YES!!!

Very good advice but you know it's tough to let go and have faith. Particularly for those who are applying after some earlier attempts. It's a very crazy situation but I guess there is nothing to do but somehow hang in there. I think within a couple of weeks everything will fall into place for everyone so even if this time is tough, it's temporary. I really wish the process was less brutal but it's a simple case of demand and supply in this steam of study, isn't it? Good luck to everyone and remember, this too shall pass!

Personally I think you MUST visit the campus before accepting. This is where you will live for the next 5-6 years. You HAVE to love the place, the lab, the people - everything. If it is possible to make the trip, please do so. Just hanging around the lab (legitimately of course and not lurking ) will give a really good sense of how things function there. There is nothing worse than being stuck with a group or a place you don't really relate to. And if after visiting you still think it's the best place for you, then of course start looking for an apartment that you love as much as your program

If you like a program and find out from the data of previous years that is available that you can live with the stipend they offer, then I think you can pretty much say good bye to all other interviews lined up. Too much time, money and stress goes into the travelling and preparation for the interviews and if you prize them less than what you already have, it doesn't make much sense enduring the ordeal. But be sure that there is an actual offer on the table before you decline the other interviews (as I'm sure you have already). Good luck and many congratulations!

Your strike rate is amazing. Getting interview calls at 11 out of 16 is incredible. Now to just close on your top choice! Good luck!

I was reading somewhere that getting admission into a Clinical Psychology PhD program is more difficult that any other admission at the graduate level. More difficult than getting into law school, medical school, engineering school - anything. Getting in ANYWHERE is a fabulous achievement. Well done. Now go out and do some incredible research!

Given how ruthless the scrutiny is at every school, you should absolutely banish the thought that you tricked anyone into giving you admission. This cycle the admissions process has apparently been brutal. There have been a greater number of applicants this year than ever before. So if someone has offered you admission, it is because they think you are the perfect fit for them. Nothing else. And admission depends on so many factors that have nothing to do with your specific skill sets that I don't think anyone should take a rejection personally. You have got one. That's the exact number of places you can say yes to. So say yes and congratulate yourself. You have done the (almost) impossible

That's really amazing 8Bit. I guess there is nothing you can do about the other interviews lined up for the moment but just interview everywhere you have been invited. How fabulous it would be when you get the chance to compare several offers before picking the best one. Congratulations!

Berkeley confirmations started being sent out at the end of January / first week of Feb itself. You may want to mail them to check your status there.

Honestly you can only just sit it out and wait to see how the final admissions list looks like. What will be, will be. No need to get upset about anything. You've done the best you could. Now it's totally out of your hands. Why fret over something.that you have no control over at all? I hope you get into the program of your choice this cycle itself. Good luck!

I think you have every right to connect with your POI to clarify any doubts that you have about accepting the admission offer. Honestly it will be good for both of you. Its a 5 year journey (at least). It's crucial that you are totally aligned with the lab you choose to join. No one minds answering questions really. If you can speak with some grad student in that lab first it might be more helpful but definitely you should feel free to address all doubts before taking a final call. Congratulations on the multiple hits. Hope they are all so good that the final decision about where to finally join gets really difficult for you to make

I wish there was a way to know for sure what works. I have basically put it down to being lucky. It is a given that we are all prepared going into the interview, we are all good enough to be there, we all know our stuff. What happens next is a function of chance as much as of anything else. Perfect present fit, future fit, great GRE's, strong publications, brilliant LoR's - God alone know what makes it works. Sometimes people with all of these also end up getting sidelined for some reason. So honestly, there is no straight formula that applies here. BUT I hope that all of us have greater luck in the process than we had even hoped for!

5000 times is just the right number of times you should say thank you on being accepted. It is a great moment for you and you should enjoy it to the fullest. Picking which offer to accept is the only sort of acceptable anxiety one should have to endure this season. Many congratulations

Great points 8bit. Much more valid than my understanding! Hope your interview related travel situation is all sorted out?

From the little that I know, the most important thing is to have strong publications and a perfect fit with the lab you want to be admitted to. Again, I am not an expert but I would suggest reading through all the publications of your desired lab you can find online, particularly the ones with your POI as first or second author. See how closely what you want to do is aligned with these papers. Then write to your POI explaining what you want to do and how that work will take forward the work being done in his /her lab. Your published researches will establish your ability to do research and place you at a level where your research competence will not be questioned (if at all something like this is done!). It's also about getting lucky. Your cohorts may be strong one year, not so strong another year. It's just so many things that must come together that it's crazy. In any case there is still time. Hopefully some interview calls will come through still. Good luck!

Wow. Given that you are faculty, there is the possibility that some of you could be reviewing the applications of some of us here. THERE goes my chance of making a good impression during the interviews!!!! But on a serious note - thank you and sorry for having caused so much inconvenience!