aloof

I figured I'd go ahead and start this thread. I know it's a bit early, but who's ready? 
This will be my second cycle. I was rejected from four schools this past cycle, but according to one of my favorite songs, "You've got to lose to know how to win" (Aerosmith /\A/\). I know what I need to do this time around. I'm ready. 
Were you rejected this year? Or will this be your first time? What schools are you considering?
Good luck everyone. A year from right now (2/24/17) we will have good news to share with each other. 

Hi everyone, this is my first ever post on here, though I have been lurking for two years, as this is the 2nd year in a row applying to PhD programs. I was rejected from all the programs I applied to last year, so I tried again this year. It's not looking good for me.
I'm really scared and not taking this well. I took the year to strengthen my dossier, finished my masters. I think it is still not enough, and I'm finding it a really really hard pill to swallow.
I know this sounds dramatic. But, it's getting to be the end of February and I got a "no" from CUNY and no word on anyone else (had an interview w/ POI at Stony Brook Uni weeks ago but nothing since; nothing from Boston College, Temple, NYU Steinhardt) and I can't imagine a future anymore where I'll get good news in my inbox.
I feel sick to my stomach and endless dread and I can't sleep. I have this nauseating feeling that I didn't get in anywhere again. I don't know why I'm writing this. I suppose it's cathartic and it's things that have been rattling in my head but I've never gotten to articulate. 
All I can ask myself at this point is: at what point do you give up on your dreams? I can't feasibly funnel more money or emotional energy into this. How far down the ranking of schools do I keep trying for until getting a PhD from just anywhere is unappealing?
I'm just thinking aloud and word vomiting. I'm...just terribly gutted and sad and am trying to come to terms with it. Last application cycle destroyed any and all optimism I ever had about this process. Ugh. Just ugh. I just so desperately want to know what good news feels like :/

Rejected from Michigan Ann Arbor. As sensitive a bean as I am I should not have checked my E-mail at work; I'm quite upset.

Can't submit for some reason, but denied by U of M by email. If anyone was accepted, I would love to hear your stats. 
 

I've been through B and C already (at a surprisingly fast pace) and have moved on to A. And I'm also trying to appreciate the gift of more time before I lose my life to academia again. 
@eloquentrivka - I would hardly take the small handful of rejections that we've seen (most of the folks I've seen on this forum that are already planning on the next cycle are those of us who only applied to 2-5 programs) as an indication that we aren't cut out for this route. I think, if anything, the drive to get back up and try again next time is an indication that we ARE made for this. Rejections come more often than acceptances for many things in academia - and life in general. Sure, if your GPA is low, your GRE scores aren't great, you don't have strong letters of recommendation, etc. you might want to consider looking at alternate paths...but I'm choosing to have faith in myself and my abilities. And I would encourage others to do the same.

Be sure to keep us posted!  I'm curious to hear, as well. 
I actually dreamt about checking my email last night for acceptances... Yikes. 

Be sure to keep us posted!  I'm curious to hear, as well. 
I actually dreamt about checking my email last night for acceptances... Yikes. 

Be sure to keep us posted!  I'm curious to hear, as well. 
I actually dreamt about checking my email last night for acceptances... Yikes. 

Be sure to keep us posted!  I'm curious to hear, as well. 
I actually dreamt about checking my email last night for acceptances... Yikes. 

Probably University of Michigan. I suspect they may take longer than prior years, because, if you look, they admitted 20 new grads last year! (Versus ~10ish in prior years) This year will probably have fewer acceptances, so they're going to be even pickier, and thus take longer. Or that's my theory, anyway.