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Does anyone have feelings or advice on Madison this year? I'm particularly interested in suggestions for housing.

One of my top schools is paying for my visit to become "acquainted with the program" and "talk about further research opportunities". For a week and a half I've been in close contact with one of the PI's at the program (prospective adviser) and the program coordinator, corresponding primarily about logistics for my visit and possible research avenues, but I've not gotten indication one way or another about whether I've been accepted. I make the trip in very early March, but I'm getting anxious. Can I be confident at all at this point?

Last week I received an email from the PI I listed on my statement of intent for one of my top-choice schools (Wisconsin) asking to talk on the phone. We had a great conversation, more informal than the interview that I expected, and he explained how the program is run, outlined his research focus and that of the other faculty in the department, and asked me some questions about my career goals and specific areas of my research. We left the conversation with that he'll be in touch in the coming weeks as funding prospects unfold. I haven't received official acceptance, and am anxious to know for sure if I've made it in. Has anyone else had a similar experience with an outcome one way or the other?