saffasrass

From what I've heard, Indiana doesn't usually do interviews, but they do sometimes reach out to candidates to gauge interest before sending out admissions. I'm hoping that that's the case this year as well, since I haven't heard anything from them. I say that with the qualification that I think this whole cycle is so different for both us and departments that looking at what the norm is from previous years doesn't seem to be telling you what's actually happening this year. A lot of schools that send out interview invites or have usually already sent out admissions haven't done the same this year, so it's hard to know what's going to happen until it does.

@Ikaitlyn applied last cycle. She's currently at UCI.

I think part of the reason we're seeing a spike in applications for some programs is the relaxation of the GRE requirement. While I don't agree that it's a good metric to base ability on, it is a barrier to applying. If you don't have to study for and invest in taking the GRE, you're more likely to think that it's worth it to apply this cycle. So I bet you anything that the schools still requiring it are seeing a slight increase, but not as big of one as the schools that aren't.

I have my BA and MA in Economics, and have worked with a demographer during my years as an RA, so I'm hoping that not hearing back yet is a good sign for me. I haven't heard from any programs yet, actually, which is really screwing with my anxiety... especially programs I've seen results posted for already. Sorry to hear you were rejected, I'm crossing my fingers for you for other applications!

I was actually born in Houston! My immediate family moved to San Diego when I was 13, though, so I've lived in California longer. But I spend a lot of my holidays in Houston and/or Austin. I definitely have been lucky in that I've been staying with my parents through my master's, which I finished this May. So it was easy to just stay another year while working as a Research Associate and applying to PhDs. This is my first cycle applying, which is frustrating, because I feel like any other year I wouldn't be worried about my chances of being accepted with funding. But I have ~3 years of research experience and one (maybe two) publications under my belt, so I'm hoping programs will be like "hey, a great RA prospect! Let's give them money!"

Hey there! I'm almost done with all my applications -- three more left. I've been casting a wide net, just in case Covid impacts cohort size/funding as much as I'm worried it will. I also applied to UT Austin and Emory (as well as plenty other). I have a BA and MA in Economics, so my background is primarily quantitative. I'm interested in expanding into qualitative and mixed methods, and am mostly looking to pursue topics at the intersection of gender and sexual identity and inequality/health/stigma. Would love to talk to anyone else who's feeling anxious!