I'm new here. I must say that I am relieved to have found a group going through the same things, as no one in my peer group here currently is.
I got my first rejection yesterday via email, and it is devastating. I stupidly only applied to two schools, a reach (which I have not heard back from at all, not a peep, despite my own email to check up on my application) and the school that rejecegtd me, which I really thought I had a good chance of getting into. It is extremely disheartening, and I do not know what I'll do for a year while I wait, especially as options to make my apps stronger for next year are limited (lack of jobs in the field in my area/maxing out my student loan availability and class options here to continue doing research). I am sort of at a loss right now. Thanks for listening.