PokePsych

Your strategy is exactly like mine - I am only applying to programs I am very excited about, most of which are very competitive. As a Brazilian, I don't see the point in moving to another country to do a PhD in a department I am not very excited about. Although this strategy is certainly risky, it is the one that makes the most sense to me as an international applicant.
Best luck with your application!!!

Agreed. I am an international student too. I only applied to the programs which are nice research fits. It is a 5-year commitment, I don't see the point of applying/going to a "safe" school, if it is just for the sake of a PhD degree. 

I honestly agree as well. I think that fit is always the most important, however a range of schools might be something to consider. Personally, my research interests were broad enough to afford me a range of schools that fit me well (in my opinion, and hopefully the ad com's opinion as well  ), so I applied to a ones across a range of competitiveness.  But yes, I agree it's important to be excited. I can't imagine investing so many resources and applying to programs I didn't really care for just for the sake of getting in. 

Do you want to do a PhD or Master's? 
In general - to do a PhD you need to do a terminal Master's first. Then you'll do interviews for the PhD's as it is generlaly approached more like a job than as a student.
 
AP scores, SATs, nobody gives a shit about that (they don't exist here so schools don't evaluate them). Some schools may assess your GRE (but extremely rare) and generally, they will assess the level of ur undergrad institution, the courses you took, and your grades for assessing whether you're qualified for grad school. As you're paying tuition to them (and you're competing for a handful of tuition wavers, although some institutions have none) and on campus work is generally rare (often students are not allowed to work a lot on a student visa), you're generally not really an investment to the school but rather you bring money. Often you're also not taking up someone else's position - so I wouldn't worry too much about the competitive element.
For languages - this varies per school. Some offer all English programs. But be aware that if you would like to do an internship or smthing you will have a seriously big disadvantage if you do not speak the local language. Also research how internships are approached. In my country (Netherlands) it is extremely hard to get an internship AFTER graduation due to certain tax/insurance regulations which make enrolled students a lot more attractive as a candidate. Another thing to consider is visa opportunities in the country after you graduate. Do they have for example a 'search year visa' or do you need to find a job right out of grad school? How is the job market in that country (and also for students/part-time work/internships), etc.

Stay another year abroad; join a lab here, learn the language, publish at least 2 of my manuscripts that I'm working on, and 2/3 that could be worked into a publication. We'll see. 
I've always wanted to open a coffee/teahouse where I make fresh stroopwafels  I think I have a market here for that tbh. 

Nothing that positive is happening for me right now, but I have found this thread which I really like  Your efforts are strong and inspiring to me.

Rumor has it she may actually be running (well everything better than this orange clown really...)
 
 
My boyfriend decided to not really look into finding  a job anymore. Rather he will become rich with his cryptocoins.....

Rumor has it she may actually be running (well everything better than this orange clown really...)
 
 
My boyfriend decided to not really look into finding  a job anymore. Rather he will become rich with his cryptocoins.....

I haven't heard anything - maybe we're too impatient. I'm just frustrated lol - taking toooooo long

person who heard from UBC please let me know - I'm not sleeping well anymore

Man do I not miss middle school.

So far Northwestern, UCLA, and Berkeley seem have reached out... My schools seem 'silent' so far.
 

Sometimes I'm happy that my native language has a formal and informal way of speaking and it is considered impolite to speak to anyone you don't know well/higher in the hierarchy/older or same age in an informal way unless they tell you so. I even talk to my grandma in a formal way and still feel uncomfy addressing my profs by their first name even though they tell me too lol. 
 
I've noticed this in class so many times though... and it still bothers me. But I have a feminazi in my group so the few guys who used to do this generally got verbally attacked (that and her raging war on evolutionary psychology or any sorta thing that proposes gender differences)

Also note that for a PhD in Europe you're usually required to have a (research) Master's. They're generally attained seperately from the PhD. 

I started a positivity journal in which I write all the positive things that happened at the end of each day. That way, I won't feel so depressed if/when I get rejected and I can find positivity in the little things.

All I can say is it is going to be OK and you will grow stronger out of it. I've moved half way across the world to a country I didn't even speak the language and it's been the best decision I've ever made. I'm moving again in a year to a country I probably haven't even been before or at least a city I haven't been before. Works for me. Adventurs are fun. There are people that you'll click with everywhere. Join a club, go on meetup.com, focus on what you gain from the move. The eventual challenges will become struggles, they won't be fun. But- speaking from experience - that will pass too. 
 
Enjoy!

Happy Birthday! In my timezone you're probably already 25.

These PhD Application thingies make me tooooo stressed. I'm constantly second guessing myself and doubting myself and shit. 

I can second that love comes at unexpected times.
I met my boyfriend of 4.5 years when I traveled to his country for well-travelling. We met through an online community platform (I couldnt read Korean at the time, so meeting someone for lunch and chatting seemed a good idea). Fell in love as soon as he opened his mouth (he has a really nice voice) when he came down the stairs in the subway station where we were supposed to meet. I was not looking for love at all, I was about to finish undergrad and had big plans (that later turned out to be impossible due to my 3-year undergrad which is common in my country), plus long-idstance and cultural differences. Well.. turns out I just still like him more each day. 

I love my part-time job. This is a first. Always feel happy to go there <3

I love my part-time job. This is a first. Always feel happy to go there <3

I know this is my second in a row...but this really hit me. Some stranger cleaned the snow and ice off my car this morning. Just because. I could cry, that was so nice...

After the venting thread, stress, and other forms of despair I've seen at this forum - let's share something positive that happened to you today. I'll start.
 
My mum bought me Ben & Jerry's ^^, 

I did it after they submitted - but I have fairly informal and good bonds with all of my refs. I send them some pretty bookmarkers as I am abroad and it's sort of a nice craft they have here (just google Korean bookmark; I also picked one with a design related to scholars haha). Plus they're small and light so easy to ship Got very positive responses back. 

There is no harm in asking professors if they can write you a GOOD/positive letter of recommendation (if not sure). I've had a short fall-out with one of my LoRs in the past but we talked it out and we're totally OK (plus I saved two of his projects so he's very favorable now as he almost lost his grant if I hadn't pulled through and revived the projects). I asked him about it very directly and he was totally OK with everything and said that even though we had that it should have been a good learning experience for me (and we worked it out professionally) and he certainly believes that I should be in a PhD program based on our work together could certainly mention a bunch of things that would make a strong, positive letter.