ConsciousKid

@XXXYYYZZZ With the Ether! (Nas reference for those unfamiliar). There are always reasons for not performing well on standardized tests. I am one of those people as well. I prepared extensively for the GRE and still did very mediocre. But the rest of my record will speak for itself. A 4 hour exam is not indicative of my ability as a sociologist. My entire academic record, ability to write (via personal statement and writing sample) and strong letters of rec will tell you MUCH MORE about my ability to succeed in a program than a 4 hour exam.
Now, I am not saying that those who do perform well on GRE's don't matter (obviously not true), but everything really does have to be treated on a case by case basis.
 

Claiming Y acceptance from this afternoon.

OMG it is SO nice to have closure!!! I'm just so glad they got back to me @___@
And you're so right. I'm just so thankful and PUMPED about the programs I've been accepted to!! Each one seems like they really want me, and that feels GREAT. 
Thank you for the Vandy support as well! We'll see what they have to say, hopefully soon enough!
Also, congratulations to you again on BROWN!!!

Oh I'm not too sad at all!I posted that pic because I thought it was funny more than anything else. I love Mitchell and Webb and their commentator characters!
Brandeis is SUPER selective. While I felt it was a great fit, I made the mistake of sending in my very quant mater's thesis proposal as writing sample, and I know they have a very qual department. I also said I'd love to focus in the religion concentration, but my sample had nothing to do with religion! I would have been better off sending in my undergrad writing sample which focused on religion and contraception in the media. 
And that's just the stuff that MIGHT have helped me that I HAD control over. I know there are various factors I had NO control over. Whether my POIs were working with other students and couldn't take on any more, whether my GRE scores were just a tad below what my competitors had, etc ... so much out of my control.
So really, I truly "ain't even mad." I totally get how complex the process is!
Thank you for your kind words of support *hugs*

Rejected from Brandeis 
[.

@gingin6789 Keep your head up! You got into some amazing schools. I also got rejected from Brandeis, but I knew I was a bad fit. I applied because it was close to home and I had a fee wavier. Brandeis has a great program, but my research interests just didn't fit. Congrats to all those accepted!

i contacted ron eyerman at yale to ask whether all admitted students have been notified; he said "not yet" and that "official notifications" won't be sent out before the end of next week. i see this as cause for hope. though, the results board usually looks like 2-3 informal acceptances one week, 10 formal rejections the week after. so it is likely that the end of next week will actually be reds, and that there is, in fact, no cause for hope. 

@consciouskid, to my understanding, the way the social policy admissions works is that they have to go through the social policy program first, then their top choices are then presented to the sociology/government programs to see if they'll take you too.  So it's a longer process, because they have to go through two committees for review.  Not very comforting, I know.  But at least there's a reason for the long delay.

Because grad school can be an extremely uncomfortable and lonely experience for some people. Academics are among the most self-centered and awkward people I know so it's easy to see how some people get jaded after a couple of years in their programs.
For some, it's the constant competition for resources, pressure to publish, teach, and have a life on the side that gets them. For others, it's the massive chasm between their romanticized notions of academia as this world of great minds versus the reality of their situation, which often consists of low income, depression, crazy work hours, anxiety, loneliness, and a host of other issues. 
I have contemplated dropping out a couple of times in the past but it's way too late now, haha. And, I should also say that I do tend to overgeneralize when responding to these types of questions but I just wanted to give you a "view from the other side". Academia can also be a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. It's ultimately what you make of it!

@ts1493 I would say that the fact you had already spoke with a professor may have passed you through the phone interview part. From what I understood it was just a phone call to get more information about us. Northeastern was one of the only schools where I wasn't able to speak to anyone before hand. I did have a brief email exchange with the chair, but a phone call allowed them to get a better sense of my background and experience.
I am transferring from a PhD program into another, so that was another reason they wanted to talk briefly. 
Given your stats and the fact you were already admitted into BC – I would say you will most likely hear good news.
Best of Luck!
 
 

Claiming a Boulder acceptance

@MaxWeberHasAPossecongratulations! @duBoisLivesyour username made my day! @HopefulSocPhDthank you!! 

Will claim the Yale acceptance!

Things just got really out of control for the few hours I was gone...

I don't know about Vanderbilt and if they are paying for the travel expenses. I assume so. I only say this because Emory flew me out and gave me a reimbursement form for flight while covering the cost of hotel, food, and drink. They even offer to cover transportation to and from the airport from your departing city. Private institutions seem to have far more money on hand to fly people in for recruitment weekends. I haven't heard any information from UC Davis regarding their cover of travel costs, but I'm in Los Angles and doubt I'll need much from them to attend their prospective students day. 

I guess your mileage may vary depending on the school and how much fiscal stability they have. Hope that answers in a non-douchey way. 

sorry to mis-sex/gender you. it can be offensive.
not interested in starting dialogue. My intention was to police you, which I did, and I would do it again.

Yes. Thanks @Shay825 and apologies to all for taking us off topic. Also apologies to anyone offended by my use of that term.
Now, let's hope Penn and Duke email a bunch of us who are still hoping!

Congrats to all the admits today! Hopefully we start seeing these acceptances continue on throughout the week!

Also got a Cornell acceptance! 

I can't believe it ya'll -- dreams actually come true!!! BROWN admitted!

Thank you @mm3733 @Shay825 @gingin6789 ! I am at a loss for words. . . I'm a Providence native and this has been a dream of mine forever. Very very thankful for this opportunity.

I can't believe it ya'll -- dreams actually come true!!! BROWN admitted!

I can't believe it ya'll -- dreams actually come true!!! BROWN admitted!

@krispykreme yes it is. My page still says "submitted" but now above the "view checklist" box there is a box that says "view your decision letter".
 

I can't believe it ya'll -- dreams actually come true!!! BROWN admitted!

Thank you @mm3733 @Shay825 @gingin6789 ! I am at a loss for words. . . I'm a Providence native and this has been a dream of mine forever. Very very thankful for this opportunity.