lexicana

This is my second year applying. The first year I did not contact any POI's because I was afraid, as some have mentioned, of the double edge-sword. What if I say something silly? What if I can't explain my research interests? What if they hate me? You get the point. I didn't get in. This year I contacted one POI from each institution. I received 4 ouf of 5 responses. The converstations mostly involved a couple of short emails and a 30 minute or so meeting. I felt that they all went well. One of the best things about the meetings was the extra tips they provided. One faculty member encouraged me to highlight certain parts of my experience/interests and downplay others. One POI offered to read my PS. So far I have been accepted into 1 program (the one who offered to read my PS). I don't think that it is absolutely necessary to contact your POI's but from my experience I would encourage it. Also, I don't think it has to lead to long and deep discussions as some seem to have. All my interactions were short but very hellpful.

I got my first acceptance today!!!! It was good timing too because I was starting to freak out. Last night I even had a nightmare that I had missed getting into the program (the one I was accepted into) by one point. Don't ask me what the whole point thing was about, it was a dream. Anyways I am sooooooo excited. I can finally relax and wait for the rest of the results. Seriously, I have been waiting for this moment for two years now and in some ways for my entire life. I can't tell you how great it felt to have the progam director tell me the committee was very impressed with my application. Sweet sweet music to my ears. I am hoping the best for all of you!!!!

Thanks everyone for sharing your stories. It is conforting to know you are not alone. I am wondering if any of you have heard anything yet? I have not heard anything. I am not freaking out (too much anyway) yet because I do not expect to hear anything from the bulk of the programs for another couple of weeks. One program did tell me that acceptances would go out the first week of February. So is the 1st week of February this week or next week? In any case I should have some idea with at leat one program by the end of next week (yikes!!)

Have you looked at the results board? If no one has posted acceptances or interview invites then don't worry. If people have posted acceptances or interview invites then you might want to send an e-mail to the program checking on your status.

My husband and I booked a resort spa getaway for our ten year anniversary towards the end of February. I figure by this time I should have a pretty good idea of where I stand. If accepted I will be celebrating with lots of spa treatments and wine. If rejected I will be comforting myself with lots of spa treatments and wine. Either way I see lots of spa treatments and wine in my near future.

I attended a workshop once proviced by Stanford and they DO use phrases which tell the adcomm how excited they really are about the applicant. Here is what they said the different prompts mean. § Letter in reference to – very low § This serves as a letter of reference for – fairly low § I am please to write – average § I am pleased to recommend – fairly high § It is a genuine pleasure and honor – very high

Hey socioeconmist, I'm a Latina and applying for sociology grad programs. I live in Chicago (awesome city) and am pretty much geographically bound so I applied to the four PhD programs available which are UIC, University of Chicago, Northwestern, and Loyola. My main interests are in immigration, race and ethnicity, education, and social inequality. This is actually round two for me. Last year I did not get any bites. Unfortunately with my non-traditional background and unknown undergrad (and MA) institution, I worry that adcoms will not be able so see past my background to my potential. We will see I guess. What about you? Where did you apply and what are you interested in? How confident are you feeling about your chances?

I am definetely thinking about plan B. It helps me feel like I have some control to consider what I might do next. This is my second time around as well and I don't think I see myself doing this a third time next year. I improved my application this year and honestly don't see what else I could do to improve year 3. My options are to apply for an MA program and possibly try again in a couple of years or consider teaching at a community college. I could also stay on my current career track and look for a new job. While I have a great and flexible job right now I am bored with it and need something new and more challanging. One small problem when considering plan B is the complete lack of excitement about either option which reminds me how much I really want to get a PhD.

Thanks everyone for sharing. I hope we can all post acceptances soon! There is definitely something to be said for resiliency and being able to dust ourselves off and try again. OnceAndFutureGrad, I am impressed with your determination. I can only hope to do the same if a third year is in my future. At this point my backup plan is to apply to MA programs (though I am less than thrilled about that option). That is awesome that you have been in touch with your POI's. Not contacting my POI's was one of my weaknesses last year. This year I did contact and meet with most of my POI's. Hopefully that will increase both our chances. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. Good luck everyone!

This is round two for me. Last year I applied to four schools and was put on the wait list for 3 out of the 4. I never did make it off the wait list. The first 4 months of 2011 were total hell. Admitedly, I did not handle the wait very well. This year, I am trying really hard to not let the anxiety get the best of me but it is soooooo hard. I am wondering if there are others who are going through this horrible wait a second time and how you are dealing with the anxiety. As for me I am trying to keep things in perspective. While I want to go to grads school super badly, I know that I have a wonderfully fulfiling life already. What is your round two story and how are you handling the wait?

My favorite song has been Shakira's Waka Waka (This Time for Africa). I listen to it when I work out and always feel super inspired by the words. I found it very inspiring last year (when I was waitlisted at 3 of the 4 places, never making it off the waitlist) and have found it even more inspiring round two. As I work out I listen to the words and think about how great it will feel when I finally get accepted. I have to warn you though that I listen to the Spanish version and find that it is much better than the English version.

Have you heard anything from UIC? I was also waitlisted and I have not received any update. I emailed the DGS but no response. I assume that it's over at this point but I wish I had formal notification.

I sent an email to two of the schools I've been wailisted at reiterating my interest and asking for an update. One of the schools replied that that at this point it looks "unlikely but not impossible" that I will receive an acceptance. I'm trying to focus on the not impossible part.

I'm wondering the same thing. I'm thinking of sending an email to ask for a status update. quote name='Zues' timestamp='1301975612' post='238699'] Its April 4th. Any updates?

Hey thanks for starting this thread. I'm not sure what to make of the supposed notifications. You would think there would be a lot more buzz on this thread if notifications went out, not to mention they had said results would start being sent on the 4th. I guess it's possible that some nofications have been sent but in any case now that April fools day is over we can get back to being serious. I'm very nervous about this fellowship and hoping to hear good news though I realize that chances are slim. Still, wouldn't it be great!

I am 35 and was rejected from 1 school and waitlisted at 3 other schools. I think that my age and the fact that I have always had a non-traditional path to education played a role in being waitlisted. I am hoping to get in off the waitlist because the thought of being 1 year older when reapplying frightens me. I am glad to see some older candidates being accepted. That gives me hope.

I was rejected at 1 school and waitlisted to 3. Hope is highly needed.

Neither my undergrad or MA is in sociology. With that said, I can't say quite yet if I have been succesfull since I've been waitlisted at 3 of the 4 schools I applied to. The fourth one straight out rejected me. As I consider why I have been waitlisted I believe that not having a background in sociology is hurting me. Additionally, I took a non-traditional path to education working full-time while going to college part-time. It took me six years to complete my undergrad. My strenghts are that I have done research and have 4 published articles. I also have professional experience in education, though I am not sure if that is helping or hurting me. If I end up not getting accepted I'm not sure how to improve my application since I can't change what I believe is hurting me. Hopefully soon I will be able to say to claim success!

Have you thought about contacting the department to ask about your status?

Thanks everyone. I think I will do that.

Here is the deal. I applied to 4 schools and have been wait listed to two (my 2 top choices). I am still waiting to hear from the fourth school. I recently had an article accepted for publication which will come out in April. I had listed that article as "in theworks" on my CV. This will be my fourth publication. Should I notify the two schools I was wait listed at about the accepted article. Since I arleady have three publications does a fourth one really make a big difference to adcomms? If I notify them, I am afraid to look desperate. At the same time, if it will help me I don't want to waste the opportunity. Any thoughts??? Could it help or hurt?????

I am wondering the same thing. I'm on the waitlist so if someone waits until the last minute to reject and they offer a spot to someone higher on the waitlist and they reject it could go past April 15. Do schools simply not offer spots after the 15th. Maybe they just have a smaller cohort? Has anyone experienced getting an offer after the 15th?

I was rejected from one school and waitlisted for TWO schools. I am still waiting to hear from one school and am really hoping to be accepted so that I can at least have a definite option. Regarldess, it looks like this process will go into April. One more month of this torture seems unbearable. It will be soooo much worse if I don't get accepted to the school I am waiting to hear from. Seriously, I don't know how I will survive.

I was wait listed at Northwestern today. I am thrilled because I thought for sure I had been rejected. This is my second waitlist though and I am nervous that neither will work out. Still, I can say I was wait listed at Northwestern and that is something!

"Hope is the last thing to die, but maybe it shouldn't be." This is for those of us who have seen acceptances for our programs, meaning we are probably rejected, but can't seem to let hope die.