IR IR IR PhD

Sorry xuejia! It is still super early! None of us are going to get into every school we applied to. You just got some bad news early. But better now than having to wait for it. Now you can focus on the other 12 schools you applied to!

Waiting on Penn State... not too confident though as I'm not a good fit. What about you TMCB?

How do you do that? I found a misplaced comma in my SoP of one of my early schools and decided not to read any of my work any further. I figured it is done and you know what, there is a difference between a typo and being sloppy. If my POI doesn't recognize that, well, poop. '

Any predictions on the next school to post decisions??? My bet is Penn State.

Sadly, I've reached my positive vote quota of the day!

I'm not sure I follow... why not?

For those checking their status like crazy this morning, I just checked Penn State and no change.

I echo TMCB! Wonderful news for the admit! I didn't apply either but if I knew they would give back results this early I probably would have

RWBG -- THANK YOU! I understand that this is as descriptive as you can be right now but even this "limited" information substantially alleviated some concerns that I had about the process. I really appreciate your willingness to be straightforward and help us during these crazy few weeks.

Thank you so much for this information. If you don't mind I have an additional question. When you say every application is read at least twice in full, does that include every individual component of the application? For example reading a writing sample seems particularly taxing if that application has other components that would make admission unlikely.

I am in this same boat. I really don't know. I'm excited to be in somewhere but I am still super worried about funding. A few kind people on this forum suggested waiting a little bit before reaching out, and give the school the opportunity to figure it all out (it is super early now anyway).

Thanks so much cautiously_optimistic!!! Also congrats to all of the recent UC-David admits!

Does anyone have any guesses on what the percentage of people submitting their results on gradcafe to those actually applying to political science PhD programs is? Obviously more people will report acceptances than rejections. Has anybody compared their programs acceptances on gradcafe to the expected size of their programs?

What is this impostor syndrome everyone is speaking of on this forum? I applied to 5 T20 schools and the rest range all the way to the unranked. I know my professors think I'm a little crazy (because of the range) but in all honesty, I just wanted to make sure I got in somewhere (which I just did and I am now thrilled). It's very tough to look at your profile impartially. I don't think I have the quant score to get in to any T20 schools but I also know that if I don't apply, I can't get in. As everyone frequently talks about, there is often no "identifiable" reason for why someone gets accepted to one institution and not the other. People have written about not getting into a T50 school but getting into a T5. Anecdotally, I applied to 7 undergrad institutions. Only 1 was a top-tier school. My college advisor said applying to that school was like "a Hail Mary pass at the end of a game"... and, unbelievably, I got in. And I spent a lot of time thinking about where else I could've applied. So good for you for applying to schools you WANT to go to! Regardless of what institution you end up at, if you believe in your research and work to produce something valuable you will be successful! If you believe in your research, there is no reason to think that any school is beneath you. Best of luck to you on this cycle. I hope we all get our top choices (though I know this is not possible)!

Based on my excel sheet, I wouldn't be surprised if Penn State came next week as well.

In all fairness, it seems we are getting results a bit earlier than last year!

Ya I'm new to this whole process. I don't want to seem douchie but I also don't want to seem apathetic either? Happy to have this dilemma though, really. I hope everyone gets in somewhere soon!

I'll happily and humbly claim one of the South Carolina admissions! Does anyone know the word on funding decisions yet? I want to call the grad advisor but don't want to deflate my current elation... I think I'll wait till Monday and take the weekend to just smile before getting ridiculously anxious again.

This was always my concern too. It is especially problematic if your profile is unique. I think the best thing to do, as a comprise (because we all really want to know people's stats), is to use inequality signs: > or <. For example: lets say I have a 3.42 GPA and 164v 157q. You could put GPA < 3.5 and GRE <165v 160q. Perhaps this could provide enough cover? Also I have no idea if you are even allowed to do this on the submission page.

I just want to say that on top of the "results search" page, the ASPCA is advertising (i.e. pulling at my heartstrings) with disheveled looking dogs. Like I'm not already upset enough refreshing that page 1000x a day. This is bull shit. Anxiety combined with malnourished puppies =

Out of curiosity... did anybody compile a list of expected stipends?

Guys and gals... it is January 21st. Before we totally destroy our innards, let's save this conversation for late March. Thinking about failure before receiving a single decision is bad karma. Also this year, everyone is getting in somewhere. I asked Oprah. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcI-rHO0yko

Hey my friend, what are you talking about? Didn't you already get accepted to a great program!!? I would KILL (well probably not literally) to get into any program (doesn't mean I don't have my preferences). If UIUC thinks you have what it takes, for sure you are no impostor on this forum. We all have our area of expertise. Just embrace yours and keep a keen ear for new, critical discussions you are exposed to. No one is expected to enter into a PhD program ready to teach and research flawlessly (or why would we go). It is about potential. I think your early result already speaks for itself. Good luck. Stay strong. Be happy. I'm super jealous (but happy) about your early admit. You can relax now. Really.

To everyone that shared such great advice with me yesterday or just expressed their joint concern regarding the often confusing official/unofficial transcript upload issues, I wanted to again thank you. So here is the news. Despite what I considered to be a curt email from the school suggesting my application could not be reviewed, they have agreed to use my "unofficial" transcripts during the review process. Yay. Short and simple. Luckily I overnighted my official transcripts to them yesterday so they should receive the real deal before the applications are reviewed anyway. Really... everyone... I was close to losing it yesterday and this forum came to the rescue. So, truly, thank you. Now to dig out from what looks like it will be a foot of snow. Shit.

aecp... thank you so much for this post. It is why I have faith in this forum. I'm so happy to be able to share the trials of this grueling process with everyone and to receive such positive advice. Your suggestion is exactly what I will do. Thank you thank you thank you for getting my back on the right track mentally. I guess I'll put down this pity beer so not to screw up my cover letter as well!