I would say don't lose heart. This process is soul-destroying, to be sure, and its results can be very disappointing at first, but things tend to work out for the best, I think. I went through this process a long time ago, with a number of disappointments, and ended up doing something else, which was perfectly fine and, in retrospect, a better outcome for me at that time--of course it was very difficult to see that at the time. Now I'm trying again (also applying to only four schools--I think that's a perfectly fine number if you thought about it and reached the conclusion those were the right places for you to apply to given the circumstances), always expecting disappointment, and if I am pleasantly surprised, then so be it. If not, then it wasn't meant to be (not now, anyway), and I'll move on. Good luck! /B/
