APGradApplicant

Yes, very true. Even though I'm in between school right now (haven't been in undergrad since May of 2008), I still learn new things every day. Today's lesson is a perfect example

OK...So I honestly have taken a deep breath and relaxed a little bit, as I hate the way I get when I feel like I'm firing back and forth with people via internet. I know tone is hard to sense when it's just words, but what I'm about to say is being said in all seriousness, not with any kind of yelling, sarcasm, cynicism, etc. Anxiousapplicant- Fair point on your part that maybe I'm trying to push the idea you're experiencing sour grapes. It was an angry reaction to what I perceived as a sarcastic dig on your part in terms of your reply to the thread I started. I know people's emotions have been running high during this tough part of the process. But if you didn't like the thread, then you should have just decided not to respond. So I apologize for getting beligerent towards you in some of my earlier posts. For everyone, let me also clarify how I feel about my current choices for schools. I think UC-Davis and UT-Austin are not good, not very good, but GREAT choices for me to have as acceptances. At the same time, I think Rochester is not a great choice but an OUTSTANDING choice. I would be incredibly happy going to ANY of those schools. What's frustrating of course, and I think anyone else currently on a wait list (Aunuwyn?) can attest to this, is that there's a lack of certainty similar to the one all of us felt during late Jan, all of Feb, and for some you even the early days of this month. When this lack of certainty persists, I get restless and then think up ways to try and "project" what might happen. This very thread is a product of such behavior. AA tries to teach me to live one day at a time but I must confess I am not always good at listening to that suggestion. So yes, let me be clear, I am very happy with any of the choices of I have now. Let me also address why I applied to as many schools as I did, as I think it's a legitimate quesiton. Going into this admissions cycle, I had no idea what to expect in terms of outcome. I knew apps would be up for last year, but how much? I knew my GRE scores were strong, but what about the fact I had a 3.25 undergrad? Is this made up for by a 3.49 in poli sci? But wait, even that's not that great of a GPA...How much does undergrad school prestige matter? Am I screwed because I didn't get a 5.5 or 6.0 on AWA? Will they even take people who haven't had any research experience as undergrads? That's not to mention that I didn't even write a senior thesis... OK, above rambling was to demonstrate just how unsure I was about whether I'd get in anywhere at all. So, what I decided to do was find a good list of schools that all had professors with at least some of my research interests and that I could imagine attending. There were of course some that I wanted to attend more than others, but nonetheless all of them were ones that I could imagine myself attending. I tried to cut the fat from the list somewhat, but decided that in the end, it was important to cast a wide net and to have plenty of schools that I thought were safe, especially because I didn't really trust my judgement as to what was "safe" and what wasn't. Just to clarify, I did consult with my three LOR-writers about this process when I asked them, but like most professors, they all have varying opinions and varying predictions about the whole process, so I had to sort through that as well. Anyhow, I ended up breaking my schools into five categories: Long reach: UCSD, MIT, Rochester, WashU Moderate reach: UNC, UMN, OSU Just about in range (ie could go either way): Emory, UCD, UT-Austin, FSU, Iowa, Notre Dame Moderately Safe: Florida and Georgia Very Safe: Oklahoma and SUNY-Albany So anyhow, that's why I applied to so many, is I just wasn't sure what was going to happen and I figured that in the event I was only admitted to the schools I saw as safe in some form or another (or let's say only the ones I saw as "very safe"), then I would at least (hopefully) have some options to pick from. So yes, in retrospect, did I perhaps apply to a few too many? Probably. But as the old axiom goes "hindsight is 20/20". So I'd still call it a smart strategy for any future applicant, presuming you're not of the "Having No Phd is Better Than Having a Non-Top 10 PhD" mindset. So yeah, just to reiterate, I'm sorry if I got a little over the top earlier in my strong reaction to some previous posts and should let everyone know that Rochester or no Rochester, I'll be very happy this coming fall. Sorry if I said anything to indicate otherwise. I should also add that obviously I'll never have the chance to get 17 different PhDs but my guess is that there are plenty of schools with less "prestige" at which I would have been a happier student than some of the ones with more prestige. I also think it shows how random the whole process can be, given that I was waitlisted at a school that I considered to be among the toughest and at the same time rejected or wait listed at ones that I thought were 50-50. Another reason to cast a wide net.

Agreed. Keller was right about what he said yesterday. For some reason, as we're nearing the end of decisions coming out, this place is turning into some kind of war zone. People who for whatever reason didn't have what it takes to get into any of the programs to which they applied are getting bitter and deciding to pounce on perfectly reasonable statements/questions being posed by myself and other more or less sane people here. I started this thread for one reason and one reason only- to ask a simple question. Instead, it turned into mud-slinging thanks to one snide comment by anxiousapplicant. I'm sorry for whatever part I played. I think we're all just a little stressed. Everybody take a deep breath and relax

Glad to hear about your acceptance. If that is the case, then stop speaking for other people on this board (although what I suspect is that given you were one of those people up until yesterday's acceptance, it was sour grapes-turned "I assume those who didn't get my good news yesterday continue to have sour grapes"). Oh well. I can't control what others think.

Sounds like you might be on wait list. You should call...

Keller65- Very well said! Thanks for defending what I, too, think is my completely reasonable inquiry. If some people have been rejected by places and are somehow bitter over it-- well, that's their problem, not mine. And yes, very good point about the visit weekend. I'm thinking it will be only after this that some people will decline (and presumably some people will accept!). I have a funny taste in my mouth...hmm...must be sour grapes The admissions process is a tough game and it's clearly not for everybody. But you, gravityflyer and many others on this site have been good sports throughout. Should be an interesting few weeks as things start coming together!

Hey guys. So as most of you know, I've been waitlisted at University of Rochester, which is currently my first choice. I'm just trying to get some idea as to what my chances will be at getting offered a spot (I'm first on the list currently). What I'm wondering is if there is anybody (and one person has PMed me letting me know this already) who was offered admission and has explicitly turned them down at this point? I know GradCafe isn't necesarilly the best representation of all applicants, but thought it at least wouldn't hurt to start this thread. Thanks!

Congrats to the Georgetown folks! Maybe GWU will come soon for those still waiting?

But apparently not for spelling, lol. Sorry, couldn't resist...just in good fun!

Never mind...

Wait- are you saying this because you're the Brandeis acceptee or because you fit said profile?

Congrats!

There seems to be a pattern with the results submissions. Trolls stalk the forums and try to figure out what the latest school is that people are anxiously waiting on. Then, they decide it would be fun to post false info to get people even more nervous. I'm not a profiler, but my guess is the average person in this instance is white male, probably overweight, rejected from all programs to which he applied, living in Mom and Dad's basement even though he's 29, and chances are he's probably never gotten laid. Maybe I should switch careers and be one of those people on Criminal Minds.

Congrats to whomever received the Brandeis admit. Because it is such a delicate situation that they seem to have with admissions (assuming what poster in results bank said is true...), it would be great if you'd identify yourself for all the nervous applicants here...pretty please?

Amen!

This guy Irishfan11 (or something like that) I believe applied to some of those programs. If you scroll back through the posts on this forum, you should be able to find him (if he doesn't come up in a search...I may have gotten the numbers wrong, but I know it's definitely "irishfan(insert numbers)". Other than that, I don't know of anyone who has applied to those places. Hope that helps a little bit...

^ || Says the applicant who's still resentful that she was rejected from places she really wanted to go...

Keller- isn't it kind of sad how it's so dead? I knew I would miss the excitement that the month of February brought, even if it wasn't all good news (for myself and others on this forum). I can tell you that I won't be claiming the second-highest number of posts for the month of March. Anyhow, I know that some people are indeed still waiting and I'm keeping you in my prayers. USC btw has a prospective students visit coming up next week I believe? I'm basing this on what I heard from a couple of people at my UC-Davis visit. Anyways, don't know if they're doing a second round of admits but I'd most definitely call at this point. I do have one result I'm still waiting on- will I or won't I be offered at a spot at University of Rochester? Thus, I'm not a total lurker at this point, but close to it. I just hope to see everyone end this cycle with some success . Best of luck!

If one is a member of an under-represented minority group, particularly race, that can often be a key factor. Combined w/ a strong profile, that could probably do the trick at those places...

Agreed. SOP was legit and in addition, he was always pretty friendly and interactive with fellow applicants. I feel like trolls tend to barge onto the boards announcing results and then leave or don't even show up on the boards but just throw out little crumbs into the results forum to send applicants into a frenzy. That said, I guess you've posited "greatest troll ever", which indeed would be the case were SP indeed a bullshit artist. So anyways, my guess is no, SP is a real person who just bent over the admissions process. He even sent me a PM letting me know when he turned down the offer of my wait list school. Not very trollish at all.

Hey! Just in the hotel lobby now in Davis, CA and will be going to the airport in about an hour. Had a great visit and very much liked what I saw in person. I'm still definitely keeping an open mind, however, as that is the whole point of these visits. So I'll definitely see you later this month at FSU!

Hey guys! Sorry I've been absent from the boards for a couple of days but I've been at UC-Davis on my first visit. It went really well and I must say that I was very impressed with their program! Anyhow, got my last acceptance today at (and I'm sure few here care as it's not a popular one) SUNY-Albany. On the off-chance someone has applied, however, I will definitely be calling them early next week to withdraw my application. FYI I found out over the phone but also apparently got a letter that was sent out on Tuesday. I hope everybody's staying calm as the admissions process finally winds down and the next step of choosing a program begins in earnest.

Yeah, in case nobody noticed, I posted a question about the programs I'm considering and while I received some helpful feedback, I also at the same time walked into a lion's den. Oops! Last time I use that site!

A heads up on Colorado. It looks like last year and also even in past years, they've taken FOREVER to get back to people with rejections. Perhaps someone should eventually call and just figure wtf is going on...

Yeah, I'm going with sweaters/button-downs and khakis with a nice pair of leather shoes (not dress shoes but not sneakers). It's not like I'm being interviewed for a job I haven't gotten, in which case I'd wear a suit, but at the same time it's not like it's one of those weekends where everybody is going to go hiking together to "bond", in which case I'd go casual. So somewhere in between is my determination.