Psyched Coffee Bean

I think you should maybe try emailing the DCT of the program. I think it makes sense to wait until you know from your top choices before committing somewhere else. As someone on a waitlist it pains me to say that but keep your options open until they aren’t. 

Same goes for me! I'm down to bother any school upon request.

"A student should not hold more than two offers for more than one week unless there is specific information (e.g. a visit is scheduled, funding decisions, advisor decisions) they are waiting to receive from the program."
So for example I've currently got two offers, but I don't have the final funding info for either of them. Therefore, I am not making a decision between the two until I have that info. What I have done is decline the offers and interviews for programs that I know I won't take over one of the two I currently have regardless of funding information- but I am not going to turn down one of these two until I have the funding information I need to make an informed choice between them.

I know this process is anxiety inducing but stop spreading this falsehood. You’re allowed to hold onto all offers as you await to get your final stipend offer, if you haven’t visited the university yet, and a few other reasons. 
 
This is your future don’t allow others dictate the choice for you. 

I was cold called for my offer but I had heard that if I was going to get an offer then I would receive a call around that date/time.
My POI actually called three times in a row--my ringer wasn't on and I guess he didn't want to leave a message! Glad I caught it the last time!

I see both sides of this. I declined the acceptances and interview invites I knew I wouldn't accept once I got an acceptance to one of my top three schools. I knew regardless of financial package I would not end up going to some schools over one of my top three. However, I currently have two acceptances for my top threes and I will not be declining one until I know what the financial package offers are for both of them- which will likely take a few weeks. The same is true if I get notified of acceptance to my final top three school. By all means decline the schools you know you won't be attending, but don't feel you have to be hasty and decline just because you have more than one acceptance, until you have all the information about them.
We are going to be in these programs for a bit, informed choices are important.

here's to another week of obsessively checking my email for any news post-interview ??

Hi everyone!
Question: I got an unofficial (email from POI) offer today from my first choice and accepted! I will be waiting for the official email first, but once I have that is it considered good form to reach out to programs I have interviewed at but not heard back from yet to please "remove me from consideration" since I have accepted an offer at another program? 
Appreciate any advice on how to navigate this. Thanks, and good luck to everyone as those offers start rolling in!

I can see what you're saying, but I have to disagree. It is equally as rude to go to an interview knowing full well you're most likely going to accept an offer elsewhere. Not to mention, it's a lot of money out the window. Schools have applicants on hold for this very reason, and by her giving away her spot for the interview, she's most likely allowing a more eager applicant to take her place. I would say it's more considerate than anything.

Just cancel. Open a stop for someone else. I got accepted to my top choice and had to cancel 5 interviews. Everyone except one took it well.

If the dinner is immediately after a full interview day, most people show up in the same clothes (minus blazer/tie). If the dinner is an informal event before/following the interview day then business casual (Jean's & dress top) have been my go to. Best of luck on your interview, you got this!

That's amazing! Happy it is working out for you and you are able to make most of them. You should do a blog post or something on what you did this time around compared to previous cycles. It might help out a few people.   And again, congrats!!
Haha I am also running on coffee and cliff bars.

I’d risk corona virus for an interview at Northwestern

Samesies neither rejection nor acceptance ?

Thank you both for both posting the question and your honest reply! This is my first cycle and the process is so ambiguous that it helps to have the sage words gathered from everyone's experience. Would you recommend reaching out to the programs, will they tell you if invites have already been sent out (aka you're rejected)?
Thanks  *cries internally

Thank you both for both posting the question and your honest reply! This is my first cycle and the process is so ambiguous that it helps to have the sage words gathered from everyone's experience. Would you recommend reaching out to the programs, will they tell you if invites have already been sent out (aka you're rejected)?
Thanks  *cries internally

Yeah 3-5 per slot is pretty normal in my experience!

Best advice I got from grad students in my lab is to book through Southwest if possible. They have no cancellation fees and you just basically get credit in your account to book another flight through them in the next year and pay the difference. This only helps if there are reasonable flights through Southwest for you and the area you're going to/coming from, but something to think about!

...So this is why I didnt get into Harvard lol

I applied to the clinical program at U Pitt and received an email last night from SCB (my POI) that she was not extending any invites because there was a possibility her and her lab would be relocating to another university. In the email she stated that a lot of applications are still under review. Hope this helps!

I got an invite from UAlbany (PI: JF) in December.

Speaking of this Harvard fiasco, shouldn't they be dishing out refunds? Seems pretty sketchy to have people pay the application fee only for PIs to decide they aren't taking students during the app process...

Same with RM at Harvard

Same please!

I'm pretty sure UIUC doesn't do an in person interview day, so faculty are kind of reaching out at their own pace. No, I didn't get anything specific. Here's the full email:
"Thank you for your inquiry. I can tell you that the admissions faculty are currently reviewing all of the applications. Typically, they will begin interviews in February and we will send letters of notification as early as mid-February and as late as mid-March. Due to the fact that we have many faculty who need to review many applications and each have various obligations to their current students, research, and course offerings, I am not able to narrow it down much further than that. Furthermore, you should note that even if you are not contacted for an interview by the end of February, it does not mean that you won’t be asked to interview. The process involves many steps including various review and interview times. I wish that I could be more specific, but we must beg your patience during this arduous process.
Please rest assured that each of our faculty are committed to reviewing the applications carefully and that we will contact every applicant with a decision response."