First of all, this thread feels like therapy <3
I also applied to 4 Phd programs, and a master program, and received only one rejection from a Phd program as of yet. I know that I was the second choice of a professor in an Ivy League, but he had funding for one student, and that student had some publications, while I had 3 years of lab work and a summer internship in US with a very well known professor in my field, who gave me a LOR, but no publication. So I am assuming rejections from the other 2 Phd programs, and will see about the tuition waiver of the masters program (which is not very likely, honestly)
There are two things that's bothering me so so much; if my application was as competitive as to be the second choice of an Ivy League program, how come I never received any interviews from mid-tier schoold that also fit my research interests? I really don't understand how this system works at all. And secondly, as an international student, I really did everything I could-the gre, the internships, the SOP etc-, but there are so many handicaps! Despite being in the best university in my country, which is also an American university, we don't write a thesis in undergrad, and we usually have no opportunity for poster presentation as an undergrad - that 'privilage' is usually reserved for masters or phd students, and also the travel costs tend to be very high- let alone a publication. I really feel like in order to get accepted, the stars need to align a certain way, and then some more.
I am sorry for venting, but really, if there will be other internationals reading this and feeling better by doing so, it would be enough.
