1996kayden

I will update this in case it helps anyone in the future. Told my PI that I would be taking a calendar year off and he was concerned for my wellbeing but very supportive. Got the leave officially approved by the Dean. Apparently the policy changed so grad students can take up to 2 years off without having to reapply (and then reapplying is apparently more of a formality). So yay. Still not sure how it impacts something like the NSF GRFP, but I'm a lot less worried now. 

Late to this topic, but I was and will be a disabled applicant for 2021 again. It's tricky having medical disability that is so unpredictable and costly. I have noticed that most of the accessible programs/campuses are up-front about it (e.g. it does not take a great deal of work or research to find accommodation services, they have diversity programs that exist etc...) I have had the most success with being upfront about my circumstances with professors/supervisors/housing etc... 
The feelings of inadequacy, of "being behind" linger but I remind myself of how much I have accomplished in different realms than my peers. My path is going to look different, and I am okay with that. 

I started 1st year last year with a chronic illness myself--neurological, can get epic. It sucked major amazeballs. I was so stressed out from the move and the big city and trying to make sure I didn't fail. On retrospect, I learned several things I wish I knew earlier, including that I should have asked questions here on Grad Forum.
What I learned this last 8 months:
1) Your department chair can make or break your experience--find out which camp your chair belongs to. Mine was and is a lifesaver and had many great tips on navigating the system. When I finally confessed to him I was on the verge of collapsing from an ongoing chronic health problem, he looked at me and said "Well, what took you so long to ask for help? I'm paid the big bucks to help you through this! That's why I get the fancy office and wear the fancy tie!"
2) Ask for help, but be careful who you ask for help from. You will need people to support you, but not everyone will be your ally. Find out who your lifesavers are, treasure them, and always remember to say thank you. Learning to say sorry doesn't hurt either. Never apologize for your disability and/or health condition, but it's never too late to learn to say, say "I'm sorry I'm running late." Better to not run late, but being sick sometimes affects the space-time continuum. :-)
3) Know your limits, and know when to say, well, f*** you, I come first.
4) Do not overdo classes, no matter how tempting it is.
5) Talk to the disability office. They have some amazing services; maybe they have some suggestions on how to get diagnosed, or services they can recommend. Like I have a program that reads to me so when my neurological condition acts up, and I am quite ill, and can't read well. Like whaaat? The program reads to me. Yes, it gets pretty hilarious when it tries to read scientific words, but it still reads to me. 
6) Learn to laugh at yourself.
7) If you take medication (I do), don't forget. Always have some at home, on you, and in your office. I needed the emergency room because I, of course, forgot mine on exam day, and landed in the hospital. Got a nice lecture from my neurologist and paramedics. (if my drug levels drop, I'm in trouble)
8) Do something outside your program. Doesn't matter what it is. Run, swim, bake, see family, see friends, garden, party, volunteer, go to church/mosque/temple, watch movies, have sex, rock climb, travel, knit, play music, campaign for something, have a pet, paint, collect something, judge others, shop, repair cars, paintball, do yoga, whatever.
 
 

Dating. 
For the vast majority of my undergrad life, I was focused solely on trying to get into a PhD program in Chemistry. Now that I have achieved that goal, I would like to begin the next stage of my life, which would encompass earning the PhD and finding a long-term (if not life-long) SO. How difficult is it to manage a dating/romantic life while pursuing a full time PhD? 

I'll be attending the University of Virginia for their developmental psychology PhD
 
Self-imposed a torturous decision process after getting off a waitlist last minute, but think UVa will offer me the best personal support, opportunities to explore teaching, and ability to influence the lab's research directions.

I'll be attending the University of Virginia for their developmental psychology PhD
 
Self-imposed a torturous decision process after getting off a waitlist last minute, but think UVa will offer me the best personal support, opportunities to explore teaching, and ability to influence the lab's research directions.

I'll be attending the University of Virginia for their developmental psychology PhD
 
Self-imposed a torturous decision process after getting off a waitlist last minute, but think UVa will offer me the best personal support, opportunities to explore teaching, and ability to influence the lab's research directions.

I was offered a spot to a program last cycle. A combo of research interests, a poor funding offer, and a commute from hell led me to turn it down. I took a job as a lab manager studying vision development in children with eye tracking. Not exactly my main interests, but it helped me build programming and eye tracking skills and strengthened my application. It was hard to turn down an offer when I had been told "all you need is one yes", but I am SO glad I did. Even though over the year I realized the research interests of the offer I turned down were more on point than I thought, I am still glad. This cycle I had many interviews and multiple offers. It's a hard choice, but if you are set on a population and/or a method, and the PhD offer doesn't offer that, then I would consider turning it down and taking a job that will strengthen your application. 
Also, after the year working, I applied to different schools my second cycle because my research interests changed some. Two schools who rejected me last time accepted me this time under a different PI.

I'll be attending the University of Virginia for their developmental psychology PhD
 
Self-imposed a torturous decision process after getting off a waitlist last minute, but think UVa will offer me the best personal support, opportunities to explore teaching, and ability to influence the lab's research directions.

I'll be attending the University of Virginia for their developmental psychology PhD
 
Self-imposed a torturous decision process after getting off a waitlist last minute, but think UVa will offer me the best personal support, opportunities to explore teaching, and ability to influence the lab's research directions.

I'll be attending the University of Virginia for their developmental psychology PhD
 
Self-imposed a torturous decision process after getting off a waitlist last minute, but think UVa will offer me the best personal support, opportunities to explore teaching, and ability to influence the lab's research directions.

I got off the waitlist at last!! I received the offer from my dream school on April 12th, right before the April 15th deadline. It is kind of hard to refuse the professor who gave me the offer from another school. Anyway, always have faith and do not give up on hope!! Good luck with everyone else!

NSU, Clinical Psychology PhD. 
I’LL BE A SHARK DO DO DO DO DO DOOOOOO

I was offered a spot to a program last cycle. A combo of research interests, a poor funding offer, and a commute from hell led me to turn it down. I took a job as a lab manager studying vision development in children with eye tracking. Not exactly my main interests, but it helped me build programming and eye tracking skills and strengthened my application. It was hard to turn down an offer when I had been told "all you need is one yes", but I am SO glad I did. Even though over the year I realized the research interests of the offer I turned down were more on point than I thought, I am still glad. This cycle I had many interviews and multiple offers. It's a hard choice, but if you are set on a population and/or a method, and the PhD offer doesn't offer that, then I would consider turning it down and taking a job that will strengthen your application. 
Also, after the year working, I applied to different schools my second cycle because my research interests changed some. Two schools who rejected me last time accepted me this time under a different PI.

School: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Concentration: Cognitive
Type: Ph.D.
Date of Acceptance: April 12th
Notified: Email, accepted off the waitlist. $20,200 stipend (TA-ship) with $2,000 summer funding. Health insurance covered by funding package. ~$950 fees/semester
Trying to decide between here and UVa tomorrow (4/13) to free up a waitlist spot.

School: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Concentration: Cognitive
Type: Ph.D.
Date of Acceptance: April 12th
Notified: Email, accepted off the waitlist. $20,200 stipend (TA-ship) with $2,000 summer funding. Health insurance covered by funding package. ~$950 fees/semester
Trying to decide between here and UVa tomorrow (4/13) to free up a waitlist spot.

Ahh congrats! (Sorry if this sounds creepy but I interviewed there too and was hoping you would get in when I saw you rally wanted to go there).

Yay!! Congrats! I have a friend going here for fall 2019 Psychology PhD

School: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Concentration: Cognitive
Type: Ph.D.
Date of Acceptance: April 12th
Notified: Email, accepted off the waitlist. $20,200 stipend (TA-ship) with $2,000 summer funding. Health insurance covered by funding package. ~$950 fees/semester
Trying to decide between here and UVa tomorrow (4/13) to free up a waitlist spot.

School: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Concentration: Cognitive
Type: Ph.D.
Date of Acceptance: April 12th
Notified: Email, accepted off the waitlist. $20,200 stipend (TA-ship) with $2,000 summer funding. Health insurance covered by funding package. ~$950 fees/semester
Trying to decide between here and UVa tomorrow (4/13) to free up a waitlist spot.

School: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Concentration: Cognitive
Type: Ph.D.
Date of Acceptance: April 12th
Notified: Email, accepted off the waitlist. $20,200 stipend (TA-ship) with $2,000 summer funding. Health insurance covered by funding package. ~$950 fees/semester
Trying to decide between here and UVa tomorrow (4/13) to free up a waitlist spot.

School: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Concentration: Cognitive
Type: Ph.D.
Date of Acceptance: April 12th
Notified: Email, accepted off the waitlist. $20,200 stipend (TA-ship) with $2,000 summer funding. Health insurance covered by funding package. ~$950 fees/semester
Trying to decide between here and UVa tomorrow (4/13) to free up a waitlist spot.

I officially accepted my offer at the University of Michigan where I will get to study both media psychology and developmental psychology. Whew! Glad that's over.

I am kinda on the "pro-email professors about waitlist" side of this argument. If you are close to making a decision, you may email a professor and ask where you are on the waitlist and your chances at this point in getting in. If they don't know, at least you asked. I don't think they really take offense to that unless you are annoyingly persistent. I wouldn't ask anything to the effect of, "when will I hear back.." and such because they can't really give an answer there. It is all dependent on another applicant holding the spot. 
Hope you hear back positive news, and good luck to everyone making decisions this next week!! 

Committed to University of Minnesota a few days ago!! Cannot wait to get started!