ResilientDreams

I got into Cornell!!!

I got into Cornell!!!

I got into Cornell!!!

I got into Cornell!!!

I also have a MacBook Pro retina from 2014!

Maybe you did learn something about the POI - maybe it was just not that positive..

@Adelaide9216 First things first, I am really proud of the person you are right now; independent, knowledgeable, confident and humble. I think not fitting in is what distinguishes you and will also distinguish your partner from all the other men out there whom you will definitely find in the future. Don't beat yourself for not yet finding a partner and continue to do what you love doing. I have realized after being in a relationship that self-love is so much more important than loving your significant other. Also, don't consider love and career as mutually exclusive. Keep patience and you will not have to give up on either one of them.   

Every grad student, post doc, and faculty member has told me not to make any decisions until I've gone on all my interviews/visit weekends and have full funding offers but strangers on the internet talked to "experts" who think it's rude so I guess I have to pick now ?
It makes no difference if you get off the waitlist today or in 2 weeks or in 1 month. Calm down. 

I don't think I said that it is selfish for people to carefully consider their offers nor did I state that anywhere on this forum. I only questioned your assumption that it 'does not matter' when you get of the waitlist - because let's be honest - other than the psychological stress that can't be good (aren't we all psychologists here?!), going to grad school massively impacts people's lives and the sooner people know what they're up to the better...  I think it's only wise to consider one's offers very very carefully and think a bit about them - I think that sentiment is shared by everyone here. If you end up in a situation where you're waitlisted for your number one and because of that cannot commit to another program until the last moment - also fair game. And sure, people need time to weight their options and they should take their time. However, there is no point in holding on onto your 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. offer for no other reason than just having them. I think that is also the reason why the 'rule of thumb' is to not hold on to more than two offers at a time when you made up your mind (preferably even less). As soon as you decide you have better alternatives, free up the spot for somebody else. Schools will also greatly appreciate it (for all the obvious reasons, they may also be missing out on candidates because they did not wait on the waitlist till the last minute for various reasons, etc. Plus it shows respect and enthusiasm). So simply don't wait till the last minute to decide simply because you can. 

I asked my professor for help with my data analysis and it turns out I actually have really cool results for my honors thesis!!

I'm glad this thread got bumped because I was getting sad about this stuff all over again lol. The time around Valentine's is rough. 

My proposal for a conference got accepted. Going to BC this summer, for the first time of my life!

Here are two anecdotes of people I know quite personally which may help you! Different outcomes for two happy lives. 
1. One of my previous professors, now a friend, got on the tenure track after recently getting her PhD. She had an MFA previously and was involved in activism and academia for years. Single in her thirties, she decided to adopt. Just this year, she adopted a baby, published another book, and is doing wonderfully! ❤️ ?
2. A wonderful friend I made in my MA is a POC pursuing a PhD in their mid-late twenties. They're also a queer activist and didn't have a ton of success dating men or women for a long time, but they just met and married the love of their life ❤️ ?

I would say that if the programs themselves are about equal, then I would make a decision based on where you think your quality of life would be higher. 

This is really old information, but my dad went to graduate school at Princeton and he told me he joined the cycling team which was mostly undergrads, but he was welcomed. He lived in the Graduate College and had a meal plan. From what you described it seems things are the same there as they were then, so I would choose Princeton! Sorry I don't have anything very recent to add haha. 

That's for acceptances. This is for sharing which one we picked to go to!

Alright we need one of these threads now that folks are starting to decide. So please share - where will you be in the fall?!
Congrats everyone!!

I asked my professor for help with my data analysis and it turns out I actually have really cool results for my honors thesis!!

I asked my professor for help with my data analysis and it turns out I actually have really cool results for my honors thesis!!

I got rejected from what was supposed to be my dream program, but that after visiting and having many conversations with my POI, I actually felt really conflicted about. I loved everyone I met in the department, but did not feel so comfortable with my POI and their style of working and just some other hints that raised tiny red flags. So in a weird way, I’m relieved? I think I would’ve felt that the strength of the program would’ve made me feel like I had to choose it and just endure. Some of the other professors and grad students told me point blank that I might be better off elsewhere and I really appreciated that honesty. One even told me flat out that one of my other offers is the better choice! So, I’m not sad like I thought I would be. And my POi actually wrote me a very kind email with some very helpful tips about my thesis project and wished me well. Plus another professor emailed to say they’d still like to work with me wherever I end up. So all in all, it was a great rejection all around, go figure!
This just goes to show you that it’s a really good idea to be as candid as you feel comfortable being, and to ask good questions, because finding out your dream school isn’t actually your dream school can be a good thing, and still work out in the end. I am much less stressed now!

Going into March like

Ugh same with me. I was hoping to get a little more than that. At least that was my experience with emailing admissions directly. I got a better response when reaching out to a specific person for one of the programs.

I got accepted into my top choice!!!!!!!! With a fellowship!!!!!!

On behalf of everyone who applied this year I would just like to say, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
That is all. 

This forum is for people applying to grad school. You should try someplace that’s a help forum, or other psychology forum.