LolJustAdmitMe

People always urge others to find hobbies or things to keep them busy as they wait for their admissions results BUT what if we treated the process like therapy and talked about??? What if you were allowed to get those thoughts out? Maybe you’d be less inclined to think about it every 10 min (if you’re anything like me, my friends and family are TIRED of talking about it w/me). I say we give it a try and make a thread dedicated to talking about what schools we want to get into, why, why it *MEANS* so much, our worries, or really whatever comes to mind during the application process...shamelessly(I can think of a million times where I held back on a thread b/c I was scared my emotions were overkill lol). Anybody???

Thank you for the clarification!! Hopefully it will end with an acceptance but like you said, it could be a long 6 months.

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Got into a Masters w/a 2.71 and horrid GRE scores (literally trash GRE scores). Got into an unfunded PhD program w/that GPA(which didn’t work out) and I’m currently waitlisted for a funded PhD program w/that GPA on my record. Definitely helps to get your Masters to help outweight the undergrad gpa!

I would say around mid-February-early March to start worrying, but even if you do receive an offer or invite to interview, still look at jobs and apply to a few. I have a friend *cough* it’s me, that got into a PhD program last yr but in late June was told I would no longer be funded (the program went bankrupt or something along the lines of not having enough money to fund students). In late June I had to start looking at jobs that were all taken by recent grads who probably started looking in March. Weird things happen, just apply to jobs to even get a feel of how easy or hard it can be for you. Just to keep your bases completely covered!

(I posted this in another area of the forum but I think people rarely go into the section of the forum, so I’m posting it here instead. Sorry!) I’m posting this because I haven’t been able to find a thread on being waitlisted (but if you know one, please share the link!) so my apologies if it’s an annoying question! I was recently waitlisted by my top choice and they stated that if an interview slot opened, they would notify me. Does THAT happen often? I’ve heard of waitlisting post-interview but not before. I would think everyone who applied would accept the interview invite and that the committee would select from that group being they take so few anyway...so basically I read the letter and counted it as a passive rejection. I am debating on emailing them, restating my interest and thanking them (as it’s suggested you do) but I’m feeling a tad pessimistic about my chances. What should I do?? Should I feel optimistic about this???

I’m only posting this because I haven’t been able to find a thread on bein waitlisted (but if you know one, please share the link!) so my apologies if it’s an annoying question! I was recently waitlisted by my top choice and they stated that if an interview slot opened, they would notify me. Does THAT happen often? I’ve heard of waitlisting post-interview but not before. I would think everyone who applied would accept the interview invite and that the committee would select from that group being they take so few anyway...so basically I read the letter and counted it as a passive rejection. I am debating on emailing them, restating my interest and thanking them (as it’s suggested you do) but I’m feeling a tad pessimistic about my chances. What should I do?? Should I feel optimistic about this???

I was recently waitlisted by my top choice and they stated that if an interview slot opened, they would notify me. Does THAT happen often? I would think everyone who applied would accept the interview invite and that they would select from that group...so basically I read the letter and counted it as a rejection. I am debating on emailing them and restating my interest and thanking them but I’m feeling a tad pessimistic about my chances. What should I do??

Yea...my family has been saying the same thing but a few of my schools have been replying early this yr and unfortunately I received a rejection today...so my reality is a little different then others :/// but I’ll keep my head up.

The irony. I just received my rejection.

Yes! I’m almost afraid to email them and ask if the application is even complete or not. Lol

Does this mean anything? I’m starting to see people have already gotten rejected and some invited to interview at the same program I’m applying to. Does this mean I’m probably a backup or does this only mean they haven’t see my app yet to reject or invite me?? I’m confused, yet lucky I haven’t received a definite ‘no’ yet (that feels so wrong to think).

Then you’ll be fine! Apply to as many programs as you can afford to, surprise yourself and pick schools your semi interested in (that’s what I did and the school I ended up going with I didn’t even care much about in the application process) and hope for the best.

If you’re going for MA, I wouldn’t stress it to much. I got into an MS program (Drexel) with a GRE score of 285 and an alright GPA(“alright” is prob subjective)....Yea. Just apply to less high ranked programs, tbh. The place where you’ll hit the biggest issues is applying for PhDs(also where I’ve finally hit my obstacles)...bc like everyone’s hinted at, there’s hundreds of spectacular apps being sent into ONE place.

Ugh...here! Trying not to panic as I watch people get interview invites from schools I applied to (for the record, I’m happy for them...at least trying to be!). This would be my 2nd round of apps to Clin. Psych programs so I’m trying hard to not be upset or take it super personal.

Update: I’ve officially seen another program I applied to is giving out invites. I hate to be pessimistic but I really don’t feel like things are looking up for me this time around, again. This is 2/6 Programs already becoming ‘no’s. It’s hard to accept but I don’t think I’ll ever get into. PhD program.

^^Same. The way I manage it is to reason through it all. I’ve looked at stats and even their past acceptance and rejections of each of the schools I applied to on the results page and then I tell myself “It happens”. Lots of great candidates get rejected/passed up and you can see that on the results page (some ppl post their stats and grades). It’s a humbling experience, truly. That in itself and reading articles about how difficult it is to get into PhD programs helps remind me of how BLESSED I would be if I got in but not necessarily worthless bc a lot of articles drive home that sometimes accomplished folks get passed up. One article gave a story about a candidate who was rejected after doing “everything right” and being “exceptional” in her studies and scores but when she called to ask the department and her Potential advisor why she was passed up, no one could tell after reviewing her file. Ultimately her potential advisor thought her file was great and urged her to reapply bc he just wasn’t sure why she wasn’t accepted. It’s a f***ing crap shoot. Try to find (discomforting) comfort in that!

It is 9:40 pm and I just checked the results page, only to see one of my top programs has already sent out their invites. I’m hurt. This hurts. Idk why I thought I had a chance but this really hurts. I know a lot of people’s programs have yet to send out invites but does anyone want to join me in this grieving process? Feel free to vent with me. Sometimes you just need someone who can feel the pain, too.

Haha Thank you! My field is clinical psych but lately I’ve been broadening my horizons to Human Development and Family Studies, Combined Clinical/Counseling Programs and Social Psychology to escape a little bit of the competition but still get to where I want to be. What about you?

Oh definitely. This is my second round of applying to PhD programs and I’m really praying things work out this time.

Nope *tear face* Two of my schools posted on their pages that they plan to notify students before/on the 15th. The rest seem to follow the rule of thumb you mentioned. But don’t be jealous, I feel 30 lbs heavier everyday wondering if I’ll hear back by next Friday (it prob makes it worse that one of them is my #1 choice?).

Work is literally no good. I feel like I speed through everything just to get done and see if I missed a call or get any emails. So far, no updates. That’s good for some programs, not good for others that will be sending out invites within the next week. Praying I’ll be less anxious and more excited by next Friday afternoon..

I shouldn’t have read this. Now I’m triggered and realized my computer has never once stopped me from writing ‘PhD’ *face palm*. If it makes you feel better, all of my SOPs have ‘PhD’ somewhere in them lol

Last year it was the Peace Corps or a job. Even the Peace Corps rejected me after interviewing (it was a rough year emotionally after that topped 7 PhD program rejections). Luckily I’m a licensed Therapist and working in a job I love now, so I’m not too hurt anymore. The year really took a turn for the best after June. BUT this year I am reapplying to PhD programs and the Peace Corps, again. 2nd time’s a charm, right? Lol

I appreciate the inspiration and push! This worked with Utah State today, as my professor was able to directly contact them and apologize. But for USC I’m an unlucky case (not really bc my app is still considered complete) b/c my professor did email the department and they stated, again, that the leeway period ended on the 5th...meaning they were refusing my LOR :/ I emailed them separately and I was told if it wasn’t received by (the 6th)Wednesday then I was out of luck. I’m sure because their Clinical program gets so many applications that they really could care less about someone’s app being complete lol(that’s just what I figure) and plus according to the past results page, they send interview invites before Dec. 15th so that also may factor into the short leeway period. But it is worth noting the other 6 programs accepted the late LORs without question! It really does seem to be based on the program and possibly their deadlines within the decision process.