SoldierOn

adcomms will see you as someone who thinks that a "low-ranked" university is in the top 40 and that's how they'll deny you. your pretentious attitude aside, any experience is good experience.

Got’cha. Congrats! Any idea if the formal acceptance letters might signal that all POIs have done informal calls? I’d received a reply to a thank you email from mine a few days ago and it didn’t seem to imply that she had chosen who she was accepting yet...but at this point I honestly can’t tell anymore ?

Were you the one who posted on the results page with mentor QM a couple weeks ago? I’d sent my POI a thank you email a few days after interviews and only received a response a couple of days ago; the response didn’t imply that she had selected anyone yet. 

Oops, exceeded my reaction quota for the day!! But thanks to both of you. It is such a surreal experience. Also how bizarre are interviews? you’re put in a high stress environment with multiple people who are applying for the same spot... but you might like them and be like oh wow they have worked so hard too, but you’re also like PICK ME, but also trying to be so laid back and polite and low key FREAKING OUT (or is that just me ?). The whole thing is just weird and exhausting on so many levels. 

Congratulations! I interviewed there but didn’t end up getting accepted; it definitely seemed like a really great program though and if I’d been accepted it would’ve ended up being an unexpected top choice for me too! Who are you going to work with there?

The main university is an R1 but Teachers College is an R2.... ikr? ?
I've never put much stock into the ranking bs. As long as in you're in the general tier of a good research institution (e.g. if it's a choice between Harvard and Lamar University, then duh), the minutiae shouldn't matter.

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.

I know TONS of clinical programs have their interviews this weekend. That said, I want to send all the best vibes to everyone for their interviews!!! You've worked really hard to get to this point, and this is your chance to really blow them away! BUT don't forget to breathe and enjoy meeting the people who will most likely be your colleagues or collaborators in the future. Also, remember to assess how well the program fits YOU. Good luck everyone!!

Hi everyone, for those who have gone through interviews/are prepping for interviews, how are you planning on answering questions like "Why should we accept you over other equally qualified candidates?" As I know that there will be many qualified candidates interviewed, I don't want to seem presumptuous and say something that other people have going for them as well. 

I had the same issue! I got my first two interview invites in late December and they were both for the exact same days and didn't want to drop either. The second one I received was for a school that was one of my top choices but I had already committed and bought plane tickets for the other school and did not want to risk alienating them, especially so early in the interview season. My lab mates and current PI gave me the advice to email the school you hadn't committed to yet (the one that conflicts) and make sure to emphasize just how much you want to go to their interview but you've already made a commitment to another school that you want to honor. Then ask if there is an alternative interview date (there almost always is) that you could go to for an in-person interview. Also, since admissions makes their decisions so quickly, try to ask if they have an earlier interview date. If they say that's not an option then you can do the same thing with the school you already committed to and hope that they a.) have an alternate date and b.) your plane tickets can be changed.
Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions! This sort of thing is a stressful, but good, problem to have.

To the person who got an interview from Loyola Chicago, was this a mass email?

Was it University of Nebraska? I got that email too. Gave me a mini heart attack until I saw that it was just a notification that it had been reviewed and was awaiting final evaluation. 

To everyone who is worried about GRE scores and whether or not some schools would even consider you as an applicant if you don't have a score above threshold X, please treat yourselves better throughout this time and pay little mind to those who would have you believe that it's either a great GRE score or failure.

University of Mississippi (Clinical PhD)! 
Given that this is my first application season I have also realized that I have no idea how to respond to one of these emails. Luckily I’m meeting with my lab’s Post-Doc today to talk about the interview process so hopefully she can help me out a bit. 

I just got my first interview invite this morning! Great way to start a Tuesday :)
I wasn't expecting any notifications until at least Friday so this was a great surprise, aah I'm so excited!

I just got my first interview invite this morning! Great way to start a Tuesday :)
I wasn't expecting any notifications until at least Friday so this was a great surprise, aah I'm so excited!

Unless your individual programs have dates listed on their website there’s no definite list. But, you can go on the results page and search through previous years for your programs to get a general idea!
https://www.thegradcafe.com/survey/

Haha I’ll take even just one ☝️ 

I just made 9 dozen cookies from scratch. That, my friends, is what I call stress baking.

With only being allowed to work 10 hours a week and having finished up my last final on Monday I’ve had to find a hobby to keep myself occupied while waiting. Knitting. It is not going well for me so far...

I'm applying to OK State!

If anyone has applications that are missing transcripts but are hesitant to email grad admissions, don’t hesitate to bug them (in a friendly manner). I’d been missing both my official transcripts for a program despite sending one 2 months ago by email and another by mail 3 weeks ago so I decided to email the graduate admissions and after a day they responded back saying that they had both transcripts and would update my checklist within 24 hours. I think sometimes they just need a little friendly nudge to get everything uploaded. 

I had to do this too for one of my schools. I finally emailed the school to see why they haven't been getting my transcript. They have my community college one but unfortunately not the one from my current institution.

This is the first time I actually have to answer unknown calls. I so rarely get calls from unknowns that aren't telemarketers that I usually just don't answer. Seriously hope I don't accidentally not answer a call from admissions 

Time to start obsessively checking gradcafe!  Good luck to everyone!  Submitted 9 PhD apps, 1 PsyD and 1 Masters.