ashiepoo72

Congrats to the Davis acceptance glad to see some movement on the board

I'd bet on Northwestern notifying today, and its results tend to show up on the website, so I've been checking that every ten minutes. I think I'll shut my phone off for a few hours to save me from temptation.

Sorry you have to deal with that Chiqui. It seems other forces in our lives can't calm down while we wait out applications. I'm sure you'll find something ellebe!

My side job is in accounting :-/

I am borderline devastated I'm out of upvotes haha I don't think one ever needs an occasion to buy craft beer and wine I'm going to bed super early so I stop refreshing my email and gradcafe for a few hours. Hope you all wake up with good news in your inboxes!

This is officially my favorite thread topic so far lol

You're not drinking it right haha Or maybe you are...

The more the merrier, I always say!

telkanuru -- I say we crack open a bottle when you get accepted instead

I'm a tequila girl myself. Gran Patron Platinum, anyone?

What's everyone doing to pass the time? Somehow I've written four precis but feel like I've accomplished nothing today.

I wouldn't be surprised if Northwestern and Minnesota report early this week, and if history serves, UCSB will be sending out official notifications. Madison may throw some out there as well, though I think those will come the following week.

Happy February, y'all! Here's to a month full of acceptances at amazing programs!

Yes I am! Check your PM in a bit EDIT: HUGE congrats HistoryMystery!!!

Aww thanks! We have such a great group on gradcafe this year, it's really a pleasure being a part of it. Everyone is so welcoming and supportive. Don't count yourself out! I didn't think I had the academic pedigree to get in anywhere. When I was accepted at MSU, I called my aunt and couldn't stop alternating between hysterical laughter and frantic sobbing--seriously, I was that shocked. I have far from a perfect undergrad record, and I even got a *gasp* flat B in my grad program. I am now more convinced than ever that if your GPA and GRE scores are decent, the writing sample and SOP will make or break the application. Obviously, it can be a crapshoot. Some people don't get in because of department politics and whatnot. Sometimes it has nothing to do with your abilities. But you have a real shot, just as much as the rest of us! Besides, poli sci is like a sister discipline in many ways. I LOVE using works by political scientists in my research

Welcome herstorian! What's your field and which schools are you waiting to hear from? Ivan -- I bet next week is going to have a flash flood of notifications!

kateosee -- I think I took too much time considering every little detail of this process haha you should see my spreadsheet(s)! Families can be annoying, but they mean well. Who doesn't want their own personal cheer squad, especially when applying to grad school is so disheartening and stressful at times? It's nice when others have faith in you

One of my rec writers did his PhD at Madison. My other rec writers went to the East Coast where the weather is also pretty awful compared to CA. I also have extended family there. I know it's going to be a huge shock moving from sunny CA to somewhere with inclement weather, but I made a conscious decision to apply to the best programs for my research interests regardless of region and weather. I went in with eyes wide open. Some people will find that weather and location matter to them and should form their list of schools keeping that in mind, but those things didn't even factor into my list. I'm more than willing to be miserably cold for half a decade or more because my main criteria for schools was strong scholars in my field, strong support for my research and whether the area is kid-friendly. Everyone needs to make their own personal list of criteria, so mine obviously won't suit all of you. I'm also someone who's willing to make extreme moves around the country--maybe even abroad--to land an academic position. I imagine that this will involve moving to places I wouldn't dream of going to on vacation haha Anyway, this is all stuff I've talked about with my family many, MANY times, so that's why it's so irritating that they keep bringing it up.

That made me lol I say we need more gifs around here!

I'm irrationally annoyed every time someone in my family asks me stuff like "why didn't you apply to Berkeley or Stanford?" Or "don't you know its cold six months of the year in the Midwest?" How many times do I have to say I applied where my research could best be supported, and that my schools were chosen based on career goals, not how warm I want to be for the next five or so years?

Thanks guys and welcome gambaosaka! You're in good company here

Not all programs have admission waves. For example, I'm 99% sure Michigan State sends out all acceptances and rejections at or around the same time. The programs that have waves (that I'm aware of) are OSU (acceptances are based on a fellowship wave and TAship wave) and Minnesota (same as OSU). Obviously some people are admitted straightaway and others are put on a wait list, so that means an extended wait for those folks. For example, I've seen in past years Davis admits getting accepted off the wait list in late March/early April. Maybe someone else can speak more to what's going on at UT-Austin, but I think very few programs have official, formal interviews. I wouldn't take this as being out of the game yet. Personally, I think it's best to take the stance that it isn't over until you've gotten a rejection letter or email or whatever. The results board is amazing for so many reasons, but it can also be deceptive--just because people get in now doesn't always mean more people won't get in later. I know I'm "one to talk," but I'd be saying the same things even if I hadn't heard back from any programs. It's just too early in the game to be defeated, y'all! I bet the next two weeks or so are going to be SO SO busy with notifications! This is just the prelude

Some programs have notified on Saturday in the past (like Northwestern), and I don't think it being Sunday would necessarily stop a POI from informally contacting admits. I don't know if this information improves or exacerbates stress levels though haha

Good luck rmw and Josh J.! Keep us posted

Congrats to all the Yale admits!!!!