DramaDuck

I haven't been accepted anywhere yet *crosses fingers*, but I did talk to some alum from programs I applied and learned something from their experience. At the open house, she had suggested to freshen up my knowledge of my POIs work and talk with them about. She said it helped give her a feel for the professors and department. She also had a choice between two schools, and at one school, her top choice, she learned about some drama regarding her POIs, and that kinda turned her away from that school. In addition to the factors you mentioned, I hear a lot that you have to feel at home and supported in your program because that's how you thrive and endure the isolation that comes with the territory after course work. I hope this helps.

I started writing off some programs as "implied rejections" after some acceptances went out, even the ones that had a good 7+ acceptances posted on the results page, and I was feeling pretty bummed because the schools I had yet to hear from felt like long shots. But then I got waitlisted at a program with several acceptances out. That kinda dragged my bum back into the game with some renewed vigor and hope, and I got rid of my "implied rejections" list. One thing I learned from this experience is that there's just no telling what's gonna happen. I defer to Gogo: Nothing to be done. Funny thing: I watched Waiting for Godot last night and couldn't help but yell at the screen, "I feel ya, homie!" and pound my fist into my chest. Anyway, not sure where this post belongs: rejections, waiting to exhale, or acceptances.

Has anyone every opted out of safety school choices for a chance to get into top choices by reapplying the following year? I haven't been accepted anywhere yet, but I'm currently waitlisted at a school that's making me wonder if I should hold out and try and get into my dream school. But then there is also the chance that that was my only chance of getting in anywhere ever. I know that I've only been waitlisted, and it's possible that I don't even get it, but I feel the need to prepare myself for the possibility and to address doubts early on just in case the option comes up.

How much stock do you put into placement records when you make a decision about programs?

Your last bit made me smile and laugh because as I read it, I heard it like a Hamlet monologue in my head. Love it. CONGRATS! If I could do the Carlton and do it justice, I would record myself and post it to celebrate the fruits of your labor

Thanks for sharing. So many things about this process freaks me out because of what is at stake. I'm also glad that I'm not the only one submitting apps the day before or the day of.

I'm curious, for some of you, do your application statuses change? A few of mine say that my app is "being reviewed" while some only say that my app has been "submitted" or "completed" or "ready for review." I submitted my apps the day before or on the day of the deadline, and I'm not sure if because I submitted them "late" that they won't even be considered.

I've been reading some posts about how this and that program is rigorous. How do you determine that a school is intellectually rigorous? Is it the classes? The way the program is run? I didn't consider this factor when I selected schools for this fall.

Just curious, did you balance out, if applicable, teaching experience and what contributions you wanted to make in your prospective school's teaching community with your research interest and purpose, or did you focus primarily on your research in your SOP? I ask because a recent conversation with a PhD graduate stressed how at R1s you either focus on your research and publish or you focus on mentorship and teaching. This got me wondering how I should have considered this aspect of my programs when I applied to schools for Fall 2015.