lafayette

Congratssss!!! It's been quite the week and next week is sure to be just as intense !

Okay, I need to go have a drink, but on this -- JHU was a decent enough fit, but the professor that really seemed to take the most interest (we spoke on the phone) was well, surprisingly interested from what his own interests looked like on paper. (He does a lot with economic history, which I don't do). So while I think there needs to be some vague fit, you might be surprised. The perfect combination seems really hard to come up with. Czesc I am really rooting for you! I still think you're gonna get great news soon. (And NYU tends to be one of the last to notify).

Well, it has a mass-esque quality to it (like not super personalized), but it was just to me and you know, had my name and such in the body.

Actually. I JUST GOT THE PRINCETON EMAIL. So you win. Also is this a mistake?! Oh my god.

I was actually taking a run, listening to music with headphones when my iphone started blaring this horrible emergency warning siren noise, letting me know that a blizzard warning is in effect. The only other time it's done this to me was during Sandy, so it seemed a BIT melodramatic. Anyway, I've crossed Columbia off the list too. A shame, it would have been a good fit. (& therefore I'm now officially feeling like my other programs aren't going to work out either). Mostly I'm bummed because this finally means I'm leaving NYC after a decade. I love this town, but I do feel I was hoping to have the excuse to PhD it somewhere cheaper & less distracting... Congrats to those who heard good news today. Lucky ducks

Looking like no! Also -- there's going to be a major snowstorm tomorrow here in the Northeast -- or at least, the threat of one, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's relatively quiet in these corners.

Congratulations! That is amazing. What a great program. (And I am mighty jealous. Time to sign off the ole gradcafe and get some work done).

Yes, leave us a little comment! (aka leave us a little hope).

I know. I am eagerly awaiting Chicago as well! Based on past years it seems like it should be soon, but who knows. (They also do their rejections much later which will be painful). Also -- if you have gmail it's allll about the filters. You can filter irrelevant emails (that perhaps you don't want to totally unsubscribe from) to skip your inbox and go to another folder. There you can read it -- eventually, but it won't give you a "new mail" heart attack every few seconds.

I know that it's hard not to take the rejections personally (but do keep in mind that there are SO many factors in play for graduate admissions) but you got into Duke! You are obviously one smart cookie!

Really thought I was going to hear something today. The silence is starting to get to me! At least it seems very likely Princeton is gonna do their thing tomorrow (and break my heart, I'm sure). But I'm ready for news, any news! Who knew short little February could be so torturously long.

Click on the little drop down menu at the top of the screen where your user name is, click on "My Profile" and then "Edit my Profile" and then edit your signature (listed on the left side). If you want to, that is And congrats on your awesome acceptances!

Congrats!!

I mean, if I'm last choice at a tip top program but still get IN, I'll take it. If UPenn decides I'm number 25 out of 25 those they accept, cool. That said, I still just wish all programs would just get it all over with in one fell swoop.

I emailed AND called them about this (only because they took so long to reply to the email) and it's fine. They just still haven't uploaded them yet (yup...).

You need to be able to (modestly) live off of it, which depends on where it is. You should also consider if there are student fees (ask about this) that are not covered and that you would be paying out of pocket, as that reduces your stipend. How many years did they offer? (I'm not willing to go anywhere that doesn't give me 5 guaranteed). Consider also how much theyre going to make you work too, as in, what's the required teaching load. You can PM me if you want some sort of comparison, as I have a funded offer.

Berkeley also had the log in to be rejected business which I find even more impersonal than usual. Is it so hard to send a mass email these days? I am always curious about the stats but few places seem to disclose them.

I really appreciate this, safferz. I was expecting my Berkeley rejection (meh fit, crappy first application with messy attempt to get down to the 10 page limit) and being lucky enough to already have a great offer, it was okay when it happened. But the next day I woke up extremely pessimistic and nervous for the next week, feeling similar feelings to others here. A rejection letter is always so impersonal, so I just thought, wow, how will my application make it through at any of these programs which receive many applications. And I just thought that receiving nonstop rejections would just be the end of the world. But it's not, and it's not even guaranteed. Sometimes you get through, sometimes you don't, and it's based on a ton of factors, as you say. So I appreciate you sharing your own-post app. cycle wisdom. Just got to tell myself to CHILL. OUT. And am probably going to try to get back to my running training next week (although it's so cold here) to just get over these unnecessary undermining feelings. AND though I don't care about football at ALL, given my first two application results, I just have to say GO RAVENS.

Thanks, the interview did what it needed to do: got me in

I nearly forgot the most important part of interview advice: Immediately go out afterwards and have a good drink! (And don't think too much about what you COULD have said, or whatever).

I had a phone "chat" with JHU that definitely was an interview. A few things I recommend for interviews: Be able to discuss your research interests concisely, of course. But likely they will not ask "what are your research interests" straight out, as they have read your SOP after all. But in my case, it was elaboration of research interests and points I made in my SOP. So if you mentioned switching topics, or if your thesis was a little different from what you propose to work on next, be ready to discuss what brought you to shift. I really just advise having little 'narratives' thought out beforehand. For instance, what did you start with, what were the influences (generally literature or a course in which this literature was read), and why did you arrive at where you are now in your research interests? I had a 'cheat sheet' where wrote down a list of several personally influential works and their authors so I would not forget them in the heat of the moment (this helped tremendously! I know in times of high stress I tend to forget specifics that I would never would otherwise!). You've probably thought about your intellectual journey when writing your SOP, but just refresh yourself, and think of any points that might need to be elaborated upon (they'll probably ask you about them). Be able to concisely re-state what your future interests or potential for projects are, though I think particularly in the context of a chat it's okay to be open and honest about the fact you are following several leads and are not totally sure. I had the sense that my POI liked the way I was thinking it out and open to new possible areas. Likely they are going to ask you "Why [school]?" so have a few things thought out in advance (it's okay to reiterate something in your SOP, but maybe flesh it out a bit). Lastly, they're definitely going to ask you if you have any questions. This was another thing I wrote down, and I'm glad I did, as it came last and my mind was going in a million directions by that point. It's really the time to talk about their institution (this is the same for work interviews too), so it's just good to show you're curious about it. Plus super concise questions can totally make up for some unintended rambles earlier on! And it might be stressful because hey, you really want it, and perhaps you've never done a similar interview before, but I found that after I hung up I was super invigorated. It was great to talk about my research interests and have a professor I respected really take interest, at least enough to hear me out. I had dreaded the interview a little at first, but would welcome any opportunity to do it again. And it made me really look forward to going to graduate school to continue to have such conversations. Best of luck!

I bet you'll hear some good news and you'll be bqhatevwr-ing about any rejections soon enough. It does dull the sting. Speaking of which, congrats vigosloof! Everyone: It's Februaaarrryyyyyyy.

Honestly, I think that's just grad admissions checking off that everything is in your file. And has no bearing on your admittance! (I mean, if you didn't get stuff in maybe it would).

What letter does your name start with!?! Kidding, kidding. Hope I get a call, although the fit is pushing it. Congrats on your interview though!

Yay, kyjin! (My parents met at USC so I'm a fan Plus sunny LA!) I'm guessing that's one only the department can answer. I can see why this website is bad for the wait, oy. (Don't worry, I'm with ya. No interview.)