Crosswordese

As a faculty member, this week has been overwhelming and chaotic for us all. Given how scared and uncertain students (and faculty) have felt this week, having recently learned of the existence of GradCafe it occurred to me that hearing from a faculty member might be helpful to some of you and so I planned to start a post expressing my support. However, upon seeing this thread, I wanted to address the initial poster's concern first and then share my thoughts (albeit - I am just one perspective).
My university, like so many, has moved to online-only instruction until mid-April, at minimum. I teach a graduate cognitive assessment class. Even if it were possible to teach test administration online (which I doubt anyone could do well - I certainly cannot), my students have to share some test kits with each other plus given the interactive nature of cognitive testing, it would be impossible for my students to administer a test battery and not touch objects that the testee also touches. #WAISIVCOVID19Outbreak is not the hashtag I want to follow my students or I, because we have an obligation to, above all else, do no harm. The skills-based aspect of my course will be on hold until we can resume in-person instruction. That means I, and my students, will need to be flexible regarding making up the missed classes, but I am willing to give up part of my summer to make sure my students are prepared in the way they need to be.
Let's hope that we're out of the woods by August! That said, as current students, prospective students, and students who will be entering a program in Fall 2020 - it is not your job to worry about how the COVID-19 crisis will affect your education. I understand may of you will worry, and that's okay - but your professors are and will do everything they can to make sure your education continues as planned.
All that said, I hope everyone is okay. For those of you who had to leave campus abruptly, I am sorry. For those of you who had spring-break plans cancelled, I am sorry. For anyone who is scared - you are not alone. For anyone who is angry about this disruption - you are not alone. I can only imagine how hard it must be to be a student or future student right now. Most (I want to believe all of ) your professors are doing the best they can. I realize that may not feel like enough, but it's the best we can do right now. Please take care of yourselves and if you are feeling anxious about the fall, do reach out to current faculty or POIs. We're here.
 
 

It's been two+ weeks since I've been waitlisted at my top choice. I know it's a bit too early for the waitlist panic (most offers will get released somewhere at the beginning of April), but I can't help feeling anxious, hopeful, grateful, and dejected. In the end no one will care if I got into the program off the waitlist or not, but for now I strongly feel the "You're not our first choice, we'll maybe let you know if we need you in the future if our first choice falls through" vibe, which makes me a bit rejected, to be honest. It's not rational, I understand that I will also reject the other offer if accepted off the waitlist here, but the mix of feelings is difficult to get through, especially considering that it's my third cycle.
That's it, just thought it would be an appropriate place to vent.

This is so hard. This was my second time round and even though I felt like my interview was perfect, I got on the waitlist at EMU. After really getting down, I ended up going the "hope for the best, plan for the worst" route. I applied for 6 jobs, 2 masters programs, and set up 1 skype interview in the two weeks between being told I was on the waitlist and being told that I was officially accepted. I can't explain my relief but I can say that prepping for the possibility of not getting in helped to distract me and also feel better prepared for whatever future came.
 
Good luck!!!!!

I just got placed on my first waitlist post-interview and I am worried about my mindset a bit... I don't want to take this as a rejection and get too down about it, but I also don't want to be too optimistic, especially as this school/POI has been my top choice since I started the process. I am also only waiting to hear back from one other school at this point, which makes things feel a little more dire. I'm trying to manage my expectations, but it's hard. All of my other rejections and assumed rejections have been softened by the thought that I still had my top choice on the docket, as it was my last interview. So now I feel sort of at a loss... I feel like I should be regrouping and thinking about next steps to strengthen my application next year, but I don't really want to at this point. I think I inadvertently got too attached to the idea of this program and POI being the perfect match for me, so now I'm trying to avoid clinging to the hope afforded by still being on the waitlist so I don't get wrecked when it doesn't happen... But it also could happen! So I keep going back and forth...
There's really no point to this post, I just wanted to get my feelings out to some people who might understand. But any advice about getting into a good mindset about this all would be appreciated!

I just got placed on my first waitlist post-interview and I am worried about my mindset a bit... I don't want to take this as a rejection and get too down about it, but I also don't want to be too optimistic, especially as this school/POI has been my top choice since I started the process. I am also only waiting to hear back from one other school at this point, which makes things feel a little more dire. I'm trying to manage my expectations, but it's hard. All of my other rejections and assumed rejections have been softened by the thought that I still had my top choice on the docket, as it was my last interview. So now I feel sort of at a loss... I feel like I should be regrouping and thinking about next steps to strengthen my application next year, but I don't really want to at this point. I think I inadvertently got too attached to the idea of this program and POI being the perfect match for me, so now I'm trying to avoid clinging to the hope afforded by still being on the waitlist so I don't get wrecked when it doesn't happen... But it also could happen! So I keep going back and forth...
There's really no point to this post, I just wanted to get my feelings out to some people who might understand. But any advice about getting into a good mindset about this all would be appreciated!

I just got placed on my first waitlist post-interview and I am worried about my mindset a bit... I don't want to take this as a rejection and get too down about it, but I also don't want to be too optimistic, especially as this school/POI has been my top choice since I started the process. I am also only waiting to hear back from one other school at this point, which makes things feel a little more dire. I'm trying to manage my expectations, but it's hard. All of my other rejections and assumed rejections have been softened by the thought that I still had my top choice on the docket, as it was my last interview. So now I feel sort of at a loss... I feel like I should be regrouping and thinking about next steps to strengthen my application next year, but I don't really want to at this point. I think I inadvertently got too attached to the idea of this program and POI being the perfect match for me, so now I'm trying to avoid clinging to the hope afforded by still being on the waitlist so I don't get wrecked when it doesn't happen... But it also could happen! So I keep going back and forth...
There's really no point to this post, I just wanted to get my feelings out to some people who might understand. But any advice about getting into a good mindset about this all would be appreciated!

I just got placed on my first waitlist post-interview and I am worried about my mindset a bit... I don't want to take this as a rejection and get too down about it, but I also don't want to be too optimistic, especially as this school/POI has been my top choice since I started the process. I am also only waiting to hear back from one other school at this point, which makes things feel a little more dire. I'm trying to manage my expectations, but it's hard. All of my other rejections and assumed rejections have been softened by the thought that I still had my top choice on the docket, as it was my last interview. So now I feel sort of at a loss... I feel like I should be regrouping and thinking about next steps to strengthen my application next year, but I don't really want to at this point. I think I inadvertently got too attached to the idea of this program and POI being the perfect match for me, so now I'm trying to avoid clinging to the hope afforded by still being on the waitlist so I don't get wrecked when it doesn't happen... But it also could happen! So I keep going back and forth...
There's really no point to this post, I just wanted to get my feelings out to some people who might understand. But any advice about getting into a good mindset about this all would be appreciated!

I completely understand the reason for this post. Being waitlisted is like this eternal limbo that hurts. I was also waitlisted from a school I felt was perfect and now I’m worried that will be the result of my other interviews. Breathe through it.
I also relate to this hopelessness feeling of not being sure you want to do this next semester. I say, lets get through April and we’ll figure it out after. Sending positive vibes.

Just remember for most programs 50% get in off the waitlist. Also means 50% don't. I would definitely start looking into other things and applying to jobs while also maintaining hope because there is a possibility you could get in. Don't give up!!! We're in this together