nixipixi

@TakeruK thank you so much for your answer. It has indeed opened my eyes to the benefits such a process could provide!

I really don't understand the process anymore. I am an international student in EE and where I am from the PhD starts by selecting a supervisor/Lab who is willing to take you. Then you apply (which is basically guaranteed if your intended supervisor approved) in the US, everything is in reverse! First you have to get accepted to the program. Only then do you start with the selection of a supervisor, but nothing is guaranteed! I may have wanted to work with Prof. X but end up working with Prof. Y?! Can someone explain the logic behind this process?

Ok, so for some weird reason I waited until everything was decided until I posted. So here goes: Undergrad Institution: Foreign University (Israel) Masters Institution:Foreign University (Israel)Major(s): EE (4 year program)GPA in Major: BSc: 87/100, MSc: 92/100Position in Class: near topGRE Scores (revised):Q:167V: 162W: 4.0TOEFL Total: 117Research Experience: over 6 years R&D research in Industry 3x 1st authored papers, 2x 1st authored conferences, 1 patentAwards/Honors/Recognitions: nopePertinent Activities or Jobs: TA, very diverse research experience due to my jobSpecial Bonus Points: female, pursued MSc while working full time+ being a momApplying to Where: all PhDs - MIT, Stanford, Caltech, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard Both acceptances are with fellowships. was interviewed at Stanford but didn't get accepted. Assume rejections from all else.

When I talked to some admission advisers, they seemed to anticipate the huge volume of applications they were going to face. It doesn't change all that much from year to year. However, they did indicate that the process is somewhat iterative: meaning they recommend on applicants, wait to hear form the professors about those, go back to checking other applicants and so forth. Not to mention having a "wait list" (declared or undeclared) in the case that some of their top picks reject the offer. So yeah, totally annoying to be in the dark, but it's better than a flat-out rejection cause at least you're on the "good list"

Many thanks to all those who participated in this discussion (except @CoyoteBlue, who simply dished out her own frustration...not cool) especially @AP for your sound advice and logical reasoning and also to @Entangled Phantoms for "giving it to me straight". To clarify, I got over it and am moving on. Had to mope for a few days because I have faced quite a few rejections in the past (significant and not) but this one was unique: I got to the interview phase, I thought it went really well, and I got my hopes up....mistake. I understand there are many factors for choosing the "right" grad student and I simply did not fit that square. That's fine. All in all I think everyone is entitled to mope for a bit for valid reasons and less valid reasons. I may not always agree or understand...but I try not to judge too swiftly. Good luck everyone, hope there are a lot of admits in your future (you too @CoyoteBlue) Cheers.

thank you guys, this helps a lot!!!

Ok, I'll start by saying that in many ways I am very lucky. I know that. I got accepted to some of my top choices this season, and I am very excited to be starting a PhD this coming fall. However... The rejection of some grad schools keeps me wondering...why wasn't I good enough? The issue seems even more absurd since I know for a fact that I am not a typical candidate for various reasons (I've also been told that by every interviewer/POI I had talked to), so I may not be everyone's 'cup of tea'. My friends tell me I am being ridiculous... I got accepted to some of the best schools in the world and I am bothered by those which didn't. Will I ever be doomed to focus on the bad and not on the good? Has anyone experienced this type of feeling? could sure use some coping strategies.

In the same boat...not sure what is going on.

Didn't receive any indication as to the name/amount of the fellowship. I was instructed to wait for the admission packet for additional info.

got the email on Feb 3rd, I just mentioned EE because that's my field, not because I know of any difference in the admission process. good luck!

I also received an acceptance email (I'm EE not CS) My email was without the string of names, and my name does NOT appear in the above list as well. I got a slightly different letter stating I am also awarded a first year fellowship. Congrats to all who made it!

To the gods of admission committees, please put us out of our misery! (not to be petty, an unofficial acceptance from a POI will also be great!)

Yes, I am an international student. It appeared on my applyweb status (I only checked after seeing posts here). It appeared after 2 interviews with POIs that went well and before an additional skype interview with a non-POI. Who knows what it all means at this point...

I am applying for the EE PhD program and I had to send originals as part of my application as well. This is an additional request I think...but I am not sure it correlates to being admitted.

I had a chat with a POI from Princeton last week. He told me they started interviewing about a week ago. I am not sure if they interview all of their applicants. Good luck to you!

It's Sunday... Why can't I accept that it's a Sunday, and no amount of checking my inbox/spam folders will do any good?? It's like the anxiety is exponentially rising with each passing day! I fear I will reach a complete meltdown before this is over

It's so nice to realize there are others in the same boat! I am 30+ and applying to engineering PhD programs. I finished my MSc while working full-time (which took forever). I also got two young kids so I have my hands full. I met with some students in potential groups I'd like to work with and I felt like their mom (They are closer in age to my 5 year old then they are to me!) The waiting is killing me...I'm an international student so any acceptance will bring with it numerous problems such as visas, relocating, finding educational programs for the kids, work for my husband (Gahhh....I should stop thinking about it....so stressful). On the other hand my kids keep me busy and when I'm with them my brain can't focus on the uncertainty. I completed my application process (GRE, TOEFL, papers) while on maternity leave, writing well into the wee hours of the night. It was a huge effort for me, as I was barely getting any sleep as it is. I couldn't have done it without the support of my husband, though I do feel like I'm starting to drive him crazy with my "what if" questions Hang in there...the wait will be over soon.

I have tried baking...great hobby (BAD for my expanding waist line) I have tried reading...but I keep looking at my phone in case I get an e-mail I have tried sports...(that works only for the duration of the workout...not efficient enough as a distraction but at least it partially counteracts the baking hobby) I am now a little (a lot) obsessed with checking the results forum Probably going to get fired by the end of the month if I don't start getting my act together

spam folder: twice inbox: ALL THE TIME!!! (I'm with RevTheory1126 on this) But really, I probably won't be able to function at all come February...

I'm in photonics/optics

Yep. Got a similar mail. Good luck everyone!!

An email about interview slots was sent a few weeks ago claiming applicants would be notified untill January 15th. I am wondering if the actual interviews have not been scheduled yet or whether I just didn't make the short list...?

Wow, I just googled "Impostor syndrome"! It's a match...had no idea it was that common (other than in my head). I am not sure this is exactly a comfort, but again, good to know I'm not alone. Thanks for the good vibes!

It's really good to see that I am not alone with my "destructive thoughts". Thanks everyone for your kind words, sympathy and good advice (.letmeinplz//). I am developing a (hopefully) temporary schizophrenia: Me:"My applications is not good enough, everyone is better than me" Me:" No, wait, I have a lot of achievements. I can get in, They'd be lucky to have me" Me: "But my GPA is too low...they probably have tons of applicants far better..." and so on and so forth... If these thoughts don't go away by the time I get some acceptances/rejects I'll go see a shrink.

I have become a shadow of myself. All I do is fret, obsess and rethink every word on my applications. GAH, I hate myself this way. My dear husband sent me a message earlier I'd like to share: "If you have the courage to make it through a lonely night with nothing but your self destructive thoughts to keep you company, darling, you have the courage to make it through anything" Hope everyone is doing better than me at this point.