Tacocat

I'm in a really similar position, but am still waiting from funding from Penn. If funding doesn't happen, this is an obvious choice for me, Chicago. However, if I do get funding at Penn, it will be a bit trickier. Is it worth taking a year (probably without loans as I could live at home) and trying to get into top programs next year or should I take a guaranteed PhD position if I have one? My subfield is theory, which means that Penn is in the top 20 according to UNSWR. However, it might be even more important for me to be in a top program, because the theory job market is pretty dismal. I know this is all conjecture at this point because it depends on funding at Penn, but does anyone have any thoughts or advice? Thanks!

Thanks for letting us know! You, sir (or madam), are a gentleman (or gentlewoman) and a scholar! Hopefully, I am near the top of the waitlist or will hear soon either way... Crossing my fingers! All best to you

Thank you very much! I'm theory as well, so this is very good to hear. I am expecting to be in limbo through most of March anyway, just by nature of waitlists. However, it is nice to have some clearer idea of my prospects. Best of luck to you too and congrats on your acceptances!

Hey certaincertainties, I'm currently waitlisted for funding at Penn. I understand their waitlist is dictated by subfield, do you mind sharing yours? Feel free to PM me if you don't want to broadcast it. Thanks!

Anyone else still waiting from Northwestern? Some closure would be nice...

Thanks so much for this insight! It actually makes me feel a bit more hopeful about Penn as a real option, which is a relief because it is currently my only one. Definitely still far from certain, but it does seem a bit above standard admittance wait-listing. At first, I wasn't sure that there was a real distinction beyond Penn's choice of terms. Thanks! Also, the poli sci forum is by far my favorite aspect of thegradcafe. Way to be awesome and supportive, everyone

Hey guys, So I have literally been lurking around here for a month. For most of it, I was an anxious ball of stress as I continually heard nothing. Now I finally have something to report (other than a Michigan rejection like everyone else)! But for reals, I'd like some advice. Today I was one of UPenn "admits" but wait-listed on funding. Does anyone have any familiarity with this practice? Should I be excited or concerned? It seems like a slightly trumped up version of wait-listing to me, but I'm a total newbie to the world of PhD apps. Can't help to be pretty happy to hear something mostly positive though!