verdalantreas

I was rejected by all schools I applied to two years ago. Was a terrible experience. All the time and effort, and almost $1000 in application-fees just to get 10+ confirmations that I sucked. Then I applied for a masters, and I got in and did well. And this time round I have been admitted to my (Ivy-level) dream-school. Just don't give up if it is what you want to do.

I am potentially looking at double that as well. I am in the frightening situation that moving for a year might have affected my in-state tuition status, and thus have raised my fees to out-of-state, while at the same time - if I indeed have to pay out of state tuition - losing me an in-state scholarship I was nominated for. This thing could cost me 80k + the 40k which I would have had to borrow anyway. I only found out about it last week. And in a couple of days I will hear the outcome. But it has left me in a pretty stressed out state. Both alternatives; being in debt for the rest of my life, or moving back, waiting until I have in-state status again, and then applying again, are nightmare scenarios...

I've just been admitted into my dream school!!! So happy! :) :) :) Though starting to get a bit worried about funding issues, as it is not a funded offer (they generally don't fund)

A thing to consider is also where you want to work afterwards. As it is generally not a bad idea to build your network on the continent where you'd want to work.

Am really stressed out now as well. I do have an offer, but had an interview at my dream-school about 10 days ago, and I haven't heard yet, though they said I would hear in a week or two. It could be any time now! What makes it even more stressful is that this school apparently interviews a lot more people than they will offer places, so I really do fear I am rejected. The chance, albeit a small one, of an admit keeps me sane. Thus though the waiting is freaking me out, it is better, way better, than a sure reject. How empty that would be. Anyway, back to stressing and hoping...

All depends on your financial situation. Also, if your POI really wants you, he might be able to help you write a grant-proposal, or he might be able to arrange the funding himself in a year or two. Which would give you time to partake in the Teach for America corps.

I don't have much experience with these kinds of things, but I would guess that while something like this would look good on an undergraduate application, it might not for a PhD, unless it is in a sports related field, and even then an academic reference would be better... What you could do though, is add him as an extra/fourth recommender, for schools that don't limit you to three... Another option would be to add him in for half your schools, so if it does not work out, you will have at least some schools left...

I visited Pittsburgh recently, and the people seemed friendly. Cost of living should also not be a problem as I was told that one can get an apartment starting at 600/700 a month.

The city is Pittsburgh

Thanks Pitangus for your insights. I know I also dreaded moving to go to my undergrad uni, though that was just an hour away, and in the end I really loved the place. Then I moved abroad to do my masters. This move was easier, as it was a very 'lovable place'. I worked hard there, and really liked it from the start. It was only a short flight away. Now however I am working on a different continent, and have my offer here (but in a different area) as well. In terms of distance it is a much bigger deal. Not just in terms of travel-time, but also cost. I'm still undecided. Especially as the area is less 'lovable'. And the uni, while top-notch for my (small) field, is moderately ranked otherwise.

I would ask a secretary, rather than a POI. That way you will not negatively affect his view of you, while still allowing you to get the info.

If you don't have a masters yet it might definitely be worth it. Especially if your GPA could be better, or if your undergrad is from a less well known school.

The most important thing would be, I think, whether you feel you could be happy in the program, and finish it. If not then working might be an option. Though there might be limits to how many more letters of recommendation you can get if you would apply more than one or two more seasons...

I'm in a similar situation, also been accepted into a (very good) program in a cold, far away area. Though I have been living away from my home-area (for masters, then work) for a few years now, so I am not new to that. One gets used to it, but it is not ideal, and it is still a consideration for me. Am still undecided, and also still waiting on a school that is much nearer.

Congratulations! Great to hear that it is working out for you!

It also might be administrative convenience. They send out the acceptances. Then they have an internal wait-list for if too many of the accepted ones decline. And only once all spots are filled do they notify all others in one batch... Sometimes I wonder whether those administrating the process know what it feels like for applicants...

Is my 3rd round of PhD applications. First time I applied to 10 PhD programs and later to two masters. Was rejected by 9, waitlisted by one, then applied to 2 masters. Was accepted by both, and even a 3rd, one of which was at a top 10 uni, and was able to find funding. I attended the masters. Second time I only applied to 2 schools because my application-season was cut short by a job-offer I could not refuse. Was accepted into one, deferred it. Third time, applied to 3 schools. Accepted into top school, still waiting on 2.

Entirely depends on the school. So you should ask them, preferably a secretary or so, and not your POI.

I'm about to go on a visit as well. Am a bit nervous about meeting with my POI as I haven't had any contact with him yet (been shy), and it seems a bit late to do that now. Ty for all the advice on the questions and such. Will let everyone know how it went.

It differs from school to school. 10% rule should be a safe bet. Nobody, however, is actually going to count the words in your SOP / samples.

For me the factors, in order are: Research, atmosphere, POI, name, place, distance, money Though my decision will most likely not be that hard. I am visiting one good school soon, and I'm still waiting on my dream-school.

I think starting with research and contacting professors couldn't hurt. Maybe you could, depending on your skills, do some data processing/collection for a POI in exchange for an early co-authorship? Alternatively you could start reading around your interests / by following references from your POI's publications. No need to ask anything for that, and they will surely be pleasantly surprised. Finally, if you have any courses coming up you could also ask the reading-lists for those, either from the department or from current students. Plenty of options there...

Thank you for this. Good to hear what it looks like after a few years. As for debt, what if the debt would be relatively small because of savings and partial scholarships?

I also had such feelings when enrolling into my masters. Even when I arrived and saw that they had misspelled my name on a box with stuff for in my student housing, a feeling crept up to me that there might have been some error, and the guy with the other name was actually supposed to be admitted. Anyway, all was fine, but yes, feeling like an imposter is something many people seem to have in good grad schools...