[*I is stressed* venting thread for Fall 2020 Applicants]

48 minutes ago, 2ndTimeHopeful said:

I haven’t received any rejections but the interviews are soon & my POI’s have invited others so I consider it a “soft” rejection. 

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

[*I is stressed* venting thread for Fall 2020 Applicants]

4 hours ago, 2ndTimeHopeful said:

I only have 1 left out of my top 5. Upsetting. 

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!

[*I is stressed* venting thread for Fall 2020 Applicants]

39 minutes ago, SoundofSilence said:

Yes! the verbal offer is definitely a "legit" thing :))

Many POIs do this in order to assure you and maybe entice you to come to their program before some other POI steals you away

Of course, every other poster here is right. You are under no obligation to accept anything until april. Also, you don't have to/ should not accept on the spot. You need to see the funding offer and/or wait for news from your other applications. 

However, I personally think it's ok to share with family/ close friends. I doubt it is a "trick" of some sort. I know this process makes us all a bit paranoid (been there multiple times these couples of weeks haha). My own experience this year has been that a verbal offer turned into one on paper, it just took a bit longer to receive the official one from the department and the POI wanted to let me know in advance.

So congrats! And don't fret too much, this process is anxiety inducing enough.

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

[*I is stressed* venting thread for Fall 2020 Applicants]

4 minutes ago, ImAFreudNot said:

Every single thing I’ve heard from mentors, current grad students in my lab, forums on here, etc are very adamant about not accepting anything until you have an official offer in writing! I would tell your POI that you’re excited about and grateful for their offer, but since it’s still early in the interview season, you aren’t ready to accept their offer. Per CUDCP guidelines, people can’t force you or guilt you into accepting offers before April 15. 

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?

[Finding interview travel mates?]

On 1/2/2020 at 1:26 PM, devpsych2020 said:

Hi all! Just wanted to ask for your thoughts on planning interview trips.

Some schools are located at where you have to fly into the nearby city with decent airport, then take an hour or two shuttle rides to get to the campus. I figured that these shuttle services often offer "group discount" for 2/+ people and I honestly would feel more safe if I have a company on these long van ride in an unfamiliar region... So I did email schools about being connected to other interviewees traveling in for the same interview event and am still waiting for the response.

If I can't be connected to other interviewees through school, what do you all think about finding a travel mate on grad cafe? I believe that there are several risks due to the anonymity of this forum but still wanted to hear anyone with past experiences or suggestion?

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 $$$

[*I is stressed* venting thread for Fall 2020 Applicants]

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?

[Fall 2020 Social/Personality Psychology PhD]

57 minutes ago, prog_head13 said:

Can I DM you the POIs ? 

Sure!

[Fall 2020 Social/Personality Psychology PhD]

21 hours ago, prog_head13 said:

Hi,

I am new to this thread. I know I am a bit late to the game but still wanted to sign up and say hi and best of luck to everyone! I have applied to 9 schools so far. I am listing them below:

Ohio University, Case Western (Experimental Program), Texas A & M, Texas Christian University, U of Kansas, U of Missouri- Columbia, U of Arkansas, U of Florida and U of South Florida.

Got interviewed at Mizzou and heard back from U of Florida. Was wondering if anyone has heard back from the schools I have listed.    

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?

[Fall 2020 Developmental Psychology PhD]

On 12/19/2019 at 12:00 PM, cupidcello said:

I got an invite to visit the FIU campus.  Wow!  I'm labeling this as a formal interview invite as the informal interview is now over (it was this morning), I'll get to meet my POI once more, and I'll also get a chance to check-out how I "vibe," per se, with the campus.  In my honest opinion, my overall "fit" with my potential mentor is a good one, so I feel nice about this invite.  Hopefully, all goes well with the visit, and I enjoy being on the campus.  That would all be helpful!

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

[Fall 2020 Social/Personality Psychology PhD]

1 hour ago, imemine said:

How common is it (especially in this subfield) to have skyped with POIs pre-application? I keep reading about those calls on other threads. I haven't had any, and I can't help but wonder if it'll do me in...

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....