Nibor6000

You could also contact the person who is arranging your visit and let them know that you would really like to speak with professors X, Y, and Z, if they are available. While email is nice, I highly recommend a face-to-face meeting. If not face-to-face, then phone.

If at all possible, avoid working with this person as much as possible, if you do attend this school.

Ask what someone is currently working on. They LOVE to talk about that. If you can ask some insightful questions about the research, so much the better. If you can't, then you tell them how wonderful and interesting their work is. This goes for profs and students. If you have a particular advisor in mind, be sure to ask students working with that person about how that is going and what they like/dislike about the program. I find it interesting to ask them where else they thought about applying and why they made the decision they did. I was never put on the spot with a question like, "Tell me the steps of the Krebs Cycle." From time to time I was asked, "Have you heard about X?" or "Are you familiar with Y?" Regardless of how I responded, there was no sense of condescension. I am introverted, shy, and prefer my own company to that of others, especially when I don't know people. But I also have my outgoing, confident attitude that I pull out for interviews, etc. It's not a lie, it's just a more extroverted aspect of myself. If you've been admitted, the visit is really so the school can show you why you should go there. You'll probably meet with people to see where you would best fit, but it isn't like they would pull the admission offer unless you're a true psychopath. Relax and savor this moment. Once you commit, your mind, body, and soul is theirs! Good luck!

Weird Science

Tin Man

Track Star

Test Pilot

Cat Tail

Back Pain

Bird Brain

Report Card

Cold Feet

Alien Abduction

Hoe Down

I had a dream that I was on campus for a visit (don't know where). I walked into the department's office and saw a big billboard up on the wall. The first panel was titled "Must Have" as in - we must have these students in our program because they are so highly desirable. Four names were listed; mine wasn't one of them. Then I looked at the other panel titled "Better" - as in these students are not must haves, but they are better than the other applicants. My name was number eleven. I was crushed! My dream-self knew that I wasn't going to make the cut. My dream-self was also upset that I had traveled all that way for essentially nothing. I'm happy to report that my subconscious was not correct in this matter. Yay!

Back Door

Relax! You're in! While I have spent countless hours checking websites for news, every admit has come via email. Congratulations!

My interviews have been much more about me asking questions rather than me being asked questions. There are threads and websites that have questions you should ask. They have been very helpful.

Rain Man

passed over

I totally thought "Gryffindor" when I saw number two. Go for number one!

Oh, yes. Yes, indeed. I finished everything before the end of October. I see that other people are getting acceptances, and my programs do not have rolling admissions. February cannot come soon enough. I'm scheduling vacations and school visits to pass the time. Still not helping...

My understanding is that "big" numbers will likely get you past the first cut. Then, it's all about LORs but especially fit.