DBear

I'm very glad to hear this! I had a feeling it would work out! Good luck with the dream school and the final decision!

I think U Penn is great that they are clear about their interview policy! Yeah, it does seem like interviews are becoming more and more common. There are definitely pros and cons when it comes to interviews (the terrible anxiety that you're going to say something so stupid it will ruin your future would be a con) but I personally am not anti-interview. I'm anti-IDK what you want from me!! I wish schools were more clear about decision-making timelines and the different components of the review process - interview? no interview? a chat that really is JUST a chat? GAH! In a sense, interviews (for the most part) can also tell the applicant about whatever organization it is they are applying to. At this point, I'm very grateful to have been admitted to Madison after two interviews because I am much more certain about how I feel about the program and whether I'd be happy there. I wish I'd had this level of interaction with all the programs I applied to - maybe then I wouldn't have applied to some of them. Of course, it would have been nice if the interaction wasn't in the form of an interview. I guess some of us on here visited schools beforehand or were otherwise familiar with various programs, but visiting schools just wasn't feasible since I wasn't in the same country..

@The Shade King , @phdthoughts last time I asked, he said they didn't do interviews. But I realized that what we would probably consider an interview, he would just classify as a "chat". I think that's one of the things that's been so stressful about interviews is there seems to be no standard practice. Some schools do chats to confirm their picks, some do them to make their picks, some do them for borderline candidates, some are for their best. Some do them only sometimes. Some do them all the time. It's like some sort of twisted Dr.Seuss book!!

@CaffeineCardigan Right?? Waiting until AT LEAST Tuesday!! Always sucks. Yeah, I applied to 7 programs and none of them changed status from the initial "pending" or equivalent status even while I was interviewing and sometimes even after I'd been offered admission. The one time my status changed was when the final decision was made. So no updates in between. I found that once all the materials were submitted, those online status pages really were useless. At least in my case. I've found this forum super useful. I know that it's not easy applying from outside the U.S. Even though I know quite a few people applying for U.S. grad schools from Seoul, the approach to the whole process is so different. Also, the field I'm applying to is relatively new/ unknown in Korea so I've found information to be limited. Welcome to the forum, hope it's as helpful to you as it's been to me!

@Evangeline95 That does sound stressful - having to manage your current program with the new one.. trying to be diplomatic at the same time.. With the details you've given, I'm really not sure what the best way to deal with this is.. but I would say that I wouldn't give up on my dream school if I were you. I would try and be as polite and diplomatic as possible with my current school as humanly possible and try to ask for more time, but I would still try and see if I could get into my dream school. Best of luck!!!

I would definitely NOT argue the CGS resolution. Citing things like that (however non-binding they may be) sounds like one is picking a fight. I would, however, tell them you really want to tell them ASAP, but would like to also attend that visit you were invited to. Your professor probably said 2 weeks because you have an existing relationship and I'm thinking it may be their way of saying let us know ASAP - but may not necessarily be exactly two weeks. Since you have an existing relationship, I'd suggest you talk it out with them honestly. Either way, they're going to continue to be part of your academic career, so better to talk it through maturely and professionally.

You shouldn't feel too guilty, though I'd probably feel that way too if I were in your situation. Since they wrote your recommendation letters, it's not like they're being blind sided. If anything, since you have a long relationship with them, you could maybe phrase it like you're including them in your decision process. Ask them what they think about Program X, and since you've been invited to the event, what they think about you attending, and would it be possible to wait a bit longer than 2 weeks. I find that if it's phrased like you are asking for their advice or help, it works better than saying hey, this is what I'm going to do.

Oh dear, just saw an interview for U Iowa posted - I wasn't aware they even DID interviews.... The one dude I know who goes there said they don't do interviews, but it's been a while since he was an applicant so.. So for all of us still waiting on U Iowa, heads up!

@CaffeineCardigan & @siitrasn I applied from Korea, so I believe we're in the same time zone. My whole body clock switched so I ended up staying up all night here on the forum or checking my applications. I recently came to the U.S. on vacation and am in almost the same time zone so if any notifications come, they will come during the day time. I still find myself waking up in the middle of the night to reach for my phone - the habit of waiting all night for notifications seems to be having some lasting effects. Hopefully I'll be able to start sleeping through the night, but I know how it is applying from Asia. Also, another thing that happened with me was that on Monday, I'd think "oh, it's a weekday now, maybe I'l hear something" but then I'd realize it's still Sunday in the U.S. and be disappointed. It just made the weekend feel really long. Hopefully this torture will be over soon. In terms of admissions notifications - I've received 3, all via email. Most of the schools that I have been admitted to have not changed their online application status (they all say "pending" still). The one school that updated the status didn't send me an automated email to go check the status either. So how you get notified, I think, is really unpredictable as well - Sometimes the results page would be a good indication on how a particular school issues notifications, but especially for int'l students, I wouldn't expect a phone call simply because of the time difference.

One year a long time ago, there were penguins who didn't wear hats when swimming. This made their mothers livid. "Unacceptable!" Frightened, they screamed, "Bears!" Nobody seemed convinced so instead of going swimming they tried juggling. Their mothers tried everything they thought would teach her a skill. However, she couldn't even make oatmeal without disastrous results. So, the penguins gathered money (obviously) trying to purchase a bear. Towering over them, a grizzly beast danced, devouring all bears with such ferocity that even God enjoyed it. Afterwards, God congratulated the penguins and applauded them. "You did it!" Suddenly, the grizzly beast started dancing vigorously. There was an acromantula nearby. It challenged the preconception that magical mushrooms were magical. Sparkling, the magical mushrooms were spreading throughout town. Nobody with pyromania thought grilled cheese would spontaneously erupt into nine identical squirrels! Nevertheless, the penguins elucidated the benefits of sparkling water from Iceland. Suddenly, Iceland exclaimed, "Enough!!! No more penguins. Kill all of the arcades on Monday because King Arthur suffered from sphenisciphobia." Tragically, everyone forgot lasers cure bug madness, meaning none of them stripped the violet beast of his powerful jaw bones. So while some arms spouted Kool-aid, others chopped nuts. This phenomenon halted commerce.

Thank you, @fuzzylogician that is reassuring. I think that's pretty much how I phrased it - now I just need to rebuild my self confidence and trust in my own judgement again. Til then, though, I'll probably continue asking questions here!

Another thing you don't realize when living in humid places is that you NEED to moisturize. "Oh, it's okay, I have oily skin" doesn't work in freezing temperatures and wind. I have moved between several different climates in my life and the biggest thing was to do research and get the basic gear like @heyDW mentioned, but just to be aware of how my body is responding to the changes. So if your skin feels a little uncomfortable, for example, pay attention to this change. You may not know what the solution is to a particular weather-related problem but ask people. Some things just won't occur to you. I grew up with NO snow at all and when I moved to a climate that had moderate snow during the winter, it didn't occur to me at first that you need an umbrella on a snowy day - because yeah, it's not liquid when it comes down, but when it gets on you, it'll turn to liquid and you'll get really wet and cold and ICK. Before I moved to a place with winter, I didn't realize that in some situations, you need to wear a hat not for fashion, but to be warm. So little things. Winter, in my opinion, is a bit easier to deal with because there are many ways to make yourself warmer. Thick coat, layers, gloves, thick socks and boots, a hat, scarf all that. You will be warmer if you bundle up. For me, going to hot and humid climates really messed with me because, other than staying inside, there's really not a lot you can do to make yourself feel cooler. I mean, you could walk around naked and you'd still feel hot. Good luck!

That makes complete sense, I just didn't know if it could possibly be misconstrued as me saying "I think X University is better than you guys." No one has asked so far, but won't feel too bad should the question come up. I don't know why, but this part of the process really keeps making me think of break ups and I think to myself, if a dude is leaving me for some other woman, do I want to know who she is, is he trying to rub it in?? Obviously the anxiety and self-doubt that has been embedded deeply in my soul is still there... Thanks for the help!!

I sent out the emails last night after the advice here, thanks! Oh man, you read my mind. It was so weird and uncomfortable and felt like I was a teenager breaking up with someone. I really wished I could just get my BFF to tell them for me.... I didn't mention funding or anything and hope I get the chance to provide feedback like @TakeruK mentioned. Thanks for the advice everyone!

@Evangeline95 yeah, when my friend got admitted into multiple programs last year and said it wasn't so great, I thought they were being mean for saying that but now I feel the pain. @fuzzylogician how do you feel about mentioning which school you chose? I'm not in a position to mention this at the moment, but out of curiosity and perhaps future reference...

@fuzzylogician Thank you, that's what I needed to hear! and thanks for the congratulations, I'm still super-surprised to be in this situation.I am on the "careful" side, too, so only posted this question after getting a formal letter from the school I wanted.. This whole process makes me so nervous that I can't even confidently seem to write an email. @.letmeinplz// Now I'm tempted to be like "I got into XYZ, b*****s, see YA!" I'll try and not do that @GreenEyedTrombonist Thank you! One of the main reasons I want to get this out of the way fast as possible so that we can ALL move on - this really is such a torturous process. I just want it to be all over soon. Every aspect of it.

I never thought this would happen to me (really, I didn't) but I've received a few admissions. I know for sure that I am going to decline two of these - and I know that it would be better to decline them sooner than later... but for one of the schools, they haven't given me any information on funding yet, so if I decline now, I can't use the "sorry, I've really wish I could go, but I've received a better offer." excuse. The reason I'm declining is because I felt that another school had a stronger research fit - should I just say this? I'm usually really good at composing diplomatic and professional emails but I'm truly stumped because I've never had to write this kind of email before. I want to decline ASAP so the schools can move on with their processes, but I don't want to make it seem like I didn't even consider their offer seriously and burn bridges. Any advice would be much appreciated!

Spoken like a truly wise person!!! I hope you have a blast and fully recharge your batteries!

Judging from what people have said here, it does happen.

lol! Well, my research has to do with digital media and community building to a certain degree, so I could always have said "I was doing research" Congrats! Maybe we will see each other in Madison!

@phdthoughts and for U Mass! U Iowa seemed to announce results on 2/3 last year... so maybe if not today, next week? @The Shade King Congrats on Wisconsin- Madison - what track did you get into?

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Comm Arts - Rhetoric, politics, culture - accepted 2/3

I think that like me, a lot of people are looking to stay in academia. PhDs aren't the only way (nor the best way) to improve a corporate career anyhow. I was very nervous about the fact I'd be 40 (at least) once I'm done with my PhD and will be looking for a faculty position at that age. Luckily, academia does seem to be much more open to older applicants than other fields. Also, I realized that your career doesn't really start after your PhD. It's not like you're fresh out of college with a clean slate of a resume. For most programs, the PhD in itself is the equivalent of an entry level position (or maybe internship) as you are performing many duties (teaching, research, etc) that you will as faculty. So while you are working towards your PhD, you are already building the foundation of your career, thus won't be entering the workforce with a clean slate at that point. At least this is how I see it and what I've been told by my professors. In fact, my MA advisor started her academic career around 40 as well and I've found that my story isn't as uniquely random as I thought it was. This thread is further evidence of that. Nevertheless, it really is a bit scary to take the plunge, but personally, I think that I can be more focused now that I have tried out all the things that my youthful idealism wanted to pursue.

I agree with @TakeruK As a foreign national though, even if one is not from a restricted country, there definitely is a lot more anxiety when it comes to obtaining a visa and gaining entry. As it is so early on in the administration, it's really uncertain what policy changes will be enacted and how they will affect people at the actual border. Like my incident with having my visa from Pakistan pointed out- it obviously is not a reason to detain me, but no one at border control even batted an eye at the different stamps in my passport before now. This is the third time I entered the U.S. with that passport. Also, even though I'm from a country that is not implicated in any of these policy changes, there is a fear that somehow, the political climate will change and that I can potentially be impacted. Apart from the people that are directly impacted, the level of uncertainty is worrisome for most foreigners. Hopefully, as time passes, things will stabilize and there will be more certainty. I hope everyone here (and everyone pursuing a higher education in the U.S.) is able to get into a school they are happy with, without incident.

Thought it was this: http://www.colorado.edu/communication/ I think cultural studies is within this.. I had this on my list early on but thought the fit wasn't there so gave up..