psyentist4good

My school sent me a T-shirt with the school logo and name on it as a welcome gift after I accepted their offer. Yes, I think I will be proud to wear it!

I'm bringing my hope with me.

I will be 29. I didn't start undergrad until I was 26, and I'm going into a Ph.D. program straight from undergrad. But it looks like I sort of got back on schedule.

Toasted whole wheat bread, hummus (from Berkeley), lettuce, red onion, avocado, chiles. Yummmm.

"Oh? Where else did you get in? Oh, nowhere? Do you have any more schools you're still waiting to hear from? Don't give up hope yet... Oh, you want to go there? Well... then congratulations!" Yeah. Tell me how you really feel! Even if no one else understands my choice, I know that my dreams really just came true for me, and I am so...very...excited!!

extravagant lifestyle

table tennis

I feel truly honored to have gotten an Honorable Mention. Thanks to all of you who posted tips and info to help strengthen our apps for next year. I'm inspired to try again!

Congrats gradmau5! I know that feeling of being so excited that you can't eat! That is a sign that you were authentically immersed in the joy of that moment. Remember that feeling throughout grad school, and let it remind you of how awesome you really are!

hat tricks

clean sweep

Peacock feather

fusion cuisine

split decision

romantic atmosphere

I was on a trip with my friends in Northern California, and we were all standing in the our friend's kitchen eating homemade raspberry mocha cheesecake and sipping tea. I noticed that I had missed a call and I didn't recognize the number. Something told me that it was important, so I tried to be inconspicuous as I listened to the voicemail while everyone was chatting. I know this was rude, but I just had this feeling... It was a call from a member of the decision committee; they had just convened the day before to make their decisions. They were really excited to offer me admission, and I was ecstatic to be admitted! When there was a break in the kitchen conversation, I managed to squeak out that I had just gotten accepted to a Ph.D. program! Needless to say, we all went right into celebration mode!

I haven't yet started my Ph.D. program, but I will be entering in the fall. I am excited, anxious, and preparing to pace myself throughout what promises to be the academic challenge of a lifetime. I know there will be woes and stress, but I am interested in hearing some uplifting anecdotes. What has been your favorite moment so far in graduate school? Was there a moment that just made you feel like you could take on the world? Have you had an accomplishment that made you feel validated and reminded why you chose to go to graduate school in the first place? Have you had any particularly enriching and rewarding experiences? I'd love to hear about them!

rendered helpless

attack mode

racing heart

dark horse

book smart

It is important to think about what is most important to you on a day to day basis. Once you start the program, the novelty will wear off quickly, and you will be left with the reality of the daily challenges of balancing grad school and home life. So it is important to visualize what it will really be like in each situation. On one hand, how important is it that you have a truly fulfilling experience while at school? It sounds like your first choice program will really value you and take a personal interest in you on a daily basis. This can make all the difference in your quality of life while in grad school. On the other hand, how important is it to you that you don't have to take out loans? If having debt is something that worries you enough, this can make all the difference in your quality of life. Both of these things are temporary, but which one will make more of a difference to you? It is truly up to you, of course, but speaking from the point of view of someone who has had to pay back substantial debts in my life, I am rooting for your number one school. Yes, debt is far from fun. But when I think back on the things that have mattered most in my life so far, I don't regret investing in the things that really brought me fulfillment. They have always been well worth the money, even with interest. Best of luck to you with your decision!

It is so refreshing and even somewhat healing to read your post. My mindset was very rigid throughout my journey to get into Ph.D programs. I was set on getting into a top school, and I let some of my friends convince me that if I didn't get into one of those, that it wasn't worth it to even try. This is ironic, because I have always been a person who follows my instincts, and seeks out my own path; one that resonates with me the most. So I kept my GPA as high as it could possibly be, I did heaping amounts of research (and loved every minute of it), and did everything else I could think of to be competitive for acceptance. I prepared myself and my daughters for what would promise to be a truly challenging and competitive graduate school experience. As an LGBT low-income single mom of color, I have learned to navigate through exceptional challenges every day of my life, and I thought I was mentally ready to study in a competitive environment. The night before I took my GRE's I stayed in the hospital with my father. They said his cancer was going to take him at any time. But when he made it through the night, I marched myself off to that testing center, determined not to let him down. Needless to say, my scores were lower than my practice tests, and I was very disappointed. My father died a couple of days later, but before he did, I promised him that I would make my life great, and be happy just like he always wanted for me. I applied to all my top schools, and started the waiting game. Over those months, however, I started to wonder if I really wanted that competitive grad school experience after all. Wasn't this supposed to be a fulfilling experience? One day in January, I happened to meet a faculty member from one of the grad schools that I had wanted to apply to but foolishly didn't because my friends said it wasn't prestigious enough. During our conversation, there was a moment when I experienced something that I hadn't felt in a long time: resonance. I really wanted to go to this school, no matter what anyone else had to say about it. So I applied immediately, getting my application in just before the deadline. That is the only school I got into. But I realize that it is the only one I need. They really wanted me, and I really wanted them. I learned an important lesson throughout this crazy process. In the end, it is your daily life that you have to consider when you are choosing where to go. I finally asked myself, "what will it feel like to go to this school every day?" When I realized that the faculty there values me, my parental status will be respected, and I will be able to study what really moves me, I decided to accept. Before I could even pick up the phone, they called me, and offered me an additional fellowship on top of the one they already had at the time of their offer! Acceptance of myself and my worth has set me free from the madness, and finally brought me peace. We all have a lot to be proud of for embarking on this journey to begin with. Congratulations to all!