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Got accepted off waitlist at my top choice yesterday!! there is still hope!

Thanks for the advice... I'm happy to report that I got into University Y today!!! Yay!!!!! I have until May 1st to make a decision, it certainly will be a tough one but I think it will definitely be University Y, and am going to try and make the decision by tomorrow or Wednesday- hopefully someone on the wait list at University X will get my spot and be very happy, it would've been a great place to study!

I've never experienced this, but I would just email the director saying something to the effect of 'please utilize this email as a verbal acceptance of your offer. I will be happy to sign any papers required of me to secure my spot, and await the official letter from the graduate school to do so. I look forward to joining the program in the fall' In my experience, waiting and stressing yourself out is never worth it! Just ask, you'll probably (and hopefully) be happily surprised and i agree with the poster above- it's just a formality for the grad school to approve departmental decisions

in my opinion it is bad form on your part. maybe because of my background, but just think of everyone you are affecting. i had an experience this year of being wait listed at my first choice, and got into my second choice fully funded (which my PI told me, this school also doesn't disclose the financial info before the student accepts the offer, so I think it may be more common than people think) so I will probably take it before hearing back from my first choice (deadline of May 1)... I would be completely heartbroken if someone took a spot I coveted only to go back on their acceptance later because of a better offer elsewhere, and completely screw me out of my first choice (just read some of the comments in the wait list agony post and you'll understand what i mean- I feel bad for even making my second choice wait so long for me to make a decision because i know theres someone who wants the spot i've been offered) if i end up finding out after i accept my offer at my second choice that i get into my first, of course i would want to accept, but I will have already made a commitment to my second choice, and my PI there will be counting on me. Everyone has to make tough choices this season, and while I obviously sympathize with your situation, remember there is always someone else just praying to get that open spot... everything is a series of tradeoffs. My advice, get in touch with some current graduate students to see if they know what the 'average' student gets. or ask your PI what is typical. Hopefully this helped a little! In then end only you can make the decision, and sometimes it pays to be selfish... but always be aware of bridges you may burn in the future, and remember there are almost always other students wishing they had that spot!

I think I'm going to spend the summer training for that marathon I've always wanted to run! Being rejected from everywhere I applied to last year gave me some insight that my applications weren't that great since I was too involved with school, working in a lab, and varsity athletics. So I spent last summer working my ass off (80+ hour weeks at 3 different jobs) so I could spend this last year volunteering in a lab, taking some courses as a non-degree student, and working on applications! Looking back, I'm so happy I was rejected last year- not only was I completely worn down by undergrad, but I also gained huge insight into my interests this year and made some great contacts! I am in a much better place this year, and feel much more comfortable beginning in a 3 year program! And since I've worked every day since I turned 16, I think I will take a much needed break before becoming a slave to grad school. I see days at the beach, reading for pleasure as much as I can, and binge watching netflix in my future. Maybe I'll get a little crazy and take a vacation with my family somewhere tropical. I don't plan on moving to my uni town until august- want to savor my time left with my family and SO before moving halfway across the country! And to all those who didn't/won't get in this year- talking from experience, don't give up; it will happen if you keep trying!

Essentially, I might have to make a quick decision next week, and I can't decide which school to attend (given I had no options when I applied last year, I have no idea how to even digest getting in this time around). I have been given until May 1st to make a decision about University X. I have been wait listed at my top choice (of both last year and this year), University Y (and by the sounds of it, even if I don't come off the wait list there is a good chance my POI will fund me instead), and I will find out by April 25th of their/my POI's decision. Essentially, if this happens, I will have 5 days to make a decision and I have no clue what I will do. University X is a close second choice, I got in last minute. It's not only far from home, but also halfway across the country from where my fiancé (who is in a MA program) and I live now (and where University Y is). University X comes fully funded with tuition waiver and stipend (20k) in a city with a lower cost of living and takes 2-3 years. However, it requires 3-4 classes per semester for a MA, as well as 20 hrs/week of TA-ing. It's a pretty reputable school (top 150 in the world), and an amazing program in that some of the most famous researchers in my field have either worked as a prof there, or have been a product of the program. University Y is an afternoon of driving from home, not to mention where I currently live with my fiancé. The program is 16 month fast track Masters and the University is top 20 in the world. It only requires one course total, and about 10 hrs week of TA-ing. It is a little bit higher cost of living, but if I go there, not only do I have a full tuition waiver and stipend (17k), but all my living expenses are paid in addition. My POI here is a new faculty member (coming from spending 4 years working at a university, then working for the government and advising grad students for the last 10 years) so it would be pretty cool to be a founding member of his lab. My POI's at both universities are beyond awesome, and the research fit may be slightly better at University Y, but not by much and I would be completely happy at working with the POI at University X as well. I'm not sure if applying for a PhD in the future, having a more research oriented masters or course/research oriented masters would be better. I feel like even though on paper the University X on a whole is less reputable in comparison to University Y, the program is amazing and I should take that opportunity. However, the city isn't the best of places (pretty rough and lots of rowdy undergrads apparently), not to mention a huge move by myself across the country. Yet, a 16 month program can also make for some awkward timing when applying for a PhD. I might not even have a choice in the end, but if I do I wanted to get advice and give myself time to digest the information and not make a rash decision that I wasn't completely sure about (since any given day I could be sure I want to go to one of the schools). I know I'll always second guess my decision, but just thinking about my future I need to choose which ever school will give me better options when I apply for my PhD down the road! Thanks in advance to everyone and sorry for the book!!

I think I was most surprised by the fact that I applied to a school (probably my second choice) with a December 1st deadline, and found out from my PI in February that I had been wait listed, and if I had other offers I should take them (talk about huge disappointment, but then again I never really expected to get in anywhere for whatever reason). Then, about a week ago, after hearing nothing for almost two months, the PI emailed me asking if I was still interested, I said sure since I hadn't made any decisions yet and was still waiting to hear back from my first choice anyways, and the next day he emailed me back saying that some of the faculty never intended to use their 'allotted' funded spots, he had talked to the department, and I ended up making the 'first cut' of applicants, full tuition waiver and 20k stipend. I think I'm still in shock. Crazy how things can change. I was also surprised how much said PI emailed me with enticing photos or stories in an effort to get me to accept the offer. The biggest surprise I think was my disbelief when I saw the acceptance letter, especially since I know I didn't put forward my best application since one of my LOR's went on sabbatical a month early without telling me, and I ended up using an old coach since I couldn't find anyone else last minute. Having a good personal relationship with your PI can be the deal breaker or maker! On a side note- I usually emailed 2-3 PI's at each school I was interested in, and I was surprised that a lot of professors actually discuss who they get emails from with their colleagues, had one even say I came up over morning coffee (I emailed both profs, and one recommended me to the other- which I had already emailed anyways). A few of them emailed me back and said I heard you also emailed x professor, I think you two would be the perfect fit and maybe we could discuss cosupervising you.