THS

I received the same email today, it feels like an achievement just being waitlisted (it was my 'reach' school)!

The sentiments of these posts is ringing true to me now too. I only applied to 6 Soc Ph.D. programs and really focused on crafting strong SOPs and I've been accepted to none (1 rejection, 2 presumed rejections, 3 waitlists). It's really become apparent just how arbitrary this process can be. What really separates an accepted applicant from a waitlisted or even some rejected ones? I wish departments had the resources/time to be able to give some feedback so I knew what I could have done better because everything in my applications (GRE scores, GPA, Bachelors/Masters programs, research experience, interview performance, SOP) appear quite good. At least, I've gotten overwhelmingly positive feedback for it all. I just wish I knew which part was not good enough. I still have some hope for the three amazing schools I'm waitlisted at but I am devastated at the prospect of not getting any offers. I'm not sure I'd ever want to go through this process again should my nightmare come true. I'm wondering how second and third cycle applicants are able to find it in themselves to do this all over again?

I resonated profoundly with @OccasionallyCaffeinated and found @cabraloca having made a really good case. I, too, have started to question the importance of being in the academia. I started to look for jobs after I received four rejections in one day's time. The first step was hard, devastating actually since I have prepared so long for an academic career and I was so sure that this is what I want and all that I have been and will be talking about. But the moment I started to look for jobs, I found amazingly different responses from the industry. I got more positive feedbacks than I have ever got from publication. The prospects are also much clearer. I will definitely not be spending five years in  a Top 50 program and still having to worry about landing a job somewhere. Five years in the industry will give me expertise and experience and will almost certainly be financially rewarding. Should I find research interesting, it is also more likely for me to land on a top PhD program then. 
With these in mind, I just don't see why not. People say it's nicer to be in schools. You're treated more gently and your talents are truly valued. If so, why do I have such different experience? Why do I feel so relieved, more valued than ever and with such hopes and prospects towards my future now than ever? Have I got it all wrong in the past? Maybe I'm not suitable for academia after all. 
When I watch La La Land, I feel so sad. I don't know if I should dream differently. If your dream failed and you found something else, should you just change? If so, what is dream anyway...

This is why I think you shouldn't feel bad. We already know it's not based on merit. My friends who have gone on to do their MA's or PhD's all have two PhD parents who worked at our home University, who knew all the professors since they were in their twenties, so they were always getting the better grades, better jobs, better advisors and, therefore, better LORs. I'm not saying they aren't smart, but I think I'd be at that level too if I had that access to books and critical scientific thinking from a young age.
There is a million reasons why graduate schools don't accept students: funding priorities, class diversity.... maybe they don't have someone working on your academic interests right now and aren't able to provide that for you, maybe there is no funding for someone with your specific profile, or maybe... it's just the elitist US education system spitting you out. And I don't think we should be hurt when THE SYSTEM is at work. Maybe lets be joyful instead that we're not getting sucked in right away, before we have time to create a critique of our own.
Also, this:
 

Oh I am, every finger is crossed to get off the waitlist!

Reading gradcafe on a regular basis was pretty unhealthy, and for me the best thing was to just check once or twice a week. Hard the first few days but man the anxiety goes way down.

After seeing a rejection from UC Davis on the board I e-mailed them....still haven't heard anyting back :/ here's to hoping it is good news (even though it doesn't look like people are ever admitted this late).  

To the discussion above and all the up/down votes.  I think we've done a great job up until now being fair and supportive of everyone.  Let's not ruin that because people are commiserating over what they see as an opaque admission process.  We might disagree with the content or the conclusions they've drawn, but rather than being mean we should be constructive.  This is an incredibly stressful process and, as everyone knows, no one really knows why some people get in and others do not.  Just be fair, stay constructive.  
Best of luck to everyone still waiting to hear back this week!  And congrats to those who have choices to make!  

People are upset right now, they just realized that it isn't going to happen...don't kick a man when he's down.  There are more constructive ways to say the same thing and that's all I'm saying.  This has been a great community to turn to as I've gone through this process and I'll be back next year if my waitlists don't work out.  I think we all can stay respectful, however.  How is it our place to tell another person to give up on their dreams?  More to the point, I wasn't taking sides.  Just trying to point out that we are going to hear more of the "it isn't fair" as people get bad news.  Please, please don't drag me into the arguement. 

People are upset right now, they just realized that it isn't going to happen...don't kick a man when he's down.  There are more constructive ways to say the same thing and that's all I'm saying.  This has been a great community to turn to as I've gone through this process and I'll be back next year if my waitlists don't work out.  I think we all can stay respectful, however.  How is it our place to tell another person to give up on their dreams?  More to the point, I wasn't taking sides.  Just trying to point out that we are going to hear more of the "it isn't fair" as people get bad news.  Please, please don't drag me into the arguement. 

How have you all responded to emails informing you that you've been placed on a waitlist? This is my first experience with being waitlisted so I'm not sure how to respond/what the proper etiquette is. I would really like to know what my position on the waitlist is (if it is ranked at all) so that I can know what chance I stand of making it off the list, but is asking about the ranking of a waitlist frowned upon? And would letting them know that I have other offers to respond to be a good idea, or something I should avoid? 
The program I was waitlisted at was my top choice, but I'm now struggling with thoughts that perhaps I should attend one of the institutions that I have already been accepted to since they were more interested in me. I'm already having a tough time deciding between the two that I do have acceptances from. The thought of possibly having to wait until the day of the deadline to hear whether or not I made it off the list sounds torturous. Any advice on this situation would be appreciated. Fellow waitlist angst is also welcome here!

To the discussion above and all the up/down votes.  I think we've done a great job up until now being fair and supportive of everyone.  Let's not ruin that because people are commiserating over what they see as an opaque admission process.  We might disagree with the content or the conclusions they've drawn, but rather than being mean we should be constructive.  This is an incredibly stressful process and, as everyone knows, no one really knows why some people get in and others do not.  Just be fair, stay constructive.  
Best of luck to everyone still waiting to hear back this week!  And congrats to those who have choices to make!  

People are upset right now, they just realized that it isn't going to happen...don't kick a man when he's down.  There are more constructive ways to say the same thing and that's all I'm saying.  This has been a great community to turn to as I've gone through this process and I'll be back next year if my waitlists don't work out.  I think we all can stay respectful, however.  How is it our place to tell another person to give up on their dreams?  More to the point, I wasn't taking sides.  Just trying to point out that we are going to hear more of the "it isn't fair" as people get bad news.  Please, please don't drag me into the arguement. 

Adding to the discussion, I'd like to recommend Fabio Rojas' book, Grad Skool Rulz: Everything You Need to Know about Academia from Admissions to Tenure. It's only $5 to download as an ebook. I've had my eye on it for a while and downloaded it this morning. From what I can tell, it has quite a lot to offer in a blunt and constructive way. Fabio teaches sociology at Indiana.

People are upset right now, they just realized that it isn't going to happen...don't kick a man when he's down.  There are more constructive ways to say the same thing and that's all I'm saying.  This has been a great community to turn to as I've gone through this process and I'll be back next year if my waitlists don't work out.  I think we all can stay respectful, however.  How is it our place to tell another person to give up on their dreams?  More to the point, I wasn't taking sides.  Just trying to point out that we are going to hear more of the "it isn't fair" as people get bad news.  Please, please don't drag me into the arguement. 

People are upset right now, they just realized that it isn't going to happen...don't kick a man when he's down.  There are more constructive ways to say the same thing and that's all I'm saying.  This has been a great community to turn to as I've gone through this process and I'll be back next year if my waitlists don't work out.  I think we all can stay respectful, however.  How is it our place to tell another person to give up on their dreams?  More to the point, I wasn't taking sides.  Just trying to point out that we are going to hear more of the "it isn't fair" as people get bad news.  Please, please don't drag me into the arguement. 

To the discussion above and all the up/down votes.  I think we've done a great job up until now being fair and supportive of everyone.  Let's not ruin that because people are commiserating over what they see as an opaque admission process.  We might disagree with the content or the conclusions they've drawn, but rather than being mean we should be constructive.  This is an incredibly stressful process and, as everyone knows, no one really knows why some people get in and others do not.  Just be fair, stay constructive.  
Best of luck to everyone still waiting to hear back this week!  And congrats to those who have choices to make!  

To the discussion above and all the up/down votes.  I think we've done a great job up until now being fair and supportive of everyone.  Let's not ruin that because people are commiserating over what they see as an opaque admission process.  We might disagree with the content or the conclusions they've drawn, but rather than being mean we should be constructive.  This is an incredibly stressful process and, as everyone knows, no one really knows why some people get in and others do not.  Just be fair, stay constructive.  
Best of luck to everyone still waiting to hear back this week!  And congrats to those who have choices to make!  

Hello Olive, 

I don't know you but I want to simply tell you to NEVER give up on your dreams. If your dream is to be a trained sociologist studying and writing on gender (just an example), GO FOR IT. Of course, we desire admissions into a top 20 program but it doesn't always happen. However, during my research, I have noticed that a number of top professors in different sub-fields did not come from "top schools." It's my assumption that their passion and quality performance landed them in tenured positions at top tier schools. 
If you are not admitted this year, no worries. I have a really good friend that applied to PhD programs three years in a row and got into his top choice plus a Fulbright on the last try. Here's the kick, he meet his future professor on a park bench during a conference. She then advocated for his application, and no he is in his last year at an Ivy with groundbreaking publications. 

It's often at the point that we're about to give up, that we're closest to reaching our goals. 

I am in a similar position. I didn't cast a wide net because I jumped in the cycle VERY LATE and I don't foresee acceptance but who knows. 

I was always told to BE UNDENIABLE. 1. Try to get a publication. 2. Strengthen your GRE scores. 3. Get personable yet strong recommendation letter.

At the end of the day, do a bit of soul searching and figure out why you're in the game because if you're in it for the right reason, NOTHING should deter you from reaching your goal.

Best Wishes.    
 

Hey! I applied to Ohio State and on the website my status says pending. When I called the department this week they told me they are actually still making some decisions. Hope this helps! 

To the discussion above and all the up/down votes.  I think we've done a great job up until now being fair and supportive of everyone.  Let's not ruin that because people are commiserating over what they see as an opaque admission process.  We might disagree with the content or the conclusions they've drawn, but rather than being mean we should be constructive.  This is an incredibly stressful process and, as everyone knows, no one really knows why some people get in and others do not.  Just be fair, stay constructive.  
Best of luck to everyone still waiting to hear back this week!  And congrats to those who have choices to make!  

People are upset right now, they just realized that it isn't going to happen...don't kick a man when he's down.  There are more constructive ways to say the same thing and that's all I'm saying.  This has been a great community to turn to as I've gone through this process and I'll be back next year if my waitlists don't work out.  I think we all can stay respectful, however.  How is it our place to tell another person to give up on their dreams?  More to the point, I wasn't taking sides.  Just trying to point out that we are going to hear more of the "it isn't fair" as people get bad news.  Please, please don't drag me into the arguement. 

To the discussion above and all the up/down votes.  I think we've done a great job up until now being fair and supportive of everyone.  Let's not ruin that because people are commiserating over what they see as an opaque admission process.  We might disagree with the content or the conclusions they've drawn, but rather than being mean we should be constructive.  This is an incredibly stressful process and, as everyone knows, no one really knows why some people get in and others do not.  Just be fair, stay constructive.  
Best of luck to everyone still waiting to hear back this week!  And congrats to those who have choices to make!  

People are upset right now, they just realized that it isn't going to happen...don't kick a man when he's down.  There are more constructive ways to say the same thing and that's all I'm saying.  This has been a great community to turn to as I've gone through this process and I'll be back next year if my waitlists don't work out.  I think we all can stay respectful, however.  How is it our place to tell another person to give up on their dreams?  More to the point, I wasn't taking sides.  Just trying to point out that we are going to hear more of the "it isn't fair" as people get bad news.  Please, please don't drag me into the arguement. 

To the discussion above and all the up/down votes.  I think we've done a great job up until now being fair and supportive of everyone.  Let's not ruin that because people are commiserating over what they see as an opaque admission process.  We might disagree with the content or the conclusions they've drawn, but rather than being mean we should be constructive.  This is an incredibly stressful process and, as everyone knows, no one really knows why some people get in and others do not.  Just be fair, stay constructive.  
Best of luck to everyone still waiting to hear back this week!  And congrats to those who have choices to make!