amam

That moment you receive an e-mail from a department to which you applied... and it turns out to be a survey about the application process. What cruel, cruel timing. 

What a lovely note at the end of your comment. I feel the exact same way. It takes a lot of guts to apply and push through the anxious never-ending weeks up until decisions are announced in ANY year, and the fact that we persisted during this year specifically speaks volumes about our patience and persistence.
 
Wow ... four spots for all subfields. That’s insane. I’m so sorry about that, but very happy to see everyone looking on the brighter side. Just think of it like this—Yale just lost their chance to claim all of you future groundbreaking researchers as their own . 

I feel the same way. I'm somewhat glad that I reached out to some POI before applying (Northwestern and UChicago) because they told me they weren't comfortable taking on new students during "uncertain times" (their words). At the time I was upset but now looking back on it I'm thankful I didn't spend the extra money on transcripts/application fees.
Still, of the eight schools I applied to I've gotten rejection letters from 4 places. I'm sure the rest (3) will be rejections too. No interviews. I'm absolutely thankful for the one program that's offered me admission (not within my field but it's the best fit) yet I'm overwhelmed with the amount of rejection--heck, I've even questioned my worth as a scholar a few times during this application cycle. Of course, I try to remember that these are just my irrational thoughts coming to surface. 
I do my best to remind myself that it's been a tough cycle within a tough year. Hearing this I do my best to take care of myself and go back to the activities and people that bring me peace. I'm not a particularly religious person but I have my moments with God, or the Universe, and pray a little bit. But I don't pray for what I want. I pray to be guided towards where I'm needed. 

Dinged from Yale as well. That stings a bit, but I'm very grateful to already have a wonderful option under my belt. I was told by a professor that there were a maximum of 4 spots available for all subfields in the Religious Studies department - what a year to apply! Congrats to those who got in!

Yes, I completely agree. Maybe I was naive and just excited when I submitted my application but I genuinely did not know there would be less slots for candidates. I assumed that if a program is accepting, that means nothing has probably changed since the previous cycle, since so many programs had closed their applications for all. In my defense, the programs did not even hint such a change, probably so they could get more application money lol.
I guess we can just hope and see what happens for the best. Not much we can do anymore, besides go down in history as the people who actually applied during a pandemic, haha. Good luck to everyone. Xx

I have seen different postings (results, etc.) suggesting that most PhD programs' slots are roughly half (or even a quarter) of the norm this year. It's definitely kind of frustrating that programs were not particularly upfront or transparent about the number of slots available, at least as far as I know.
I personally only applied to two PhD programs since I'm coming straight from undergrad (I'll presumably do a master's degree depending on results/funding), but I would not have even attempted any PhD applications at this stage (or spent the extra ~$200 on the applications) if those programs' circumstances had been clearer ? At least I have the experience of going through the process for when I try again in a couple of years ... lol

Official rejection from Yale. Not feeling great about the other programs I’ve applied to either. I’ll have to strengthen my application for another go at it next time around. Congrats to those who were accepted!

Yale sent their results! Although I am rejected but accepted other great program! Good luck to you all!

I’ve gotten a clear answer from Toronto School of Theology about when the results would be out. Pretty exceptional in that case. I definitely agree with you that departments should give a target date. It will relieve a key source of anxiety, the uncertainty about when one’s future will be known.
It won’t hurt, but I honestly don’t know why more schools can adopt this level of transparency if others do it. It might not be easy to give up the unstated assumption that patience is a virtue people applying should adopt. At least that’s my guess as to why it doesn’t happen more often.

Yes. Baylor has been very open about their timelines, so I am grateful for that. But I am stunned by how little information is given by other schools, when it seems they follow a relatively predictable pattern. Why not just give applicants a target date with some sense of how the communication process will work? 

I genuinely wish programs could let us know when they expect to release admission decisions on the portal. I understand it's a process for them too, but at least knowing a date range for each cycle would really help ease the anxiety! Thank god for GradCafe results page.
Informing applicants of estimated decision time every cycle is one thing I would recommend to committees if I ever become a professor one day...

Goodness, I didn't know that February, which normally feels painfully long and dismal, could feel even longer and more dismal. 
One week until Baylor's preview day, and it can't come soon enough!
Bless us all in the waiting!

totally different experience over here -- extensive contact with several professors in the BC department before applying and then not a word (not even an interview) until the formal "change of status" and then they all emailed. It seemed they were not allowed to reach out until the formal acceptance came through. 
TLDR every school is different!! So always hope!!! 

Just checking back in with hopes that everyone is doing fine. I am expecting that next week will be exciting for those awaiting results, based on past experience and the survey results. Unless, of course, COVID shook up things a bit. 
I had an email exchange with my POI in Toronto recently telling him that I was quite nervous about the whole application process and asking him if he had any insights on the process at his institution. He reassured me that it was alright and he understood. As for my other point, he did not answer it directly, which was fine with me. I'll share the answer when the time is right. 
Good luck to everyone!

I'm sorry! Good luck to you in the rest of the process as well!

There were four at mine. Not sure how many they're taking this year, but I know its been reduced pretty significantly which sucks haha. Also I wish more than anything that we would find out this Friday but I'm not getting my hopes up lmao

From the sound of it, your interview went well! I would say a congenial atmosphere is a good sign, but I suppose you can never be certain with these things, unless you hear it straight from the horse's mouth. At the end of my UNC interview, my POI said that they were going to make a case for my nomination, but I'm not sure everyone would be that direct.
Anyway, I definitely forgot some things I wanted to say and said some things not as eloquently as I would have wanted to, but I still got in. I'm sure any reasonable professor will understand the major anxiety factor that goes into an interview. I'm wishing you the best of luck and hope you get in!

Any one who may apply to Vanderbilt University, they will come out the results for Ph.d after 12 February (the last appointment day of the admission committee). I may expect that the result will come out on 15 February or during that week. Wish you all! (Current student at Vandy)

After a lot of [unhealthy] stalking, I learned that Harvard CSR will be meeting tomorrow to discuss applicants.
 
you might be able to see this for your school too.
 
if you go to the calendar section of the program website, sometimes they have their internal meetings on public. So every year CSR has this “committee meeting” flagged under grad school on the second Monday of February. It also aligns with all the results posted on Gradcafe.
 
I hope this helps whoever is anxious like me about when we will hear back!

That was me a couple years ago. 
I remember getting rejected by two PhD programs and thinking maybe research isn't for me. Maybe my ideas/opinions are just too ridiculous. 
So, I tried living a non-academic life quickly realizing that I needed to apply at least one more time. In my heart I knew that I'd regret not attempting to pursue a crazy dream (researcher). The second time would be different, and it was. Even after submitting applications I prepared myself for a second round of rejection and a potential third application cycle. 
All this to say don't give in. If this is something that brings you joy try again. I'm here if you, or anyone on here, wants to bounce ideas or wants another pair of eyes to look at the statement of purpose. I believe in collaborative work.  
And I really do believe that everything happens in divine timing. 

The silence sure is deafening. But take heart and hang in there - like @alizeh55 said, I'm sure it's not a reflection of you as a scholar.
I keep getting random spam calls like that, too!
Are you in the Religious Studies department at Columbia? It's a pity they didn't accept PhD apps this year...it was high on my list.

Well, it sure sped things up for Duke. They normally send out admissions decisions next week, but they sent them this week, which is quite early given what I've seen. I asked Drew, another school to which I am applying, about when the decisions would come out and they said that it all depends on the number of applicants under review. It's still a helpful answer, but it helpfully does not say much. I asked one other school, which I will not name, about when they are releasing results, and they did not reply, nor am I expecting a reply from them.
Right now, I am holding up well given what is going on in my life these days outside this process. I agree with what @_Athena_ and @alizeh55 both said, a rejection is not a reflection on us as scholars. In fact, that was one of the first pieces of advice I received on the doctoral admissions process when I applied last cycle. So, if the radio silence is deafening, know that you are not alone waiting and anxious about the wait. It will all pass soon enough, whatever the outcome.

Definitely starting to get anxious. Also, to make things worse, I've gotten random spam calls from the area codes of schools I applied to everyday this week, so that doesn't help haha.
Not sure if this will help anybody, but I spoke to my department chair at Columbia (for master's admissions) and they told me that the committee will be meeting "in a few weeks" to finalize admissions. So I would assume COVID hasn't affected the timeline much. With most of the committees working from home, it may even speed things up--who knows!
That doesn't make you any less of a scholar, just human.  

The radio silence is the worse or maybe I'm just not who I thought I am as a scholar. solidarity everyone

These are also good points. : )