SapphireSeaLion

Do you think it'd be odd to personally deliver a card? All of my recommenders are fairly close so I'd like to thank them some way.

Let's just make one thing clear: a B is not "tanking" a class. I would assume that unless your grades are significantly different than what you've gotten throughout your undergraduate career (i.e. went from straight A's to straight C's in your last semester), you won't have to worry about an offer being rescinded.

Depending on when the deadlines were, you should be hearing in early May. The schools I applied to with deadlines in March said that's when I'd be hearing, and one school with a February deadline isn't making decisions until May either. Having been through the "I'm never getting in!" up until yesterday, just hang on. It'll make it sweeter when you get it.

Just got my first and second official rejections, and one which is basically a no. In 24 hours of each other. I only applied to 8 programs, and I'm really starting to lose hope. I'm down to only 5, 2 of which are long shots, one of which is a snowball's-chance-in-hell shot, and 2 which are unlikely. I'm not entirely sure which way is up right now.

What about for programs with deadlines in February and March? Obviously they can't be extending interview offers in December if they're not even reviewing applications. Anyone in the same boat?

Brace yourselves, I've been keeping a list of the insensitive stuff people have said to me throughout this process in order to try and get a laugh out of all the misery. • "Just like... don't think about it." Silly me! I should have thought of that! • "Why did you apply?" I have to justify my existence to myself and several admissions committees daily already. Go away. • "So what are you going to study?" Honestly? IF I get in, I'll do whatever they tell me to do and love the heck out of it. • "So how are you doing?" Honestly? Been better. What I'll tell you? "Fine." • "Guess you'll just have to wait and see..." OMG! You're like, totally wise! • "This waiting is just AWFUL!" Must be tough. I mean you already got into 3 schools and I haven’t heard a thing, but still. • “You look exhausted!” Great, I’m already stressed and now I’m self-conscious. • "What are you doing after you finish undergrad?" Don't know yet. Wish I did. What I do know is that I dislike you right now. • "Why can't you just turn off the stress?" Probably the same reason that you can’t just turn off being an insensitive jerk. • "What's your first choice?" The place that wants me. • “What’s your back up plan?” I prefer not to think about it. But probably a cardboard box. • "Where did you apply?" Do you really want the full list or can I save the oxygen? • "What's your GRE score/GPA?" 1) That's personal and 2) That's not the only thing that matters. • "Wouldn't you rather get a real job and make some money?" See, for some of us, the money isn't important. • "You still haven't heard? That’s bad. Isn't it time to give up on grad school already?" Thanks for the vote of confidence. • "What are you gonna do if you don't get in?" Thank you for reminding me that is a distinct possibility. • "Why are you always SO worked up about this? It doesn't even matter!" Well it kind of matters to me but I mean, no big. • “It could always be worse.” I know that. It could be MUCH worse. But just because it could be worse doesn’t mean I don’t get to feel bad right now. • "So uh... what are you gonna do after grad school?" How about we cross that bridge AFTER I get decisions. • "So when are you going to hear back?" If I knew do you think I'd be in this constant state of full on panic? • "Did you hear that [person] got in to all his schools already?!" Sure did. And while I’m happy for them, please don’t remind me about everyone else’s results. • "Don't worry, good students like you don't go without any offers." Um, yes they do. • "But I mean, you're SO SMART, you're gonna get in everywhere, so just stop worrying." Because smart is clearly all that matters. • “Aren’t you excited for graduation?” Please don’t say the g-word… • “I’m so excited for you!” Well, that makes one of us because right now I have no reason to be excited. • “You have to get in SOMEWHERE…” Actually that’s a common misconception.

I have a good feeling for this coming two weeks. I'm just going to keep counting every day I don't get bad news as a victory!!

^^ The results search is actually kind of helpful for that. It's a relief knowing that decisions were not out at this time last year. Small victories?

I applied to eight schools with deadlines between January 1st and March 15th. I haven't heard from a SINGLE ONE. And when I say haven't heard, I mean NOTHING. Not for interviews, nothing past "We have your stuff, don't call us, we'll call you." I'm officially in panic mode.