PolishPhD

Hi everyone!

I am curious, did any of you hear any rumours about this years admission season?
Last year was a bloodbath, with record number of applications and (simultaneously) many programs either not taking new applicants or reducing their cohorts. I am trying to figure out whether this year we will see a return to the mean or will it also be very competitive due to many applicants who were not successful last year reapplying etc. 
Of course, I don't think anyone has an answer to those questions, but I am curious what the general mood is in the US academia.

That is my approach. But kind of lost hope since the schools I haven't heard from are my top choices (ergo, most competitive). 

Also received a rejection from UW-Madison. First of the season 

Also received a rejection from UW-Madison. First of the season 

I can add 2021 next weekend if y'all think it'd be helpful!

Hi everyone,
I am in need of advice.
I am a first-year Ph.D. student at an international university and I have applied to do my Ph.D. in the United States in Fall 2022. As it is impossible to transfer, I would begin my studies from scratch (if accepted). 
I have just received the results of my first semester at my Ph.D. program and somehow managed to receive a perfect GPA of 5.0 out of 5.0. Here is my question:
Should I contact the universities to which I applied and share the results with them? Would this aid my application or should I simply silently wait for the results? I am worried that sharing the results might annoy the administration, or complicate my enrollment if I am accepted to a program.