pineapplepizza

I thought applying and interviewing would be the hard part, but preparing to move, looking for housing in a city I visited once for 4 hours, attempting to wrap up my life in one place, finishing a large research study that has me traveling a good bit has been overwhelming, and dealing with a family health crisis has definitely been harder.  What did you find (or are you finding, if you're making the transition as well) that helped to keep you from getting too burned out during the transition phase?  I want to start my PhD program excited, fresh, and ready to dive in, but right now I'm worried I'm going to arrive to the first day of classes exhausted and hanging on by threads.

Housing arrangements!
This will be my first time adulting, and living by myself, so I have several questions:
What should I be aware of when looking for apartments? When I go to visit, what should get my attention the most? Is a 9 month or 12 month lease better? Is living on campus something you would recommend? How can you manage feelings of loneliness when living alone? (My partner is going to join me after a year, but a year is a long time)  
 

Hi~ I will be starting at UMN next Fall in the Psychology PhD program. The initial excitement settled down a bit and I'm trying to find an apartment and figure out budgeting (yikes). Hopefully there will be others on this forum in the same boat! 

You should check out this website and her podcast: http://pfforphds.com/
She talks about how to do your finances as a PhD/graduate students, such as budgeting, taxes, and money saving tips.

My senioritis is THROUGH THE ROOF. I have so much to do that I'm just... checked out. I'm also trying to apartment hunt and that's just awful. 

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

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

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

No idea (help)

No idea (help)

No idea (help)

No idea (help)

School: University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Concentration: Social
Type: PhD
Date of acceptance: 1/17/2019
Notified by: Email from application portal followed by email from graduate coordinator
I'm shocked and soooo happy. 

applying for clinical sucked the soul out of me bruh how some people managed to do 4 cycles is insane 

Rejected from my top choice today. Am wondering if it was unprofessional to attach this mp3 file to my response email. Lmk?

Especially when you have a partner, who also has a career... and so you're juggling/considering a million things at once, because any decision directly impacts his/her career.  
I TOO AM SO MF EMOTIONALLY DRAINED, let me wrap up these interviews lord I can't have anxieties in so many directions at once lmfao ?

So much for a "non-judgemental" space for PhD applicants. ?

I always just think of everyone there as potential friends with clearly similar interests who are going through the same exciting/stressful situation as I am. It's exciting meeting people whose interests and experiences align so closely with mine. It's not a competition, it's a somewhat mutual selection process, so even if the PI picks them over me then I'm happy for them because they must have been a great match for each other.

Friendly reminder that if you’re an applicant, even if it’s your second year of applying, you have absolutely no right to tell someone that a piece of their application must be weak if they aren’t getting offers. That’s not how the clinical psych world works. There are more competitive applicants than there are spots, so a lot of it is luck. Social capital also comes into play, so check your privilege. End rant. 

Does anyone else have a significant other to consider as well? I just wish I knew my options so we could make concrete plans... Doesn’t look like I’ll know anything for at least a couple weeks. So stressful.

Does anyone else have a significant other to consider as well? I just wish I knew my options so we could make concrete plans... Doesn’t look like I’ll know anything for at least a couple weeks. So stressful.

Does anyone else have a significant other to consider as well? I just wish I knew my options so we could make concrete plans... Doesn’t look like I’ll know anything for at least a couple weeks. So stressful.

My first interview (with top choice) went well but I can't be too hopeful just in case it doesn't work out. Decision might come before Christmas. So nervous!

Urbana Champaign's Valentine's Day gift ensured I wouldn't be leaving her side for another year. 

NOT a funny rejection, but one that is absolutely heartbreaking.  This is a student with excellent GRE scores and a killer GPA who wrote:
 
 
Whoever you are, just know that I wanted to reach through my screen and give you the biggest hug ever.  This process is a killer, but please remember that this school's rejection does not determine your worth!  
 
That statement may have sounded cliche or cheesy to the point where it needed nachos to go with it, but EVERYONE should remember it!  Just because you didn't fit a program's standards does not mean you're worthless.
 
Now, this person's statement could have been completely sarcastic.  If so, then I'm sorry for getting all sappy!