Where TF are people?

[nęm0]

I keep hearing about how the applicant pools have double/tripled but where are they? In my 3 years of being on GradCafe this is the quietest it has been. So, is there a new website that's popping or are these applicants just ghosts or people are drastically overestimating the amount of people who actually applied?

Anyone please chime in

On the bright side it seems like schools are interviewing a third more candidates because interviews are virtual and cheaper. It's not all bad I guess. I am excited for these virtual interviews; I cant wait to see what different schools have in store for us. I live in Chicago , would anyone be interested in video tour of the big Chicago campuses (UIC, UChicago, Northwestern)?

[PsyDuck90]

I think part of the uptick in applications is people that threw applications in due to economic instability. Whenever the job market sucks, people flock back to school. Those who are throwing their hat in the ring because "why not" are usually not going to be the ones who frequent grad admissions forums. They are also usually not those who have spent years refining their application package to make themselves the most competitive. Also, apps were just submitted, so things usually get more active as interview invites and offers start rolling in. 

[pandemicpolly]

I only learned of this website through chatting with a current grad student. So maybe with remote learning and less social interactions, fewer new people are joining because they don't know it exists?

[pomegranateleaves]

7 minutes ago, PsyDuck90 said:

I think part of the uptick in applications is people that threw applications in due to economic instability. Whenever the job market sucks, people flock back to school. Those who are throwing their hat in the ring because "why not" are usually not going to be the ones who frequent grad admissions forums. They are also usually not those who have spent years refining their application package to make themselves the most competitive. Also, apps were just submitted, so things usually get more active as interview invites and offers start rolling in. 

I think that we (in thegradcafe community) are just taking a break at the moment because the uptick caused a lot of fear, stress, and uncertainty. Also, I definitely agree. I've spoken with multiple professors on my campus and they all said that this is similar to what happened in the Great Recession - a lot of people without the required experience are applying right now because of job uncertainty. Applying last minute to a grad program your senior year of undergrad (when you never worked in a lab) or years in a job that doesnt give you the skills or experience necessary isn't going to be successful. I assume that those applicants also dont even know that thegradcafe exists

[kineto]

I've been wondering this, too. I get that a lot of people are burnt out by learning online etc. but it's been eerily quiet.

[nęm0]

1 hour ago, PsyDuck90 said:

I think part of the uptick in applications is people that threw applications in due to economic instability. Whenever the job market sucks, people flock back to school. Those who are throwing their hat in the ring because "why not" are usually not going to be the ones who frequent grad admissions forums. They are also usually not those who have spent years refining their application package to make themselves the most competitive. Also, apps were just submitted, so things usually get more active as interview invites and offers start rolling in. 

SO, If I am hearing you corretly, I should have put Gradcafe level "Latte" as an accomplishement in my applications? 

*** I am being facetious.

[nęm0]

4 hours ago, kineto said:

I've been wondering this, too. I get that a lot of people are burnt out by learning online etc. but it's been eerily quiet.

My loyalty lies with Gradcafe! 

[nęm0]

1 hour ago, pomegranateleaves said:

I think that we (in thegradcafe community) are just taking a break at the moment because the uptick caused a lot of fear, stress, and uncertainty. Also, I definitely agree. I've spoken with multiple professors on my campus and they all said that this is similar to what happened in the Great Recession - a lot of people without the required experience are applying right now because of job uncertainty. Applying last minute to a grad program your senior year of undergrad (when you never worked in a lab) or years in a job that doesnt give you the skills or experience necessary isn't going to be successful. I assume that those applicants also dont even know that thegradcafe exists

Yes, Let me put on my "Gradcafe" witness outfit on, and preach the usefullness of this website from door to door.

[pomegranateleaves]

On 12/6/2020 at 3:23 PM, Number34 said:

Yes, Let me put on my "Gradcafe" witness outfit on, and preach the usefullness of this website from door to door.

Gradcafe is love. Gradcafe is life

[johnz]

On 12/6/2020 at 2:46 PM, pomegranateleaves said:

I think that we (in thegradcafe community) are just taking a break at the moment because the uptick caused a lot of fear, stress, and uncertainty. Also, I definitely agree. I've spoken with multiple professors on my campus and they all said that this is similar to what happened in the Great Recession - a lot of people without the required experience are applying right now because of job uncertainty. Applying last minute to a grad program your senior year of undergrad (when you never worked in a lab) or years in a job that doesnt give you the skills or experience necessary isn't going to be successful. I assume that those applicants also dont even know that thegradcafe exists

I turned down a well paying job offer(in software engineering) from my internship and applied for grad, is that weird or stupid, or both?