socialpsych

Well, personally I am certain enough of my top choice that I probably wouldn't go if I were in that situation (already admitted to top choice). But I am going to try to go to as many visit/interview days as possible because I think it will be fun, I'd like to get a good sense of what different programs are like, and the resulting connections in the field will make it worthwhile. Of course, there is also the fact that it is only courteous to let the program know if there is no chance you will end up going there, so that they can let in someone else.

I have always called profs "Professor X" until either 1) they ask me to use their first name, or 2) everyone around me is using their first name and it's clearly what is expected. I figure it is best to err on the side of formality...but I have always wondered whether it might offend anybody. Has anyone ever had a prof seem to be bothered by use of their last name?

linden, I was sooooo reluctant to join this forum, but I think it actually makes me less anxious, because it spares me from flipping out about schools I haven't heard from that (I now know) no one else has heard from either. Like, UC Davis said on the phone that they'd be in touch within a week or two, and it's now been two weeks and they haven't been in touch, but I know they haven't been in touch with anybody, so instead of assuming I didn't get in and feeling all down, I know they just don't have their act together. Which is better. (Or so I tell myself.) I save all my homework for the weekend so I stay busy. The worst is having nothing to do! Knowing I'm not actually going to hear anything yet doesn't help all that much...

Oh oh can you update the results? Also, congrats!

I think most of them have at least touched their apps...I know even the school I'm expecting to notify last (early March) has started looking them over. Not to scare anybody... BTW, congrats!!

Someone got into UCR, too! Hehe, maybe my schools will start notifying soon tooooo...

Hey, who just got in to Michigan? Congrats, that's fantastic!

Congrats, t_ruth!! I definitely hear you on the craving for more...but I think you will find that it is great to have one in the bag to hold you over during the wait.

Oh, I think it's pretty robust. A lot more people have responded to the poll since I posted, and it's still just as pretty.

Both, haha.

My one email so far came at 1 pm...actually precisely 1:00 (maybe pre-planned?). Judging by some recent results that have been posted, it seems like that might be typical.

10 here. I'm applying in two different fields of study, so 5 per field.

Actually I have specifically heard that requesting a phone conversation is a bad idea because it comes off as too demanding...I'm not saying everyone feels this way. I just want to make sure others who read this thread realize that profs really vary in how they feel about this, and it may be best to tread with caution.

Yeah. I have heard that strong opinion from people too. I've also heard pretty authoritative opinions from people (including profs) in social/personality psych, organizational behavior, and finance that it's not a good idea...so there are certainly mixed opinions about it.

Okay well...I just *had* a nightmare about this last night. It was that my top choice school told me they're not taking anyone this year. Benign, I know, but you didn't ask about my *worst* nightmare...and don't I get bonus points for actually having had it, like, literally, while I slept?

Pretty distribution though (:

How do you know they're done with interviews? It's so early still! I would wait a few weeks at least...

Ritual sacrifice is KEY.

I didn't contact any of my potential advisors, except at one school which is attached to my undergrad institution (where one of my potential advisors actually wrote me a LOR). I felt weird about contacting people, and a lot of grad students I talked to actually advised me not to contact anyone. I also heard some grad students gossiping about a prospective student who had contacted their advisor and made a bad impression, which definitely put me off. Also, my mom is a professor, and she told me she would be a little irritated if an applicant the program hadn't yet expressed interest in (by interviewing/accepting them) contacted her. I was just accepted to a program where my first contact with my POI was the acceptance email...

I don't actually know anything about this, but FWIW, I have heard that grad school can be a *good* time to have kids, especially if you are getting a PhD/planning to have an academic career. I know a few PhD students in my field with one or multiple kids who seem to be doing okay, although I'm sure it isn't easy.

Probably too late for whitelily, but for future reference: living in Palo Alto is fairly expensive. Right now, rent for 1-BR apartments close to campus is often in the low $1000s and up. I don't know anything about getting extra aid/employment, sorry...

Is there a lot of high-tech/IT industry activity around Santa Barbara? My boyfriend is an electrical engineer/programmer...we're currently in Silicon Valley and a little scared of leaving, heh. Would there be a lot for him to do down there if he ends up deciding to change jobs after we're there for a year, or whatever?

Oh no! How did you hear? Phone, postal service..?

Hi guys! I didn't apply to any I/O programs, but I did apply to OB, and it looks like the OB action is here rather than on the "Business" boards. I applied to: - Stanford - Haas/UC Berkeley - U Chicago - Kellogg/Northwestern - Columbia I do happen to know that Stanford doesn't interview and that they tend to notify quite late, in early-mid March...I'm guessing it will be a while for the others too!

Nope, and it wasn't supposed to replace the on-campus interview--I'm still waiting to hear about that. It was a little weird. It sounded like maybe they weren't sure about me for the on-campus and the phone interview was supposed to resolve that. Or something. Anyhow the prof did say they will be inviting people for the next round either this week or next, following the UC Regents meeting (which was last week)...so we both know when to start panicking, haha...