TheLearnedPig

Hey, congrats on the admit to Kansas State, particularly if its a great fit. Just wondering how you found out regarding IU? Did you contact them or was it an application update?

Received a wonderful email last night from Notre Dame. Offered admission with Presidential Fellowship. The admissions process has convinced me that project and fit are so clearly the most important element of the application assessed by committees.

Thank you, so glad to hear you are enjoying it! Do you mind if I PM you with a couple of questions over the coming weeks?

Aaaaah!! Got accepted to University of Michigan! Six years funding! Perfect fit! I would never have dreamt of this, and just needed to share with people who understand the trials and tribulations of grad school applications. ...Oh, and also just got rejected from Berkeley...

Keeping fingers crossed. Given the odds of acceptance to these places, a waitlist is a real achievement in itself.

Did anyone else think that the generic Northwestern rejection letter was quite poorly written?

University of Rochester are sending out responses, in case anyone is waiting... #rejection

This dispute might be the definition of 'first world problems'.

Good luck, @khigh Everyone can see how much this means to you, and I am certainly keeping my fingers crossed

Hi @rex-sidereus. I received a similar message, and replied with an email basically saying: 'thank you for your kind words and consideration...etc...please let me know if you have any questions regarding my application or its supporting materials'. You could potentially add that you believe it would be a good institution for your interests, and would be eager to attend if given the opportunity. But it all depends on how your correspondence with the POI has been thus far. Mine had been quite formal so I kept it that way. The message you have received sounds keen, so I wouldn't worry about expressing your interest in the program, without being too hyperbolic.

Thanks @FrankJEspin, that puts my mind at rest. Congratulations on the early admits to UNC and Minnesota, and best of luck with Notre Dame as well. It seems like you'll have some tough decisions to make!

Hi @FrankJEspin - Also received an interview invite from Notre Dame. Have you received the exact details yet? My email said they would be in touch in the coming days to arrange a time, however I am yet to receive this.

Many thanks for the kind words, @fortsibut and @asmhardin. I haven't had the chance to visit East Lansing yet, although there is mention of a visiting day in the letter and I will look into arranging this. I have actually only been to the US twice before, so this entire experience will be quite a leap. MSU is a great spot for my interests, they have got some "rockstars" in the animal studies world and I am excited to meet them. All I would say is have faith in your project and the fact that they will read your application. I have average grades, average GRE, an MA in a different discipline. What has seen me over the line is work experience and being a good fit. Many thanks again for the advice and messages.

First acceptance!!!! Michigan State (MSU) have begun sending out responses, if anyone is waiting on them. Best of luck everyone

Many thanks asmhardin for the advice. The decision making process feels more personal when it comes down to interview - I'm surprised more places don't do it. Your advice has been extremely helpful, the 'elevator pitch' is something we have all had to do, and I'll reflect on my project and its prospects beforehand. The only issue is that I have a strange tendency to go bright red whenever I do a video call...

On the subject of interviews, Notre Dame sent out interview invitations yesterday. I am sure there is discussion of this subject somewhere else on the forum, so I would be thankful to anyone who could direct me to that. Equally, if anyone has the time to provide some more general comments on the North American / Notre Dame PhD interviewing system, any tips would be most welcome. I am more familiar with the UK system of applying for existing funded projects rather than proposing your own. Many thanks for any tips and general comments you can offer, this forum has already been a great help.

Nothing from Notre Dame. Their deadline was the 4th January, so I am guessing that final verdicts will be some time yet. Judging from the results page, interview invites should start to go out late this week or early next.

My input for the Wisconsin debate: