Reatha

First of, on the "Is anyone planning for the future rejections" forum post there is a really good post on page two about this situation. Its a really long one about half way down the page and I highly recommend you read it. Secondly, here's my story: I was accepted to medical school for the entering class of 2012 but after working in a research lab for well over year I realized that this was not in fact what I wanted to do. I turned down the offer, to a summer research internship that lasted for only a few months and looked for a job. Come August my internship expired, even with an engineering degree I had not found a job and was forced to move back with my parents. I watched my friends, roommates and classmates move on to high paying jobs and continue their lives relatively unhindered. I spent four months with my parents, during this time I applied to graduate school draining 1000 out of my already tenuous savings. After Christmas I got a call for an internship with a Chemical Company and a full time job offer with a company. At this point I had already applied to graduate school and really wanted to go in August. I turned down the full time offer (which paid more and had benefits) because I was not in the position to make a long term commitment. I'm currently moved out and working however my rejection letters have really started to pour in. During my down time I applied to 10 schools, one of which my recommenders did not get his letter in on time, so it came out to be 9. I interviewed with one program, but other than that I've gotten nothing but no. Currently, I've been rejected from 5 programs and an unofficial rejection from one. I'm still waiting on 3 (one of which was the school I interviewed with) but its not looking good at this point. I feel the need to emphasize, I turned down medical school and a well paying job to pursue this opportunity and now it looks like I'm going to end up with 9 rejection letters. Despite all this, I will reapply with a very different and improved application. I will apply to external funding, probably more schools and ones that align better with my interests and I WILL EMAIL MY PROFESSORS OF INTEREST BEFORE HAND. (sorry for the caps. but this is really important) I made a lot of mistakes this application season and I will have a better application next year. On top of that I'm going to talk to the schools that I applied with to see why I was rejected. If its something I can change/address then I will. I feel I need to say, I have an advantage in this and so does Arianna, I know that I want this. I know that I can committee to these programs and at the end of the day they are all looking for that. You need to decide if this is something you really want, and if it is keep trying. Email the school that turned you down, pursue other opportunities and reapply. I believe that persistence is rewarded and good things come to those who try. Yes, some people need to work harder than others, but that makes their accomplishments even greater. Tesla, the man who invented the electrical system that is used worldwide, dug ditches for two years to make ends meet. Its not over until you stop fighting for it and decide it is. With that I say good luck, to you and everyone else that has a rejection year story.

New Guinea

Had that realization too

I'm the same. It really did put things into perspective for me and honestly if I have to wait and apply again next year I'll do so with work experience from my current job and my publications will be out by then. Furthermore, I'll have an industry recommendation instead of only academic. So in other words in one year, my application won't even look the same, so maybe it would be for the best for me to wait a year.

No waiting to hear back on the money aspect makes perfect sense to me. I would have a hard time making any kind of a decision if I wasn't sure if I was funded or not

Toy Maker

Anyone started thinking about next years applications yet? I've started to think about based on the feedback I've gotten this year which school I would reapply to and which I would not

Yea, but I commute a fair distance to work everyday. For me it just depends on if other people are interested in going.

Honestly, they won't mind at this point. The worst they are going to do is not respond and simply delete your email. The best they can do is give you more information. I really don't think you have anything to worry about when it comes to contacting professors. Honestly, this time of the year, the expect to get emails from applicants.

So just a question, but whats stopping the two of you from making a decision out of what you have? You could look at the offers that you do have and decide out of them which you would take and then compare it to any offers you get later. Just sounds like if you really want to decide something you can, and then those schools aren't waiting to hear from those programs as well.

I'm currently in the same boat. I applied to 9 school, I've been rejected to 5, told I'm probably going to be rejected from 1 and I'm still waiting to hear from the other 3. I should know about one of the others this week. After having so much bad luck, I'm still hopeful but its not looking good. I currently have an internship and if things keep going like this I'll also turn it into a job. I will reapply next year if I don't get in. The good thing about having a job now means in a 9 months when you start filing out applications again your application has completely changed. Good luck and keep your head up.

Tax Exemption

I got two rejections in email and one over the phone. My mind was lost a few hours ago...

That's so cool though!!! And congratulations!!! I woke up this morning and said it was going to be a good day. I even posted of fb that I was only putting positive energy into the universe so that positive energy will come back to me. Today I got a rejection notice, called a school to inquire about my status and was told if I hadn't heard anything by now it didn't look good. I spilled coffee all over my desk, my phone died while it was timing an experiment. And then to finish it off my pants ripped while I was bending over. Instead of crying this through me into a fit of laughter to which I say, universe you did not win! I have chosen to believe good things are coming, even if its not going to graduate school this fall.

If only... I got two more rejections today, and for the record, I'm not going to Atlanta... When I said this to one of my co workers he said "I would let you in with out even looking at the application. I would just know." Thanks, but I'd like to think some form of logic goes into these decisions...

I've officially lost my mind. After getting two rejections from my remaining 6 schools I bent over and ripped my pants... And started laughing hysterically....

I live in Pearland, I work in freeport on site with a plant. I don't know if I'm going to the rodeo or not, i've never really been. And I think I just got another rejection notice.... 4 down five to go...

I'm in the same boat. I haven't heard anything from 6 school that I applied to (although I was rejected from 3) I'm planning on inquiring with the schools this week since there really is no harm in calling to ask where they are at. Just don't ask if your decision is ready. Ask where they are in their admissions decisions.

Yes actually, I am in the Houston area. And I understand the getting used to the early morning routine. Wake up at 530 every day, go to sleep around 10. works pretty well actually. I'm trying to save up some money before I go as well, if I don't get admitted this year, I guess it gives me more time to do so. (doesn't change the fact that I really want to go this year..)

May I ask what you mean by the school's financial situation? Do you mean the budget cuts on capital hill?

lol, that's where I did my undergrad...He's kinda awesome

I'm actually bouncing between hopeful optimism (and then I decide its bad luck to get too optimistic) and there's no way I'm getting into graduate school. Its more like I'll convince myself I'm not getting in, my friends will convince me I am and I keep bouncing between the two. I should hear from one of my programs this week and if I don't I'm allowed to call on friday, so either way I should have some kind of an answer this week from them. Honestly I think the best I can hope for from them is that I've been waitlisted and to hope that I get accepted later....

I'm actually bouncing between hopeful optimism (and then I decide its bad luck to get too optimistic) and there's no way I'm getting into graduate school. Its more like I'll convince myself I'm not getting in, my friends will convince me I am and I keep bouncing between the two. I should hear from one of my programs this week and if I don't I'm allowed to call on friday, so either way I should have some kind of an answer this week from them. Honestly I think the best I can hope for from them is that I've been waitlisted and to hope that I get accepted later....

Its true that I can make a lot of money here, but starting out a lot of companies want to see the PhD to get a whole lot of places. But its still true, I would take a pay cut if I got into graduate school (of about 15-20k a year). The thing that really drives me crazy about my current job, is getting up in the morning is a real chore. And I'm always late. I really want a job that excites me, instead of bores me to tears... And gives me lots of time to check for updated applications statuses....

Toy Truck