WanYesOnly

Hi all, current ABD student at Penn State popping in. We just heard from our department head that we will be taking on new students, but that the university is shrinking our cohort size to about 5 per year. TBH, I came in with a cohort of 7, so our program has always been on the small side. All incoming students are guaranteed 5 years of funding. 
I also imagine preference will be given to people expressing interest in the dual-title PhD program (in WGSS, AfAm Studies, and Asian Studies), because that will help with funding. I'm dual in WGSS and History, happy to answer any questions about that. 
Also, the History department (not university-wide) has been wonderful during covid. All teaching duties were moved online, we were given a relief stipend in April, and we were just informed that all funding contracts will be extended one year. Obviously it sucks that a lot of timelines are being extended because research is delayed, but in the current climate I'm happy to have a stable trajectory for the next couple of years. 

No, it wouldn't look bad if you only had one letter from the three research mentors you worked with imo.  If all three of your projects are relevant to your application and future interests, then yes, talk about them. And no, don't omit a relevant project from your resume. For the last question though, I don't quite know the answer. It's better to always go with academic supervisors unless you've been out of school for a long time.

I disagree with the above post's first point. I think this simply shows they have the resources for it but competition will be high. Also, everyone keeps talking about how everyone will hold off applying until next cycle because of the small cohorts/cancellations of admissions, but honestly, if it was me, I'd apply anyway. All these are assumptions and we don't quite know what will happen, so do your best and apply anyway. 

I disagree with the above post's first point. I think this simply shows they have the resources for it but competition will be high. Also, everyone keeps talking about how everyone will hold off applying until next cycle because of the small cohorts/cancellations of admissions, but honestly, if it was me, I'd apply anyway. All these are assumptions and we don't quite know what will happen, so do your best and apply anyway. 

Update: My F-1 visa got approved yesterday. Thank you all!

I'm starting online this semester and I'm hoping things get better by the Spring. I'm just afraid of flying and catching the virus en route or something. Also, the embassy here isn't issuing F1 visas yet so I'm stuck here. Good luck to everyone starting in person, please keep this thread updated with any significant changes that might help the rest of us.

will be headed (hopefully this spring, if not next fall) to a state where the number of cases are rising exponentially and, ngl, i'm terrified. am currently waiting to see how school reopenings play out over the next few months and how my uni plans to adapt to these changes to decide when exactly i'll be moving to the us. 

It really depends on the state's approach to the pandemic. And if you think things will get better in Spring...
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Apprarently, the embassy in my country has been processing family based immigration visa categories since early July. I think I mentioned it before that categories such as IR-1 are rumored to be prioritized. K-1 in my country are not even processed atm. 
 
I'm in a similar situation as niazche. I got a call from the embassy that they're now prioritizing student visa when I've just started the deferral process for my admission in Spring 2021. Long story short, I now have my F1 approved.

I just want to know where y'all are getting the courage to travel to the US in this pandemic in time for fall semester. I need some of that courage for Spring semester. 

This seems harsh. Like a punishment. I'm so sorry, this is putting a lot of pressure on international students (and domestic as well) to risk their lives just to make it to campus. 
 
For those with the remote learning option, does anyone know if there are any fees associated with online learning. I know tuition is waived and stipends can't be paid due to the law. Is there any other fee? Kindly let me know if you have an idea, thanks.

Yikes. I haven't even asked about the additional fees, since I don't think I'd like to start my program remotely. I'll have to clarify if a semester-long deferral's still possible though, because I might've received conflicting messages from my program and my school. (There are so many updates and changes to policies that it's so hard to keep up!! ?) 
Anyway, solidarity to all other international students currently facing the same dilemmas. We'll get through this... hopefully unscathed.  ✊?
 

Hello everyone. Here in Uruguay the US embassy is issuing visas under expedite requests for students, I already received mine and I know other students that have their appointments scheduled for these days. This means that consulates elsewhere can resume visa services if they choose to do so, depending on local conditions. Good luck!

As far as I've heard (from my program), the September deadline isn't school-mandated, it's actually the law (I guess according to USCIS) that if the international student can't arrive by then, they can no longer come for that semester. The fact that a lot of these schools have been cool with us deferring to Spring, I think, is a big plus. Of course, this whole trainwreck of a year is unprecedented, but I was afraid that schools would force students to defer by an entire year since many PhD programs don't allow you to start on a Spring semester. I am glad that (at least for now), we can start in the Spring semester if we can't make it by the end of September. 
 
To me, this is what actually seems harsh. Is there a reason you will be charged? Are they admin fees or straight up a percentage of tuition? This seems unfair to me. 

This is rather late, but I'm thinking of starting remotely since things are still bad and international travel is risky imo. However, my school won't be paying the stipends which makes things hard for me so I might reconsider and defer to Spring '21. 

I wish I had this option too - my school announced today that if we cannot make it to campus by September 30th, we'll need to defer. I'd also opt for a remote start if I could, but I guess it's time to wait and see for me!

Yup, that plus I'm constantly anxious that I'll wake up one day and get an email revoking my admission due to budget cuts. The department chair had assured me a few weeks ago that they wouldn't do that to anybody yet I'm still so worried. I don't want to defer, I'm nearly in my 30s so the thought of waiting another year for me is depressing. Damn it, and I thought waiting for an admissions decision was the hard part ?

Yup, that plus I'm constantly anxious that I'll wake up one day and get an email revoking my admission due to budget cuts. The department chair had assured me a few weeks ago that they wouldn't do that to anybody yet I'm still so worried. I don't want to defer, I'm nearly in my 30s so the thought of waiting another year for me is depressing. Damn it, and I thought waiting for an admissions decision was the hard part ?

Imposter syndrome is real. Remember your programs want you to succeed and are (literally) invested in your doing well. In a way, the adcomm are able to see better than you that you are no imposter. They waded through all those applications of stellar candidates and said "yes" to you, and they likely have the experience of previous cycles to make solid predictions about who will do well in their program. Between their expertise and self-doubt, go with the former. And ultimately, now especially, grad programs need you more than you need them. One other general tidbit I have is don't let imposter syndrome cause you to clam up from fear of looking unknowledgeable. I've seen this in my masters' program: people who I know are capable but too timid to talk in seminars; it's such a lost opportunity because this is the time to ask a million questions so you and your instructors can figure out the gaps in your knowledge. And chances are other graduates have the same questions as you and will be grateful someone has the guts to speak up. 

I feel this! Every few days I keep wanting to clean out my PhD docs folder because all those SOP and WS drafts and other clutter are taking up unnecessary space, but I just can’t bring myself to do it because a small paranoid voice in my head whispers ‘are you suuure? what if admissions get revoked, though? what if funding gets cut? you never know what can happennnnn....ssss’. ?

Yup, that plus I'm constantly anxious that I'll wake up one day and get an email revoking my admission due to budget cuts. The department chair had assured me a few weeks ago that they wouldn't do that to anybody yet I'm still so worried. I don't want to defer, I'm nearly in my 30s so the thought of waiting another year for me is depressing. Damn it, and I thought waiting for an admissions decision was the hard part ?

Never mind! Happy to say that I've finally made my choice and I'll be attending UW this fall

as a current third year, choose the school where your stipend is union protected (i really cannot emphasize this enough, uw's union has steadily fought for increased pay, we have no copay for mental health, and a strong contract enforcement protocol to protect against infractions), where grad students are nicer and seem organized, where faculty seems like you can really talk to them (this you may or may not have a feel for) and the city where you will feel excited to live for 5-8 years! the job market is such that no school can promise placement, so you should choose the place you *feel* is a good place to live in. that's just my two cents ?

Anyone else feeling like they can't begin looking for housing due to the uncertainty of fall semester? What if I sign a lease and pay the deposit and then we still have to go online or worse, defer, or even worse, have our offers rescinded? I can't do this another year  plus I'm almost 30 and I'm just so ready to get going on this PhD journey. Arrrgggh!!! As an international student, I also have to keep tabs on the situation in my country (which is getting worse by the day) and the US. I get exhausted thinking about this. 

Anyone else feeling like they can't begin looking for housing due to the uncertainty of fall semester? What if I sign a lease and pay the deposit and then we still have to go online or worse, defer, or even worse, have our offers rescinded? I can't do this another year  plus I'm almost 30 and I'm just so ready to get going on this PhD journey. Arrrgggh!!! As an international student, I also have to keep tabs on the situation in my country (which is getting worse by the day) and the US. I get exhausted thinking about this. 

As an international applicant from a country just about to go through a spike in numbers due to the virus, a non-traditional, 3rd cycle applicant, and recently laid off, I'm really at my wits end about this whole situation. I really hope things work out by fall, otherwise I'm done for?