viggosloof28

Got into my favorite today!!! No word on funding though.

Snow day = email all day.

I am getting so loopy, it is making me insanely optimistic... like I'm high on anticipation!  Until I actually get a rejection, this is my thought process...
 

That moment when you're like, "Is it Monday yet?"

...

This is who I have become.

So true.  I love how supportive the people are here...but this website has become a terrible addiction in recent weeks!

Thankfully, you're not being accepted based on your grasp of traditional womanhood... If you were, you'd be out of luck, since women didn't used to be very welcome in upper academia!

::crossing fingers:: though Berkeley was just a shot in the dark for me - a girl can dream! 

::puts out a plate of cookies trying to entice the Berkeley admit to reveal themselves:::

It's been a long, arduous process but I really hope everyone takes a second to acknowledge just how much work and energy they've had to put into this dream and how proud they should be of themselves. This is it, the final stretch! And as soon as decisions are in, this whole exhausting process will be some far-off memory we never think about. Stay strong stay optimistic, and do something a little nice for yourself as a reward for all your hard work!

These are questions I'm thinking of asking:
How would you describe the dynamic of the department/lab? (collaborative vs. competitive)
What is your least favorite thing about the program?
Did you apply to other programs? What tipped the scales in favor of program x?
At what point were you encouraged/expected to pursue your own projects?
How would you describe professor __'s leadership/advising style?
If you could no longer work with professor ___, who would you choose as your advisor?
Where/when do grad students publish?
How stable is funding?
Is there a teaching requirement? Do you feel it interferes with your research time?
How big is your cohort?
What were your research responsibilities during your first year?
Do you feel challenged/supported?
 
I'd also ask specific questions about the kind of data available in the lab, and how students are expected to contribute before they use data for their own purposes (hope that makes sense)

DePaul required FIVE essays for the program I applied to.  Five.
 
And amen to the diversity statement.  How is it that applications make me desire to be a low-class, deaf and blind woman from a minority heritage with no previous family ever even graduating from high school, let alone college?  How?  How is that possible?

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!

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.

MANTHROPOLOGIST. Best thing that's happened to me today. 

No kidding.  I worked on mine on and off for a couple of months and they seemed so great to me in when I submitted them in November.  Works of pure genius.  Now reading them 2 months later, I'm banging my head on the wall and wondering what on earth I was thinking.  Sigh.  
 
If only we could all get 1 acceptance soon so we can stop doing this to ourselves.

My husband and I keep joking that the process needs to have something akin to the Domino's Pizza Tracker.

I have decided this really should be like instant credit approval. Receive an answer in just seconds!!! Apply today!!!

Why did I see this post...
 
(If you need me I'll be refreshing my inbox)

If you hadn't already interviewed, I would say it would be fine to send a polite email inquiring about the status of your application. Being that you interviewed with them so recently, I am inclined to discourage you from pressing them for an answer prior to the stated decision notification date. They undoubtedly receive many such premature inquiries which are very likely a nuisance to them--a nuisance you don't want to be a part of!

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

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!

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!

My schools start notifying next week. Turn my anxiety dial to 10.

Hello, all! I'm an applicant from last year, just popping my head in because I remember this experience far too well. A year ago, I was in the same boat as all of you, and it was... excruciating. The waiting, waiting, and more waiting. And then it gets even more excruciating because (if you're lucky) you have to face decisions.
 
Just wanted to stop by and say that I really wish I'd not let myself get so stressed about applications, when I was going through this. It felt like life or death, even though I knew that it wasn't. I guess I'd just like to offer a very small reminder that this is just a stressful phase, it will pass, and your value as a human being/intellectual will not be determined by the admissions decisions which should start rolling in within a couple of weeks. I wish someone would have reminded me of that more when I was in this boat -- hope this helps someone to put things in perspective.
 
Though I've gotta say, I read through part of this thread, and you all seem far less neurotic than we were this time last year. So kudos to you! And best of luck to all of you in the exciting months ahead.

Well, my mom says I'm going to get into all the programs, so I'm going to bet pretty highly on myself.