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I've been accepted two places out of three, so that makes the decision a little bit easier for me. I haven't received anything in the way of a funding offer from University of Delaware, but I'll see what they have to offer at the recruitment conference this Sunday - Tuesday. Lehigh's program is a terminal MA, and funding takes the form of a Teaching Assistantship with tuition waiver and a set stipend for all funded students. Delaware's program is an MA on the way to a PhD with funding that I'm not sure about yet. What I also have to consider for my decision is, not only AOI fit, but MA vs. PhD fit. Originally, I was looking purely for terminal MAs because that's what fits my life situation at the moment. However, I still want to see what Delaware has to offer because they have a great program that does have an MA! DarthVegan, thank you for the advice! I'm going to keep this in mind when I go to Delaware this weekend.

OH YAY, MALEFICENT!!!! I'm so happy for you!!!! Let's have a party here in the thread with cookies, cupcakes, and coffee!! UC Davis is so fortunate to have you as one of their students!!!! This time next week, I will likely be making my decision ... I still can't believe it ... Can't wait to see how this thread updates and develops! <3

SUPER helpful and informative post, FlowerPower! Thanks!!!

Could you specify your program? I know deadlines usually vary from program to program. (I haven't applied to this school, but someone who has applied to your program there might see your post and be able to help out!)

My notifications came at 7:02 AM, 1:37 PM, and 5:47 PM Eastern Standard Time! Only one of those notifications were during "normal" US business hours, so it's really tough to tell, sadly =(

Here is the quote from the Columbia admit to answer question #2!

Congratulations, Rawrr and Rivers!! Treat yourselves to a nice dessert and partake in the endless supply of cookies in this thread! Celebrate!!!!

Since they're not listening to you, I would start docking points from their participation grade like some others have suggested here! Granted, I don't have TA experience yet ... I'm just one of those undergrad students who would get REALLY irritated when I saw folks play on their phones during class because it was an aggravating distraction to have a glowing screen and clicking noises nearby.

Great advice! I'll also add that, when conferences ask for abstracts, don't fret if your findings or discussion vary a bit from your original abstract. At the conferences I've been to, they don't print the abstracts in the program. Instead, they print the title of your presentation. So, if your findings or discussion vary a bit from the original abstract, as long as they are in line with the topic, you should be ok. Granted, this may vary depending on the conference! I've only presented at two conferences so far, and they were very different from each other! My first presentation was at a round-table session with four other people. We all ate breakfast together, and it felt like I was talking with old friends! It was a smaller conference, and everyone was so incredibly warm and welcoming. I gave everyone at my table a handout to follow through my presentation. My second presentation was at a bigger regional conference! I presented during an early morning session with three others to an audience of about 15 people. I used a PowerPoint presentation to provide some examples from my data set (longer quotes from newspaper articles), and I provided handouts to the audience members so they could follow along and didn't have to take as many notes. It was definitely more formal in that I was standing before an audience rather than sitting in a circle with a few others, but it was just as much fun! One thing to remember at conferences: presentations are so much more fun at conferences because you're presenting on YOUR OWN research that you've spent (hundreds of) hours with already! That added a layer of familiarity and comfort to the presentation that I never felt during undergrad presentations =) PS - I see you were a philosophy major in undergrad, too!! hooray!

I had lunch recently with three current graduate students in a program where I've been accepted, and it was so incredibly beneficial. They answered all of my questions and just being around them gave me a feel for what it will be like to be around grad students in the program. Being able to interact with them through asking questions and just talking about everyday life made me feel prepared, warm, and welcome

I'd definitely say visit the campuses and meet some of the professors there, if at all possible. I've been told as early as my freshman/sophomore days in undergrad that fit is so extremely important, so I tend to lean on the "fit" side when considering schools.

Aw shucks, curiouslyoptimistic, thank you!! I love celebrating acceptances because we all worked SO hard for this!!!! YES! Thank you so much!!!! I'm so happy they decided to accept me with such a generous tuition waiver, TA position, and stipend!! It was truly a dream come true. I'm still going to the Delaware weekend, so I'm gonna make my final decision around March 4 =) Thank you for your wish of good luck as well!! I wish you the best of luck, too!! And that's the spirit!! <3 <3

Just knowing that deadlines are not indicative of when you'll hear back might help you cope ... For example, I heard from my February 1 and January 15 deadline universities a week before I heard from the January 4 deadline university. And yeah, I did a specific search on the results page to see when I might hear back from my specific program. This turned out to not be all too accurate, though, especially because the weather has been so bad here in the northeast this year.

Some people I know take it very well:

*gives hugs to pinoysoc, curiouslyoptimistic, and maleficent* I'm here for you!! Also, CONGRATULATIONS to curiouslyoptimistic!! Way to go!! *offers you some cookies and coffee this time, too, because coffee is amazing*

Of course, purehoney! Hey, GRE Verbal is no picnic!! Folks thought I'd automatically get a high score because of my background in sociology and philosophy, but it took tons of work to get mine to where it ended up. And even with a prep class and extensive preparation, I still only got my Quant score up to the 49th percentile!! So I definitely feel your pain!!

Two of my three notifications were outside of "business hours" haha! One was an acceptance after dinner time (5:54 PM), and the other was a rejection in the early morning (7:02 AM)! It's funny how these things work out =)

Hey, purehoney, I understand your frustration. I haven't been placed on a wait list, but I know that it's exhausting waiting to hear back from universities ... just hold on to that acceptance. You have one offer with full funding which is probably one HUGE weight off your shoulders!! Yes, GREs are a huge component for consideration, but I'm hoping your recommenders and personal statement helped to explain why your verbal skills are better than what a standardized test indicates. I think their choosing to place you on the wait list really speaks to that understanding. I'm not saying your frustration over waiting is unwarranted!! I'm just saying that the wait list does NOT mean you are unwanted by these universities!! *offers you some tea, with honey of course* I'm here for you!!

Pinoy, I'm so sorry =( Did you apply to 4 total, then? Or are you still waiting? I only ask because some people say "I'm 0 for 3," but they just mean the 3 they've heard from so far.

Congratulations to all the acceptances this weekend! *offers you all some cookies and doughnuts, because who doesn't love doughnut Sunday??*

It seems that accepted applicants get notified by email or phone call, while those who are rejected receive an email to check their application status via the ASF(accepted applicants' ASF doesn't change). I got my email at 7:02am which seems to be a trend. I got rejected. I think the "decision information can't be given via phone or email" bit is directed to students calling or emailing asking about their app status.

Yep, the asf!

Sunday rejection from UMD. I understand it wasn't the best fit. Just a relief to know. Stats in signature!