Hopeful21

No. 
 
I'm sorry, but that's not ok. It's exactly the kind of behavior that makes us feel like we are not being taken seriously. 

*bolded for emphasis*
 
It can actually be really hard to notice implicit bias when you're not the target of it. But, talk to most any woman and you'll hear plenty of stories.

I got my first admission after two months of painful waiting and anxiety. It's incredible how relieving it is.

Ok just from my experience, because I was in a similar position to ajayghale, my undergrad GPA was actually lower than yours! So I did an MA and was awarded Salutatorian. I did this specifically to atone for the weakness of my undergrad degree. 
 
So in terms of the arguments for and against reaching out, I think it depends on the department and what individual professors prefer. For me, I wanted to make sure that I would find a faculty member or members in a department that were willing to communicate with students. And decided I wouldn't apply to programs that I received no response from faculty in. 
 
I researched extensively which departments in the US were the best for my research interests. In this process, I disregarded rank, and focused only on the kinds of research the department was engaged in. And then I put together an informal statement of purposes more like a cover letter type email that was rather detailed, and I emailed professors that I believe that I could work with, where my interests intersected. I also attached a copy of my MA thesis, a research paper I had prepared and asked them to review and advise if I would be a fit for the program.
 
I hit the jackpot, because one of the actual POIs I emailed and advised me that I was a great fit in their department actually was on the admissions committee and as soon as the committee made the decision, he emailed me and told me I was admitted with funding.
 
I guess, I don't wish to articulate an argument either way, I just wanted to share my experience.
 
Despite having such a poor undergrad GPA and weak quant GRE, I have received 3 offers so far. I think reaching out in my case was really important in helping to overcome the shortcomings in other parts of my application.

Ok just from my experience, because I was in a similar position to ajayghale, my undergrad GPA was actually lower than yours! So I did an MA and was awarded Salutatorian. I did this specifically to atone for the weakness of my undergrad degree. 
 
So in terms of the arguments for and against reaching out, I think it depends on the department and what individual professors prefer. For me, I wanted to make sure that I would find a faculty member or members in a department that were willing to communicate with students. And decided I wouldn't apply to programs that I received no response from faculty in. 
 
I researched extensively which departments in the US were the best for my research interests. In this process, I disregarded rank, and focused only on the kinds of research the department was engaged in. And then I put together an informal statement of purposes more like a cover letter type email that was rather detailed, and I emailed professors that I believe that I could work with, where my interests intersected. I also attached a copy of my MA thesis, a research paper I had prepared and asked them to review and advise if I would be a fit for the program.
 
I hit the jackpot, because one of the actual POIs I emailed and advised me that I was a great fit in their department actually was on the admissions committee and as soon as the committee made the decision, he emailed me and told me I was admitted with funding.
 
I guess, I don't wish to articulate an argument either way, I just wanted to share my experience.
 
Despite having such a poor undergrad GPA and weak quant GRE, I have received 3 offers so far. I think reaching out in my case was really important in helping to overcome the shortcomings in other parts of my application.

I consider myself really lucky, this was my first cycle, applied as an international student with an awful quant GRE score and poor undergrad GPA. However, using the forums and constructing my applications whilst taking into account everyone's tips and advice has resulted in me receiving 3 offers out of 8 so far! One being my 2nd choice with funding for 5 years! Just awaiting an admission decision from my top choice, where two POIs invited me to the campus yesterday and advised me that I'm very likely to get admission! Irrespective of that outcome, with at least one good offer, I'm confident that I've survived this cycle!
 
Everyone who is still waiting, don't give up hope! My file wasn't the strongest overall but I've been able to overcome it in other areas. I don't think I would have been able to achieve this without everyone's advice and support on here! Thanks so much! I am so grateful for this thread and all of you on here!

I consider myself really lucky, this was my first cycle, applied as an international student with an awful quant GRE score and poor undergrad GPA. However, using the forums and constructing my applications whilst taking into account everyone's tips and advice has resulted in me receiving 3 offers out of 8 so far! One being my 2nd choice with funding for 5 years! Just awaiting an admission decision from my top choice, where two POIs invited me to the campus yesterday and advised me that I'm very likely to get admission! Irrespective of that outcome, with at least one good offer, I'm confident that I've survived this cycle!
 
Everyone who is still waiting, don't give up hope! My file wasn't the strongest overall but I've been able to overcome it in other areas. I don't think I would have been able to achieve this without everyone's advice and support on here! Thanks so much! I am so grateful for this thread and all of you on here!

I consider myself really lucky, this was my first cycle, applied as an international student with an awful quant GRE score and poor undergrad GPA. However, using the forums and constructing my applications whilst taking into account everyone's tips and advice has resulted in me receiving 3 offers out of 8 so far! One being my 2nd choice with funding for 5 years! Just awaiting an admission decision from my top choice, where two POIs invited me to the campus yesterday and advised me that I'm very likely to get admission! Irrespective of that outcome, with at least one good offer, I'm confident that I've survived this cycle!
 
Everyone who is still waiting, don't give up hope! My file wasn't the strongest overall but I've been able to overcome it in other areas. I don't think I would have been able to achieve this without everyone's advice and support on here! Thanks so much! I am so grateful for this thread and all of you on here!

Oh good just noticed a typo in my CV.
 Yayyyyyy.

Thank you for the well-wishes! I still can't believe it.    Best of luck to you! I hope you hear back positively.

Got the monkey off my back - admitted to ASU.  I feel like a boulder has been lifted off my chest. 

Ugh. Protip: don't go back and re-read your Personal Statement months after you've sent it. What an overwrought piece of garbage I wrote.

I like to play a game called "how long can I wait before checking my email".  So far the record to beat is two hours.... 
 
This is the worst.  

First PhD acceptance! Email from Texas A&M Prof. to IR admits (11 admits). 
 
Can say I honestly wouldn't have been accepted without the help of many people on this forum and the advice passed down over the years.
 
Thanks GradCafe

Congratulations! Very happy for you. I'm still holding out hope everyone on these boards gets at least one acceptance. That's all it takes.

I told someone last week I would prefer rejections from the rest of the schools I haven't heard from over having to wait around another two months not hearing anything. Obviously I would prefer acceptances but I think I still feel that way.

Who would have thought waiting around doing nothing could be so darned exhausting!?
 
I received a letter in the mail from a school I applied to this evening when I got home from work, I thought it may have been a decision. alas, It was merely a confirmation of my application posted in November that had been delayed in transit obviously.
 
Whomp whomp! 
 
Good luck to everyone still waiting for good news! I'm certainly feeling the anxiety now!

Feel ya. Didn't care about the results, or have opened gradcafe until a few days ago, when I realized that 2-3 schools I have applied to have already sent their acceptances. Oh, the pressure is real!!!!!
 
Now the anxiety has consumed me. 

The anxiety killed me last week. It literally made my week awful. If there was anyway I could suggest avoiding letting the anxiety consume you, I would recommend it. 
 
Also still haven't heard from any of my 4 schools that I applied to. But Oklahoma just closed their application yesterday, and LSU is still open till the 15th. But nothing from Stony Brook or WUSTL

I completely agree. I've already told friends and family that if it doesn't work out this cycle, I most likely won't be applying again. I just don't see myself having a stronger application in the future, if anything it will be weaker. Not to mention the added costs, time, effort and soul-destroying wait! It's now or never and that adds to the pressure certainly. On the other hand like you said, all you need is one acceptance so until you've received results from all your applications, you can't let your head drop.
 
Also I disagree that there's shame etc in being rejected. The process is extremely subjective, random and I've seen people on this thread last year who got into Harvard but failed to get into what must have been their third or fourth choice universities. One of my own friends got into Stanford but failed to get into Cornell, Michigan and MIT among others. You simply cannot take any of this personally. 

Oh boy. All those reds...
 
Went out with my boys and that took my mind off. Came back, check results page and wow. 
 
Now, I am so much more worried than I was before. It is just - and I am sure those that await one admission - I want one good school, with funding so that I can pursue this. And I know that the admission committees do their best in what they believe is best for them too. Nonetheless, as was stated by fakeusername, we are still human and seeing how others here got at least one, or multiple acceptances, while others so far got none (including me), a certain level of agitation is inevitable. 
 
But I do want to sincerely thank you guys. It is good to be able to express these sentiments with people who are going through the process. I tried to explain it to my friends, and while they certainly feel the agony, it is something entirely different. I be blunt and state that I feel like despite the fact that I applied to 13 programs, my despair has already reached a devastating acme that it will not be my year. And quite honestly, I just do not see myself having the patience nor the will to do try again next year. The costs are a major issue. Also, the time involved. Preparing to take the GRE is really a pain in the buttocks. But more importantly, the humiliation is the just the worst. I just cannot face the people who took the time and put their belief in me succeeding this year. Is it giving up? Maybe. But it could also be a realization that no matter what you do, certain elements that you thought you could overcome are just insurmountable. So in effect, even if I improve my GRE score (and that is a big if), and if I somehow manage to get a paper published, there is no guarantee that next year may not end up like this year.
 
Certainly, there are no assurances in anything you do. But I am also at a point in my life where I said to myself that if I do not happen to achieve admission this year, my "destiny" or course in life lies somewhere else.  
 
To me there is tremendous shame involved in not getting accepted. And I apologize for wearing my emotions on my sleeves, but I just am at a point in that I am not sure what to do. And while it may seem erroneous to assume that one rejection means total rejection, I cannot but feel frustrated where this overwhelming trepidation curtails any courage I may muster. I honestly invested so much into this process - like all of you - that I may have unreasonable expected something positive at the end of this tunnel. And today's rejection just showed to me that what I thought were important aspects of a strong application - accomplishments that are indeed considered worthwhile in other areas - are indeed insignificant and overall, worthless. Thus, I feel nugatory and facile. This should not be, but nonetheless, it is a reaction to the news of a rejection. 
 
Anyway, I better end it here. I already sounded too much like I am dramatic guest on a talk show. Lol. 
 
But once again, my respect and adulation to those of you who got accepted. And I sincerely hope that those of you who are still waiting on one admission get them. Because one admission alone can make all the rejections feel irrelevant. 

I just tried to 'vote up' some of your comments one-too-many times it seems. Grad cafe said that I've 'reached the limit of positive vibes you can give out' today. How depressing. Even the forum thinks that we should be miserable while we're waiting! 

Worst thing about living in Asia throughout this whole process is that when people say things like "results will probably be up by Monday," I read the comment on our Monday get all excited and then realize oh wait, it means Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning for us! LOL
 
Congrats to everyone who have received admissions results so far! And all the best to everyone like me, still waiting! It's not that long to go now!

I just tried to 'vote up' some of your comments one-too-many times it seems. Grad cafe said that I've 'reached the limit of positive vibes you can give out' today. How depressing. Even the forum thinks that we should be miserable while we're waiting! 

Haha That's about what I gathered.  This is my first cycle applying so I do not know what is typical of UW.  Maybe our applications are so stellar they don't feel the need to interview us!  haha