chaetzli

Don't get me wrong. I fully understand why people are worried about limited finances and I often think about that issue myself. It is a crucial factor and having limited financial resources is always an extra burden, especially if one has to support a family. I am also aware that people's passions for research wax and wane over time. But at this point of my career I have to ask myself what I want to do with my life and I cannot imagine something else that makes me happier than research. I thus don't mind earning less for a while. There are many things that I value more than money on my bank account. The academic environment is so inspiring and I love that I can decide myself what my work is about. It's great that I don't have to get up early every morning to be in my office at 8am. I also love to travel and thanks to conferences/talks there will be plenty of opportunity to do so. It's interesting that you mention age. I am also in my late 20s. I don't have any financial support. I even plan on getting married soon. I've also been working after my Bachelors in a regular office job, so I know what else I could do with my time and energy. But after 6 years of being a student with no money, I'm pretty sure that being a PhD is exactly what I want.

I totally understand why not having enough money is such a big concern for some of you and why people are worried about their financial situation but I believe that the PhD is an investment that will pay off at some point. Furthermore, I’m so passionate about research and so excited to become a researcher that I do not mind having no money for the next 5-7 years as there is nothing that would make me happier than pursuing a PhD. Edit: Offering students a better funding package would probably also mean that schools have to accept fewer students and I am not sure whether this is desirable

Absolutely

Thank you so much for this excellent advice! Do you think that it is okay to have more than three LORs?

Congrats!! Great news!

Don't you think they're done admitting?

Do all of the above! Edit: as dnexon just showed "Interesting. We tend to place much more value on recommendations." you just never know which parts of your application carry the most weight!

Thank you

That INCLUDES the tuition!

Congrats to the GW admits! This is great news! I'm happy for you guys!

Guys... Once Princeton really starts to send out acceptances you will see at least three claims on this thread! And about 10 posts on the results board.

Thank you! I'm still in disbelief!! I guess the GSAS had 10'050 applications... definitely too many for the Pol Sci Dep to handle

In at Yale... Speechless!!!

No word from Yale yet ...

I feel sick!!!

Did someone else not get the Yale rejection?

Congrats and thanks for claiming!

Thanks to Google Translate I also understand what this means

So true... And since I'm not really musically talented it would probably sound like that:

Maybe I should do the same to get off the wait list

I've told everyone that by the end of this week I'll have all my results... yeah right

.... why does it take soooo long this year? I want my decision (now) so I can book a flight asap. Thanks for posting!

I'm so sorry. I had the impression that it was one of your top choices - right? I know that this is very disappointing. Virtual encouragement hug.

Congrats RiffRam! Great news! More green please!

Bloodshed... so sorry guys!