SocDevMum

Got it, makes sense. I hope you get a couple of nice surprises this cycle then!

You've already gotten 4 reject letters? I've only heard from one school, period, still waiting to hear a peep from the other four... and only two of those have popped up in the results forum as even having done interviews yet. I think I'd rather have rejections then just sitting in limbo like this!

Thank you , I needed to hear this. Overthinking is definitely my personality flaw, and this whole process just kicks into overdrive!

Thanks for the input - I guess my concern is, is it really a legit thing, a verbal offer? I haven't told my friends or parents about it yet, because I'm worried that it won't turn into an on-paper offer. I did tell her I was very excited to receive a verbal offer, and am looking forward to meeting her in person at the Campus visit, because I genuinely am, it's a great program, and she encouraged me to stay in communication during the application season... I want to be exited, but I also don't want to count my chickens before they hatch, ya know?

I love this idea! I only have one interview offer so far, and I was told that a grad student or faculty would be picking me up from the airport at that one, but if it's not like that for all schools I would defintely feel safer traveling in a group - and to save some $$$

Need advice! I've only gotten one interview, and the POI made me a verbal offer of admission - but I haven't gotten anything "official" from the university yet. It is one of my top choice programs, but I'm struggling to be excited w/o an official offer (including $$$) on paper. And I really want to wait and see if my other top pick offers me an interview.... can anyone tell me, how solid is a "verbal offer"? My mentors are all confounded by the idea of a verbal offer, and have encouraged me to not count it as a real admission just yet. So frustrating! Anyone else have any experience with this?

Sure!

I am waiting to hear from U of Florida and U of South Florida - I remember reading somewhere that many of the departments haven't really even begun reviewing apps as a whole yet? What POI are you looking at at UF or USF?

I will also be at FIU in February! May I ask which POI?

Ooof, I haven't either, none of the POIs I have spoken with are even allowed to have those kinds of chats prior to interviews. Graduate students, though... I've had several great Skype or phone calls with current grad students in the labs I'm interested in, and those have all been really helpful. I can't imagine it should affect your chances (or mine!) since many schools apparently forbid that kind of contact in advance....