radiomars

Me too! I got a rejection by mail and couldn't help but think it would have been so much faster just to email me. It's not like I need the paper copy for a scrapbook or something...

I've been officially accepted to my fourth choice and am being recruited by my third choice school at the moment. Is it dumb to feel guilty about all this? They really want me to go to their schools, but I'm pretty much waiting for the official acceptance from my second choice (I already received an unofficial one) and have yet to hear from my top choice. I kind of feel like I'm leading these other schools on. But obviously they know I applied to more than just their programs, right? Halp.

aah! Stanford, Chicago and Johns Hopkins! Declare your results already! I don't even mind a rejection at this point but just send the notifications! I cannot wait anymore. ack!

Eager, shouldn't your son be filling out his college apps? 

I'm kind of in the same boat, though for some I'm honestly not sure what I would decide, pending campus visits and interviews. It's especially awkward, for me at least, when someone asks directly where their school stands on your priority list. Way to put me on the spot! I don't want to count myself out for one program just because I haven't heard (or met faculty in person) from another...

I got an email this morning with the subject line, "Congratulations Are in Order!" Needless to say, I got pretty happy....
 
But it was just about a professor in my department winning a university award. Damn . My descent into hyper-strung madness continues.

RubyBright, i have nothing to say..just this to show.

 
ps: to heck with it, this is TOTALLY my new avatar.

Of course now my Final Review has been changed again to Decision Made but it wont tell me what that decision is.  For the love of god just tell me already.

No telling how people in our current departments or hoped for future departments would view our presence here, or how they would judge random comments made. Plus, for some, GradCafe is a place to let off steam or stress where they don't have to worry about professionalism, or things being permanently linked to their name. Not that I ever recommend posting something you wouldn't want anyone who knows you to see, but even if you're careful (or just plain uninclined to ever post anything that might reflect poorly on you), there is comfort in anonymity. 

I think it all depends on the school as well. Harvard (anthro) has a habit of in-hiring amongst their PhD graduates I've heard - and some other schools do this too; they are creating their "school of thought" and so there's a specific slant they want their department to have. Other schools have a hiring bias that goes the other way where they try NOT to hire from amongst their graduate students unless they have a very specific program; or if they do hire within they want that person to have other experience elsewhere ie. post docs in other places, or employment at other universities in between. 
 
The advice I was given was to do my grad at a different institution so that hiring committees can see that I have been schooled in many (perhaps conflicting) perspectives which would make me a more "well rounded" candidate (no idea what that ACTUALLY means). I think the idea is that if you are TOO married to a way of thinking, ie. pomo or materialist or whatever, you might not change with the department as it needs to over time. AND if this is tenure track position, you might be there for 10-15-20-25 years and will HAVE to be fluid enough to change with the department as it needs to. 
 
Departments do have their flavors and preferences theoretically and they don't want to hire a one-trick pony so to speak. 

I feel like the site needs to increase the number of available upvotes for a day if people are going to keep getting acceptances. I want to upvote everyone's messages about getting into their schools!

It is generally okay to stay at your alma mater only if you have additional studies to pursue after you finish this next degree.. I stayed for my Masters degree, but I am leaving to pursue a PhD elsewhere. Could I get a great education at my alma mater? Yes, most definitely, but I will struggle to find a job later if I stay.
 
If you can guarantee that you will get a killer post-doc, it might be okay, but in science, it is considered imperative that you move beyond that safe nest you made at your undergraduate institution. You really need to get into a different school for your PhD. Make sure there isn't another program that you are in love with and can be happy in before you choose to stay where you are at. If you do stay, it could be a very hard road.

I'm sorry to hear that! Just try to shake it off and hope for the best with the rest of them. Best of luck.

I recently went to a campus visit at my top choice. I had been corresponding with the POI for months and when we met in person, he said he felt like he already knew me. Various happenings: tons of positive feedback on my recent publication, being introduced to the faculty as a "distinguished visitor", POI saying he is "extremely optimistic about the future", faculty member on admissions committee telling me I'm a good fit for the direction they are expanding the department in, a lot of wine and dining paid for by the school, one of the grad students saying she hopes the department's penchant for alcohol doesn't drive away an "extremely smart" applicant like myself, and an actual hug goodbye from POI and POI's wife.

I felt the need to itemize the details. I feel guardedly optimistic but I have told several friends about my impending acceptance and now I feel like I may have jinxed it.. So stressful. Just tell me if I'm in or not! Honestly, it seems cruel&unusual to put me through a 14-hour campus visit like that and not let me in....

"You got in?  Oh.  I told you so.  I'm not sure why you were worried."
 
I've heard this at least a half dozen times in the past 2 days.  I know it's supposed to be a compliment, but feels more like a dismissal of how unbelievably competitive PhD programs are and the hundreds of hours invested during the past year to make this happen.  

That's the big thing I get from a lot of friends and acquaintances. I'm fully aware that I have the capability, and in some cases even the education/training to do things in a field other than my own. If I wanted to do those things, why on Earth wouldn't I apply to a program in that other field? Surely these people know that this is a decision I made, and not some ride that I'm trapped on, yes?

I recently went to a campus visit at my top choice. I had been corresponding with the POI for months and when we met in person, he said he felt like he already knew me. Various happenings: tons of positive feedback on my recent publication, being introduced to the faculty as a "distinguished visitor", POI saying he is "extremely optimistic about the future", faculty member on admissions committee telling me I'm a good fit for the direction they are expanding the department in, a lot of wine and dining paid for by the school, one of the grad students saying she hopes the department's penchant for alcohol doesn't drive away an "extremely smart" applicant like myself, and an actual hug goodbye from POI and POI's wife.

I felt the need to itemize the details. I feel guardedly optimistic but I have told several friends about my impending acceptance and now I feel like I may have jinxed it.. So stressful. Just tell me if I'm in or not! Honestly, it seems cruel&unusual to put me through a 14-hour campus visit like that and not let me in....

Sent a thank you card out to POI at top choice after campus visit. His response: "Thank you for the lovely card!  That was very considerate of you!  We certainly enjoyed your visit also and hope that it results in even better things to come.  I'll keep you posted as the admissions process runs its course."
 
I kind of wish "hope" could have been "know" or "guarantee", but alas. I think it's a good sign.

Sent a thank you card out to POI at top choice after campus visit. His response: "Thank you for the lovely card!  That was very considerate of you!  We certainly enjoyed your visit also and hope that it results in even better things to come.  I'll keep you posted as the admissions process runs its course."
 
I kind of wish "hope" could have been "know" or "guarantee", but alas. I think it's a good sign.

Thank you! I'm feeling really great about this application cycle, but still hoping to hear back from my top choice soon. I went for a campus visit and sent the POI a thank you card. He responded today with this: "Thank you for the lovely card!  That was very considerate of you!  We certainly enjoyed your visit also and hope that it results in even better things to come.  I'll keep you posted as the admissions process runs its course." Is it okay to be guardedly optimistic?

I recently went to a campus visit at my top choice. I had been corresponding with the POI for months and when we met in person, he said he felt like he already knew me. Various happenings: tons of positive feedback on my recent publication, being introduced to the faculty as a "distinguished visitor", POI saying he is "extremely optimistic about the future", faculty member on admissions committee telling me I'm a good fit for the direction they are expanding the department in, a lot of wine and dining paid for by the school, one of the grad students saying she hopes the department's penchant for alcohol doesn't drive away an "extremely smart" applicant like myself, and an actual hug goodbye from POI and POI's wife.

I felt the need to itemize the details. I feel guardedly optimistic but I have told several friends about my impending acceptance and now I feel like I may have jinxed it.. So stressful. Just tell me if I'm in or not! Honestly, it seems cruel&unusual to put me through a 14-hour campus visit like that and not let me in....

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!

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!

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!

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!