lkaitlyn

I think that was odd too, and I felt for a moment I might get mail saying please disregard the previous mail. I asked him about a part of my application and an update I received regarding a document of my application. So while explaining he notified me that the ad comm had recommended my application so I need not worry about the update. (Update was regarding some missing items which I had already submitted )

FYI, this is from Cornell's website:
"The Graduate Admissions Committee typically reaches its decision by making two passes through the pool of applicants. In the first pass, the committee rates all applicants on the basis of GRE scores, TOEFL scores, grades, and other “objective” measures of accomplishments. This yields a long list of 60-80 applicants. In the second pass, the committee’s focus shifts to a careful and holistic assessment of writing samples, statements of purpose, and letters of recommendation. Finalists are chosen based the committee’s assessment of their potential for engaging in systematic and rigorous sociological research in one of the areas represented in the Field. Occasionally, the committee will interview applicants via Skype or telephone prior to extending an offer of admission."
My guess is that they had created the long list. So yes, it is probably a "good sign if we haven't heard anything." But expect 60+ rejections as they will start narrowing down the long list to an admissions list.

One of the worst parts of this process In my opinion is being ghosted by schools who don’t bother to release rejections at the same time as acceptances. Sometimes if it’s been a while you can call the department and gently ask if all acceptances have been sent out. 

Question to everyone: one school wants me to commit to the open house before I hear back from four schools releasing the second week of February. What's the appropriate thing to do? Commit to the open house and back out if another program I care about more conflicts, ask for a deadline extension ... ?
Or does anyone know the visit dates for some of the schools releasing mid-February? I don't expect to get into any of them but hey, you never know.

I had mailed my POI and was informed about my acceptance, the decisions will be out in a couple of weeks.

I haven’t heard anything. I imagine if Michigan Soc were out, we’d have a lot of data from people on the Results page. And Mich tends to send acceptances and rejections at the same time for Soc. 

Just because something isn't first in the (very subjective) rankings doesn't mean it's not a great program. I still maintain that anyone who calls a program safe doesn't realize the importance of fit and having a genuine interest in what the program has to offer, just like the people who apply to programs that are ranked highly just because of the ranking. What's the point of applying somewhere if it couldn't genuinely support you and make you happy? Or if you don't even know who you might want to work with there? I really don't understand.
Also, what I've gathered in my years of lurking, including this year, is that there are many amazing applicants and fewer funded spots that exist in comparison. And so much of it is totally outside of our control. It's easier to think we can control the process or predict the outcome than accept we might be good enough, smart enough, interesting enough — but not get in because X faculty member doesn't have room for new students, or the committee was feeling grumpy when they happened to discuss your app, or someone with a slightly better fit just so happened to apply the same year, or something else random.
You're all worth it, and those fortunate enough to have acceptances can and should be proud of anywhere they get in! It's a huge accomplishment.

"Safety" is all relative, and arguably does not exist for funded programs. Personally I think calling anything "safe" is a bit much, but that's just me.

Just because something isn't first in the (very subjective) rankings doesn't mean it's not a great program. I still maintain that anyone who calls a program safe doesn't realize the importance of fit and having a genuine interest in what the program has to offer, just like the people who apply to programs that are ranked highly just because of the ranking. What's the point of applying somewhere if it couldn't genuinely support you and make you happy? Or if you don't even know who you might want to work with there? I really don't understand.
Also, what I've gathered in my years of lurking, including this year, is that there are many amazing applicants and fewer funded spots that exist in comparison. And so much of it is totally outside of our control. It's easier to think we can control the process or predict the outcome than accept we might be good enough, smart enough, interesting enough — but not get in because X faculty member doesn't have room for new students, or the committee was feeling grumpy when they happened to discuss your app, or someone with a slightly better fit just so happened to apply the same year, or something else random.
You're all worth it, and those fortunate enough to have acceptances can and should be proud of anywhere they get in! It's a huge accomplishment.

Makes sense. For me, I applied to schools based on faculty and research fit. So I am praying for the best. I don't really care about ranking, or I should say that I applied to my prospective schools not having ranking in mind. So I am just hoping for the best. I just brought this topic up because I find it weird how many times I saw "safety" etc. Like now that I looked at it, I applied to UMD but Rutgers is a better fit for me, so if I happen to get into both, I am more inclined to choose Rutgers.  I applied to a few more schools, but this is an example. 

Agreed. I think research/faculty fit should be the priority decision when applying to schools. I can see how rank is a positive addition but it shouldn't be a primary motivation. 

Just because something isn't first in the (very subjective) rankings doesn't mean it's not a great program. I still maintain that anyone who calls a program safe doesn't realize the importance of fit and having a genuine interest in what the program has to offer, just like the people who apply to programs that are ranked highly just because of the ranking. What's the point of applying somewhere if it couldn't genuinely support you and make you happy? Or if you don't even know who you might want to work with there? I really don't understand.
Also, what I've gathered in my years of lurking, including this year, is that there are many amazing applicants and fewer funded spots that exist in comparison. And so much of it is totally outside of our control. It's easier to think we can control the process or predict the outcome than accept we might be good enough, smart enough, interesting enough — but not get in because X faculty member doesn't have room for new students, or the committee was feeling grumpy when they happened to discuss your app, or someone with a slightly better fit just so happened to apply the same year, or something else random.
You're all worth it, and those fortunate enough to have acceptances can and should be proud of anywhere they get in! It's a huge accomplishment.

Phone rings with Bay Area zip code
Me: *frantically answers with excitement and shock, wondering what school it is*
Person on phone: “Hello, this is Daly City Toyota.”
?

Phone rings with Bay Area zip code
Me: *frantically answers with excitement and shock, wondering what school it is*
Person on phone: “Hello, this is Daly City Toyota.”
?

No it didn’t, I presume that comes with the email that the Graduate School send that is the final confirmation of your place. People I know within the social sciences there have previously told me it’s around $22k with TA-ship commitments. The plus side is that the department doesn’t accept anybody without funding, so it will at the very least be the minimum. 

Hey, don't give up hope yet. You applied to some crazy difficult schools where admissions is ridiculously subjective and worthy applicants are rejected all the time. I know many incredibly brilliant grad students who didn't get into Wisconsin or Chicago or UNC, so it's really not a reflection on your worth as a scholar. And as @PoliticalSociology said, many people end up having a bad round of applications due to bad luck and applying the next year or the year after and getting into tons of schools (including schools that previously rejected them — I know someone who got rejected from Berkeley, applied the next year, and then got in).
But I still think there's hope, because as I said, the schools you listed as rejections are some of the ones that turn down the most qualified applicants of any schools in the country. If I had applied to Chicago/UNC/Wisconsin/Vandy/etc., I'd be sitting on 6 rejections too!

Hey, don't give up hope yet. You applied to some crazy difficult schools where admissions is ridiculously subjective and worthy applicants are rejected all the time. I know many incredibly brilliant grad students who didn't get into Wisconsin or Chicago or UNC, so it's really not a reflection on your worth as a scholar. And as @PoliticalSociology said, many people end up having a bad round of applications due to bad luck and applying the next year or the year after and getting into tons of schools (including schools that previously rejected them — I know someone who got rejected from Berkeley, applied the next year, and then got in).
But I still think there's hope, because as I said, the schools you listed as rejections are some of the ones that turn down the most qualified applicants of any schools in the country. If I had applied to Chicago/UNC/Wisconsin/Vandy/etc., I'd be sitting on 6 rejections too!

It looks like UW-Madison sent out a ton of acceptances and rejections just now! Congrats to everyone who got in, and to those who didn't, there are plenty of other exciting opportunities out there, whether in sociology grad school or elsewhere ?

I got the email from Vanderbilt today. It was a stock acceptance email from the graduate admission director; she said that official letters will be sent in the next few weeks. I don't know if everything was sent out at once, only what I got! 

As we prepare to enter a 3ish week period with tons of decisions from some crazy difficult schools, I just want to send positive thoughts to everybody. No matter what happens these next few weeks, let's try to remember this process has so much about it that's arbitrary — it's not a reflection of our intelligence or worth. ♥️

As we prepare to enter a 3ish week period with tons of decisions from some crazy difficult schools, I just want to send positive thoughts to everybody. No matter what happens these next few weeks, let's try to remember this process has so much about it that's arbitrary — it's not a reflection of our intelligence or worth. ♥️

I got into my first choice for undergrad and it was the most miserable four years of my life. Sometimes rejections can be a blessing.

Honestly me too. The time difference between the schools I applied to and where I’m currently living means I end up staying up into the middle of the night every night just waiting for a what if they reply now! Could really do with channeling my panic/anxiety into a singular day!

I think Berkeley usually comes out around the 28th/30th so that’s a possibility this week. 
 
UC Riverside told me in December decisions would be released in January 2020 BUT historically they don’t usually release them until February so I don’t know what to think on that point! 

I'm hoping if I remind myself of this repeatedly, I'll be in less pain at the end of the week. ?