typeA_PhDhopeful

Try asking questions like this: What was your favorite and least favorite thing about the program? During the process, did anyone in your cohort become unhappy, and why? That way they will need to give you some negatives as well that will better help you compare.

... you send out follow-up emailsduring the wait period to POIs you have already skyped with, just to remind them about yourself and reiterating how excited you are for the possibility to work with them. One of them responds, and at first you are really excited, thinking how nice for them to write back - but then you open the message and it says "I am not sure I can respond for the "certain school name" PhD Program. At "other school name" we have just started reviewing our applications." YIKES! I had to send out a really apologetic response. I hope that didn't screw things up too much