Anxiously Hopeful

oof, this thread is beautiful and so necessary. i'm dealing with a breakup + i keep having dreams about getting accepted into grad school and dreams about getting rejected from grad school and i can't even tell which one makes me feel worse when i wake up because i still don't know anything :/

I have a Spotify playlist called “Songs that make me want to DANNNNCCCCEEEEE” and it has helped me through these mentally troubling times. I always dance my stress away (well, some of it, anyway)! 

"Stay up on that rise
Stay up on that rise and never come down
Stay up on that rise
Stay up on that rise and never come down Mama said don't give up, it's a little complicated
All tied up, no more love and I'd hate to see you waiting
They say it's all been done but they haven't seen the best of me
So I got one more run and it's gonna be a sight to see.." -High Hopes by Panic! at the Disco.   Which song is helping you brave the waiting period? ?  

Considering my plan B is staying at my dead end job for another year, I feel your pain!  Still, I wouldn't overthink not having heard anything right away from the schools.  Did the person's claimed acceptance line up with that program's usual acceptance window based on past years' results on the admissions search here?  I wouldn't feel too worried unless you get to the point where the primary wave of acceptances for all of your schools has gone been over for a few weeks, and even then there are possibilities of late acceptances as @vaibhavpandey said.  Remember that in the US, accepted students have until April 15th to make a final decision on all of their offers so if you're waitlisted (officially or unofficially) that's another point where you might get some good news if you're a borderline acceptance case.  So keep your head up!  You definitely seem to be a very qualified candidate from a numbers perspective.
In terms of a plan B, it's always good to have one.  Last year when I was unsuccessful in applying I spent time thinking about how I could best improve my application for the next year.  I finished my master's thesis and my MA degree, presented my work at a conference, and spent a lot of time polishing my writing sample and statement of purpose.  I also found the job that I have now which isn't glamorous or a long term solution, but pays the bills for the time being.  If you're serious about going through another application cycle if you don't get in this time around, I would begin thinking about a plan B and how to make yourself a more attractive candidate for the next time around.  Work on your writing sample, stay current with research in your field, try to find activities that boost your CV.  If you can find a job related to your field for the next year, all the better!  Basically expect the best, plan for the worst.  Even if you get in this year, these activities will help keep you busy while you wait for the programs' responses.
Good luck to you and everyone here; hopefully we'll all be headed to our dream schools this fall!

I feel the exact same as you....
Its really early stage for application but it still kinds of bothers me of not having any mails.
 

You should be hopeful and it is not over until it is over. Unless you get a rejection letter from University, hope is still there. Last year my friend was admitted with full funding offer in one university which rescinded the offer a month later citing lack of funds in department!! She had applied in eight universities and got rejection from 6 while got unfunded offer from another university. It was disappointing for her. To her amazement, she got funded offer from both Universities in Mid June, which was very very late. Somehow she went through the visa process and yes, she is a grad student in a very good university. 
In all fairness, keep your fingers crossed, I am also on the same page as you are but with slightly different circumstances. My 2018 was not that great, I couldn't get visa after securing admission, so I am part of process once again. With all the qualities you have, I am sure even if you do not get a favorable response, you would do something productive and good.