Martyna

11 total, I saw some people applying to 20+ but I just wanted to apply to the ones where I genuinely want to go and see the fit. Maybe I should have opened myself to more opportunities?

This all sounds so impressive! Well done! I don't have as much research experience, so I'm starting to worry 😅 the waiting period is so stressful 😫

Congratulations!! You're on a winning streak this cycle! Out of curiosity, what's your background? You must have outstanding experience and awards with so many acceptance letters! 👏🎊

Yes. They're sending acceptance decisions to the best candidates, they won't send all the rejections straight away though. If they offered 10 spots to the best applicants, they are waiting for people to respond, once someone rejects them, they'll make an offer to another person who wasn't their first choice but still a strong fit. This is how they usually work their way down the silent waitlist, not every program does official waitlists. This is why sometimes you will hear about your decision in May, some people even in August!

Thank you so much and good luck to you too! 🤞

Hi there! Also applying from the UK. Last year, I got an interview at the University of Oregon. They sent an invitation around the 9th of January if I remember correctly, and I had an interview around the 20th of January. After about 2.5 weeks, I received my rejection.

I'm from Poland, but completed higher education in the UK where I've been working for the past few years. Sounds like you have amazing experience! I wish I could work in the education sector too, fingers crossed it will be possible after PhD (if I get accepted) 😅🤞

Hi, there! I am also an international student! Where are you from? 😁 It's always hard to find international applicants on those forums. Are you applying straight from undergraduate or do you hold masters as well?

Oh nice! Both are very good universities! I also applied to UIUC, I guess I wasn't their first choice then, but still hoping to somehow get in 😅

Congratulations!!! How did you get the decision so soon? I thought they won't start coming out until January. Happy for you though, fingers crossed we all get lucky soon 🤞

I reached out to 3 professors from each university and introduced myself and proposed topic. Some of them were very nice and replied to me, we exchanged a couple of emails. One of them had a zoom meeting with me. Another one encouraged me to apply reasuring me that my topic fits the department. Some said they don't accept new students, which was obviously helpful to know before I mentioned them in SoP. I also have one Professor whom I've been exchanging emails and calls for the last two rounds of applications and their help was instrumental in drafting my SoP! Once you find a professor who really likes you and your topic, you should keep in touch and make yourself known and interesting to the department, it helps a lot. Beware though as some universities advise not to contact professors, for example, U Minnesota.

Hi! I'm in the same boat. Did you manage to get J1?

Nice! Well done on submitting your first applications 👏 Let's hope we all get in somewhere this year! 🤞

It depends what university you're applying to. Some universities like NYU (Steinhardt) will just send your application materials for a review without that one recommendation and will review it based on everything else you have, it won't make much difference if everything else in your application stands out. Other universities don't have a set deadline for LORs, a lot of them have a deadline for application but no specific deadline for getting recommendations, so I wouldn't panic and still apply.

Hello! Thank you for creating this thread. This is my third round of applications, but the second one for Communication programs. I'm applying to 12 universities this year, some on the West Coast, East Coast, South, Mid-West. In have a master's and some professional experience plus volunteering research experience. Some of the schools I'm applying to are Oregon, USC, NYU, Brown, UCSD, Northwestern, UIUB. I have 4 more applications to submit and then the waiting period begins! Good luck everyone!