are up against the best in the world. That's a tall order, for anybody.
 
I agree with whoever posted previously that you should start thinking about Plan B, just for your own mental stability's sake. Maybe you'll get taken off that wait-list and all will be well. But having back-up plans in place is extremely important under any circumstances, not just grad school. Personally, while I wait for all my acceptances/rejections to come in, I am applying to as many jobs as I can and laying the groundwork for re-applying next year, if it comes to that. I'm writing up a personal financial plan for the coming 12 months, to make sure I have the money to retake the GRE and get higher scores; I'm sending thank-you cards to all those who wrote recommendations for me, and in those cards, asking them to keep their letters in case I apply again in the future. Basically, I am preparing myself and my life to sustain another 12 months until I can try again, just in case. You should definitely do the same. Come up with a 12 month plan for yourself.
 
And part of this plan should include things to look forward to. As you've experienced, this process can be extremely demoralizing. It takes so much out of us. So put something on your calendar that makes you smile, even if it's something relatively small. For example, I am planning a mini roadtrip with my friend. It won't be for another few months, and it will only last 4 days because we can't afford anything longer than that. But those 4 days will be bliss, and they'll allow us to escape for a while and recharge from all this grad school-related stress.
 
Do the same for yourself. You're worth that, and you'll probably need it. If you can't afford even 4 days away, plan for a friend to just come over for a whole weekend and have a movie marathon, or go see a concert, or play laser tag or do something childish and fun that you wouldn't normally do. It'll help you, really. And in the meantime, remember that you aren't alone in these experiences, that many, many others with great qualifications are being rejected too. Please don't beat yourself up too much.
 
Very best of luck, friend.

I agree with margarets. Just because this guy/girl is pissed off and verbally erratic here, on an internet forum, due to a seriously demoralizing rejection streak, doesn't mean we should make assumptions about his/her professional performance or character. If OP was rejected from 4 places back-to-back, having outstanding credentials and no clear-cut reason as to why (s)he was rejected, of course OP is going to feel confused, scorned, upset, humiliated. And of course his/her words will reflect that. This is a place to vent, for Christ's sake; if we aren't empathetic to each other here, then where?
 
ApexKnowledge-- I wish I had some magic words to make this all okay for you. Assuming you really do have the high GPA and research credentials you mentioned, it boggles my brain that you'd receive so many rejections. For what it's worth, I don't think you're displaying a sense of entitlement, as "entitlement" indicates you expect something you did not work for. But you worked for this. Hard. So I think your frustration and anger is warranted.
 
I know this will seem impossible, but try not to take it personally. These rejections, hard as it may seem, do not necessarily reflect on you. They may just reflect on the competitiveness of the programs you applied to. For instance, my uncle had his Master's degree, with a 3.9 GPA, stellar GRE scores, and 6 years of highly relevant research experience in his field. 2 of those years he spent working directly with the Head of MIT's department. Yes, MIT-- one of the best schools in the world. And he still got rejected from 4 out of the 5 PhD programs he applied to. He was overly qualified, in most peoples' opinions, but was dealt the same harsh blow as you. But it was only because the PhD programs he applied to were SUPER competitive. They accepted fewer than 15 students per year, and for every 1 open spot, received nearly 50 applications.
 
So he was a big fish in most ponds, so to speak, but a smaller-than-average fish in the ENORMOUS pond of PhD applicants. It's all relative. Similarly, you seem to have incredible credentials and I hope that you-- as well as your father-- are extremely proud of them. You've already come such a long way and have done a lot more than most people. Take pride in that, and never underestimate it. Just keep in mind that, when it comes to many PhD programs, you are up against the best in the world. That's a tall order, for anybody.
 
I agree with whoever posted previously that you should start thinking about Plan B, just for your own mental stability's sake. Maybe you'll get taken off that wait-list and all will be well. But having back-up plans in place is extremely important under any circumstances, not just grad school. Personally, while I wait for all my acceptances/rejections to come in, I am applying to as many jobs as I can and laying the groundwork for re-applying next year, if it comes to that. I'm writing up a personal financial plan for the coming 12 months, to make sure I have the money to retake the GRE and get higher scores; I'm sending thank-you cards to all those who wrote recommendations for me, and in those cards, asking them to keep their letters in case I apply again in the future. Basically, I am preparing myself and my life to sustain another 12 months until I can try again, just in case. You should definitely do the same. Come up with a 12 month plan for yourself.
 
And part of this plan should include things to look forward to. As you've experienced, this process can be extremely demoralizing. It takes so much out of us. So put something on your calendar that makes you smile, even if it's something relatively small. For example, I am planning a mini roadtrip with my friend. It won't be for another few months, and it will only last 4 days because we can't afford anything longer than that. But those 4 days will be bliss, and they'll allow us to escape for a while and recharge from all this grad school-related stress.
 
Do the same for yourself. You're worth that, and you'll probably need it. If you can't afford even 4 days away, plan for a friend to just come over for a whole weekend and have a movie marathon, or go see a concert, or play laser tag or do something childish and fun that you wouldn't normally do. It'll help you, really. And in the meantime, remember that you aren't alone in these experiences, that many, many others with great qualifications are being rejected too. Please don't beat yourself up too much.
 
Very best of luck, friend.

I agree with margarets. Just because this guy/girl is pissed off and verbally erratic here, on an internet forum, due to a seriously demoralizing rejection streak, doesn't mean we should make assumptions about his/her professional performance or character. If OP was rejected from 4 places back-to-back, having outstanding credentials and no clear-cut reason as to why (s)he was rejected, of course OP is going to feel confused, scorned, upset, humiliated. And of course his/her words will reflect that. This is a place to vent, for Christ's sake; if we aren't empathetic to each other here, then where?
 
ApexKnowledge-- I wish I had some magic words to make this all okay for you. Assuming you really do have the high GPA and research credentials you mentioned, it boggles my brain that you'd receive so many rejections. For what it's worth, I don't think you're displaying a sense of entitlement, as "entitlement" indicates you expect something you did not work for. But you worked for this. Hard. So I think your frustration and anger is warranted.
 
I know this will seem impossible, but try not to take it personally. These rejections, hard as it may seem, do not necessarily reflect on you. They may just reflect on the competitiveness of the programs you applied to. For instance, my uncle had his Master's degree, with a 3.9 GPA, stellar GRE scores, and 6 years of highly relevant research experience in his field. 2 of those years he spent working directly with the Head of MIT's department. Yes, MIT-- one of the best schools in the world. And he still got rejected from 4 out of the 5 PhD programs he applied to. He was overly qualified, in most peoples' opinions, but was dealt the same harsh blow as you. But it was only because the PhD programs he applied to were SUPER competitive. They accepted fewer than 15 students per year, and for every 1 open spot, received nearly 50 applications.
 
So he was a big fish in most ponds, so to speak, but a smaller-than-average fish in the ENORMOUS pond of PhD applicants. It's all relative. Similarly, you seem to have incredible credentials and I hope that you-- as well as your father-- are extremely proud of them. You've already come such a long way and have done a lot more than most people. Take pride in that, and never underestimate it. Just keep in mind that, when it comes to many PhD programs, you are up against the best in the world. That's a tall order, for anybody.
 
I agree with whoever posted previously that you should start thinking about Plan B, just for your own mental stability's sake. Maybe you'll get taken off that wait-list and all will be well. But having back-up plans in place is extremely important under any circumstances, not just grad school. Personally, while I wait for all my acceptances/rejections to come in, I am applying to as many jobs as I can and laying the groundwork for re-applying next year, if it comes to that. I'm writing up a personal financial plan for the coming 12 months, to make sure I have the money to retake the GRE and get higher scores; I'm sending thank-you cards to all those who wrote recommendations for me, and in those cards, asking them to keep their letters in case I apply again in the future. Basically, I am preparing myself and my life to sustain another 12 months until I can try again, just in case. You should definitely do the same. Come up with a 12 month plan for yourself.
 
And part of this plan should include things to look forward to. As you've experienced, this process can be extremely demoralizing. It takes so much out of us. So put something on your calendar that makes you smile, even if it's something relatively small. For example, I am planning a mini roadtrip with my friend. It won't be for another few months, and it will only last 4 days because we can't afford anything longer than that. But those 4 days will be bliss, and they'll allow us to escape for a while and recharge from all this grad school-related stress.
 
Do the same for yourself. You're worth that, and you'll probably need it. If you can't afford even 4 days away, plan for a friend to just come over for a whole weekend and have a movie marathon, or go see a concert, or play laser tag or do something childish and fun that you wouldn't normally do. It'll help you, really. And in the meantime, remember that you aren't alone in these experiences, that many, many others with great qualifications are being rejected too. Please don't beat yourself up too much.
 
Very best of luck, friend.

I agree with margarets. Just because this guy/girl is pissed off and verbally erratic here, on an internet forum, due to a seriously demoralizing rejection streak, doesn't mean we should make assumptions about his/her professional performance or character. If OP was rejected from 4 places back-to-back, having outstanding credentials and no clear-cut reason as to why (s)he was rejected, of course OP is going to feel confused, scorned, upset, humiliated. And of course his/her words will reflect that. This is a place to vent, for Christ's sake; if we aren't empathetic to each other here, then where?
 
ApexKnowledge-- I wish I had some magic words to make this all okay for you. Assuming you really do have the high GPA and research credentials you mentioned, it boggles my brain that you'd receive so many rejections. For what it's worth, I don't think you're displaying a sense of entitlement, as "entitlement" indicates you expect something you did not work for. But you worked for this. Hard. So I think your frustration and anger is warranted.
 
I know this will seem impossible, but try not to take it personally. These rejections, hard as it may seem, do not necessarily reflect on you. They may just reflect on the competitiveness of the programs you applied to. For instance, my uncle had his Master's degree, with a 3.9 GPA, stellar GRE scores, and 6 years of highly relevant research experience in his field. 2 of those years he spent working directly with the Head of MIT's department. Yes, MIT-- one of the best schools in the world. And he still got rejected from 4 out of the 5 PhD programs he applied to. He was overly qualified, in most peoples' opinions, but was dealt the same harsh blow as you. But it was only because the PhD programs he applied to were SUPER competitive. They accepted fewer than 15 students per year, and for every 1 open spot, received nearly 50 applications.
 
So he was a big fish in most ponds, so to speak, but a smaller-than-average fish in the ENORMOUS pond of PhD applicants. It's all relative. Similarly, you seem to have incredible credentials and I hope that you-- as well as your father-- are extremely proud of them. You've already come such a long way and have done a lot more than most people. Take pride in that, and never underestimate it. Just keep in mind that, when it comes to many PhD programs, you are up against the best in the world. That's a tall order, for anybody.
 
I agree with whoever posted previously that you should start thinking about Plan B, just for your own mental stability's sake. Maybe you'll get taken off that wait-list and all will be well. But having back-up plans in place is extremely important under any circumstances, not just grad school. Personally, while I wait for all my acceptances/rejections to come in, I am applying to as many jobs as I can and laying the groundwork for re-applying next year, if it comes to that. I'm writing up a personal financial plan for the coming 12 months, to make sure I have the money to retake the GRE and get higher scores; I'm sending thank-you cards to all those who wrote recommendations for me, and in those cards, asking them to keep their letters in case I apply again in the future. Basically, I am preparing myself and my life to sustain another 12 months until I can try again, just in case. You should definitely do the same. Come up with a 12 month plan for yourself.
 
And part of this plan should include things to look forward to. As you've experienced, this process can be extremely demoralizing. It takes so much out of us. So put something on your calendar that makes you smile, even if it's something relatively small. For example, I am planning a mini roadtrip with my friend. It won't be for another few months, and it will only last 4 days because we can't afford anything longer than that. But those 4 days will be bliss, and they'll allow us to escape for a while and recharge from all this grad school-related stress.
 
Do the same for yourself. You're worth that, and you'll probably need it. If you can't afford even 4 days away, plan for a friend to just come over for a whole weekend and have a movie marathon, or go see a concert, or play laser tag or do something childish and fun that you wouldn't normally do. It'll help you, really. And in the meantime, remember that you aren't alone in these experiences, that many, many others with great qualifications are being rejected too. Please don't beat yourself up too much.
 
Very best of luck, friend.

I agree with margarets. Just because this guy/girl is pissed off and verbally erratic here, on an internet forum, due to a seriously demoralizing rejection streak, doesn't mean we should make assumptions about his/her professional performance or character. If OP was rejected from 4 places back-to-back, having outstanding credentials and no clear-cut reason as to why (s)he was rejected, of course OP is going to feel confused, scorned, upset, humiliated. And of course his/her words will reflect that. This is a place to vent, for Christ's sake; if we aren't empathetic to each other here, then where?
 
ApexKnowledge-- I wish I had some magic words to make this all okay for you. Assuming you really do have the high GPA and research credentials you mentioned, it boggles my brain that you'd receive so many rejections. For what it's worth, I don't think you're displaying a sense of entitlement, as "entitlement" indicates you expect something you did not work for. But you worked for this. Hard. So I think your frustration and anger is warranted.
 
I know this will seem impossible, but try not to take it personally. These rejections, hard as it may seem, do not necessarily reflect on you. They may just reflect on the competitiveness of the programs you applied to. For instance, my uncle had his Master's degree, with a 3.9 GPA, stellar GRE scores, and 6 years of highly relevant research experience in his field. 2 of those years he spent working directly with the Head of MIT's department. Yes, MIT-- one of the best schools in the world. And he still got rejected from 4 out of the 5 PhD programs he applied to. He was overly qualified, in most peoples' opinions, but was dealt the same harsh blow as you. But it was only because the PhD programs he applied to were SUPER competitive. They accepted fewer than 15 students per year, and for every 1 open spot, received nearly 50 applications.
 
So he was a big fish in most ponds, so to speak, but a smaller-than-average fish in the ENORMOUS pond of PhD applicants. It's all relative. Similarly, you seem to have incredible credentials and I hope that you-- as well as your father-- are extremely proud of them. You've already come such a long way and have done a lot more than most people. Take pride in that, and never underestimate it. Just keep in mind that, when it comes to many PhD programs, you are up against the best in the world. That's a tall order, for anybody.
 
I agree with whoever posted previously that you should start thinking about Plan B, just for your own mental stability's sake. Maybe you'll get taken off that wait-list and all will be well. But having back-up plans in place is extremely important under any circumstances, not just grad school. Personally, while I wait for all my acceptances/rejections to come in, I am applying to as many jobs as I can and laying the groundwork for re-applying next year, if it comes to that. I'm writing up a personal financial plan for the coming 12 months, to make sure I have the money to retake the GRE and get higher scores; I'm sending thank-you cards to all those who wrote recommendations for me, and in those cards, asking them to keep their letters in case I apply again in the future. Basically, I am preparing myself and my life to sustain another 12 months until I can try again, just in case. You should definitely do the same. Come up with a 12 month plan for yourself.
 
And part of this plan should include things to look forward to. As you've experienced, this process can be extremely demoralizing. It takes so much out of us. So put something on your calendar that makes you smile, even if it's something relatively small. For example, I am planning a mini roadtrip with my friend. It won't be for another few months, and it will only last 4 days because we can't afford anything longer than that. But those 4 days will be bliss, and they'll allow us to escape for a while and recharge from all this grad school-related stress.
 
Do the same for yourself. You're worth that, and you'll probably need it. If you can't afford even 4 days away, plan for a friend to just come over for a whole weekend and have a movie marathon, or go see a concert, or play laser tag or do something childish and fun that you wouldn't normally do. It'll help you, really. And in the meantime, remember that you aren't alone in these experiences, that many, many others with great qualifications are being rejected too. Please don't beat yourself up too much.
 
Very best of luck, friend.

I agree with margarets. Just because this guy/girl is pissed off and verbally erratic here, on an internet forum, due to a seriously demoralizing rejection streak, doesn't mean we should make assumptions about his/her professional performance or character. If OP was rejected from 4 places back-to-back, having outstanding credentials and no clear-cut reason as to why (s)he was rejected, of course OP is going to feel confused, scorned, upset, humiliated. And of course his/her words will reflect that. This is a place to vent, for Christ's sake; if we aren't empathetic to each other here, then where?
 
ApexKnowledge-- I wish I had some magic words to make this all okay for you. Assuming you really do have the high GPA and research credentials you mentioned, it boggles my brain that you'd receive so many rejections. For what it's worth, I don't think you're displaying a sense of entitlement, as "entitlement" indicates you expect something you did not work for. But you worked for this. Hard. So I think your frustration and anger is warranted.
 
I know this will seem impossible, but try not to take it personally. These rejections, hard as it may seem, do not necessarily reflect on you. They may just reflect on the competitiveness of the programs you applied to. For instance, my uncle had his Master's degree, with a 3.9 GPA, stellar GRE scores, and 6 years of highly relevant research experience in his field. 2 of those years he spent working directly with the Head of MIT's department. Yes, MIT-- one of the best schools in the world. And he still got rejected from 4 out of the 5 PhD programs he applied to. He was overly qualified, in most peoples' opinions, but was dealt the same harsh blow as you. But it was only because the PhD programs he applied to were SUPER competitive. They accepted fewer than 15 students per year, and for every 1 open spot, received nearly 50 applications.
 
So he was a big fish in most ponds, so to speak, but a smaller-than-average fish in the ENORMOUS pond of PhD applicants. It's all relative. Similarly, you seem to have incredible credentials and I hope that you-- as well as your father-- are extremely proud of them. You've already come such a long way and have done a lot more than most people. Take pride in that, and never underestimate it. Just keep in mind that, when it comes to many PhD programs, you are up against the best in the world. That's a tall order, for anybody.
 
I agree with whoever posted previously that you should start thinking about Plan B, just for your own mental stability's sake. Maybe you'll get taken off that wait-list and all will be well. But having back-up plans in place is extremely important under any circumstances, not just grad school. Personally, while I wait for all my acceptances/rejections to come in, I am applying to as many jobs as I can and laying the groundwork for re-applying next year, if it comes to that. I'm writing up a personal financial plan for the coming 12 months, to make sure I have the money to retake the GRE and get higher scores; I'm sending thank-you cards to all those who wrote recommendations for me, and in those cards, asking them to keep their letters in case I apply again in the future. Basically, I am preparing myself and my life to sustain another 12 months until I can try again, just in case. You should definitely do the same. Come up with a 12 month plan for yourself.
 
And part of this plan should include things to look forward to. As you've experienced, this process can be extremely demoralizing. It takes so much out of us. So put something on your calendar that makes you smile, even if it's something relatively small. For example, I am planning a mini roadtrip with my friend. It won't be for another few months, and it will only last 4 days because we can't afford anything longer than that. But those 4 days will be bliss, and they'll allow us to escape for a while and recharge from all this grad school-related stress.
 
Do the same for yourself. You're worth that, and you'll probably need it. If you can't afford even 4 days away, plan for a friend to just come over for a whole weekend and have a movie marathon, or go see a concert, or play laser tag or do something childish and fun that you wouldn't normally do. It'll help you, really. And in the meantime, remember that you aren't alone in these experiences, that many, many others with great qualifications are being rejected too. Please don't beat yourself up too much.
 
Very best of luck, friend.

I agree with margarets. Just because this guy/girl is pissed off and verbally erratic here, on an internet forum, due to a seriously demoralizing rejection streak, doesn't mean we should make assumptions about his/her professional performance or character. If OP was rejected from 4 places back-to-back, having outstanding credentials and no clear-cut reason as to why (s)he was rejected, of course OP is going to feel confused, scorned, upset, humiliated. And of course his/her words will reflect that. This is a place to vent, for Christ's sake; if we aren't empathetic to each other here, then where?
 
ApexKnowledge-- I wish I had some magic words to make this all okay for you. Assuming you really do have the high GPA and research credentials you mentioned, it boggles my brain that you'd receive so many rejections. For what it's worth, I don't think you're displaying a sense of entitlement, as "entitlement" indicates you expect something you did not work for. But you worked for this. Hard. So I think your frustration and anger is warranted.
 
I know this will seem impossible, but try not to take it personally. These rejections, hard as it may seem, do not necessarily reflect on you. They may just reflect on the competitiveness of the programs you applied to. For instance, my uncle had his Master's degree, with a 3.9 GPA, stellar GRE scores, and 6 years of highly relevant research experience in his field. 2 of those years he spent working directly with the Head of MIT's department. Yes, MIT-- one of the best schools in the world. And he still got rejected from 4 out of the 5 PhD programs he applied to. He was overly qualified, in most peoples' opinions, but was dealt the same harsh blow as you. But it was only because the PhD programs he applied to were SUPER competitive. They accepted fewer than 15 students per year, and for every 1 open spot, received nearly 50 applications.
 
So he was a big fish in most ponds, so to speak, but a smaller-than-average fish in the ENORMOUS pond of PhD applicants. It's all relative. Similarly, you seem to have incredible credentials and I hope that you-- as well as your father-- are extremely proud of them. You've already come such a long way and have done a lot more than most people. Take pride in that, and never underestimate it. Just keep in mind that, when it comes to many PhD programs, you are up against the best in the world. That's a tall order, for anybody.
 
I agree with whoever posted previously that you should start thinking about Plan B, just for your own mental stability's sake. Maybe you'll get taken off that wait-list and all will be well. But having back-up plans in place is extremely important under any circumstances, not just grad school. Personally, while I wait for all my acceptances/rejections to come in, I am applying to as many jobs as I can and laying the groundwork for re-applying next year, if it comes to that. I'm writing up a personal financial plan for the coming 12 months, to make sure I have the money to retake the GRE and get higher scores; I'm sending thank-you cards to all those who wrote recommendations for me, and in those cards, asking them to keep their letters in case I apply again in the future. Basically, I am preparing myself and my life to sustain another 12 months until I can try again, just in case. You should definitely do the same. Come up with a 12 month plan for yourself.
 
And part of this plan should include things to look forward to. As you've experienced, this process can be extremely demoralizing. It takes so much out of us. So put something on your calendar that makes you smile, even if it's something relatively small. For example, I am planning a mini roadtrip with my friend. It won't be for another few months, and it will only last 4 days because we can't afford anything longer than that. But those 4 days will be bliss, and they'll allow us to escape for a while and recharge from all this grad school-related stress.
 
Do the same for yourself. You're worth that, and you'll probably need it. If you can't afford even 4 days away, plan for a friend to just come over for a whole weekend and have a movie marathon, or go see a concert, or play laser tag or do something childish and fun that you wouldn't normally do. It'll help you, really. And in the meantime, remember that you aren't alone in these experiences, that many, many others with great qualifications are being rejected too. Please don't beat yourself up too much.
 
Very best of luck, friend.

I agree with margarets. Just because this guy/girl is pissed off and verbally erratic here, on an internet forum, due to a seriously demoralizing rejection streak, doesn't mean we should make assumptions about his/her professional performance or character. If OP was rejected from 4 places back-to-back, having outstanding credentials and no clear-cut reason as to why (s)he was rejected, of course OP is going to feel confused, scorned, upset, humiliated. And of course his/her words will reflect that. This is a place to vent, for Christ's sake; if we aren't empathetic to each other here, then where?
 
ApexKnowledge-- I wish I had some magic words to make this all okay for you. Assuming you really do have the high GPA and research credentials you mentioned, it boggles my brain that you'd receive so many rejections. For what it's worth, I don't think you're displaying a sense of entitlement, as "entitlement" indicates you expect something you did not work for. But you worked for this. Hard. So I think your frustration and anger is warranted.
 
I know this will seem impossible, but try not to take it personally. These rejections, hard as it may seem, do not necessarily reflect on you. They may just reflect on the competitiveness of the programs you applied to. For instance, my uncle had his Master's degree, with a 3.9 GPA, stellar GRE scores, and 6 years of highly relevant research experience in his field. 2 of those years he spent working directly with the Head of MIT's department. Yes, MIT-- one of the best schools in the world. And he still got rejected from 4 out of the 5 PhD programs he applied to. He was overly qualified, in most peoples' opinions, but was dealt the same harsh blow as you. But it was only because the PhD programs he applied to were SUPER competitive. They accepted fewer than 15 students per year, and for every 1 open spot, received nearly 50 applications.
 
So he was a big fish in most ponds, so to speak, but a smaller-than-average fish in the ENORMOUS pond of PhD applicants. It's all relative. Similarly, you seem to have incredible credentials and I hope that you-- as well as your father-- are extremely proud of them. You've already come such a long way and have done a lot more than most people. Take pride in that, and never underestimate it. Just keep in mind that, when it comes to many PhD programs, you are up against the best in the world. That's a tall order, for anybody.
 
I agree with whoever posted previously that you should start thinking about Plan B, just for your own mental stability's sake. Maybe you'll get taken off that wait-list and all will be well. But having back-up plans in place is extremely important under any circumstances, not just grad school. Personally, while I wait for all my acceptances/rejections to come in, I am applying to as many jobs as I can and laying the groundwork for re-applying next year, if it comes to that. I'm writing up a personal financial plan for the coming 12 months, to make sure I have the money to retake the GRE and get higher scores; I'm sending thank-you cards to all those who wrote recommendations for me, and in those cards, asking them to keep their letters in case I apply again in the future. Basically, I am preparing myself and my life to sustain another 12 months until I can try again, just in case. You should definitely do the same. Come up with a 12 month plan for yourself.
 
And part of this plan should include things to look forward to. As you've experienced, this process can be extremely demoralizing. It takes so much out of us. So put something on your calendar that makes you smile, even if it's something relatively small. For example, I am planning a mini roadtrip with my friend. It won't be for another few months, and it will only last 4 days because we can't afford anything longer than that. But those 4 days will be bliss, and they'll allow us to escape for a while and recharge from all this grad school-related stress.
 
Do the same for yourself. You're worth that, and you'll probably need it. If you can't afford even 4 days away, plan for a friend to just come over for a whole weekend and have a movie marathon, or go see a concert, or play laser tag or do something childish and fun that you wouldn't normally do. It'll help you, really. And in the meantime, remember that you aren't alone in these experiences, that many, many others with great qualifications are being rejected too. Please don't beat yourself up too much.
 
Very best of luck, friend.

I agree with margarets. Just because this guy/girl is pissed off and verbally erratic here, on an internet forum, due to a seriously demoralizing rejection streak, doesn't mean we should make assumptions about his/her professional performance or character. If OP was rejected from 4 places back-to-back, having outstanding credentials and no clear-cut reason as to why (s)he was rejected, of course OP is going to feel confused, scorned, upset, humiliated. And of course his/her words will reflect that. This is a place to vent, for Christ's sake; if we aren't empathetic to each other here, then where?
 
ApexKnowledge-- I wish I had some magic words to make this all okay for you. Assuming you really do have the high GPA and research credentials you mentioned, it boggles my brain that you'd receive so many rejections. For what it's worth, I don't think you're displaying a sense of entitlement, as "entitlement" indicates you expect something you did not work for. But you worked for this. Hard. So I think your frustration and anger is warranted.
 
I know this will seem impossible, but try not to take it personally. These rejections, hard as it may seem, do not necessarily reflect on you. They may just reflect on the competitiveness of the programs you applied to. For instance, my uncle had his Master's degree, with a 3.9 GPA, stellar GRE scores, and 6 years of highly relevant research experience in his field. 2 of those years he spent working directly with the Head of MIT's department. Yes, MIT-- one of the best schools in the world. And he still got rejected from 4 out of the 5 PhD programs he applied to. He was overly qualified, in most peoples' opinions, but was dealt the same harsh blow as you. But it was only because the PhD programs he applied to were SUPER competitive. They accepted fewer than 15 students per year, and for every 1 open spot, received nearly 50 applications.
 
So he was a big fish in most ponds, so to speak, but a smaller-than-average fish in the ENORMOUS pond of PhD applicants. It's all relative. Similarly, you seem to have incredible credentials and I hope that you-- as well as your father-- are extremely proud of them. You've already come such a long way and have done a lot more than most people. Take pride in that, and never underestimate it. Just keep in mind that, when it comes to many PhD programs, you are up against the best in the world. That's a tall order, for anybody.
 
I agree with whoever posted previously that you should start thinking about Plan B, just for your own mental stability's sake. Maybe you'll get taken off that wait-list and all will be well. But having back-up plans in place is extremely important under any circumstances, not just grad school. Personally, while I wait for all my acceptances/rejections to come in, I am applying to as many jobs as I can and laying the groundwork for re-applying next year, if it comes to that. I'm writing up a personal financial plan for the coming 12 months, to make sure I have the money to retake the GRE and get higher scores; I'm sending thank-you cards to all those who wrote recommendations for me, and in those cards, asking them to keep their letters in case I apply again in the future. Basically, I am preparing myself and my life to sustain another 12 months until I can try again, just in case. You should definitely do the same. Come up with a 12 month plan for yourself.
 
And part of this plan should include things to look forward to. As you've experienced, this process can be extremely demoralizing. It takes so much out of us. So put something on your calendar that makes you smile, even if it's something relatively small. For example, I am planning a mini roadtrip with my friend. It won't be for another few months, and it will only last 4 days because we can't afford anything longer than that. But those 4 days will be bliss, and they'll allow us to escape for a while and recharge from all this grad school-related stress.
 
Do the same for yourself. You're worth that, and you'll probably need it. If you can't afford even 4 days away, plan for a friend to just come over for a whole weekend and have a movie marathon, or go see a concert, or play laser tag or do something childish and fun that you wouldn't normally do. It'll help you, really. And in the meantime, remember that you aren't alone in these experiences, that many, many others with great qualifications are being rejected too. Please don't beat yourself up too much.
 
Very best of luck, friend.

I agree with margarets. Just because this guy/girl is pissed off and verbally erratic here, on an internet forum, due to a seriously demoralizing rejection streak, doesn't mean we should make assumptions about his/her professional performance or character. If OP was rejected from 4 places back-to-back, having outstanding credentials and no clear-cut reason as to why (s)he was rejected, of course OP is going to feel confused, scorned, upset, humiliated. And of course his/her words will reflect that. This is a place to vent, for Christ's sake; if we aren't empathetic to each other here, then where?
 
ApexKnowledge-- I wish I had some magic words to make this all okay for you. Assuming you really do have the high GPA and research credentials you mentioned, it boggles my brain that you'd receive so many rejections. For what it's worth, I don't think you're displaying a sense of entitlement, as "entitlement" indicates you expect something you did not work for. But you worked for this. Hard. So I think your frustration and anger is warranted.
 
I know this will seem impossible, but try not to take it personally. These rejections, hard as it may seem, do not necessarily reflect on you. They may just reflect on the competitiveness of the programs you applied to. For instance, my uncle had his Master's degree, with a 3.9 GPA, stellar GRE scores, and 6 years of highly relevant research experience in his field. 2 of those years he spent working directly with the Head of MIT's department. Yes, MIT-- one of the best schools in the world. And he still got rejected from 4 out of the 5 PhD programs he applied to. He was overly qualified, in most peoples' opinions, but was dealt the same harsh blow as you. But it was only because the PhD programs he applied to were SUPER competitive. They accepted fewer than 15 students per year, and for every 1 open spot, received nearly 50 applications.
 
So he was a big fish in most ponds, so to speak, but a smaller-than-average fish in the ENORMOUS pond of PhD applicants. It's all relative. Similarly, you seem to have incredible credentials and I hope that you-- as well as your father-- are extremely proud of them. You've already come such a long way and have done a lot more than most people. Take pride in that, and never underestimate it. Just keep in mind that, when it comes to many PhD programs, you are up against the best in the world. That's a tall order, for anybody.
 
I agree with whoever posted previously that you should start thinking about Plan B, just for your own mental stability's sake. Maybe you'll get taken off that wait-list and all will be well. But having back-up plans in place is extremely important under any circumstances, not just grad school. Personally, while I wait for all my acceptances/rejections to come in, I am applying to as many jobs as I can and laying the groundwork for re-applying next year, if it comes to that. I'm writing up a personal financial plan for the coming 12 months, to make sure I have the money to retake the GRE and get higher scores; I'm sending thank-you cards to all those who wrote recommendations for me, and in those cards, asking them to keep their letters in case I apply again in the future. Basically, I am preparing myself and my life to sustain another 12 months until I can try again, just in case. You should definitely do the same. Come up with a 12 month plan for yourself.
 
And part of this plan should include things to look forward to. As you've experienced, this process can be extremely demoralizing. It takes so much out of us. So put something on your calendar that makes you smile, even if it's something relatively small. For example, I am planning a mini roadtrip with my friend. It won't be for another few months, and it will only last 4 days because we can't afford anything longer than that. But those 4 days will be bliss, and they'll allow us to escape for a while and recharge from all this grad school-related stress.
 
Do the same for yourself. You're worth that, and you'll probably need it. If you can't afford even 4 days away, plan for a friend to just come over for a whole weekend and have a movie marathon, or go see a concert, or play laser tag or do something childish and fun that you wouldn't normally do. It'll help you, really. And in the meantime, remember that you aren't alone in these experiences, that many, many others with great qualifications are being rejected too. Please don't beat yourself up too much.
 
Very best of luck, friend.