scubaduba

Same! I had a pretty non-traditional trip through the process and would love to talk about it.

Ouch, sounds dire. I hope in the future schools expand to meet demand, but that requires funding (which is lacking at the moment). On a somewhat related anecdote, I started applying to the FHL Blinks REU, but didn't go through with it when they begged people to consider other things because they received over 200 applications for 15 spots... for a summer program! Tough times.

Me neither. I knew they were supposed to send emails around (February? March?) 15th... Never heard from them though.

That's the case for me with one person at SAFS... she was willing to take me if I got the NSF or SAFS offered me funding (which apparently is unlikely? Has anyone heard much about that?). Oops, I guess they better give me a TAship (if I get in at all), otherwise goodbye narwhals! :/

Yes, I did. I got an email from the graduate adviser because I visited over Spring Break (unofficial visit, I figured I might as well pop in since I was visiting Oregon, as it turns out nearly everyone was gone because they had a power outage the previous day) saying "Our admissions committee is not expected to come out with decisions until the end of March or beginning of April. The annual deadline for students to respond to Graduate Schools is April 15th. You'll receive email as soon as a decision has been made." I think they should be sending emails this week...

It's kind of ridiculous to wait this long and this close to the deadline. Most of my friends in other fields have already been notified by all schools, made decisions, been added to departmental listservs... It's nerve-wracking! Not to mention that other fields tend to have more money than the marine sciences, especially marine bio.

I did one Skype interview with someone at Stonybrook. First the POI did a brief description of his research (even though I was already familiar with it), then we talked about my research interests and goals for the future, then how the two would mesh, then general talking about my past research and classes/what makes me a strong applicant. It was painless, but make sure anyone you live with knows you are interviewing so they don't disturb you (my roommate forgot and walked into the frame to talk to me despite the signs posted all around the house)

I emailed them last week because I am getting antsy and need to reply to other places by April 15th. The graduate coordinator said,

Now we wait and roll on the floor and whine a lot and hope that makes results happen faster.

Yeah, it just went down for me.

I'm doing ecology as well, although I realised after submitting it that I might actually have needed to turn it in to Marine Biology, which is listed under Geosciences (for some reason), which was due a couple of days earlier... But yeah, ecology is so huge that it's hard to imagine any ecologist being instantly familiar with whatever your focus is. I only hope it goes (went) well!

Augh, I totally agree. Everyone around me has been hearing from/visiting/accepted to schools. I'm starting to doubt everything, I don't know if I applied to the right grad schools or the right people anymore. I just want to hear SOMETHING.

In order of long-termishness 1. Get money to attend first conference this summer! 2. Attend said conference 3. Be accepted into top grad school of choice 4. Ask all of my dumb questions as a first year grad student to get them out of the way 5. Field work field work field work all of the field work in amazing places 6. Get lots published 7. Do postdoc in a different country 8. Become moderately well-known professor/scientist in my field 9. Join an international policy committee as scientific advisor 10. Be the coolest parent at my kids' job discovery presentations at school 11. Did I mention field work?

I've had an unofficial acceptance, but via nonstandard processes--I know the POI personally, knew he was looking for grad students to move to another institution with, we talked for a while, he is interested in me. None of the paperwork is done, since I didn't officially apply for the program, but if I do decide to accept the offer the paperwork will happen by magic? I think that if your POI says you are unofficially accepted it means they want you and the school is still figuring out paperwork (I am assuming you are applying to a school where you apply to someone specific rather than a rotation program?) In any case, it's good news for you! Good luck

1. Make an account on Fitocracy, halfheartedly do 20 crunches when you remember to 2. Set up movie dates with a friend once a week and plow your way through the Most Ridiculous Movies Of All Time 3. Snack on unlikely vegetables dipped in unhealthy substances (ie. a whole head of Romaine lettuce in a pint of chocolate ice cream) 4. Go to lab, get frustrated at lack of things to do 5. Attempt to write thesis 6. Bake cookies instead 7. Lie on floor and whine about how you will never get into grad school and fail at life 8. Stumble upon really cool article and remember why you want to dedicate your life to this