realllllJulia

Got accepted to Minnesota!

Got an email from Berkeley to check the status of my application... and there was an acceptance letter waiting for me!!! I'm in disbelief right now.

Fuck waiting.

UPDATE: Was accepted to University of Delaware! 
First ever acceptance! Third round of applications - don't give up if you really want it!

Something that I don't hear talked about much here is the environment of the two types of departments. At UW, you'll be in a school of public health, and most of your fellow students will care about making an impact to genetics/public health in addition to statistics and professors will be very involved in large biomedical research collaborations. At CMU, more students will care about math, computer science, and a wider range of research - a much more liberal arts environment. 

I sent thank-yous everywhere I visited, both to the faculty, admin's and grad students I met.

More of a "Thanks for taking the time to meet with me, I really enjoyed talking to you about your research, I found XXX part particularly interesting", etc. More of a way to thank/start a dialogue with them at the same time.

Thanks to the grad students for time with you (if they spent it) and the admins for setting things up are also nice.

I'm not currently a PhD student but I am applying for PhD programs for this fall and am currently finishing up my master's. I have been contacted by other students asking about coming to my current master's institution and it isn't awkward at all and I was happy to answer any questions they had.
I have also reached out to PhD students at all the schools I have applied to and they have all answered me super nicely and with a lot of detail when answering my questions. They all say they are super happy to answer questions and have been helpful with any follow up questions I have had since my initial email. They are busy though so some will answer quickly and others will take a bit to get back to you. My suggestion in your email is to be super polite and preemptively thank them for any input they have to your questions. Also one thing I included in my email was something like "If you have any other information outside of the questions I asked that would be helpful to an potential new student in your program I would love to hear what you have to say." Not everyone took me up on that but some did and expressed things that I would have never thought to ask about (like one student letting me know how the dating scene is in the area).

Received an email from Michigan biostats to setup a call this week to go over my interest and details of the department.
 

Michigan SPH gave me a phone call this morning regarding my MS Biostatistics application.
For those who applied for MS Biostats program there, the decisions should be out next week.

The first thing I do when I wake up : Check my email &  Go to "Result Search" section and type in my field to see if someone else got an offer from the schools I applied to ..
This whole process is seriously killing me! 

After months of incredibly anxious waiting, I opened my email this evening to find an on campus interview invitiation!!! I whooped excitedly, haha. I’m just so happy to know that I have some sort of chance. But now I’m nervous about what to expect for an on campus interview ?

Just got Purdue acceptance today. Anyone else interested in Purdue?

It's February now. 
Hope something great will happen soon. Finger crossed.

Personally, I treated it like a job interview, and sent a thank you letter to both POIs who interviewed me.  I thanked them for their time and reiterated my interest.  But otherwise, I left it.  I don't want to come across as "needy."

That said, I do think that, regardless of the choice they make (and you make), you could reach out to the professor after the decisions and ask if you could schedule time with him.  I think most schools don't require one's dissertation committee to be all faculty at your school, so you could end up with him there, if you choose to go elsewhere.  I'd say something like, "Although I won't be attending <school>, I did enjoy our conversation, and I have a lot to learn from you.  Would it be possible to skype periodically about where our research is?  Perhaps I could even help you with <paper you're working on>?"

I'm writing up a review of the weekend because that's the topic I most wanted to see a few weeks ago.  Based on conversations with other interviewees, I was not alone in that desire.
 
How I got invited:  I received a personalized email mid-morning on January 10 inviting me to the Open House weekend.  I contacted the designated travel agency within an hour and the flights were finalized quickly.  Then I stumbled around in a daze for the weekend intermittently panicking before I pulled myself together and started preparing.  
 
General advice:  Re-read your statement of purpose, think about what your letter-writers may have written about you, etc.  Basically, know yourself and know what they know about you.  You will be asked a million times why you want a biostatistics PhD, so have a coherent answer that also happens to be true.  Prior to applying, I had put a lot of thought into why Harvard was a good fit, who I might want to work with, and (vague) possible dissertation topics with each potential advisor.  It is not guaranteed, but I ended up interviewing with every person I identified in my SOP (plus a few others).  Even if we did not cover it in the interview, it helped ME to know that I had read their most recent papers, knew the titles of current grants (check NIH RePORTER), and could articulate how my previous experience and background might fit into their research plans.  The department has a relaxed atmosphere and is much, much friendlier than I expected, but you still need to do your homework.
 
Weekend structure:
Thursday
I arrived Thursday afternoon/evening and hung out in the hotel room with my roommate. Our interview schedule was released via email some time Thursday evening. (This is not the department being tricky.  It became clear on Friday that nailing down faculty schedules is an administrative nightmare.)  My hotel had terrible internet, so I did minimal research on the 2 interviewers not in my SOP.
 
Friday
This is a full day!  Current students take you to campus, so don't worry about how to get there.  Be prepared for 25-minute walks in the cold to and from campus.  Once at HSPH, you'll get an overview of the department and PhD program followed by some short research talks.  Lunch is served, and interviews commence in the afternoon.  Mine were mostly very informal conversations, but they are a lot like speed dating and you will get exactly zero time in between to reflect on what just happened.  My 3 SOP interviewers had obviously read my whole application, while the others likely skimmed it (at most).  No one grilled me on whether I could handle the coursework or tested me on statistical concepts.  However, I had prepared a way to clearly explain what relevant research I had done before, and that definitely came in handy again and again.  Have an answer to "What are your career goals?" that shows both self-awareness and flexibility.  Figure out ahead of time what you think you need to learn about the department to make a decision.  For the informal conversations, you'll need to gently steer the conversation so that you get answers you want.  Have an unending supply of questions for the inevitable awkward moments.  After the interviews, you'll stop at the hotel and head to dinner with current PhD students.  This is your chance to ask about qualifying exams, get some info on good mentors, assess if the stipend is livable, etc.  We headed out to a bar with current students afterwards.  (Don't get drunk -- even if it doesn't make it back to the admissions committee, it's not the right way to make a good impression on future classmates.  Talking about your rough Friday night at Saturday brunch is also a bad idea.  While I'm sure the faculty have all been there and done that, it shows that you can't separate your personal and professional lives.)
 
Saturday
The brunch is your last opportunity for faculty interaction, but you will probably be too exhausted to make the most of it.  Spend some time beforehand assessing what questions you could still need answered.  Almost everyone else will be out of them, and asking questions about the program can help smooth over the distracted "Ahhh! I have so much to think about!" silences.  Afterwards, I explored Boston until my flight left Saturday night.  If I had to do it again, I would choose to stay until Sunday.
 
Costs:  I paid for taxis to and from the airport, but that will be reimbursed.  Hotel was pre-paid by the department.  Other than the taxis, Saturday afternoon snacks and activities were my only out-of-pocket expenses.  My biggest financial burden was purchasing appropriate clothes.
 
What people wore:  On Friday, there were only a few people in suits.  For the most part, women wore sweaters/button-ups and dress pants and men wore dress shirts and slacks.  Pick a professional outfit that is also comfortable and warm.  The "tour" portion was entirely indoors but included lots of stairs, so wear high heels only if you can manage multiple flights of stairs in them.  A few people changed into nice jeans for Friday dinner, but most people stayed about the same level of dressiness.  Saturday brunch is more relaxed, but most of the applicants were still not wearing jeans. 
 
"Am I going to get in?":  I have no idea.  If you've been invited to the Open House, this is the question you want me to answer the most, but I can't answer it (even for myself).  The department initially said the interview weekend would have 15-20 students, but 22 interviewees were there.  So at least this year, it seems like they underestimated interest in the program.  If they still have 5-10 (?) international students to add, you can see how 15-18 spots might fill up quickly.  You do have a chance, though!  Far fewer people had the superstar Ivy League pedigrees I expected, and no one gets invited just because of a 4.0 GPA or great GRE scores.  Every single interviewee got picked out of that application pile for a reason.  Figure out what your reason is (try asking your recommendation writers if you can't identify yours), and see where it takes you.
 

Everyday I check my mail, way beyond 5pm in their respective time, because you know, maybe they work late. It's so crushing as another day passes, constantly questioning your self worth(don't!). but today, nearly 8pm on their time, I got an acceptance. Relief! It feels good, hope you all get the same feeling soon.

re: @lpulicefarrow's  comment, the final approved version of the tax bill actually maintains graduate students' current status, so our tuition will not be taxed. (Source)
Some good questions to ask would be: 
What is your mentorship style?  What has been the career trajectory of graduates from the program/your past graduate students specifically? What are your authorship policies?  What qualities or experiences make a student successful in the program? In your lab?  What kinds of supports are available in the program/department/university for graduate students wanting to learn how to apply for funding? Any questions about the funding package that you may have, e.g., will you be provided with summer funding Any specific research-related questions about one of their papers you have read Contact information of current graduate students in the lab Some questions that were relevant for me, that may not be for you: 
For my Master's thesis and/or dissertation, will I be able to collect my own data or will I primarily be doing secondary data analysis? (many POIs already  had large longitudinal data sets) Are there opportunities to collaborate with other faculty members and/or graduate students? How about with faculty outside of the program/department?  
Keep in mind that interviews are all about information gathering. You want to get a good feel of the program and what your experience in it will be like just as much as they are wanting to get to know you and your strengths/weaknesses. It is always better to err on the side of caution and ask questions about things you may not even consider to be relevant at this point in time, because down the line you may have several programs to choose from and making the final decision will require you to look at those kinds of details.
Also, if you don't get enough time to ask all the questions you have, don't worry about it. You can always email your POI to set up a phone or Skype call to ask any lingering questions.

Hi all!  I've spent the last two years traveling monthly for work, and spent the first year forgetting at least one essential item.  I created a super generic packing list.  Most of these items are pretty obvious, but I know especially in high anxiety situations, I'm more likely to overlook things.  Anyway, thought I would share the list I've been using for interviews in case someone else would find it useful!

Electronics: 
- Laptop
- Laptop Charger
- Headphones 
- Cell phone charger

Clothing: 
- Suit 
- Blouse
- Back up interview outfit
- X outfits for X days away
- Pajamas (Especially if you're staying with grad students or sharing a room!) 
- Undergarments 
- Socks 
- Professional shoes 

Basics: 
- Toothbrush 
- Toothpaste 
- Floss 
- Deodorant 
- Makeup bag 

Travel Size Versions of:
- Shampoo
- Facewash 
- Moisturizer
- Lotion

In my purse: 
- Wallet
- Passport 
- Driver's License
- Emergency Cash
- Travel Binder including Plane/Train Ticket Printed, Hotel information, Itinerary
- Padfolio with Resume/CV, recent abstracts of POIs work (as well as notepad for list of questions to ask at interview, write notes about program, etc.)
- Lint roller 
- Tide Pen 
- Nail File/Polish 
- Granola Bar 
The last step is remembering to grab my suitcase on the way to the airport!

To piggyback on @rising_star , I also take notes during interviews. I have a small notebook (fits in a purse so less awkward, yay) and ask if it's alright if I take notes before pulling it out. I also write some of my questions in the notebook before the interview so I can reference them at the end when they ask if I have any questions. If I have to look down, I make it clear that I'm still listening to what the person is saying (nodding my head or noises of understanding, if genuine, are good here). I might also star a note if I think of a question that I want to circle back to later. Generally, I focus on making the interview as much a conversation as possible while keeping my questions in mind so that I can make good transitions to get answers to my most important inquiries. If you're taking a bit longer to finish a note from the last thing they said, you can use transitioning language while you get those final words down (reference what they just said and add a personal comment and, if you can, turn this into the transition to your next question). Ex. That's an interesting point about x. I would have thought it would have been y. Since it is x, [insert next question here].
 

This might be appropriate here.

Still waiting so I guess this kind of imagination will help.
I will run out of the classroom or my office and call my parents though they are hours ahead. Then I will post it on social media, share it with my close friends, and get myself a drink.
If it happens during a class, I will let the professor know in person right after the class, as both of them provided letters. If it happens at work, I'll tush out to grab some snacks and share the good news with everyone. I'll try my best not screaming out at either place.
I find it a good idea to order mugs or t-shirts. Will do it definitely! 
I guess I will do nothing the rest of that week, though I will keep pushing myself finishing my thesis.
After I finally calm down, I'll start to plan my moving and find a new apartment.

I had the interesting experience of getting two acceptances in two hours today.
For the first one I called my dad like immediately, and emailed my mentor,  and called/texted other people too.  I then went to my tutoring job and between sessions got another email but then got back to work.  After work, I surprised two of my rec letter writers in person with the news.  I spent the entire afternoon calling/emailing/texting the news to those I hadn't heard.   I opened my graduate school acceptance bottle of champagne and gave myself the afternoon off for homework.   I almost cried tears of joy like a million times today.  The first time it was because I knew I was going to graduate school,  the second time because I realized that it is more likely someone will get into an Ivy League university than someone to get a first round acceptance to the UT Austin stats program,  and again when I realized I cracked the top 20.  I have waited two months basically, and almost every day I feared that I would get no offers.  I literally had the what if I don't get in conversion YESTERDAY with multiple people.  Now everything else is gravy.  I have two funded offers now, am on the shortlist for another and have 6 more places to go.  I can now say with confidence that I will be attending graduate school.  And that is an amazing feeling.

This is what I did.
I was coming home from getting my blood drawn when I got an email notification that my status had changed and to check the website. I proceeded to spend the entire drive home (only about 10 minutes) freaking out and coming up with every rejection scenario possible. Once I got home, I checked the status, still freaked out it would be a rejection. I couldn't believe it when I read Congratulations. I just sat there in shock for a few minutes and then my anxiety turned to elation. I was filled with restless energy and may have done a few laps around the house. As soon as my parents were awake I went to their room and said, "Guess who's going to grad school."
My father got a confused look on his face and said, "Why?" -__- He meant, "what brought you saying this on" but still. Anyways, I let them know I received an acceptance, high fived them both, then proceeded to text everyone I know, haha. I also printed out the acceptance and made them read it (partly because yay acceptance and partly to make sure I wasn't hallucinating). I also emailed all of my letter writers and thanked them. I then randomly said, "I got into grad school" at both of my parents for the next couple of days, multiple times a day.
I have yet to post about it on social media because I'm trying to get a job, but most people who know me know about it, haha. 

@Woolworth thankfully yes! 

UNC sent email this morning. They seem to send a big batch over a few days starting around this time.