Schy

Good Morning! I hope this email finds you well! I am a Fall 2020 PhD applicant and I was curious about the status of my application? I know some interviews have already been extended, but I'm unsure if there will be any more. Thank you for your time! That's word for word what I said!

I just don't understand how anyone can think that's okay ? Of course, yes, people are busy, things get pushed aside, but at my day job if I just casually didn't do something that is apart of my job description (and yes letting applicants know their status SHOULD be apart of SOMEONES job, even if it's a computer) I would be fired lol. It definitely feels like 'wow not only did I NOT get an interview/waitlisted, I wasn't even acknowledged!!!'

I don't think you'll sound pushy just by asking them to confirm your status/inquiring about your status! You could word it any number of ways, but if you're not being directly rude in your email please try and not worry about sounding pushy! Since you have emailed with this PI before maybe they'll have additional insight as to why you were waitlisted/rejected and if they don't offer that knowledge forthright then I feel like you could ask (if you wanted to). And you could bring up that you emailed with them before "Hello we talked briefly before. I just emailed with the coordinator they directed me to you for answers. Are there updates for the people who have not received initial invites?" something along the lines of that!

Rereading what I said is making me laugh because I sound so bitter but I still mean all of it LOL

Not all schools do this! out of all the schools I applied to north texas was the only one that had a user friendly website that updated (even though it's been stuck on the same status since Christmas)

Honestly after @justacigar emailed their school and found out that their application was basically lost and then got an interview (for the same school?) I basically said f it and emailed all the schools that have already sent out invites and will probably be rejecting me. But honestly, after all the time and money spent into application season I feel like the least anyone can do is make sure rejections are sent out. I whole-heartedly believe waiting around for weeks OR never hearing an answer is 1000000% worse than receiving a rejection. Like pleaaseee reject me so that I can move on with my life and focus on how I'll spend the next year improving myself/finding myself/or whatever else floats my boat. lol

Airfaire watch dog is a good way to try and find cheap flights! And if you go the credit card route and need one with extra room I would look at one that offers no interest fee for a year plus and just smack all of the flight charges onto that one card

??‍♀️??‍♀️??‍♀️

Why does it feel like everything is slowed down this year ? I'm not sure if it's because I haven't heard from many programs or what, but even the forum seems a little quieter ?

I agree about the odd comfort of an official rejection! I need the other schools I'm expecting one from to jump on board hahaha

Princeton doesn’t require the gre!

I know the University of Kentucky has sent out invites already (like maybe two weeks ago), but literally yesterday (on Christmas no less) I got an email saying that my application was under review by the program I applied to??????? I guess some programs check out applications in waves?

I’m lucky enough to be employed at a research lab. I 100% believe if it wasn’t for that than I would definitely be on board with a masters!

this is my second time applying, no masters, horrible GRE (schools really need to rid themselves of this classist and racist standardized test lol), but I have a lot of research experience. I personally feel pressure because I've put this timeline on myself. I'm 24, will be 25 and while my friends are in their careers, I'm still working towards mine. It's so HARD not to compare, I know how much it sucks and I'm sorry you're doing the same ? It can definitely be discouraging. I'm terrified of doing another gap year (I decided against a masters) because I'm so READY to just be back in school and working towards the big picture, rather than working towards being able to have the opportunity to work towards the big picture? (lol). I decided for myself that if another GAP year is needed, I'm going to continue growing my CV, I'm going to work my ass off for that stupid test, and I'm going to enjoy just being a young woman lol. I plan on travelling a lot if this happens and there'll be no time like the present to do that!

UCF emailed me this afternoon.....................................requesting I take a survey.........its fine i'm fine

Based off of last year they didn't send anything out until January ?

I'm in a similar position as you! This is my second cycle and I miss school so much ? If you do receive any rejections and they don't tell you why try and get an answer! Ole Miss told me in my notice why I was rejected (GRE Scores) So I think I'll wind up taking another gap year, continue working and studying rather than going for a Masters (personal choice that I'm not 100% sure on yet).

Same here!!! I need to take it regardless of what happens bc my scores truly make me seem like an idiot... unless all programs miraculously decide the GRE is horrible and classist ??‍♀️

Something definitely has to be said for perseverance. Try and keep your head up! So many people would have given up by now and I think it takes a lot to keep trying. It shows everyone how serious you are

Can you link your YouTube or blog!!! I’m very interested in supporting a small youtuber!

Honestly this is so annoying! Last year I applied to Notre dame and I had to email them to find out my status

For sure! This is my second time applying for programs and I thought I took this round more Serious but I feel like I already need to prepare for a third round!

Honestly at this point I'd accept rejection notices so that I can stop checking those schools

I'm having a really hard time of deciding between going for a masters or sticking with my current research position if this doesn't work out or spending another year working in my research lab. If anyone has any advice or words they'd be greatly appreciated, but I'm here to act as if this is my diary LMAO. Pros of Masters: I'd be going back to school and I miss school, more research experience, graduate training, a masters degree. Cons: how in the world will I pay for it? Surprisingly, there are not many options for masters in my intended field of study/research interests (behavioral economics/reinforcement pathology/contingency management) near me. This is surprising because I'm from the east/north east and we're supposed to be the hub for this kind of stuff. So if I were accepted into a masters program it'd be away from home and again, the money situation. With either decision I know i'll be gaining more research experience and I'll have time to improve my GRE scores, but realistically I have no idea how much debt people go in for graduate programs. I've seen ranges of 40k to 100k and some people managed to get a masters with no debt at all! This is all very confusing and making the decision to apply and find masters programs is a lot harder than what it was for PhD programs. ?

At this point I’m preparing a working VISA to bartend in Greece (sarcastic but also serious because I’m not sure what plan B should be lol cry)