FinallyAccepted

Well you should NOT go back and look. Never look back.

Since your question is pretty discipline-specific, you might also try to ask in one of the subject forums. You might get more people who'd be familiar with your situation.

...unless there's also a certain degree of denial involved in grad school that you're just not going to indulge in. It should be ok to acknowledge that things are difficult.

Kitchen table

I agree with chubberubber about interviews. Last year, I applied (9 programs), but didn't get in. By the beginning of February, I already was certain I wasn't getting in although I'd only gotten one official rejection. I paid attention to the Results Search and communicated with people who HAD gotten interviews with the POIs I had applied with. In a sense, it was comforting psychologically, so that the waiting limbo was finished. Additionally, it was no shock when I got each subsequent rejection. It became kind of a joke between my husband and I when I got each one, because we had already known it was coming. That being said, interviews were done for each of my schools, so not getting one pretty much showed right then that I was not being considered. Could they have decided against each person they interviewed, and called me out of the blue to schedule an interview? Sure. Likely? Not really. So nothing's really over until it's REALLY over- official rejection and all. What I described before was the case with the schools I applied to and the program I was applying to. Don't take advice from everyone on here. Make sure you look at what field they are in before you judge how well it might apply to you and what you should expect.

Sink hole

Stupidly Optimistic about our Luck?

Just keep in mind too, that some professors prefer students out of undergrad that they can mold, while others prefer those who've already learned how to conduct research. They don't explicitly tell you which type they are, so I don't know the best way to go about finding out. Some schools may not allow entering PhD candidates (just students at the masters level) so you'd have to redo the masters? If going the masters route, you might just need to be thoughtful about where you apply (from what I've READ, not what I've EXPERIENCED)

Shopping addiction

I think that's a good point. It shows that when something amazing comes along, you don't immediately abandon ship for what MIGHT be greener pastures (maybe a mix of metaphors, there).

1. It's not over 'til it's over, and 2. I agree with peachypie. Don't email until you do get an official rejection.

Political asylum

Yeah, I'm with you there, too. Haven't heard anything yet.

Yeah, I imagine once you got into a program that took so much work to join, you'd be committed to most things that came your way. In my undergrad and masters programs (and in my collaborations with some other educators), this was not always the case, and unfortunately I'm not a authoriative "if they don't do their work, I'm not just going to do it for them" kind of person. If its my grade too, then I'll do it. Collaborating in research for PhD should be much more rewarding.

Yeah, people who just don't like assignments. or working. Because of my exacting nature, group projects generally don't work out well for me.

My SO felt confident enough that with his degree type and experience that he could probably find a job wherever. So the limiting factor for moving would probably be me and where I would actually get accepted, so I applied to all good fits, spread around the country. We know there's the possibility of living apart temporarily while he works to sell our house or find a job if both don't happen very quickly and I have to go ahead and move for school. It's not the most comforting thought, but we knew this would involve sacrifices.

Has anyone else heard anything from Iowa? I didn't hear anything more than the above, so I'm wondering if all invites have gone out or what. All my programs were good fits, but this seemed the closest to me, so I'm anxious to hear SOMETHING, even if it's bad news for me.

Wheels up

chain gang

Humor could be good for endearing you to others at an informal event during a campus visit, but probably not so much for the SOP.

game bird

Mine included logistical info for traveling to and staying at the school, but yes, that seems about right.

It's kismet, so git 'er done.