viggosloof28

Oh goodness, no! I made the mistake of doing this during my MA applications, and virtually had a placed all picked out at the program I really wanted to get into (and thought I definitely would get into)...it was all the more crushing when I got rejected. As soon as I get an acceptance, though...you better believe I'll be all over that!

Wow, that's terrifying! I had a dream last night that I got a letter from Berkeley saying that I had been accepted, but might or might not have funding. They needed me to respond right away, though, because the spots would be filled on a first come, first serve basis. So I was sitting there trying to decide if I should gamble on potential funding, since Berkeley's ranked #1 for my program, and had to make a decision basically within the hour. Super stressful, and don't even remember what I decided in the dream. Naturally, I checked my email when I woke up, just in case, but there wasn't anything there... Hope I get some news soon - this wait is killing me!

^ Exactly! I'm trying to stay as neutral as possible, hoping that neither my positive nor my negative feelings will "jinx" my applications! Can't wait till I've heard back from my schools - I just wanna KNOW something!

This is exactly what I'm going through! I keep telling myself not to get my hopes up too high...but my heart/gut is so optimistic, giving me visions and dreams (another one about Berkeley last night) of acceptance letters. My mood changes from minute to minute these days. Rating an 8/10 on my personal stress-o-meter.

Yes, PLEASE try to fast-forward us a month!! I'd be forever grateful to you for putting me out of my (waiting) misery. Even if the time manipulation doesn't turn out, though, have a great time in Cardiff! You deserve some fun after all your apps and exams!

Oh gosh, these are both so horribly true! Glad Christmas isn't like grad school application decisions. It could show up anytime during a 3-month period, and you're not guaranteed to get anything nice!

I only applied to one Ivy League, and haven't heard anything back from 'em. I think - according to past results - Columbia doesn't usually notify for my field (history) until around the middle of February...so I've got a while longer to sit here and sweat it out.

LEAST favorite ice cream flavor? Not sure I have one of those...I love all ice cream! If I had to pick one, though, I guess it'd have to be plain ol' vanilla, or heartburn-inducing chocolate & peanut-butter. (Favorite ice cream flavors, however = Ben & Jerry's "Dublin Mudslide," and Haagen Dazs coffee or mint chocolate chip!)

Ha ha! If I could call anonymously somehow, I would do it in a heartbeat! But as I'd be in danger of revealing exactly how insane I've become, I think I'll try to resist, as well...

Ha ha! You've discovered the secret of my powers, sansao! I would be nothing without my Nutella (and coffee!).

Re: Berkeley - oh gosh, I was SOOOOO careful about that! I knew kids at my high school that spelled it "Berkley" and didn't get in...so I've been a bit traumatized by their stories. Re: sock color - any color with an argyle pattern! (Especially blue or black tones.)

^100% this! Amazon is oh-so very reliable.

Bwaha! Absolutely true...I am proud to be among you, my neurotic brothers and sisters! That would make my year, seriously! My thoughts exactly! It would relieve so much of the anxiety/pressure I'm feeling... That would be soooooo awesome!! Heh - yes, Monday is Martin Luther King Day here in the States, and many schools will be closed... But Tuesday! Tuesday for sure! Checking my email compulsively isn't crazy at all, right? Heh heh...

Aw, shucks! The same goes for your adorable, smily cupcake! We'll have to have simultaneous virtual celebrations when we both get into our programs. Rock on, and hang tough the next couple weeks! Happy dances all around!

Welcome, new folks! I hope you enjoy this lovely community of shared anxiety, insanity, woe, and celebration! Congrats! I know what you mean about "favorite school" applications giving you that much more nervousness...especially when technical difficulties occur. I felt the same about my Berkeley app! Two weeks is an incredible turn-around time - lucky duck! Enjoy the feeling of being done and - as always - best of luck! I hope you're right! I haven't had the courage to go back through my SOPs and check for references to incorrect schools...hopefully, there aren't any! But in case there are, I'd like to think that the adcomms would be understanding!

My thoughts exactly. Everyone applying to your program is in the same boat, and the people involved in the admissions process likely receive many such inquiries. Keep in mind that if you're accepted to the program, you'll be relying on those people throughout your graduate career there (and possibly beyond). You don't want to give them a negative association with your name - hopefully you made a good impression at the interview! Just try to remain patient - easier said than done, I know!

I don't know too much about your field, but you may want to think twice about calling before the officially stated decision notification dates have passed. What you might intend to communicate dedication and interest might be perceived as nagging. Of course, it may also depend on who you call (the Director of Graduate Studies, your POI, the graduate advisor...). That's just my two cents, though - I'm in History, so take it for what it's worth! Best of luck to you!

Mine, too! Best of luck to you, PhDreams! We can do this!

I'll do my best - send it to me in a PM, and I'll get it back to you by Friday!

By the way, Lemeard, I used to live in Norway - we're practically neighbors! Where in Sweden did you live/attend undergrad?

Urgh, so true! I'm about as vanilla and forgettable as you can get!

LOL - I think counting the number of students in my subfield/working with my POI might become my next obsessive displacement activity...Hopefully, they really do take good applicants no matter what!

Most definitely! I've got my time super planned out until I can reasonably expect to hear back from my programs (3 weeks or so). Keeps me from going insane, or at least from realizing just how insane I've become!