PsychPhdBound

I don't have kids but will be starting my PhD at 37, so you're definitely not alone (even though it can definitely feel like we are ?)

'Good' is where you have the best fit and will find support for the work you want to do. Everything else is noise.

I think you really need to operationalize “good” it means different things to different people.  I wouldn’t say TC is better than another top school because it’s an ivy for example, although it is a great school. I suppose what you could do is look at education department rankings, although that would be a very rough guide. What you want to look for is APA internship placement rate, funding, research activity and output, etc. at the end of the day mentor fit will be more important than any ranking imho.

Lol, well optimism is always good.
 
I wouldn't stress the Ivy thing, there's really no ranking system at PhD programs. It's more about fit and making sure you're productive in the ways that will suit your ultimate goals. 

I wouldn’t worry about it. I think the fact that you made an effort to still visit shows that you’re interested, since you could have requested a Skype interview instead. They’re interviewing you because you’re a strong applicant and they know that strong applicants will often have multiple interviews and scheduling conflicts. 

Yes, hopefully people won't horde offers. I know they are nice to hold onto but someone is out there waiting to love the one you're going to turn down. So make their day :).

I'm also waitlisted for a program I'm REALLY interested in, so I'll keep my fingers crossed for both of us

I would suggest doing it over the phone. 

I would suggest that while you were honored to have received the offer and really impressed by the PI's interest and the program at the school you've decided to move forward with another institution that is a better fit for you and that you wish them the best of luck in finding a graduate student that fits their needs. 

But yes, definitely decline as soon as possible. Some programs actually have deadlines of how late professors can offer so you don't want to keep the professor from having the opportunity of getting another grad student. 

How did you guys email the POI/department about rejecting the admission offer?
I am really grateful for every offer and would like to show that whilst rejecting the offer. Now that I have mostly narrowed down my options, I would like to inform those schools soon so that the waitlisted applicants can get the opportunity asap.
Please share how you phrased it or if any other thread has this discussion going on!

Yes, hopefully people won't horde offers. I know they are nice to hold onto but someone is out there waiting to love the one you're going to turn down. So make their day :).

Had my one and only interview this past weekend! I absolutely loved the program, my POI, and the grad students. I'm just trying not to keep my hopes up too high. Knowing this is my only chance to get into a program this year + really liking the program makes the wait that much more difficult.

Mine too! I was waitlisted at one and accepted at another, with one more interview left to go. It was great being surrounded by others who shared my passion for my research topic and really reignited my excitement about grad school. The application process had really left me drained and discouraged and the interviews, even the one I ended up getting waitlisted for, just filled my tank back to full! 
Obviously still take them seriously and prepare (I read A LOT of articles before each one), but also be sure to enjoy the experience and get a feel for the people. If you get in/accept, these are going to be folks you spend alot of time with :). 

Yeah, this is bananas

Same! My interview was two weeks ago and now I'm just so scared to get any news but the longer I don't hear back the worse it gets...

Quickly learning that waiting to hear back post interview is 10x harder than waiting to hear back about interviews

So, I had my one and only interview recently and found out I am an alternate for the program. It's such a bummer because I know I am a fantastic fit for the lab and the program in general, I can tell the lab members and POI liked me, and I just happened to get beat out by one other applicant that was a bit more qualified that I am. Sometimes the chips don't fall in your favor. I'm really hoping it works out but this process has started to wear on me - I feel overwhelmed and defeated and keeping my head up is a bit difficult right now. Waiting and uncertainty is my least favorite thing in the whole world! 

It's definitely the lack of sleep I got last night but your sentence about the interviews being fun honestly made me emotional lol. I'm so nervous for my interview this weekend, and I'm really afraid I'll be drilled with questions intended to pressure me--I think it's because grad school seems so foreign and the people in it so intimidating. I'm really glad you had fun. It gives me a lot of hope that interview day will just be me talking about my favorite subject and making good connections with people.

Ugh, he sounds like someone who would be an awful advisor. This was an awful interview because of him, not you! You're amazing and brilliant and absolutely qualified to be in a PhD program. Doesn't sound like someone I'd want to work with for 5-6 years. I want to be somewhere where I'm appreciated, not that makes me cry during first impressions, but I know this is a very personal process.
About the letter, that is unfortunate if it's true (not that you're lying but that he might be exaggerating), but hopefully your LOR writer wouldn't have agreed to submit a letter if they didn't believe in you. 
Try to stay strong but if you need some time to sit in the disappointment, then you take it! I'm in my own pit today :).

schitt's creek!

Yes, hopefully people won't horde offers. I know they are nice to hold onto but someone is out there waiting to love the one you're going to turn down. So make their day :).

Etiquette wise you're really only supposed to hold onto 1 at a time. So if you get a second offer, you should choose between those and let one go. But if you have one, they give you until April so you can make sure it's the right offer for you and you can get your financial information first. It's probably good to let them know something even if it's just that you will get back to them asap when you have your decision. Communication never hurts congrats! 

Hi so I applied to four different Forensic Psychology Masters programs! I just received my first response and got invited to interview with them. It’s in two weeks and they say the interview is about 1.5 hours! I’ve seen on grad cafe for this certain school, George Washington University, that people who have interviewed sometimes get offered admissions on the spot during the interview! Anyone have any tips? Specifically in forensic psychology? Like what type of questions they would ask, etc! Thank you!!!!

Just focus on your own answers and being authentic. I know this sounds counterintuitive, but you're not there to "beat" anyone, this is your opportunity to show them who you are. It's clear in a group setting when people aren't being themselves, so take a deep breath, remind yourself that they invited you because they are excited about what you have to offer, and focus on being your best self. If that doesn't end up being what they want then it's for the best. But you don't want to act one way in the interview and then show up to the program as someone else. That doesn't benefit anyone in the long run. Good luck, have fun, and remember, you're the only you in that room!

Ugh, he sounds like someone who would be an awful advisor. This was an awful interview because of him, not you! You're amazing and brilliant and absolutely qualified to be in a PhD program. Doesn't sound like someone I'd want to work with for 5-6 years. I want to be somewhere where I'm appreciated, not that makes me cry during first impressions, but I know this is a very personal process.
About the letter, that is unfortunate if it's true (not that you're lying but that he might be exaggerating), but hopefully your LOR writer wouldn't have agreed to submit a letter if they didn't believe in you. 
Try to stay strong but if you need some time to sit in the disappointment, then you take it! I'm in my own pit today :).

Ugh, he sounds like someone who would be an awful advisor. This was an awful interview because of him, not you! You're amazing and brilliant and absolutely qualified to be in a PhD program. Doesn't sound like someone I'd want to work with for 5-6 years. I want to be somewhere where I'm appreciated, not that makes me cry during first impressions, but I know this is a very personal process.
About the letter, that is unfortunate if it's true (not that you're lying but that he might be exaggerating), but hopefully your LOR writer wouldn't have agreed to submit a letter if they didn't believe in you. 
Try to stay strong but if you need some time to sit in the disappointment, then you take it! I'm in my own pit today :).