aggiezone

OMG congratulations!!!! That's awesome!

We're all rooting for you!!! And living through your situation as we agonizingly wait for developments in our own ?

I think you can both answer their question and deflect a little bit. You could tell them: "I have received offers at two other programs. {Program} is my top choice, and if accepted, I would definitely attend." That way you answer their question, but they won't be worried you'd turn them down!

I have no information for you but I relate to this so much. Why won't my program just reject me already??? Then I can at least move on with my life

I can't believe it's still not OVER!!! First I visited, they told me I was a great applicant and they introduced me around. Then they interviewed me over and over. Then they waitlisted me (which I took as a rejection). Then they told me I'm high up on the waitlist. This saga has been almost a year of my life at this point, and I just want to know if I can move on or not.

Thanks!! Honestly my backup plan is great, I have a really nice job offer in a great city. Plus, the PI said he really hopes I reapply if he can't admit me this year. So things will be ok if I don't get in, but I just want to KNOW!

YESS do it. The application season is ok – I only applied to one program and it's extremely selective, so I didn't think I'd get in. Well, it turns out I did a good enough job to be #1 on the waitlist for only 1 spot. So now I'm just waiting around to see if 1 person turns down this prestigious exciting offer or not.... yay....

I think there's a way to do it without being pushy, for sure. You would probably rather be a little too aggressive than have nobody know who you are! You don't have much to lose! Dear Prof, I hope this email finds you well. I am a current applicant to Program at School, which is my top choice for graduate school. Your research in X, Y, Z is incredibly exciting, and it aligns very well with my own research and experience P and Q. I'm currently waitlisted for an interview at Program, and I wanted to reach out, because I am very interested in working in your lab. Sincerely, sgaw10 Something like this?? Idk this email is hard to write

Also, if it's your top choice, and you will attend if accepted – tell them that!

Omg, 5 waitlists!!! Stay strong! Do it! You want them to know who you are, and know you're interested. Aghhhhh. My PI said the admitted students weekend is soon and he might know more after that. To be honest, it's very rare for anyone to turn down this program, so my hope is probably futile...

Reached out to PI for an update after a month of no news. Nothing yet blehh

Same! My PI at Dream School says he might not be able to get me off the waitlist this year, but that I'm really close and he really hopes I apply again next year if it doesn't work out

I feel the same way – it'd be so hard to give up my dream school waitlist, but a definite job would be worth it

This is sorta similar to my situation! I have a job offer that was supposed to expire after 10 days, but they're kindly giving me a month because I'm on a waitlist I've been very transparent with them about grad school. I would be totally honest with everyone involved. Reach out to your schools if you do get the job offer, and ask if you can have an update sooner. Talk to your contact for your new job, inform them of the situation, and ask for an extension on your offer. They might say yes, they might say no. My job offer has been very accommodating, but if they had put their foot down, I would probably have removed myself from the waitlist. Are you willing to do this? If not, you might have to say goodbye to a really nice job, you're playing a game of probability here! Also, hold onto the little delays – schedule your job interview for as late as you can If you do get the job offer, you could send something like this: Dear XXX, Thank you so much, I am ecstatic about this wonderful opportunity with XXX! I very much enjoyed my conversations with X, Y, and Z person, and am excited to move forward. There is one more component to my situation that I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss with you. In addition to applying to work at XXX, I have also applied to a graduate school program, and I will receive my final result from the school by mid-April. This exciting offer with XXX company is my priority, but because the graduate school application is a months-long process, I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to see it through if possible. Is there any way I could receive an extension on my offer to accommodate for this timeline? Sincerely, Dwar

Omg, four waitlists!!! I can't even imagine, sending all my energy for you two to get off your waitlists soon

Worries: on the waitlist at a top program Excitement: on the waitlist at a top program

Being waitlisted hurts. I made contact with my POI almost a year ago, I visited the school and we spoke in person. He liked me and my application, and introduced me to lots of his students. I had an incredible day getting to know them. His students told me I was a "strong applicant". I worked on my application, all my mentors told me I'm a perfect fit for this program. I got great recommendations, and worked extremely hard on my SOP. I submitted my application. 2 months later, I received an email inviting me to interview with my dream lab, the lab I visited, that I've been planning to apply to for years. And another email. And another. Each one of them said they really liked me and enjoyed my research ideas and hoped I got in. I spent two weeks having another hour-long interview almost every day. Then I got the waitlist notification. I cried for a couple of days, and started to accept that I wouldn't be getting in. This lab is super competitive, and accepts only one or two people a year, and almost everyone who is admitted attends. The waitlist has around 5-10 people on it, so I figured my chances were low. Then, 1 week later, I got an email from my POI. He told me that he wishes he could admit me, and I was his first choice alternate. However, he only has one spot available, so I'm waiting on the other person's decision. The school is so competitive, and the admissions process is so rigorous, that I would be very surprised if his admit did not accept. Still, even though my chances are <10% (their yield rate is very high), I can't help but get my hopes up. When I got the waitlist email, I was ready to give up hope and move on with my life. Now that I know I'm actually in the running, I can't help but obsess over my chances. It hurts knowing that my hopes are back up only to probably be smashed down. I was strongly encouraged to apply again next year if this year doesn't work out. I can't help but feel like I'll go through this whole thing next year only to get my hopes crushed all over again. I can't seriously spend 2 straight years of my life in application limbo? I don't know how people can still be productive while waiting on a decision that's this big. My brain doesn't work that way. What do I do?

I only applied to one lab, and I'm #1 on the waitlist. I'm not hopeful, since it's a top program and they only accepted 1 student this year. Basically, I'm waiting to see if that one person declines their spot . I've been very strongly encouraged to apply again next year if it doesn't work out. I've actually already rewritten my SOP to apply again next year – all the interviewing helped me refocus my research goals, and I thought I'd try to get it down on paper before the inspiration leaves my brain.

Good for you!! Gosh, it feels a little crazy to prepare this early but it feels so much better to do it while you're thinking about applications 24/7 anyways.

I might be insane but I just wrote a new SOP for next year, assuming I'm not gonna get in this year. It felt good because I had so many interviews with them and I've been thinking so much about my principles and research goals! I didn't want to write it after I lose the level of focus I have right now. I was SHOCKED how much easier it was to write than the other one. Feeling good about it no matter what happens!

Ooof I was actually so close to giving up on gradcafe and everything and accepting my probable rejection -- almost no one turns down the program I'm waitlisted for. But then the PI told me I'm his first choice if his admit doesn't accept, and right back to anxiety...

"It is possible to do nothing wrong and still lose" – Captain Picard The process can be really random. Best not to get tunnel vision or start freaking out about the uncertainty. Cultivate relationships and backup plans and don't give into the stress.

Been pretty down due to getting waitlisted after many great interviews, but I did get some nice news today. I just heard from my PI at DREAM SCHOOL, who told me I was #1 on his lab's waitlist, but that there's only 1 spot available this year. Now they're waiting to see if the other person will accept before giving me a final answer. He encouraged me to apply again next year if I didn't make it off this year, and he apologized for not being able to accept me yet.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (screaming again bc i got bad news today)

Waitlisted at my dream school. It hurts meee