GreenEyedTrombonist

Breathe @phyanth and then let's freak out together  
One of my programs (Comm) moved up their deadline so they sent first round acceptances yesterday. I'm ecstatic about getting in, but not about the month and a half I have to wait to hear from other schools, haha.

Short answer: yes.
I did this for 5 of the 7 programs I applied to. I had good phone conversations with professors at 4 of these programs and a long email exchange with the DGS at another, so I sent them each an email thanking them for their time and letting them know I chose to apply/my app was submitted. I did not do this for the last two programs because they do not encourage communication with professors before an offer has been made.
It's not necessary, but it can be a nice thing to do if you've made a connection with a prof.

Ginger helps with blood circulation, if you weren't aware. Hot ginger tea (especially if you add a little rum) while under and electric blanket with nice warm socks and a knit hat oughta keep just about any human being warm.  
Goodwill is always a great place to sweater shop - and ugly sweaters worn ironically is in right now, so ugly or cute it really doesn't matter.
You can totally do this.

Luckily, my apartment has all bills included (including propane). People up here swear by Northface and Columbia jackets or investing in a goose down coat. I have a bag in my car with snow pants and waterproof boots just in case because I work at a job right now that requires being outside when it snows.  I work in luxury car sales right now, so we have to clean the snow off cars each time we get more than 2" of the white stuff. I also recommend a balaclava (face covering) and usanka (Russian military hat). I just ordered a surplus Soviet Siberian coat.  If it works for Siberia, it should work for Minnesota. Plus, they have warehouses full of them and they are relatively expensive; officer coats are more fitted and stylish than enlisted.  Russian Navy coats are well made and you can easily switch out the buttons.

For home, you can get heated blankets and heated rugs if you have wood floors. I also have a buffalo hide blanket and some wool Army surplus blankets (they really are the best, though an ugly drab green). I also cover the windows in bubble wrap and plastic sheeting, which keeps the cold and wind out.  

I didn't get in anywhere last cycle. It hurt and was disheartening, but I planned to reapply. I actually ended up applying to programs outside of my previous field because my research interests were a better fit there. This change, in addition to all the rejection last year, made me really nervous about my chances. I found out this week that I got into one of the top programs I was interested in and they sent an email saying I was a top applicant. 
The point is, my GRE, GPA, background, and LoRs didn't change between the app cycles. This year I made sure to apply to programs where I knew I was a great fit, talked extensively to profs that I wanted to work with, and polished my SoP until the damn thing was shining bright like a diamond. Ultimately, this proves to me what we (and the programs) always say: it's not so much about the numbers. It's about goodness of fit and your ability to articulate that fit. Don't worry so much about the acceptance rates and published stats (unless the program explicitly states cut-offs or something). 

Thanks guys! Compared to last year (all rejections) I almost feel like I'm floating.
I'm pulling for all of you! We got this!

Guys! OMG I got into Uconn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
After all rejects last year, starting with an acceptance makes me so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Also just getting accepted, ah!)

Short answer: yes.
I did this for 5 of the 7 programs I applied to. I had good phone conversations with professors at 4 of these programs and a long email exchange with the DGS at another, so I sent them each an email thanking them for their time and letting them know I chose to apply/my app was submitted. I did not do this for the last two programs because they do not encourage communication with professors before an offer has been made.
It's not necessary, but it can be a nice thing to do if you've made a connection with a prof.

Breathe @phyanth and then let's freak out together  
One of my programs (Comm) moved up their deadline so they sent first round acceptances yesterday. I'm ecstatic about getting in, but not about the month and a half I have to wait to hear from other schools, haha.

Thanks @phyanth ! I may have messaged nearly everyone I know about it yesterday. I may have also shouted it at my parents 3 times each and printed off the letter to make others read just in case I was hallucinating...  

Breathe @phyanth and then let's freak out together  
One of my programs (Comm) moved up their deadline so they sent first round acceptances yesterday. I'm ecstatic about getting in, but not about the month and a half I have to wait to hear from other schools, haha.

CONGRATS @GreenEyedTrombonist!!!!!!!!! Well done!

Thanks so much @Hao Hongtao ! Apparently, UConn moved up their deadline this year and also moved up their entire process as a result. I was so surprised (and ecstatic) to get the acceptance. I might have printed it out and made other people read it to make sure I wasn't hallucinating, haha.
As for the job searching, I have a phone interview tomorrow for one job and a final round interview for another in January. Hoping something comes out of one of them.  

Guys! OMG I got into Uconn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
After all rejects last year, starting with an acceptance makes me so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Also just getting accepted, ah!)

Guys! OMG I got into Uconn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
After all rejects last year, starting with an acceptance makes me so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Also just getting accepted, ah!)

@Adelaide9216 If it is the norm for the organizations that are asking you, I see no problem with figuring out some kind of fee. Whether you base this fee on standard rate for motivational speakers (you may not see yourself as one, but they probably do) or simply based on the expenses you would incur to do this talk (including the time it takes to prepare the presentation, travel, housing, food, etc) or a mix somewhere between the two, is completely up to you. 
But, I would stress, do not sell yourself short. You are getting multiple requests a month to tell your story and the organizations are expecting there to be a fee involved. Your story matters. People want to hear it. You are valued. <3 

@Adelaide9216 If it is the norm for the organizations that are asking you, I see no problem with figuring out some kind of fee. Whether you base this fee on standard rate for motivational speakers (you may not see yourself as one, but they probably do) or simply based on the expenses you would incur to do this talk (including the time it takes to prepare the presentation, travel, housing, food, etc) or a mix somewhere between the two, is completely up to you. 
But, I would stress, do not sell yourself short. You are getting multiple requests a month to tell your story and the organizations are expecting there to be a fee involved. Your story matters. People want to hear it. You are valued. <3 

The problem with intelligent people: if you ask for feedback, they'll eventually find every loophole and scenario in which your idea does not work. This is a good thing. Nothing improves if no one disagrees. 
It sounds like you need to decide who this app is for as professors and applicants are affected differently by this issue (and approach solutions differently). I don't think a match.com style would work here. On dating websites, people join because they see the potential benefit to them. As others have stated, you've made a potential benefit for students clear, but haven't really offered anything compelling for professors. If you want a match.com experience, you need to reach out to professors and see what issues they have with the current process (and preferably reach out to professors in many departments and different schools). 
If you choose to focus on the student side, data mining journals and creating an easy-to-search list of professors and their research interests could be beneficial to help students be more targeted in their early-stage application process.

Binge watching shows, working, applying/interviewing for jobs, making a game, making healthy habits part of my routine, etc. 

Binge watching shows, working, applying/interviewing for jobs, making a game, making healthy habits part of my routine, etc. 

Awesome!

I don't think you really need to know the answer to this during the application phase. However, it should be noted that most PhDs (my background of social sciences may play a role in what I'm about to say) are very specialized. Long reports about a very very specific topic, basically. So, it's safe to assume that what you want to do right now is probably too ambitious. But, as was said before, this is something you work out with your advisors. 

Eh, don't see an issue with it as long as you don't make the focus "I submitted my app and am looking for something from you."

I believe in you @EvelynD ! My recurring dreams involve cutting my hair...

So real talk, I was married for a while. Though not the only contributing factor, I knew the marriage was over the second I started talking about going to grad school and his response was that I wasn't allowed to unless it paid us. I'm so happy to be divorced because I'm no longer anchored by someone keeping me from living the life I want to live. AKA I have dreams and aspirations and I'm not willing to give up on those for a partner (and a partner shouldn't ask you to, though there may be some situations where you choose to value the partner over the dream). I'm not gonna lie and say it'll be easy to find the right partner, because it honestly won't, but you should not have to compromise your values in such an extreme way for the chance at romantic fulfillment. I hope you find a partner who will make you happy and who values your passions and goals as much as you do. <3