fearfulocelot

Not awarded, 1st year student
E/VG VG/VG, E/VG
I got some good feedback (including someone who thought I had a 4.0 grad GPA--lol, I had no reported graduate scores at the point when I applied) and was overall mentioned as a strong candidate. Probably should've detailed my outreach plans better! Oh well, live and learn. I'm disappointed too but please remember, it's all a crapshoot and it isn't "rigged" and nobody is "out to get you". It's a large pool of candidates and if you didn't get it it's not personal! 

Not awarded, 1st year student
E/VG VG/VG, E/VG
I got some good feedback (including someone who thought I had a 4.0 grad GPA--lol, I had no reported graduate scores at the point when I applied) and was overall mentioned as a strong candidate. Probably should've detailed my outreach plans better! Oh well, live and learn. I'm disappointed too but please remember, it's all a crapshoot and it isn't "rigged" and nobody is "out to get you". It's a large pool of candidates and if you didn't get it it's not personal! 

Not awarded, 1st year student
E/VG VG/VG, E/VG
I got some good feedback (including someone who thought I had a 4.0 grad GPA--lol, I had no reported graduate scores at the point when I applied) and was overall mentioned as a strong candidate. Probably should've detailed my outreach plans better! Oh well, live and learn. I'm disappointed too but please remember, it's all a crapshoot and it isn't "rigged" and nobody is "out to get you". It's a large pool of candidates and if you didn't get it it's not personal! 

That was me last season! It's not a fun feeling, but everything will work out. PM me if you'd like to talk.

That was me last season! It's not a fun feeling, but everything will work out. PM me if you'd like to talk.

My mentors have been wonderful to me and I'm sure your would be too. After going through a rough patch after not getting any interviews last round, one mentor contacted the admissions office on my behalf and gave me some really important notes and tips for this round. My current PI gave me a hug and reminded me that she had worked as a seamstress for ten years between her master's degree and PhD. An undergrad mentor told me that she also took three rounds to get into a PhD program (she's currently TT-faculty) and that she knew I was a good scientist and would make it there. 
Your mentors are your mentors because they believe in you, and they know that people who go straight from one place to another, no bends in the road, are extremely rare. Don't call it a hump or a setback--it's just part of your research career narrative and after retelling it a few times it will make sense.

My mentors have been wonderful to me and I'm sure your would be too. After going through a rough patch after not getting any interviews last round, one mentor contacted the admissions office on my behalf and gave me some really important notes and tips for this round. My current PI gave me a hug and reminded me that she had worked as a seamstress for ten years between her master's degree and PhD. An undergrad mentor told me that she also took three rounds to get into a PhD program (she's currently TT-faculty) and that she knew I was a good scientist and would make it there. 
Your mentors are your mentors because they believe in you, and they know that people who go straight from one place to another, no bends in the road, are extremely rare. Don't call it a hump or a setback--it's just part of your research career narrative and after retelling it a few times it will make sense.

My mentors have been wonderful to me and I'm sure your would be too. After going through a rough patch after not getting any interviews last round, one mentor contacted the admissions office on my behalf and gave me some really important notes and tips for this round. My current PI gave me a hug and reminded me that she had worked as a seamstress for ten years between her master's degree and PhD. An undergrad mentor told me that she also took three rounds to get into a PhD program (she's currently TT-faculty) and that she knew I was a good scientist and would make it there. 
Your mentors are your mentors because they believe in you, and they know that people who go straight from one place to another, no bends in the road, are extremely rare. Don't call it a hump or a setback--it's just part of your research career narrative and after retelling it a few times it will make sense.

Thanks so much! I will DM you. 

Congrats! I also noticed that you got interviews from UR BCS and Tufts/Jax. My undergrad was at UR BCS and I was highly involved in the department (in addition, my undergrad PI is dept chair), and my best friend started her phd at Tufts/Jax last year, so if you have any questions related to either of those programs or lift in rochester and bar harbor feel free to reach out! I know due to recent controversies people tend to have a lot of questions about UR BCS. 

No problem! I heard from someone else on here that the dates are feb 25-27 

Just found a interview invite buried in my spam box, with a response deadline of 1/4 (UMass Amherst). Nearly had a heart attack. Check your spam boxes, everyone!
 
And holy fuck Gmail, why the hell?

BU should be sending out in late Jan, I currently work here and heard through the grapevine 

Just found a interview invite buried in my spam box, with a response deadline of 1/4 (UMass Amherst). Nearly had a heart attack. Check your spam boxes, everyone!
 
And holy fuck Gmail, why the hell?

Just found a interview invite buried in my spam box, with a response deadline of 1/4 (UMass Amherst). Nearly had a heart attack. Check your spam boxes, everyone!
 
And holy fuck Gmail, why the hell?

I got an email from them on 12/20:
 
I hope this letter finds you well and I am grateful for the time you took to consider and apply to our Graduate Program in Neuroscience. After careful consideration of your submitted application materials to the Graduate Program in Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota, I have the pleasure to inform you that your application has passed our initial round of review. Our expert review panel found your application very competitive amongst the 175 applications received, moving it forward for further review onJanuary 7, 2019. Only 70 have advanced to this round, so let me congratulate you personally on this achievement thus far! I will be in contact with you shortly thereafter to provide you with an update about the status of your application. Please keep in mind that, if invited, our GPN
Retreat/Interview Weekend will take place on February 8-10, 2019.
Thank you again for applying to our Program and I wish you a Happy Holiday season!
 
On one hand, I'm glad they're so eager to keep me informed (certainly nobody else is). On the other hand, it's not a super useful piece of information, especially as they aren't telling us how many people are going to be invited to their interview.