kgumps2012

When I applied to PhD schools the first time, I did not hear back from 2 of the 5 schools I applied to. It happens. They don't care about rejections I guess. (I don't remember which schools did this though)

haha this is exactly how I feel EVERY Friday at 5pm.

I don't know which is more frustrating, quiet on the western front OR getting an email saying "Congratulations, your application is complete" for the third time. (I was so excited when I saw the congratulations. I had to take a breath an read the rest before I realized what it actually was)

I have walked into the admissions office a few times (I work in the same building) and they look genuinely sad when they don't have any news for me. It is the department who is making that decision and not them or else I would probably be in based on interest alone. Of course I applied to the department who has the most applicants they have ever had. C'est la vie.

They could be doing Skype interviews or individual interviews instead of one big weekend now that they have a better idea of the people they want to invite / people who are still interested based on attendance of their interview weekend.

I know what you are going through verdalantreas. I am currently finishing a master's program at one of the schools I applied to. Even though it isn't my top choice I would still be happy going there. They had a visit weekend 2 weeks ago where I was invited to "meet the PhD candidates" (i.e. invited as a current student and not as a potential student). That hurt. anyway. good luck

I just had one of those gut wrenching moments when I saw an email from Drexel in my inbox. Turns out they were just letting me know my application is complete and is under review...For the third time. At least it wasn't automated and was personalized from the assistant dean of admissions. HOPE!

I too have had strange dreams. I had applied to URochester and fairly quickly received a rejection letter. Just the other night I had a dream where I was convinced I applied to their Sigma Xi conference (essentially a poster presentation conference for students) and was rejected from that even though I MEANT to apply to their PhD program. I traveled there only to find my freshmen year RA in a PhD program and she showed me around campus and told me to go to the graduate school admissions office and explain the mix up. I woke up before I could get an answer from them. It was so vivid I had to re-check the real letter to make sure it was for the right program.

Its sad how true that all is!

Well, the Penn CAMB and OSU IBGP interview dates have passes. I guess I should count these as denials eh?

Has anyone heard from Ohio State University recently? specifically their IBGP? or Drexel biological sciences?

One of my close friends got into a school I have been wanting to go to for two years now. granted its slightly different programs and I am happy for her...BUT I WANT TO GO THERE!!! Why haven't I been picked? :-(

@pbv i think it means since the program says they are recommending you they invited you. I do think they can still reject you if you end up having a horrible interview, but it looks good. Good Luck!!

I just heard, for anyone who wants to know, Thomas Jefferson University has two more visit weeks left and are still sending out invitations. Also, for anyone who doesn't get into a PhD program, they have rolling admissions for a master's degree. (they accept up to the week of classes for every semester (fall, spring 1, spring 2 (mid march), and summer). There are still options if things don't work out.

"Why don't you take the MCATs as a back up?" haha as if med school was EASIER than grad school (especially since i dont want to be THAT KIND of doctor). plus I would have to-relearn most of o-chem, physics, and calc. blah.

Hopefully this will work. My friend and I go through this everyday. We died laughing the first time we saw it because it absolutely reflects this whole process.

Funny story: I told my PI that I was rejected from a school and he replied "They are stupid anyway. I reject anyone from THEIR school! Retaliation." I am glad to have a PI with a sense of humor. I hope I can find the same when (not if but when) I get into a PhD program. keep it optimistic!

This thread is a little schadenfreude but it is nice to know I'm not the only one out there. I received a rejection from University of Rochester for their microbiology program about 3 weeks ago. It was my first one of this round (im on my second year of applying to phd programs) and I literally broke down and cried hard. I didn't have my heart set on going there...but it was one my adviser said I would have a really good chance of getting in to. I am still hopeful for other schools but it really does hurt (even though Im a pro at this :-/) chipper up chipper monkeys! It will all work out in the end! (P.S. try reading that line without chuckling. i can almost guarantee you cant say it without smiling)

I got this yesterday: "Today is a beautiful day" and it was! 61F in Philly :-D

Haha first off, love this topic! What I do/should do (other than checking my email and status 1000000 times a day): Finish writing my master's thesis Publish master's thesis clean up lab space start up another project/continue current project for another publication? clean up dorm room (yes I still live in one for the convenience) watch ridiculous anime that has nothing to do with graduate school get lost in the world of Song of Ice and Fire for the second time (yay 2nd season is coming on HBO!) learn japanese or german...either would be fun!

i love scientists. we must analyze everything :-D on another note...thank you soo much helicase for letting us know case western is still sending out invites! That is actually one of my top choices.

tell me about it. I spent almost a month this year (not all at one time) trying to figure out what was wrong with my 1.5hour transfer for western blotting. I have since given up and moved to an overnight transfer no matter what.

Hilarious I wonder if someone IS secretly collecting information from websites like this and producing hilarious statistics for admissions committees to laugh over as they reject our applications. I would be interested to read their findings for a good chuckle of my own at how pathetic we all tend to sound sometimes (this includes myself).

I know how you feel. when things like that happen you just document document document in your lab notebook. Whenever I am really concerned about something I talk to my adviser for advice on what to do. Sometimes you have to throw in your towel on a certain protocol for another that hopefully will answer your question. I hope things work out better!