anthbug

Are you applying for MA or PhD programs? 
My best advice is to try and find a few specific areas of research you're interested in within those broad interests, and then find articles regarding those areas. Who is publishing those articles? Look at the professors recently publishing in those areas and find out what schools they are at, and if the schools offer graduate programs. It's much easier to find schools that way. 
Others in this forum may have similar interests and may be able to direct you to a few programs!

Not sure who has the authority to do it - but this thread should be pinned! This information is vital for future applicants.

Ya... It's getting ridiculous 

Is it just me, or is the results board being flooded by spammers? 

Hey, I'm 30 and just got accepted to a couple of "top schools" in the US. I'm from South Asia, and have been the top my of my class through my undergrad, MA and MPhil. The first time I applied to grad schools abroad five years ago, I did it because I thought it was obvious that I had to. I applied to some big names, and to some not so big ones. I got rejected out of every single one. It was very difficult for me to accept, and I had a tough time battling with the constant self-doubt and anxiety that came with it.
I already had an offer from a top school here so I stuck to it. Academia everywhere is very hard, and given my mental health issues at that time, I really struggled to work my way through a PhD. I quit within the year and vowed never to come back to academics.
I continued to work on what I wanted to, though - I found different ways to do it. I ended up working with some amazing people and organisations, and had an extremely inspiring journey. By a strange turn of events, I found myself teaching and doing academic research at another top school in the country.
At the end of that year, I realised I wanted to apply again. I found my love for a subject I had never dipped my toes into (I was a gender studies student previously) and I was absolutely dreading it. I very carefully curated the list of schools I applied to - I only applied to people and departments that were doing the kind of work I wanted to; that had the same kind of politics I believed in. I told myself that if I had to go that far and start afresh, it would have to be because I really wanted it - not because it was something my career path demanded.
In spite of my excellent record, relevant experience and multiple academic publications over 6 years, I only heard from 2 of the six places I applied to. 
What I'm trying to say is - the most important thing is you, your work and going to a place that will make you happy. It may be a PhD, it may not. Don't let an acceptance or rejection from a grad school measure your worth. 

I got accepted to University of Illinois at Chicago! 

@Bschaefer Congrats!!! 
 
Is anyone else feeling like decisions are NEVER gonna come out? Seems like even this site is slowing down...

I was having a really really hard time at home (two deaths, flooded house, pneumonia) and I guess it was showing in my normally cheery attitude. So my favorite professor asked me to come into his office and he said "I just wanted to check that everything is okay" and I just broke down. I was a little embarrassed, but he was very kind and very very encouraging. I think about him a lot. I wrote him a really nice letter when I graduated.

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like a lot of ad coms are running slower than usual this year. Either that or I'm about to be rejected hard. 

Omg I just got accepted to Cornell with full funding + summers !! So excited! 

I GOT ACCEPTED AT PENN STATE!!! I LOVE THEM AND IT WAS GREAT AND I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL THIS FALL 

@Dalmatian Yes, I have had students cry in my office, usually in circumstances not unlike what you're describing. It happens. Not much you can do about an uncontrollable emotion that sweeps over you, so I'm glad to hear that your professor handled it well. 
@Berk Oh, that really doesn't sound healthy for someone in their first semester. I would strongly advise you to look for support elsewhere, be it through moving to another lab/supervisor or by simply finding a mentor who isn't your advisor. It can be an advanced student, a faculty member, maybe someone in a specialized support group (those exist!). But don't just keep going like this for too long, because you'll find it very hard to finish, and I'd personally question whether you should. A PhD is not worth 5 years of suffering. 

I think it is a great moment for you to realize that you begin to adapt your new life. I am a first year of Ph.D. and my relentless mentor made me cry 3 times. I already went through a mental breakdown and actually yelled at my advisor during one of the lab meetings. Thank God everyday if you have a supporting faculty around you. I was a very successful undergrad and had an amazing master's experience, but I have lost all my passion and ambition in the Ph.D. thanks to my mentor. You will be fine but I won't. That's why I am doing my best to live this goddamn place. 
 
 
 

I've been repeating the same thing over and over in my head ALL MORNING: It's a new week. It's a new week. It's a new week. Fingers crossed for (good) results to start flooding in!

When I did masters, where I was living made a huge difference. There was a gym in the building and a huge park outside so I had sunlight and could walk through it to get to the library. I also stopped working at night to avoid burn out. That really helped. I got into a routine with friends of meeting for coffee or lunch around noon everyday. That was the most important thing for me I think.

If anybody needs a little pick me up, here's a cute video of puppies doing puppy things: 
The anxiety has reached new heights! Complete radio silence from the five other schools that I've applied to. Argh.

Don't put so much pressure on yourself. Yale, Berkeley and Harvard are three of the most difficult schools to get into in the USA. Not getting in doesn't necessarily mean you are not good enough, it just means that this cycle they were looking for something different. Sometimes faculty alternate who gets a student, or funding is tight so they admit less than they wanted. If you don't end up with a successful application, I would recommend spending the next year getting a job or internship in your field as to get experience and possible publication credits. 
Crossing my fingers for your other applications. Good luck! Keep taking deep breaths and all will be okay

Just got an email for a skype interview at Brown with POI. Had basically written this application off since I saw other interviews go out last week. My subfield is linguistic anthro. They want to talk to me tomorrow! I am so scared...

POI contacted me after Penn State interview and said it went well! She said they have a site I can jump on with my project idea! Next week/week after, I find out if I'm a finalist. Wooo!

So, I noticed that someone from one of the schools I applied to searched for my thesis and viewed it online on Jan 8th... that must be a decent sign, eh? At least they took the time to look me up! Regardless, it made me happy that someone is even remotely interested in my work. It's the small victories!
Anyone else have any small victories this week? 

The anxiety is real! Sigh, here's to the beginning of yet another week... 

The anxiety is real! Sigh, here's to the beginning of yet another week...