PhD_hopeful_

That is normal.

I just came across this convenient side-by-side comparison of the J and F visas on the Berkeley International Office. It mostly just confirms what we've already said here, but it's nice to have it from a more official source.
 
http://internationaloffice.berkeley.edu/students/new/fj_compared

Still Waiting to hear back from SUNY Albany's PhD Program in Chemistry.  Results should be out around March according to previous results.

Congrats!  That is a good school and good location.  I do recall reading that stipends and tuition assistantships are available.  Your stipend should go far in that location.  https://chemistry.buffalo.edu/graduate/financial-support/

Why would a member of the graduate committee contact you to let you know they are reviewing your application and talk about their research and state they are open to questions regardless if you choose their lab or not? Would this mean my application is favorable or am I reading too much into this?

Thanks for your feedback. Fingers crossed!

You shouldn't be comparing Yale vs Princeton, you should be comparing specific faculty and research groups that you want to work in (and have openings for you). You also have other schools with strong programs on your list. 
Past a certain point, prestige of the school and department means a lot less than how well connected your specific mentor there is, and how good of a mentor they will be to you. 

I just got my first acceptance and it is one of my favorites.   Now I can finally sleep at night and not stress over waiting because I have a funded offer at a program I like and what more can you ask for?

Sounds interesting indeed.  My graduate degree was biotech in nature and I totally enjoyed working with LC-MS.  I guess we are working in the reverse of each other lol.  Me starting out in biotech and moving to forensic and you starting in forensic and moving into biotech.  Hahaha!  

I got accepted to FIU for the PhD in Forensic Chemistry. 

Congrats! That's a program I looked at myself since my undergrad is in Forensic Chem, before I decided to go a different direction.

I got accepted to FIU for the PhD in Forensic Chemistry. 

I got accepted to FIU for the PhD in Forensic Chemistry. 

I got accepted to FIU for the PhD in Chemistry, Forensic Science track.

I got accepted to FIU for the PhD in Chemistry, Forensic Science track.

Congrats!!! 

Congrats!

I got my first acceptance and it's to my top choice! I can't believe it, I didn't expect to get in, let alone this early. I'm scared to accept the offer in case I wake up....

All I want in 2018 is a fully funded offer from any of my schools! I'm not even picky, just one!

Congrats!

When I came to this forum, I had 7 applications out there. All 7 are settled up and I have made a firm acceptance. When I started the process, one of my mentors suggested that I put other applications out there for backups, because my 1st choice was so competitive. I am so glad that I did this because it was a smart move and good practice for me. However, none of my 'backups' worked out and I have my 1st choice. It's a really good school. I will be an international student (yay yay yay!) with full funding (yay yay yay!) in a 4-year program (yay yay yay!). So I am about to get the "full experience" in terms of being older, living abroad, AND doing my PhD! What's even better - and I think this is where age really comes in - I will be working with exactly the advisor that I want and doing exactly the research that I want. Having worked, I know this is where I need to be in order to advance my career and do what I love. 
I'm 32, female, and I have over 16 years of professional experience (started as a young engineer), as well as a terminal masters from a great school - and 6 first author publications in my specialization. I work in high tech (artificial intelligence). I know that there are many really awesome and competitive people coming up these days who are 10 years younger than me. And not very many of them bring to the table what I bring. I know I am academic material because I've proved it to myself over and over again. I don't have to doubt myself and I am also not cocky. I know what it takes to make a team effort work when no one on the team gets along. I know the value of mentorship and the value of my education. I know how to teach myself what I want to learn. I have vision for research that might work, what it takes to get working, and what is worth re-working from the past. 

I am always a little nervous when a new person comes into the company who is fresh out of PhD and 30 or under. They get a lot of responsibility without (in my eyes) any experience to back it up. I also work with someone who is 39 and just finished a PhD - that person brings wisdom, patience, team skills, a fresh perspective, and mostly just patience! It goes a long way. It's like someone wiped the ego right off, and I for one appreciate it!

Just wanted to pop in and wish you all the best of luck this app cycle! You’ve all worked so hard to get to this point; try to relax and enjoy your holidays. Interview invites will come!