animal_whisperer

Yeah guys keep in mind it's not common to interview for the vast majority of PhDs in US political science programs! There are some schools that have held interviews for years (OSU, UW-Madison), and those will most probably continue with having interviews this year. As for the others, it is unlikely they will start having interviews this year.
 
 

And I concur, @animal_whisperer. I'm not taking any of these decisions personally. There are many paths to a meaningful life and a Ph.D is only of them. 

Yeah guys keep in mind it's not common to interview for the vast majority of PhDs in US political science programs! There are some schools that have held interviews for years (OSU, UW-Madison), and those will most probably continue with having interviews this year. As for the others, it is unlikely they will start having interviews this year.
 
 

Yeah guys keep in mind it's not common to interview for the vast majority of PhDs in US political science programs! There are some schools that have held interviews for years (OSU, UW-Madison), and those will most probably continue with having interviews this year. As for the others, it is unlikely they will start having interviews this year.
 
 

Absolutely. I meant to go back in my 30s but life happened. I've become disenchanted with corporate work. I've wanted to be a researcher and teacher since my early 20s, so I figured it was high time I got my stuff in order. It will be REALLY hard to lose my current salary, but the saying is true, money isn't everything. 

I am.

Got an MSU acceptance letter from the DGS with an initial offer! No news from UCSD (rejection or acceptance), so curious about that. Either way, strange time of the day for them to issue decisions period. It's still early in Cali, so I'll attempt to keep any pending decision from them out of my mind today so I don't anxiously refresh my email more than I do already. 

Congratulations to those receiving offers! To those who haven't, @icemanyeo said it best: "...rejections are not a statement about who you are as an applicant." We all have worked so hard to craft these applications and put ourselves out there to get scrutinized and labeled with an artificial "decision." You are not just any particular acceptance or rejection. I know it's likely hypocritical coming from someone who has been admitted to a few places, but I'm just trying to spread positivity as much as possible - especially during a pandemic. You are all great and I cannot wait to have you all as colleagues one day! 

Hi guys! I made this for future use as we get our decisions and complete our cycle in the next couple of months  

Concur with this sentiment. Unlike undergrad, where an acceptance is based almost completely on one's gpa and test score, the more holistic review for PhD applicants and limited spots eliminates the possibility of "safety schools." When their most important measurement is one's fit within the program, it is possible to be accepted to an Ivy while being rejected by a University of Oregon-not to insult any Ducks in the forum. The upside of this process is that you cannot count yourself out of the best schools, but, conversely, there is a possibility you do not get accepted anywhere.

Hey everyone! I've been tracking this page for the last couple weeks and wanted to report that I just got an email to interview with the Kroc Institute at Notre Dame for the PhD in Peace Studies and Political Science. 
I also wanted to say thank you to all of the folks posting positive notes and support for one another. This is a really hard year for everyone, and I know all of our anxiety levels are at an all-time high with so much uncertainty in the world 
Fingers crossed for everyone out there, and thanks to others who posted their previous interview questions!

lol yikes it's readily clear that 2020PhD is someone's troll alt account and it's not even a well-hidden alt. even worse than the princeton results page trolls because at least those are anonymous. 
 
I hope they learn "their" lesson that stuff here is public and gradcafe does not have a nice deletion policy. 

I think you're all aware that there's a messaging function in this forum. People do not have to know what games you're playing or what series you're watching. We're all here for our PhD applications, not reading how boring your lives are.

I know I've made a lot of self-deprecating jokes in this thread, but it's still too early to give up hope in the cycle! I know it's hard to do, and I'm trying to follow my own advice here, but don't take rejections personally. Remember -- a rejection is not a verdict on who you are and your accomplishments. There are so many other factors at play, especially during a PANDEMIC(??️ high five to you all for preparing materials and submitting applications during these troubled times)! 

 

Just got my official acceptance from Madison! Very excited and hoping the best for all of you!

I just have no idea what type of person would do this. Adding gasoline to the collective bonfire of grad application anxiety. On another note, I'm totally fine with being rejected from Princeton. I just don't want my cycle to start with an L. 

As another week of decisions starts in just a few hours (and February, when a lot of decisions are released, is soon coming as well), I want to wish you all best of luck! It’s really comforting to know that I’m not alone in this process and journey and that there are so many people I can reach out to. I also want to remind you to make sure to put yourself first and do whatever you can to minimize your anxieties and stress. I know that whatever happens all of you amazing and brilliant people have great things ahead, and I really hope that we can continue to share great news on this platform!

Claiming one too.

I can claim one as well. I was admitted this morning for IR. Definitely surprised with how early it came too. 

I do. Just received the e-mail.

First-gen here. I want to echo this. Also, do not forget that some professors - undoubtedly some on the adcom - are first-gens themselves.
I see many posters writing authoritatively about what will be the most crucial element(s) of the application or what makes a stellar application. Based on what? Second-hand anecdotal evidence? A "logical" deduction of scattered and unverified information across Gradcafe and Reddit? Your intuition? A professor once told you?
While it is true that SOP's, WS's, LOR's and grades all matter in some way,  I think it is important to emphasize that adcom members have some agency and aren't just ticking off boxes like robots. One of the reasons why we are all waiting for such a long time is because picking out the right candidates requires considerable deliberation based on the sum of variables that constitute your application.
As _baby__yoda said, there are many cues that can signal graduate school success. The combination of those cues will be unique for every candidate. Maybe your GPA is low, but you have 4 competitive scholarships. Maybe you have only taken two quant classes in undergrad, but you worked as a data scientist for 3 years. Maybe your background is not in political science, but you published in a top political science journal. 
And then, say if you have made it into the "promising applicants pool," much will come down to luck (an element we routinely underestimate in daily life) -- it is truly a crapshoot.   
Rooting for all of you.

Sending positive energies to everyone as we go through this final stretch of the cycle! ?
Thank you to all those who have shared their experience with interviews, past cycles, admissions, and more!

I know emotions run high when important stuff is on the line, but I would advise everyone to take it down a notch with the mutual accusations.
I (and I bet many others) would really appreciate a space to just wait it out and comment things as they happen, rather than to read through unpleasant comments (I do not wish to name anyone in particular).

I haven't been admitted anywhere and have no information to suggest that I will be admitted anywhere.
Nevertheless, there is a part of me that is searching for any semblance of a silver lining to cope with this extremely stressful season... right now, I'm insisting on telling myself, "hey, maybe this means the job market will be less brutal in 5-6 year!" which is wishful thinking at best and delusion at worst!

Waiting to hear back from schools is probably the most brutal and stressful experience ever. Look at all of us here (including me obviously), constantly checking the forums/results and then overthinking the tiniest details and wondering what is in store for us ? 

I'm claiming one of those Northwestern admits. Got an email early this morning.