[2017 Acceptances]

4 minutes ago, Zelda said:

I just got into my #1 choice--University of Oregon! Perfect fit & location for me/us! So so relieved right now.

 

2 acceptances & 3 still unknown (they send out decisions very late evidently). I AM FREAKING OUT. haha

Congrats Zelda!!! Just curious, was it a personalized email, or did it seem like it went out to all who were accepted? 

[2017 Acceptances]

Anyone want to claim the Oregon acceptance!? Would love to hear more information! .. 

[Venting Thread]

8 minutes ago, Wyatt's Terps said:

Indeed. This forum is a blend of light-hearted banter, serious advice, legitimate camaraderie, and rampant anxiety, but beneath all of those things is a layer of vulnerability, because we've all spent countless years of education, thousands and thousands of dollars, and an extreme amount of time and effort to get to the point of applying to graduate programs...programs that take a small percentage of worthy applicants. Beneath everything else, the process is extremely serious, and shapes our lives, in large part defining the paths we will take for the next several decades. Pranking on decision results is not even remotely funny, but is instead rather cruel, and I hope the person who created those false acceptances (or purported to create those false acceptances, which is just as bad) has it sit heavy on his or her conscience for awhile.

 

I second all of this. Those ostensibly fake posts have just added a layer of confusion to the already anxiety-inducing waiting process.. 

[Venting Thread]

13 minutes ago, imogenshakes said:

I thought this would be the case for me, too. My advisors were also worried. Both of my degrees are from the same third-tier public uni, and I have average GRE scores, etc. etc. They were all shocked when I told them I was accepted with full funding + some at Madison, Davis, and SB. Last year, a friend from my cohort had a nearly clean sweep of 10 or so programs and ended up at a top-10. So needless to say, I think pedigree matters less than fit, and your WS, SOP and recs will show that better than anything else. 

And yes, I recognize my top three schools aren't Ivies (I didn't even try), but I feel like three top-30 schools is a good record coming from my uni, where most who go on for their PhD go to the third-tier uni 1.5 hours away.

I guess I'm just trying to encourage you all not to worry. It may carry some weight, but I think it matters less than you think!

Thank you! This has lifted my spirits a bit! Although I'm beginning to think of my applications at top-tier or ivy league programs as throw-aways at this point. I fear I may have shot too high - luckily, I still have a few "low(er) hanging fruit" schools left to hear from, so, fingers crossed!! 

Your season looks like it's been incredible - congratulations on all of your amazing acceptances!! 

[Venting Thread]

1 hour ago, la_mod said:

About a year ago one of my profs told me that no one from my (state) school had ever gotten in to a good PhD program so I might as well not bother applying, and I'm beginning to feel like she was right, that I've been stupid to think that I could break the pattern, etc etc etc. 

I am also extremely worried about this.. Both my BA and MA are from small(ish) private universities, and while it could be an issue of fit or less than stellar GRE scores, I'm starting to worry that this lack of prestigious pedigree is going to invariably keep me out of any and all notable programs this season and in the future.

[The PhD Lifestyle]

1 hour ago, Bumblebea said:

I was also routinely asked by people (men) in my grad program if I was planning on freezing my eggs any time soon. One guy even recommended that I forgo the PhD program altogether so that I could have kids. That was actually sort of creepy and unreal, and not funny, to be honest.

No, not funny at all. It makes my blood boil just reading this. I'm sorry you had to be exposed to such blatant misogynistic idiocy. 

[When silence is fantasized as a waitlist]

1 hour ago, Captain Cabinets said:

Same here, and I'm also still hoping against hope for Columbia. Considering the lack of interview, though, I should probably just accept it for what it is...

I too am not completely writing off Columbia; the speculation on GC forums about subfields either interviewing or not interviewing has instilled in me a (very) tentative hopefulness..  

[When silence is fantasized as a waitlist]

Emerging from the shadows here and finally going to post -- I've had a really rough admissions season so far with only rejections. Still have a few more schools to hear from but is it crazy to hope that I'm on some kind of waitlist for Brown? I looked at the results board and haven't seen any posted waitlists this season or any of the previous years.. So maybe they just don't notify people who are on the waitlist? Thoughts?