spamhaus

I'm really starting to freak out a bit. Acceptances are rolling in from GATech and CMU and I haven't heard anything. Anyone else feeling anxious and wanting to chat? I've started an irc channel on freenode.net named ##gradcafe. If you aren't an IRC person, you can even get on with a simple web client like Kiwi IRC. Hope some of you are up for chatting, I could use the support right now :-D.

Thanks! That's a big help.

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply a false dichotomy. I agree it's probably better to hear back, especially since I was expecting the rejection considering I didn't get an acceptance last week. Thanks for the kind words.

Yeah, I wasn't a great fit for the professors there anyway, so I understand.

I'm really glad you were able to confide in someone. I wish you the best!

Careful what you wish for. I was expecting to hear back this week as well... and I did. It was a rejection :-(

Congrats!

Just got my official rejection from UT Austin.

What you have already mentioned is unfathomably bad coming from someone in a position of power over your career. If there are worse things you haven't mentioned, I would implore you to seek help, especially if you state these are likely reportable offenses. It is really beginning to sound like you may be an abuse victim. I urge you to seek professional help.

I have a friend who just completed her Clinical Psychology PhD in her fifties, so it’s never too late.

Yes. All the schools I'm applying to are in my signature line. I take it you're applying there too?

I'm starting to get nervous. If acceptances happen around the same time they did last year, that means next week is when most of the first round acceptances go out. Getting an interview has been great! Unfortunately it doesn't provide much in the way of assurances, especially since the POI I interviewed with mentioned how unconventional my application is. I already knew I didn't fit the norm, but it's entirely different to hear a POI say that in an interview... I just want an acceptance this week so I can finally calm down.

Wow, that is truly abhorrent behavior, but sadly I have seen this pattern before. A friend went through something very similar with an abusive advisor. Interestingly the advisor had singled her out for this treatment, as other advisees were not treated in this way. She actually went to the department head and discussed the situation. In the short term that made her life a living hell as her advisor retaliated. In time though, as the advisor’s behavior became more objectionable, the department became quite concerned. In the end that professor was asked to leave the school. The department worked with my friend to salvage her dissertation such that she could graduate. Considering the sympathy you received from the department head regarding your comprehensive exams, it seems they are likely to take your claims seriously. I would speak about the experiences you mentioned having and your concerns. Specifically ask what the department can do to help mitigate the fears you brought up regarding sabotage (this may involve having a trusted professor or even the department head on your dissertation committee). As I mentioned, the professor may retaliate and that can make it very difficult in the short term. Make sure you have a strong support network. In fact it may help to set an appointment with your school’s Student Counseling and Psychological Services. Talking with someone can help ease the pain. Of course it is always possible that none of these measures will effectively insulate you. Just look at the massive scandals of the past and present (Larry Nasser at MSU & Jerry Sandusky at Penn State). People in positions of power knew and the individual was able to continue their vile behavior. I sincerely hope that will not be the case for you, but it’s best to go into this understanding that even people in leadership positions are susceptible to clouded judgment. As I said I am sorry to hear about your experiences and I wish you the best of luck!

Haha, I find myself doing that same thing at times...

Heard back from a POI at UMass Amherst. I'm on cloud nine!

I just got my first interview request! I think now I am no longer worried about my prospects. I just had no clue if my application would be given much weight since my field is so oversaturated. A huge weight has been lifted. I really hope everyone gets that same feeling, because it definitely made me feel dramatically better. Good luck all!

That’s great news! Congrats!

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully it works out with the other professors you're interested in!

Thanks for sharing! I really needed that dose of reality. I am determined to get my PhD, and no matter what happens this cycle I know I will get a PhD in the end.

Looks like UT Austin has started sending out acceptances... I haven't gotten one

It's still early, don't lose hope?

I just got this generic email from MIT EECS: Thank you for applying to our graduate program in EECS at MIT. Our graduate admissions committee is working diligently in the evaluation of all applications. We wish to share two pieces of information with you.1. Admission notifications will be issued over a period of time and completed by the end of February.2. For applicants who are admitted into our graduate program, ourvisit days begin the evening of Tuesday, March 6th and end late afternoon on Thursday, March 8.Thank you again for your submission.

Congrats! What subfield of CS are you pursuing?

I can imagine the stress. Glad everything worked out well!

Congrats! What venue? I'm hoping to get a submission in for ICML 2018.