Schoolpsychish

That’s really such an individual decision. I knew that I could not afford to take on more student loan debt, so I did not go with my top choice since funding wasn’t guaranteed (I later found out that I was chosen for a fellowship, but it was only for 1 year). I didn’t want the stress of trying to figure out funding each year. I ultimately decided to go with a fully funded program that still was a good fit. The research alignment at my top choice was super exciting, but I was still able to go with a program and mentor that will support me in exploring my research interests even if they aren’t 100% aligned. I went through this process last year and I don’t regret my choice at all. Funding was a top priority for me.

For UCR, it sounds like you communicated with maybe the grad school versus the program directly? I know that they already sent out acceptances. If you interviewed, I wouldn’t assume rejection. You could be on a waitlist should someone not accept.