alleykat

From my experience, be as careful as possible: I found it really easy to burn bridges with these things. In fact, I recently ran into the program coordinator/graduate recruiter at a department where I declined admission over two years ago... And she said she still remembers being really upset that I declined. It's worth noting that you may well burn bridges simply by declining an offer, and you want to minimize that as much as possible.

Fields can be small, and keeping good connections is really helpful.

As was mentioned earlier, it's not like you'll make or break their year by not coming- but if they've taken the time to put together visits, financial packages, etc. they've already invested a decent amount of time in you, and you should be courteous and somewhat personal in declining, imo. Especially if you're in the running/have received fellowships, etc.

I wrote mine emphasizing my choice based on research fit. It was the easiest way to go, and got the best response, I think. I sent e-mails to PI's I'd met with (that I was particularly interested in working with), as well as the program director/DGS. Declining based on fit is a professionally respectable choice- declining based on financial packages, location, weather, etc. are all less so.

I still keep up with people from schools I did not attend, and I think the connections you make in the application/admission process can be quite beneficial down the road.

I do not think IR and History are completely different. They do have strong connections in subfiled such as diplomatic history. I have an MA in IR and have successfully got in a PhD program in History with funding. So cooperstreet, if it is what you really want, go for it!

Well, that depends. If they're busy, what makes you think they are going to spontaneously decide to email you? Also, do you have any real questions to ask or do you just want the person to see your name again?

In case you need ideas for the shirt ... and you're finally welcome!

Hi guys, congratulations to those who received good news today!

@Glitzkrieg it is me. I was accepted at Northeastern today, into their MA program in American History. I received an email directing me to the online application on applyyourself. This is not my first choice because my main interest and background are not American History.

I can sympathize with these feelings. My family, friends and even some profs all think I should be able to get into any school I apply to. It's painful to explain.

I have also not received an acceptance this cycle. But that doesn't make me, or any of the rest of us still waiting "losers". If we had taken the time, energy and pain and applied it to most other endeavors, we might be stars... but this is a cruel, often unfair process that doesn't always adequately reward the intelligent and hard working. If I fail this cycle, I will not take it as a sign of my personal worth or ability as an historian. I will be (and have been) very sad, but I'll just come back with a more prepared, ambitious application next year. Don't get discouraged - least not of all when most people still have some schools to hear back from.

Keep the faith.

I completely agree with this. If I get in anywhere I'll be more than grateful to have my foot in the door and really have a chance to shine and do what I do. I'll show I can handle the workload and that the school made a great decision. It's like the athlete who is mostly a bench player. They sit there most of the season until something happens and suddenly they are out there on the court, rink, or field. It is their moment to shine and they might not be the best but they were good enough to get a look and get signed. Now in the moment they have a chance to show why they got that chance.

Those who say "Oh I wouldn't go if I was second choice" and "it's an insult and disrespectful" are, IMO, individuals who have an attitude problem and probably not pleasant people to have in one's cohort as a fellow student or in a class as one's student. Sure it feels great to feel like you are in demand and are the top pick for someone to work with, it feels good and I don't blame anyone for wanting to get that feeling and embracing it. But it comes across as entitled, cocky, and ungrateful to essentially demand first pick or no pick and look down upon second offers, it's like the T.O.'s (football player) of grad school. Sure you might be good at what you do, really good, but the sense of entitlement and demand for the best or nothing isn't seen positively by most and in the end bites you in the ass. These are the types of people who perpetuate the sense of elitism and big egos.

These are the same people that get crushed when they get rejected from a school and are all about the "but I have perfect scores, and straight As, and I'm published, and my LORs are Noble Peace prize winners, and I save kittens why did I get rejected, I'm amazing and they should have taken me." Call me naive and a bit academically romantic, but I have a sneaking suspicion that a small part of an admissions decision comes from the sense of whether or not the "fit" includes "is this person going to be confident in their work but humble enough to know that I'm the boss and I'm the expert they are learning from." Perhaps that is why some stellar "on paper" students get in with ease while others with the same "great grades and applications" get wait listed or outright rejected.

There needs to be some humbleness especially when you are the student and those in the program are the mentors and experts. It's about respect towards those that a.) do what you hope to do one day, b.) have the ability to guide you and help you reach your goals, and c.) know more than you on the given subject most likely. Sure it's alright to strut and show off a bit when you get into a school and you know you were a first choice...but it's alright to do the same thing if you were wait listed and later came back around to and accepted. It means, you have something they think has potential and it is now your job to prove you can do it and prove they made a great choice in the end.

Remember you are the student they are the professor. One day you might be the professor and do you really want to work with/teach students who think they are too good for your work/class? But hey pass on those second offers and wait list offers if it makes you feel better about yourself....people like sansao, myself, and many other students will gladly accept your spot and the chance to really show what we've got.

I don't mean to offend anyone personally, this is just my take on the situation. Turn down all the second offers and wait lists you want, just know the spot won't be there later down the line because someone else will gratefully accept the offer.

I appreciate the aim of your post. However, I cannot agree with you.

I will reiterate that I respect those establishments that recognize my potential/worth from the beginning and want a chance to cultivate it. What I don't appreciate are people and institutions who come along afterwards--after they have rejected me yet after someone else has given me a chance through which I have blossomed--to say that I have now earned their respect and a place in their program; it's arrogant, and I have loyalty to the people and institutions who initially see my potential and give me a chance versus those that don't and only want me after I have proven myself in spite of them because of the faith and belief of others. For me, it's a question of character rather than prestige.

Thus, I am not an ambitious grad student who is going to take any and all opportunuties to suckle at the hegemonic power teet and do any and everything I can to get into the most prestigious program possible; clearly, I have a different set of criteria for the kind of program that I want to be a part of. Because, sometimes, the "best" program is not always what is "best" or appropriate for a particular student, which is why it really is (or should be) all about fit.

However, by all means, have at it. I appreciate your "concern" but being who I am is precisely why one of those top programs--and all of the [what I consider] sycophantic pandering that goes along with it--are just not for me. I will always be a candidate who understands that programs need us just as much as we need them, that a healthy relationship is one of mutual respect, rather than one in which students should be humbly grateful and deferential for being even the slightest acknowledgement; really, do I sound like someone who is ever deferential?

So as we approach another new week that I'm sure will be as eventful as the last, I want to wish everyone the best of luck. I started off this week with a rejection from the lowest ranked school I applied to, and I was so sure that meant definite rejections from the rest. By mid-week I was thinking about a plan B, and kicking myself for aiming too high by not being realistic with my applications. Then I received the email from UPenn just before class on Wednesday afternoon, and by Thursday morning I had five acceptances. So stay patient and optimistic, and don't question yourself, your abilities or your worth as a candidate! Also keep in mind that it's still early in the process, and interpret silence as a sign that you're still in the running.

Good luck folks! I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I haven't heard from my top choice yet, so I'm waiting for news this week too

I don't think so. If you're a good candidate, you're a good candidate. If you're unique in whatever way, you're unique. Cornell asks people to write a diversity essay. What I don't think people understand is that it is not just limited to race for some schools.

HUGS! You are too awesome not to succeed. My sister gave me a pep talk last week and it went a little something like this:

When you first decided that you wanted to apply to grad school there was something in you that made you believe that you could do it. Your job is to NOT forget that reason. Just know that even if it's plan A ,B, or C, you WILL succeed.

just call penn "the ivy one" and penn state "joe paterno university and also child rape"

I learned yesterday I was rejected from UT-Austin. UT-Austin was my top choice, because it is where my girlfriend just learned she got her new job at. We've been together for a year now.

This one hurts. It means that not only did I not get into UT-Austin (and probably won't get into Ann Arbor either, considering that Ann Arbor is MORE competitive than Austin), but it means that I'll be living quite far away from her for 5 years, and pretty much means that we are breaking up this coming weekend when she moves.

I'm having second thoughts as to whether any professor at UC Boulder shares a dime in my research interests.


I feel like Wash-Seattle is my last, best hope, its got the biggest quantitative Socio department, but Seattle is, from what I'm told, just as hard to get into and selective as Austin.


I'm now worried I won't get into ANY schools but LSU, my state school, in which case, I might take another year, work, figure something else out to do, and apply again.

I think it just means that they were notified, via email, that they'll be interviewed (by phone, skype, in-person).

My situation is very similar to OnceAndFutureGrad's, this is my 2nd/3rd time depending on who you ask. My first round I applied to 5 programs and was waitlisted at 1 but ultimately rejected. I reapplied the following year (two years ago from the present day) this time to 8 phd programs and 1 masters program. I was waitlisted at 2 phd programs (including my first choice) but in the end I had to "settle" for the masters program. Now I'm going through my third round of applications, this time applying to 14 (I'm not messing around this time!).

With this all being said, it's not that there is something majorly "wrong" with my application. I have a great gpa, good gre's, excellent letters (or so I've been told), tons of research experience (including numerous presentations and publications) but it just hasn't been my year(s). It also doesn't help that due to the way everything is right now (and for the past few years) the schools that would usually take 5-7 students are taking 1 or 2.

It has not always been easy. I went to a really dark place halfway through the second round of apps when it became clear that I was not getting in anywhere (unlike my friends). I don't tell many people but I almost gave up on this twice, but in the end I realized that this is what I love and I'm going to work hard to get there. In some ways I really think that this has been a good thing. I am so much more confident in who I am and what I want as a career and getting rejected and having to reevaluate "the plan" is a big reason for that.

I've been much calmer this time around, however, at the same time I am really worried about what I'm going to do if I don't get in this time. I know I'll figure something out if this turns out to be the case, but right now I'm really hoping I will never have to have that talk with my advisor.

It's pretty great right now, but I think the GradCafe can get pretty gruesome once offers start rolling in. I watched it unfold last year. When you're on your own the wait is still tough, but you're in the dark and have no idea what's going on with the programs until you receive a decision. But being on a forum like this and seeing others get admitted into programs you applied to will make your heart sink. Even if you are ultimately admitted, just seeing the top students get their offers early in the game will be hard to watch. I think some of the reactions to the Yale interviews give you a sense of what's to come -- some of us may very well receive interviews soon, but just hearing about the early interviewees has resulted in some of you giving up all hope!