restill

Aww, that's great! Congratulations!

Still waiting on my top choice, but I have to accept/reject the offer to my second choice by tomorrow. Looks like I don't have a choice in the matter!

As another geology major, I agree with Vene: leave the job, and take the offer. Google's temporary anyway, right? Getting into grad school will give you incredible opportunities, especially in geology...you could find yourself teaching field school, traveling to new places for your dissertation work. You will have the next 4 to 5 years figured out. And when you're done, you'll probably be able to find a job making much more than you make now as a BSc. The other problem is, once you've completed your job at Google (if you decide to keep working there), you'll have to reapply to grad school. The last thing I would want to do is go through the whole debacle again, but while that's a personal preference...think about this. If you decide to reapply to schools at the end of your run at Google, you may not get into any programs because of funding issues, or not enough room in the department, or whatever it may be at that time. Besides, if you like your job this much, you can always return to Google after you've completed your PhD. Grad school is hard to get into, so take it while you have it! And really, you won't regret it (especially in this field; it just gets better).

Some context, my dad and I don't have a great relationship. Found out that my stepmother hadn't told him that I was accepted to a school with funding and a teaching position (I told her WEEKS before, so I was a little frustrated by that), so the conversation went like this (after trying to start the conversation by congratulating him on a promotion at work): "So, did you hear my good news?" "...huh?" "Did you hear about my good news? Did Christie tell you?" "No, I don't think so." "She didn't tell you?! I mean, it's kind of a huge deal, but okay...I've been accepted to earn a PhD at KSU with a full tuition waiver, teaching stipend making way more than I do now. So no matter what, I'm earning my PhD starting this fall!" "I thought you were going to MSU." "Well no, I've been waitlisted there. I haven't heard from them yet..." "Oh. That's too bad." As opposed to, "that's great news" or "congratulations" or "good job", I get "I thought you were going somewhere else". The whole thing frustrates me to pieces. /grumble grumble rant off

I've been accepted for a PhD at the school that I'm currently finishing my MSc. I'm in geology, so I'll be teaching field school out in the western U.S. this summer! I'm pretty excited. I've also been waitlisted at another school that's closer to home, so if I get in there...well, I'll still be celebrating at field camp. If I was not accepted to either school, I would have dropped everything, moved to California or Hawaii to learn to surf. I'm ALMOST sad this is no longer going to happen.

I'm waiting too. I've been accepted at Kent State University for a PhD, fully funded, in the fall, but I've been waitlisted at my first choice school, Michigan State University. I was also told by my advisor (here at KSU) to make the decision on or before April 15th. If I ask for an extension, it's bad form. From my advisor. Eeep. What I've been told to do at this point is e-mail your person of interest and explain your situation. I was told to tell them they are your top choice, yet the school you have been accepted to will likely expect an answer by the April 15th deadline. I haven't done this yet, but I plan to send my POI a message this week. Perhaps you should give it a go. I figure, it can't hurt, can it? Best of luck! I'm curious as to how this plays out for all of us stuck in this very rocky boat named "Deadline".

When I applied to Michigan State University for my Masters a few years ago, I didn't receive a rejection letter until June. I figured it would be a rejection when I didn't hear from them in April, but sheesh. I also have a friend that didn't hear he was accepted, with full funding, no less, from the University of Oregon until August. How thoughtful.

Never a guarantee of getting off a waitlist. I'm so glad you said this. I keep forgetting I could be stuck there forever if I don't act on it. I'll send my POI a message at the beginning of next week, if I don't hear from them before then. He's been incredibly helpful (and fairly positive) about everything so far. He said that 5 people were accepted in January, and if any of them reject their offer, I would be back in the running. I really hope they don't rank those who are waitlisted...so stressful. Thank you!

Okay, I'll cave. I have a question that's been bothering me for a few weeks. I have been waitlisted at my top school, and accepted to my second choice with full funding. The deadline is in 2 weeks, right? From what I understand, first-round candidates are supposed to submit their decisions by April 15th. Because I'm a first-round candidate for my second choice school, should I absolutely make a decision for them, even if I haven't heard from my top choice school yet (I really really really hope I hear from them before then, but even so...)? Thanks for the advice!

I finally sent the department an e-mail yesterday, very basic, not seeking out my status, specifically, but the date we're expected to receive decisions. I expect the poor lady is receiving "status check" e-mails every five minutes, so I thought I'd deviate a little (but left my information just in case she feels like giving me an update). Anyway, still no response. I heard calling is a good idea...but I might break down over the phone. How embarrassing, how embarrassing.