sdx

Thanks for the congrats everyone! yeah it's like they don't realize that people's lives are at stake here that said at least my experience shows that admissions commitees can certainly change their minds even *after* a rejection; there's always a sliver of hope

pleasant update: after making this thread I emailed the DGS at south florida about why I was a shitty candidate etc etc, she replied back today saying that the admissions committee fucked up and that they've decided to admit me! thanks all those who replied, i appreciate all the advice but thankfully it looks like I might not be needing it lulz

My discipline is communication with specific focus on issues surrounding globalization and multiculturalism. I applied to 5 the first time (although all of them were ridiculously selective, I think the worst school in that batch was UMass), I did 7 this time (UMass again, Urbana-Champaign, USF, Arizona State, Rutgers, Miami and Wayne State; Wayne State is the one that waitlisted me). Were you in contact with your recommenders all the way up to your third time? Two of mine are on my thesis committee so it wouldn't be that much of an issue but a third one is someone I haven't had a class with since 2011, she was happy to write it for me but I'm wondering if her memory is starting to a fade a bit heh. It's still reassuring to hear someone give it a go a 3rd time and get in, I appreciate the post. Well my GRE verbal is already in the 95th percentile, would trying to boost that to 99 really make a difference? My quant score is pretty ho-hum being in the 74th percentile but seeing as my research focus is in qualitative methods and a few programs I applied to specifically said that they don't even look at the quantitative score it seems like diminishing returns to me.

wasted my time applying to the best of the best doctoral programs last year (paying 125 dollars to have Stanford metaphorically spit in my face was the definition of money well spent) humbled my expectations for this year and aimed for overall less competitive schools (places like South Florida) while improving my file (presented at a conference, boosted GRE, improved GPA, writing sample and SOPs) and i've been rejected by every one so far while being sort of waitlisted on one (dgs/admissions committee likes me but have yet to find a faculty match and it's almost april, not looking good) i'm about to finish my masters in communication, i've completed all my coursework and am now just hammering away at a thesis. should I even bother trying a 3rd time? is there even anything I could do in effectively one summer that would improve my odds seeing as i've exhausted the obvious areas? i'm also thinking my references would get weary writing letters for me a 3rd straight year.

sadly no, as this program was kind of a backup; just gotta hope i win the lottery lol

psuedo waitlisted at the only school that hasn't rejected me DGS says i'm on the shortlist as per the recommendation of the admission committee but no doctoral advisor has taken in an interest in my file yet i guess it's better than a rejection but that still doesn't sound good, fml