hopefulPhD2017

I use Evernote for everything. I have it on my phone, iPad, and multiple computers. I tag, search, save docs. It is my second brain. OneNote is really nice and potentially cheaper but I actually didn't want to rely on an Office product. I do pay (after so many months of use) $8/month, which I think is worth it, but you can use it for free for a long time. I have a notebook for everything and link notes across subjects.

Yeah. It's super hard. I love it and feel crippling fear all in the same day.

I'd get it in writing before you sign. Funding matters.

Welp. It's April 14 today. I wrote to the school asking if it'd be possible to put into writing multiple years of funding to match another offer. That was 4.5 days ago. I've gotten no response as of yet and since we're 10 business hours (if you count Saturday as a business day) away from end of day on April 15, I guess that's that and that I'm turning down the offer entirely. I wish they'd respond, at least, but I feel confident that I will be better supported in the long term at another school. Again, thanks to you all here, especially @TakeruK, @AP, and @rising_star; your thoughtful responses are what I needed to think this through in agonizing detail.

Oh no! That sucks. So sorry. @light10491 I'm calling my POI later today and then accepting on the portal. Tomorrow is my day to celebrate!!

Like you @ZachGv and @sweetoflove, I've also been torn. I think I've made my decision but it's scary.

That seems unethical to me. I think you should be upfront and honest with them about this. Academia is a small world.

No, it's not. That's why I asked. I'd suggest you do the same.

Glad to know we are all in good company! I had trouble sleeping last night. Currently at a 9. Checking my email like mad hoping for a funding update!!

To me, this seems more like a 9/10 situation. If you'd inserted spaces here--the deep breaths of typing--I might believe differently. Amirite?

Ha! Totally. This.

Wow that's tough. I hope they carefully calibrate such things, i.e., normally two don't take the offers, so they waitlist two applicators m as they know you have a good chance of getting in. Good luck to you!

I'm sorry to hear that!

Argh!!! So frustrating.