brighteyes

I had a major wrench thrown into my grad school experience, so it is looking like I'm going to have to apply to a few schools for Fall 2020. This year, I was accepted into a program, but I just found out that my advisor got a job at another school, so I am headed into my first year advisor-less. There's no longer a good fit for me at the school, so I'm going to tough it out for this first year, but apply to a few others as a backup plan. My would-have-been advisor has offered to write me a letter explaining the situation so that it doesn't just look like I'm dropping out of a PhD program, so that should help. What are everyone's thoughts on applying to the same schools a second time? I got rejected from my #1 last year, but I was hopeful to apply again now that I finished my BA and raised my undergrad GPA by .10, plus I'll have another year of research experience and an advanced stats class, and several poster presentations under my belt. I hope that would be enough to help me get in this year. I just hate the idea of having to go through the application process again. 🙄

My advisor did tell me she'd be happy to write a letter explaining the situation if I wanted to reach out to programs at other schools, so that we can avoid the "why did you drop out of a PhD program" thing, so that helps. I don't really see myself working with any of the other professors at UNL. Another professor has stepped forward and said they'll take me on this first year, so at least I have an advisor.

She didn't, but I do wonder whether that has to do with it being nearly July, and the availability of a spot this late in the game. Thanks for the sympathy-- I'll take it. This situation sucks. EDIT to add -- I actually emailed her and asked. She said that she would absolutely take me if it was possible, but the job is teaching track, so she actually wouldn't be advising her own grad students. So, Syracuse is out.

Hi all, sooo, I have had a major plot twist in my graduate school journey. Background: I applied to 9 schools for developmental psychology for Fall 2019. I was accepted and plan to attend UNL. I made a great connection with my advisor, and have been in communication with her since something like October 2018. She's been amazing, and everything I was looking for in an advisor. I accepted the invitation, procured an assistantship, and made all the plans to uproot my life here in California and book to Nebraska. I signed a 2-year contract for an apartment and paid first month's rent, scheduled the moving pod, paid for all of my hotels through the roadtrip, and have packed the majority of my things. I plan to leave California July 26th. Here is the plot twist. I was emailed TODAY by my advisor that she has accepted a position at another university, and is leaving next month before I get out there. Another professor in developmental has agreed to advise me this coming academic year. However, I don't know who I'll be working with now for my assistantship (I was supposed to be working for my advisor), but my advisor said that it is still there for me, and I won't lose it. She said this opportunity came out of the blue, and she didn't know it was going to happen, but that she had to take it. She said there will be a lot of opportunities for me to conduct my own research if I want, and that as soon as they know who I'm going to work with, she'll let me know. The project that I was going to work on this upcoming year is now being dismantled and won't be there for me. The entire reason I applied to this school at all was the professor and this project, which is exactly what I want to study. What do I do? I'm trying to feel out my options, and I'm definitely feeling a bit overwhelmed. I could scramble and apply to the university she's taken a job with, but I'm not sure I can get in there, as it is a higher-ranked university. I will have the last year of my undergraduate in my transcripts now, which I didn't have when I applied last cycle. This professor was actually my #2 choice. Do I try to apply to her new school (Syracuse)? Do I try again at my #1 choice, which I got rejected from last cycle (NCSU) ? Do I try to stick it out at UNL? Do I apply for 2020 or wait until I earn my MA and apply for 2021? Help!

So happy to report that I received a generous funding package and will officially be heading to University of Nebraska-Lincoln!

I definitely intend to get rid of most of my furniture. I think the only big pieces I'm bringing with me are my bed and a bookcase that my dad made me. Everything else is replaceable. I am a first-generation college student, so undergrad was difficult to navigate. Grad school is completely unheard of-- I had no idea that something like a moving stipend even existed. I will definitely ask about. Thank you all so much for your input! This is very helpful.

Hi all-- I come from modest means and live paycheck to paycheck. I've been accepted, but my problem now is-- how on earth do I get myself there? I am waiting to hear finalization on an assistantship for paying for school, but the moving expenses (CA to NE) are substantial for me. Are there creative solutions that you all have used or can think of?

Well, I spoke it into existence. Rejected from my top choice today. That one stung.

I feel this so, so much. I'm in grad school purgatory over here with no news from my top choice, but also no rejection. Just reject me already so I can accept my 2nd choice offer.

I did interview via skype, but it was way back in November. That's why I'm so perplexed. I thought the interview went great too. My POI and I really clicked, and she set me up with a skype talk with one of her grad students, which also seemed to go really well.

Just sitting here.. still waiting to hear back from NCSU (my #1). I haven't been rejected, but I've heard literal radio silence. I presume rejection, but I'd like the official notice before accepting an offer at my #2 school. I emailed the grad coordinator, she said she would reach out to the chair and get back to me.. then she never emailed me back. Feeling restless. Just send me the rejection already! Do we think maybe I'm sitting in waitlist purgatory since I haven't been rejected yet this late in the game? I have heard from all other PhD program I've applied to at this point.

Congrats! I'll see you there (in educational psych)!

So jk. Just literally got an email to check the portal at UT-A. Big fat denial. Wow, that's kind of a crappy way of telling people. Super callous!

How's everyone doing here?

Uggggggh. I'm feeling so frustrated by this whole process. I applied to the master's program at my undergraduate institution (CSUS), and the deadline for letting us know is March 15th. No word. I finally got information about the master's program at CSULB, and it looks like I passed the university level check and am currently "under review" by the department. Face palm. Literally NOTHING. NADA. NO RESPONSE. from UT-A. Portal still says "in review". I reached out to my POI about a month ago and got no response. I assume rejection, but I just want them to say it. I was accepted into my 2nd choice school (which I am amazingly grateful for), but my 1st choice is still just completely MIA. No change in portal. Reached out to the grad coordinator and let them know that I was accepted into another program, but that they were my top choice on Monday, got a response back that they would check with the chair and respond back to me, and now silence for 2 full days. NOTHING. This process is just terrible and super un-fun.