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Nah... So annoyed by this. But in good news, my school sent out an interesting looking research internship through the mailing list. It would be so cool to do, since I feel like it's rare to find any industry CS research opportunities without having a PhD.

So... I was interested in a program at this school and they had a dual-degree program for that department. As I was interested in this program, I applied to it and the dual program. However, as I'm looking into the dual program, it looks like it DOESN'T EXIST. I don't know why it was an option on their application, but it doesn't appear to exist outside of it. Since I paid to apply there, I'm trying to see if there's a way that I could switch that application to a program THAT ACTUALLY EXISTS. Sigh. I'm just worried as I'm having trouble connecting to the people that could help me as it doesn't seem as though everybody is back yet. I know review of applications has already started, so I hope I hear back soon. I feel like my interests are very interdisciplinary, so the programs that I am applying to all make sense, but I hope it doesn't make me seem unfocused. And I hope it doesn't like I didn't do enough research. I have certainly looked into the original program; I just chose the dual-degree program based on my interest in the original program.

Also, I'm actually glad that only one of my grads schools has a decision portal. I can't imagine checking the results page here and trying to check every one of my schools' decision portals. It'd be torturous.

For the first time, saw a result from a school I applied to. Fortunately, it was only one person not a bunch, so that makes me feel better. And honestly, it seems a bit early compared to last year, so I'm not worrying too much about it yet. This now makes it much harder to not become obsessive, though!!! I think I'm actually happy that school is returning. Distractions! I just wanna get in somewhere and let the senioritis slip in, haha. When I was applying to undergrad, I was binging The Vampire Diaries (no judging). But I made myself not go too fast so that when I heard back, I would have episodes left to binge those day (either as a reward or to drown my sorrows).

Haha, I've been gambling too. I turned down a job offer from one of the big 4 to apply (and hopefully, go) to grad school. I have a family friend who disagreed with my decision, and part of me just wants to get in so I don't get a big "I told you so." I would have taken it if they were able to offer me something more related to my research interests. It would be nice the have the backing of a job while waiting. That's one of my biggest fears. I'm sure as a CS major, I'd be able to find a job. But since I know I want to get a PhD, I feel like unless I'm doing something related to my research goals, it would be a waste of a year. And I'm worried that if I don't get in anywhere, I'll be stuck doing some random CS job that won't strengthen my profile.

Also, I think I'm going to try to stop looking at the results page as often as I have. I guess, I realized, I'm never going to find out good news from there. All it's going to do is make me stress out if I see that someone else has heard from a school that I've applied to, but give me no real closure. I'll check occasionally, as I would like to keep up to date on what's going on, but I want to stop being as obsessive as I've been. I feel like the advantage of applying to grad school is that I get to hear back earlier. However, the nice thing about undergrad admissions was that for most of the schools that I applied to, I had a good idea of when I was hearing back from schools, and when things happened, they typically happened for everybody at one time. It's just a bit unnerving that any day, a professor could potentially email to ask to interview (if I'm lucky ), which is why I think the results page is so addicting.

Right now, I'm like feeling Stanford and CMU are my favorites. But everything is SUCH a crapshoot. But I guess to elaborate on some of my feelings, I feel like GATech has the least fit for me. I like Cornell, but I'm worried about it being in such a small town, compared to the other schools I'm applying too. But then, I'm like, why am I worrying about which one I like better when I might not even get in anywhere??? Ugh... Part of me also wants to get accepted everywhere just so I can have fun free trips to schools, haha.

Oh, oops, haha! Wow, you applied to all of the schools I did (and more). I'm definitely feeling the wait. Do you have a top choice?

@spamhaus, where are you applying?

Ahh, yeah. I'm interested in machine learning and and specific applications, which narrowed down where I applied. Damn, that one professor. Hope I never meet someone like him.

Dang... Also, dang. I don't know if I could even find 30 places that match my research interests, and even if I could, applying to 5 schools stressed me out enough. I can't imagine having to deal with that many applications. But I find it highly unlikely that you won't get in anywhere, which I suppose was the purpose!

I've just heard that academia increases in discriminatory the higher up you go up. It's hard because I know discrimination exists, but I want to hope for the best out of the system. And at this point, I'd like to just worry about getting in, haha. Also, where are you applying?

Well, I haven't really heard anything. All I know is that they looked at my video.

So two things happened. I've happened to work at one of the universities that I applied to. Yesterday morning, I received a call from that area code and freaked out thinking it might be them. Turned out that it was just a call from a hospital that I'd visited reminding me to schedule a follow-up . But also, one of my schools asked me to submit a video, and I submitted it as a YouTube video. What I didn't even think about when I was submitting it was that I would be able to look at the number of views. My video just had a view yesterday... It appears whoever watched it didn't watch the whole thing, so I dunno what that means.

Oh, yeah. I was thinking about applying to MIT, but it was last minute and felt unfair to ask my recommenders so late. Also, I was on the edge because I would have applied to the Media Lab, but I've heard mixed reviews about working there. Apparently, it's a very different experience than most PhDs. I haven't heard back yet, though based on previous year's results, the earliest I'd likely hear back is mid-January. Waiting is not fun, but praying for the best.

Applying to USC, Georgia Tech, CMU, Stanford, and Cornell. Curious, what made you decide to apply only to MIT?

Yeah, there are so many psychology applicants on here. Much more than I was expecting. And as a CS applicant, I expected more of us since it's a booming major. However, I suppose the majority go into industry.

I think I would feel uncomfortable if I tried to bring up those type of things on my own, but, for me, if someone asks me, I guess I just say what I can say and let that be that. Also, yay! Another prospective CS PhD! Where are you applying?

I turned down a job offer in order to apply to grad school, so I'd really like to feel like I didn't screw myself. Also, being severely underrepresented in my field, it would be nice to ameliorate my representation in academia. It'll probably be around a month until I hear anything good or bad, so I'm hating this waiting process. It's hard because I'm a senior in college who wants to enjoy my last year in college, but there's also a part of me that just wants everything to speed up so I can figure out what I'm doing with my life. I only applied to 5 schools because I didn't want to waste time and money applying to schools where I didn't really want to go. I'm just hoping *again* that I didn't screw myself.

Anyone else underrepresented in their field? I feel like it makes the application process even more confusing. Like, I know it *might" mean something, but I have no idea how much it does. I think I have a decently strong dossier without that being considered. However, it'd be nice to have some clarity as to where I actually stand. And from what I've heard about academia and being underrepresented, there gets to be a point as you go higher up where the cons start to outweigh any possible benefits (i.e. discrimination in academia, yay!). Hoping this isn't that point... Actually, hoping I just never experience that, but I'm sure it's coming...

Based on results from previous years, it seems like good or bad, I won't hear from most of my schools until at least mid/late January, but I still have this part of me that is hoping that schools will randomly decide to let me know earlier than that this year. Anybody else?

Haha, that a GOT reference? I just submitted the last of my apps last night too. @DutchStudent, where all did you apply?

Welp, just submitted the last of my applications. Here's to the waiting process.

I applied to Cornell, Stanford, and CMU. Submitting my apps to USC and Georgia Tech today, and then I'm done.

Didn't see a post here, so thought I'd start one.