JacobW83

As I understand it, yes typically for Academic positions the prestige of a program would be considered. However, one thing I've been told is that the "family tree" of mentors can be surprisingly important as well. One of the faculty where I work now has a poster in her office that traces back the history of mentors and their students quite a ways. If people have worked with your mentor, or if they've also been a student of your mentor (or even mentored your mentor), then that seems to give a small advantage as well. 

I was under the impression that April 15th is the decision date and programs are not allowed to push you for a decision until that date. I'd be a little miffed if a program said I had to decide 2 weeks before the official deadline.

I just officially accepted an offer at Texas A&M's Clinical Psych after receiving an official Fellowship offer, I'm so excited!

Just got an (unofficial) acceptance to Texas A&M's Clinical Psych program! I was nominated for (and received) a Diversity Fellowship as well! 
 
Very excited! 

I just officially accepted an offer at Texas A&M's Clinical Psych after receiving an official Fellowship offer, I'm so excited!

I just officially accepted an offer at Texas A&M's Clinical Psych after receiving an official Fellowship offer, I'm so excited!

I just officially accepted an offer at Texas A&M's Clinical Psych after receiving an official Fellowship offer, I'm so excited!

I just officially accepted an offer at Texas A&M's Clinical Psych after receiving an official Fellowship offer, I'm so excited!

I just officially accepted an offer at Texas A&M's Clinical Psych after receiving an official Fellowship offer, I'm so excited!

Just got an (unofficial) acceptance to Texas A&M's Clinical Psych program! I was nominated for (and received) a Diversity Fellowship as well! 
 
Very excited! 

Just got an (unofficial) acceptance to Texas A&M's Clinical Psych program! I was nominated for (and received) a Diversity Fellowship as well! 
 
Very excited! 

Just got an (unofficial) acceptance to Texas A&M's Clinical Psych program! I was nominated for (and received) a Diversity Fellowship as well! 
 
Very excited! 

Just got an (unofficial) acceptance to Texas A&M's Clinical Psych program! I was nominated for (and received) a Diversity Fellowship as well! 
 
Very excited! 

School: University of Houston
Program: Counseling Psychology
Date of Notification: 2/21/17
Method of Notification: Website
Thoughts: I'm really surprised. I didn't feel confident at all after the interview and was fully expecting a mid waitlist position at best. The funding is better than I expected as well! Interestingly I never got an email notification about the offer, I was just checking the website for updates and saw "Decision Released" with no notification letter anywhere; after a few minutes of panic the letter popped up!

School: University of Houston
Program: Counseling Psychology
Date of Notification: 2/21/17
Method of Notification: Website
Thoughts: I'm really surprised. I didn't feel confident at all after the interview and was fully expecting a mid waitlist position at best. The funding is better than I expected as well! Interestingly I never got an email notification about the offer, I was just checking the website for updates and saw "Decision Released" with no notification letter anywhere; after a few minutes of panic the letter popped up!

I have to agree with the other poster. Although the experience of working with this professor might be wonderful, at the end of the day you're still just an RA -- it doesn't really advance your own professional career. It may open a few more acceptances for you in your next round of applications, but you're clearly already competitive enough to get in at some great programs; you will have spent all that time/effort/money on this year's applications just to deny it all to try again next year... Unless this RA experience would open up a DEFINITE opportunity to be a grad student with that professor, I would just take one of the offers you have now and look for future collaborations with this prof. At least that way you'd be starting the long (5-7yr) process of getting your degree, which is what will really open up amazing doors for collaboration in the future.

Thanks! Glad you got into your top choice! Feels nice to know we'll end up somewhere

I've got my fingers crossed for you!

I've been waiting a month for one of my schools  

Thank you! This is absolutely unreal!

Never mind. Just got an offer. I am so incredibly excited!

I know what you mean about worrying that it's all in your head lol. I saw the official letter and still had an irrational fear that there could've been a mistake.

I know what you mean about worrying that it's all in your head lol. I saw the official letter and still had an irrational fear that there could've been a mistake.

I know what you mean about worrying that it's all in your head lol. I saw the official letter and still had an irrational fear that there could've been a mistake.

Yeah I'm wondering if the results page is broken -- it hasn't changed AT ALL since last night which is unusual