gwarner13

Yeah, poor choice of word on my part. I apologize.

Okay, that makes much more sense to me-- especially if they don't over-admit. I guess I'm just still wondering why they make the differentiation between "alternates" and "waitlisters," as opposed to just having a longer, ranked waitlist. Seems unnecessary.

Yikes. Must have missed that memo. Am I the only one who finds the prospect of a "waitlist for a waitlist" a tad insulting?

UGH. So, so, sorry to hear that. For some reason it hasn't even crossed my mind that I could get rejected from the list BEFORE the 15th (though, of course, that could totally happen). Is Vanderbilt still in the picture? FWIW, I'm sincerely pulling for Brandeis to convert for you, program size be damned!

So, how's everyone holding up during the last few days of this waiting nightmare? Sending positive energy everyone's way!

Keely, you might also look into Costa Mesa. My brother lived in Irvine for a (short) while (for reasons you can probably guess), and has been much happier in CM. Not exactly "urban," but more things to do, less of a Stepford vibe, etc. Most of the cities in Orange County will be quite different from what you're used to (I've been to Oakland a few times), but some are better than others. Irvine-proper is probably the worst in that respect. In my experience, Santa Ana can be somewhat hit or miss, safety wise. I probably wouldn't want to commute from Long Beach unless you're able to work it so that you're driving during non-peak traffic times-- the 405 can be notoriously awful.

*bump* How was the visit, everyone?

What an amazing offer! Congrats!

So have you pretty much landed on Berkeley, Keely?

The waiting game is really its own special kind of hell.

Yep! Looks like it will be my only straight acceptance at this point (unless something delayed and unexpected happens with Rutgers or Tufts over the next couple days). UCLA's my top choice for personal/geographic reasons, so I'll likely wait that out as long as possible. SUPER excited about Austin, though. I've heard great things...but, yeah, I'd love to get out there sooner.

Thanks, Jazzy! Wishing you the best as you make a tough decision. Are you feeling better about your (truly incredible) options at this point?

Does anyone know the date(s) of UCLA's visiting weekend? Trying to get sense of when we might see some movement on the waitlist.

Full disclosure: I'm waitlisted at UCLA, one of your acceptances and my top choice. I, too, read your original post before you deleted it. It didn't anger me, because on some level I understand where you're coming from. I think the real issue here is how much importance you attach to attending your "dream" program-- and that's a question only you can answer. Of course it goes without saying that many, many, MANY people would kill for even one of your acceptances, but ultimately that's neither here nor there. You have to evaluate your options on their own terms, not in comparison to Columbia, UPenn, etc., and decide whether you believe you will be happy/able to do good work/productive there. If you don't think so, for whatever reason, (fit, prestige, whatever), then it makes sense to me to try again next year. No one needs to tell you that there's no guaranatee that reapplying will get you in to Penn, Columbia or anywhere else... and that includes the schools that accepted you this year. But, who knows, maybe you will. Or, maybe in the process of researching/reapplying you'll discover that NYU, Princeton, or some other amazing institution is really the best place for you...and wind up there. It's a risk, but the only way you can accurately determine whether that risk is worth taking is to take a good, hard, honest look at the options before you right here, right now. I think much of the concern stems from your original assertion that much of your angst is motivated by a (perhaps misplaced) sense of competition. Graduate education at the schools to which you aspire is competitive, and that ambition can get you far, but ultimately, this decision has to be about what's right for YOU, not what seems best in comparison with the outcomes other people are facing. That said, congratulations on your impressive accomplishments. You should be very, very, proud, and all best as you make what, I'm sure, amounts to a difficult decision. (And, hey, if you decide to turn down UCLA, and let them know sooner rather than later...I wouldn't complain )

FWIW, my status changed to "admitted" that day, and there's now a congratulatory message across the top of my home page as well.

Long time lurker over here. This is totally anecdotal, but I know for a fact that I had at LEAST one typo (and, in some cases, probably more like two or three) in every SoP I sent out. I, too, proofread like crazy, but they just seemed to slip through anyway. I've had pretty decent luck so far (in at Austin and waitlisted at UCLA), so I certainly don't think it's always the kiss of death.

I know it's still WAY early for this kind of talk, but any first round admits thinking of turning down the offer? I'm on the "very short waitlist," and am just trying to feel things out...