Shiji E. Moji

Most schools are revising their admission selection criteria to more successfully judge the whole candidate, not just how well they test. I can't guarantee that this actually happens (besides my own experience; my first go-around, I never retook the GRE and got accepted into all of the programs to which I applied), but this is what's circulating around a lot of top-tier schools.
What I can say is that my GRE scores are good except for my quant. My score there is just...utterly sad. And it doesn't reflect how well I do at math, either! Your resume, personal statement, and letters of rec are going to push you forward more than your GRE scores, imho.
But it's a mean world out there, and the competition is fierce, isn't it? Good luck! 

I thought I'd chip in as I had a real dilemma recently about moving - after working overseas for nine months in country A, I had the opportunity to move with the same firm to country B (A's neighbour) for six months. Everyone told me to do it, as it was a great job, great location, guaranteed work. I turned it down to risk unemployment in my home city because I had such a gut feeling that it wasn't right for me to do now. So my advice to everyone is just to go with your gut sometimes, and remember that you can turn down opportunities! I'm currently two weeks into unemployment after my job finished, and looking for new jobs is stressful BUT ultimately I'm happier here than I would be elsewhere, even if my acquaintances think I'm crazy - and I say acquaintances because your real friends and family will support your decisions. That isn't to say to the OP that moving is bad! Far from it - I loved my nine months overseas and am gearing up to hopefully do 6 years overseas for this PhD. Just listen to your gut feelings when the time is right

Coming from the perspective of someone who spent their life moving to far-flung parts of three different countries (US, Italy, UK), moving always sucks. The month leading up is stressful, the first day there is exhausting, the first week lonely. However, people get how you feel and want to help you love their home. Because of the wonderful people I've met, I have NEVER lived somewhere I didn't hate leaving at the end. Culture shock exists, but as long as you approach every new situation as a chance to learn and experience another group's perfectly valid different way of doing things, you're going to have a really good time. Just take every day as it comes, say yes to as many events/hang-outs as you possibly can, and jump straight in as fast as you can. Actually move into your new place as close to the start of the first scheduled thing for school as possible. I've found it's better to have less time at the beginning to mope and be alone.
Also, pro-tip. People will know you're not local. Don't try to hide your accent or change the way you speak to sound local. You will probably end up confusing or offending people. I've found people really get a kick out of my obvious "not from here" accent/word choice. Don't over-exaggerate your accent, but embrace it, roll with the lighthearted teasing, and enjoy.
Seriously, moving somewhere new is hard, but it's rarely ever a bad thing.
PS: Skype/Facetime is your friend. Actually seeing your people from home will make you feel way less homesick than just calling or texting.
PPS: Keep the things that are part of your routine. For example, I have always spent a lot of time in coffee shops. They feel like home to me. So, every time I move somewhere new, I make sure to case out the coffee shops within the first week. Really can help you settle into a place if you keep your routine things. Bringing your dog should super help with this. 
PPPS: Unpack and go grocery shopping as soon as possible. You'll be tired and just want to crash, but trust me, the sooner you do the little things to feel more in place, the less you'll feel like your world's been turned upside down. 
PPPPS: Enjoy. This will be really good. Just go for it. 

This professor has no reason to sugarcoat your progress and current work level. If they are complimenting you, they mean it. 
As Eigen said, imposter syndrome is a very real son of a bitch that most (if not all) people have to deal with at one point or another (especially in grad school). I really hope you are keeping up with the counseling as it can help with those thoughts and, as you've noticed before, keep you focused on your goal. 
Keep your eye on the prize and keep up the good work. I'm sorry the transition was so difficult for you (and as someone with no undergrad chem, I am utterly blown away by your tenacity to learn such advanced chem-even if your grades weren't what you wanted) and I'm glad that you're now in a field in which you're able to make progress. Feel free to vent here anytime if need be, but it sounds like you're doing well (despite your thoughts to the contrary). Don't give up! <3

Grad school is a whole different ballgame than undergrad and the transition can be rough. Especially if you're changing programs! Going into synthetic organic with just sophomore level OChem background would be rough.
Keep up with the therapy, realize that imposter syndrome is very normal, and focus on where you are now. 
Grad school is all about he research- classes are just something you do at the start and have to get through. Don't let bad coursework early stop you from doing well where you are now! Several of my colleagues (who are now faculty) were on and off academic probation all through grad school. They didn't let it shake them, focused on the work, and did fine. 

As far as the program website says, Ertegun applicants are judged based on their application and supplemental information provided when they applied by the relevant Jan deadline. There is no mention of interviews. I would think, if interviews were a part of the selection process, it would be on their website.

Anyway, if they do interview (without saying anything to applicants), I sincerely hope it's to determine between toss-up candidates, and not for the majority. Otherwise, I think that's an unfortunate bit of of information not provided to applicants.

I could be wrong, but I don't think getting an interview or not means anything at this point.

One of my former co-workers was Serbian and I definitely agreed with parts of their educational system. Specifically have distinguished schools for technical expertise versus art schools and having a greater emphasis on doing things you not only enjoy but are really good at (more realistic/stricter entrance requirements for example). My co-worker lived down the street from a sort of mechanic shop where they stripped, repaired and replaced engines for different manufacturers throughout Europe; he had been working in some capacity at the shop since he was 11 or 12. Fourteen years later he finished his degree in mechanical engineering, with a decade of experience working on vehicles. That must create unparalleled expertise in that field, its mind blowing to me because thats just a totally different lifestyle, to wholly dedicate yourself to something from a young age.
 
 
The thing for me is that the burden to make your degree useful is solely on you; if you think you can complete whatever you think the most useful degree is and just sit back and wait for job offers to come to you, you're going to have a bad time. Conversely, those people that get a degree and then complain forever about it, those people lack the creativity and imagination to show the world how useful and applicable it is. I guess I would posit that there is no degree that is totally useless, there are only people who the degree is useless for. 

Hotline Miami 2 is out :-)

I've been bowled over at the number of people telling me they "don't believe in school" and that "the school of life is enough!" and my favorite, "when are you going to stop stalling, and start growing up and having a family?" As though I'm moving to NYC to begin a doctorate at one of the best universities in the country just to get out of having babies. 

You bring up a valid point about about the questioned legitimacy of certain disciplines. I brought this up in one of my SOP letters, that certain degrees are under valued for not teaching students immediately marketable job skills. Its a point of contention for me as people often question my decision to minor in philosophy or feel that criminal justice involves common sense knowledge.
 
One of the first books I read in an intro course as an undergrad the author described his frustration of how he would tell people he was a PhD in justice and the people would always give him their 2 cents about what was wrong with justice related topics or how the PhD could do his job better. The author contrasted his experience with his neighbors, his neighbor being an airline pilot. Invariably, when telling people he was a pilot, no one would question his ability to successfully land an airplane or what should be done to make it better.
 
There is a for sure issue with the melding of universities and trade schools in my opinion, and it meshes into this issue of people thinking if you can't perform a technical skill that a lay person can understand your degree was worthless.
 
Good post- also, my ramblings are somewhat due to exhaustion.

Then you'll have to move off of this planet.
 
Differing opinions (whether through ignorance or otherwise) will forever exist on Earth.
 
Good news though, I heard Mars University has a good Psych program.

Yeah, you should be outraged!  You are right that it's "utterly ridiculous."  
 
What a relief you are so smart and cunning to detect such a fraudulent scam.  How dare a program ask for a deposit to save a seat for an applicant that is accepted.
 
Don't all schools know that everyone who is accepted into a program will automatically attend?  It's not as if applicants apply to multiple schools and many get more than one offer. 
 
Yes, you should definitely complain to the graduate school.  They need to be admonished and rebuked for their greediness and for this ridiculous and absurd request.  They probably won't rescind your offer of admission and instead will reimburse you and offer you free tuition.  Don't they know how lucky they are to have you attend their program? So yes, they should fully fund you and heck, compensate you for your initial application too!
 
Hurry before it's too late.  Complain and protest immediately!  

Congrats!!!!

Just wanted to update everyone -- I got my acceptance email this morning. There's hope for the little people, haha! 

ಠ_ಠ

When you're in a public restroom, and a person jiggles the handle the minute you lock the door. I mean, seriously. You had to be right behind me to attempt to open the door SO SOON after I went in.

No, dear person, I did not apparate out of this bathroom with the door still locked. Please stop trying the handle! I've been in here for 2 seconds, so please do yourself a favor and find another restroom!

When you're in a public restroom, and a person jiggles the handle the minute you lock the door. I mean, seriously. You had to be right behind me to attempt to open the door SO SOON after I went in.

No, dear person, I did not apparate out of this bathroom with the door still locked. Please stop trying the handle! I've been in here for 2 seconds, so please do yourself a favor and find another restroom!

Oh my god. Were any of those follow-ups calls? Can you talk to this recommender in person? I'm so sorry! I hope you get it sorted out! Sending good vibes your way!!!
----
Meanwhile, I have seen two acceptances come through for Ohio State's MA Spanish & Portuguese program and I haven't heard a thing. Website still says the application is pending. I'm getting worried that it means rejection, especially since I submitted dangerously close to the deadline (I thought it was Dec. 15 but the program-specific deadline was Dec. 1...trying not to relive that now) and one of my references (this is where I feel you on an immense level mockturtle) submitted her letter late. I want to live in ignorance if it means I've been rejected, but I also just really want to know. Ugh. It's been almost 10 weeks. 
 
Also let me tell you guys. December graduation is no walk in the park if you don't have a solid plan/spring start for grad programs. The most feasible option for me was to move back home and try to get a job, but I am struggling hard. It doesn't feel good being the live-at-home college grad but I know it's becoming more normal. I am ready for August more than I can describe. I have never felt more smothered and unappreciated than how I feel now. It's like being 17 again, in the bad way. Applying to college, waiting it out, living at home, trying to find a job that I can sustain myself with while knowing that it's only temporary? Hello high school... 
 
Sending good vibes to the whole thread. We got this.

Don't judge. Humor is how I cope, people. 
 
I took a nap, had a weird dream about grad admissions, and decided that there were two great songs for categorizing my reactions to bad news from schools:
 
1. 
Reaction Rating ---- Kim Crying 
 
Adele ~ "Someone Like You" 
Applicable lyrics - 
A. Someone else got the invite "I heard that you're settled down
That you found a girl and you're married now 
I heard that your dreams came true
Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you"
 
B. Not hearing back FOREVER Old friend, why are you so shy? 
Ain't like you to hold back or hide from the light"
C. Conflicted feelings & stubborn pride "Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you
Don't forget me, I beg, I remember you said
Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead"
 
 
2. 
Reaction Rating ---- Art History Snapchat That is Soooo Done 
 
Skrillex ~ "Stranger"
Applicable Lyrics: 
"I just gotta thank you, all the love I gave you
Came and you took it all away
And now there is no pain, there's everything to gain here
Now that I'm lost I think I'll stay
In hell, there's comfort in these flames and I don't feel the pain
In hell, I'll forget your name here, you'll become a stranger (Become a stranger)
I'll forget your name here, you'll become a stranger
(You'll become a stranger)
I'll forget your name here, you'll become a stranger
(You'll become a stranger)"
 
 
 
BONUS - 50 Shades Quote for the Occasion 

A Battle Royale with cheese

No, they shouldn't charge you anything at all.