verdalantreas

Depends. Could be worth it, but 50k is a lot of money for most of us. Though getting a masters is a good idea in general, so if all offers are similar, then go with the best if you can scrape the money together and don't have to start repayments while in your PhD.

Looks like you are waitlisted to me. Don't lose hope, though, if they wanted to reject you they would have done that by now.

Hugs. And good luck everyone! (am stressing out about an interview in 3 days...!!!) And some more hugs and good wishes...

Depends on the funding and admits situation. If I get full funding at one of my top choices, apart from a few weeks at home, I will be spending at least a month on some remote island doing absolutely nothing at all, apart from socializing, reading and enjoying nature. Also I'll probably be moving into whatever city I will be going to, at least 2 weeks in advance, so I can settle in, without the hurry. Until then, I'll probably keep working in my current job, and if I get no funding, or want to go for another round, count out the summer holiday, and it will all be work, and work, and work

If asking does not result in a meaningful response, people likely to interview you, besides your POI, are directors of research / graduate studies, or people in similar positions.

I would not mention the rejection, as there is such a thing as confirmation bias. And why risk it?

Am in a similar situation. Have been away for my masters as well, but that was less far. Have to make a choice now about whether to go to some place far, or to re-apply next year. Missing family is bad, but being far from friends is horrible as well. Especially as I feel that making friends may be harder now than it was during undergrad. Another concern of mine is that I fear that I will have a hard time settling in in the US city I will be going to. Where I am from everything is walkable, and cities are somewhat historic, and welcoming. While in the US they seem not. How do other non-Americans feel about this?

I've been admitted into a good program with funding (some would say the top, and for 2 closely related fields it is in the top 5), which seems a good fit, but I am having a hard time getting excited. I did get rejected from the place I really wanted to go to, which - besides being closer to my family and friends (also see: ), is in a much nicer area, and has a better brand name. I am in an ok job (also far from home), so I could imagine working for another year, saving some, and trying again next season, but as I cannot defer my offer, I will lose it. (An additional factor is that I only applied to very few schools, and have found some more interesting ones) As grad school is a big commitment (5 years, little chance of transfer or abort and re-try, once started), and is defining for ones academic career and possibly life (am relatively old as well), I am having a hard time choosing. What would/will you do (or even better, what did you do, if you made a similar choice last year or before, and did/do you have any regrets?)

Berlin? Also I'd think getting in would not be hard, as many continental unis don't have a tradition of having to apply for uni. Also see: ww.daad.de/deutschland/hochschulen/hochschulranking/06543.en.html?module=Hitliste&do=show_l1&hstyp=1&ab=4&esb=1 (notice alphabetical ordering)

At the school where I was, interviews are done before reject messages are sent out. I don't know why, but possibly so they can do them all at once. Or maybe they see it as a more humane way of rejecting people, so that the rejection creeps up on one slowly (interview dates are listed, so one can do the math), rather than being a sudden event... They list on the site that some people are accepted without interview, but nobody admitted there that I asked did not have an interview.

kgumps2012 that must be really horrible. I tried to prevent exactly that scenario last year by not applying yet, but now I think it was not a wise move, as it probably is still harder for them to reject someone who is around than to reject someone whom they won't see anymore (also getting feedback on a proposal is much easier if one can discuss it at the course). Anyway, good luck with your other applications.

I got what I think is a reject from the program where I did my masters. Interviews invitations have been sent out, but no news yet. I feel pretty terrible about it, especially as it was my dream school, and I literally worked my ass off last year to get near perfect grades. I am in a good job now, in a different city, mostly because I did not dare apply last year (it would have sucked even more to be rejected while there). The formal rejection letter is still a week or so away, but it feels terrible. This whole application process is just cruel. Nothing seems interesting, or to matter anymore.

My now ex-girlfriend also was driven to madness by my obsession with applications a couple of years ago. This time I take a different approach. Though I am starting to read the Gradcafe way too often, I generally only check my e-mail and results in the morning, when just arriving at work. That way, when a rejection comes in I can at least be distracted by work. Also, having a good acceptance already, helps as well.