1996kayden

Happy news to share on my end...I got off the waitlist!! Official offer came through today and I am over the moon with excitement and relief and disbelief. There were many times I thought it wouldn't pan out, and I was mentally preparing to put myself through a second attempt, but it all did work out with time! 
Thanks to everyone here for all of the camaraderie and peer support on this crazy heck of a ride.  You all are amazing, and I know everyone here will go out and do so much good for the world. For those on the wait-list: hang in there!! Nothing makes the waiting easier or any less agonizing, but I can now say from experience that people really do get off the wait-list, so just know that not all is over yet!  The finish line is near - as April 15th inches closer, I hope everyone hears back good news soon and that we all end up in the right place. ?
 
 

Happy update to this thread - The POI got back in touch today to say I would be receiving an official letter of admission soon!

My PI is a reviewer for NSF GRFPs and was just given a new stack to go through, so it sounds like reviews are ongoing. 

A month 'till April 15th!  Any other waitlisters freaking out a little?  I'm hoping the best for us all!  And hopefully we'll start to see more waitlist movement with the deadline approaching, and people accepting and declining offers. 

My PI is a reviewer for NSF GRFPs and was just given a new stack to go through, so it sounds like reviews are ongoing. 

My PI is a reviewer for NSF GRFPs and was just given a new stack to go through, so it sounds like reviews are ongoing. 

School: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Concentration: Counseling Psychology
Type: PhD
Date of acceptance:  3/14/2019
Notified by: Email from POI that I've been accepted off of the waitlist!

I don't know whether to take an offer from a "not top tier, not well known, but not unknown" department. 
The funding is hand to mouth, but everyone there tells me they are happy. I couldn't possibly "fit" better in too many other places. I idolize this advisor too--great work, great experience, happy students. But I cannot shake off the nagging feeling that I will never be able to compete with TT jobs with PhDs from famous places. 
I have been a star student all my life. But do not know how to choose a grad school -- what to prioritize and what to ignore. I don't want to be jobless five years later
 

School: University of Tennessee
Concentration: Cognitive and Developmental Science (Experimental Psychology) 
Type: PhD
Date of Acceptance: 3/12/2019
Notified By: Email from Admissions 
 
Very Excited! Will be accepting:) 

School: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Concentration: Clinical Psychology
Type: PhD
Date of acceptance: 3/12/2019
Notified by: Phone call from POI.
Just got bumped up from the waitlist and I'm just so happy!

just got accepted by the top choice from the waitlist!! plan to accept! don't lose hope guys!!!

A new development for me: I reached out to my POI at my top choice this morning, which I'm currently waitlisted for, and got a response that is equally stress- and hope-inducing. He was originally hoping to take two students for Fall 2019 but was only able to make one offer after interviews, which the person has accepted. He told me he's currently fighting for the funding to accept a second, which would be me. AHHH! *waiting intensifies* I swear this is taking years off my life.

I was waitlisted at my top program and they didn't give a ranking but said the waitlist is short and my chances of getting in were "quite strong." Of course I have no idea what that means, numbers wise, but it was reassuring to hear he thought the odds were good. It's just so stressful to have to keep up the waiting game! He said he thought for a few weeks but it could be as long as April 15th!! Anyways, just wanted to commiserate with people who understood the pain! 

School: University of Miami
Concentration: Community Well-Being
Type: PhD
Date of acceptance: 3/6/2019
Notified by: Email from Admissions Supervisor with POI (I.P.) + Committee CC'd
This was my first choice - my POI's work was literally the reason I became interested in the field in first place. I'm beyond words. 

I committed to school A yesterday! 

I know nothing about Carbondale, but I'll just share an anecdote. I'm from one of the largest cities in the country. I did my undergrad in another of the largest cities in the country. When I did my 1st masters I went to a school in the middle of nowhere. The downtown was like one block and there were 4 non-fast food restaurants. I was terrified! I thought there was no way I could survive small town life. Here's the surprising thing: I loved it! I thought I needed all the amenities of big city life, but I really didn't. I still go back and visit (and eat at one of the 4 restaurants) from time to time. It is now one of my favorite places on Earth. So, moral of the story: I know it's scary, but you might love it! 

What are some good questions to ask either a POI or current grad students to help decide on a program? I've gone through the standard online lists but I'm wondering if there's anything beyond advising style, cost of living + funding, grad student well-being, and outcomes after graduation that people might not realize to ask about before deciding.

I'm also in the waitlisted-at-my-top-two-programs boat and I'm so exhausted and feel like I need to resign myself to anything and begin moving on,  but I just can't peel myself entirely away. 

Oh totally! Post-doc is an excellent time to diversify  @hlr20 I would discuss with your current mentors/supervisors what they think would be the best for you career-wise! Get their input on this if you haven't already.

Does anyone know if anybody heard from UNC Chapel Hill after interviews?

I'll be at Cornell in the Department of Human Development!!

I suggest waiting it out. You could advise people that you are waiting for all offers before the big reveal.

I accepted the offer at School B

If I were you I would accept SMU. Fully funded is (for me) a huge priority. I would not go to a program that wasn't fully funded.

Interviews were February 8th— I’m wondering if anyone has heard back post-interview. 
Re: UNC-CH