2022 Fall Application: Chat, Share and Support One Another

[awesome3141]

5 hours ago, RDaneelOlivaw said:

So, based on ongoing observations, how does this cycle compare to last year / pre-pandemic in terms of competition?

A professor on admissions committee at top program tweeted that "the pool was RIDICULOUSLY strong this year" and that she had heard the same elsewhere. Her guess was that "this is mostly a temporary effect of pent-up demand"

[Beeman]

On 2/5/2022 at 1:37 PM, awesome3141 said:

I'm guessing those schools are some subset of Princeton, Harvard, Michigan and Northwestern...

One of those! I decided to try and not apply to too many "super competitive" (in quotes because I think we all have different metrics) schools, which may seem counterintuitive to some. I applied to 6 schools in the top 20 and for my other 9 I tried to vary throughout the rankings (granted rankings change and are often not reflective of the current things happening in a department). I've been lucky to get contacted by a majority regardless! I feel very privileged in this process compared to the Fall 2020 admission cycle when it seemed like everything was going wrong

[glee1111]

2 hours ago, awesome3141 said:

A professor on admissions committee at top program tweeted that "the pool was RIDICULOUSLY strong this year" and that she had heard the same elsewhere. Her guess was that "this is mostly a temporary effect of pent-up demand"

I’m at a T20. Application numbers went down this year.

[awesome3141]

18 minutes ago, Beeman said:

One of those! I decided to try and not apply to too many "super competitive" (in quotes because I think we all have different metrics) schools, which may seem counterintuitive to some. I applied to 6 schools in the top 20 and for my other 9 I tried to vary throughout the rankings (granted rankings change and are often not reflective of the current things happening in a department). I've been lucky to get contacted by a majority regardless! I feel very privileged in this process compared to the Fall 2020 admission cycle when it seemed like everything was going wrong

 

That's a good strategy and similar to mine. My mentor who is just starting as junior faculty at R1 school told me to draw a line at top 25 by usnews standards if I want to go into academia given the current job market. He said anything below top 25 and R1 is virtually impossible and tenure track anywhere would not even be a guarantee. He said that I should go to the highest ranked school I possibly could. I can't say I totally agree, but I deferred to his judgement and applied to 17 schools (thank god for fee waivers) all in the top 25, with most of those 17 concentrated towards the bottom of the top 25 since I don't want to waste time on rejections. I'm still waiting to hear back on 6 programs but have gotten in to 1 top 10 program so far. I'm having an existential crisis though because I feel like that top 10 program is actually a really bad fit though and several of the lower ranked programs I got into seem like a much better fit. I feel like my mentor will push me to take the top 10 program offer though. I'm grateful to have gotten in anywhere considering how difficult this season is, but starting to think about making decisions now is extremely nerve racking.

 

Tangential- but this is a really interesting analysis on programs and placement in sociology: https://scatter.wordpress.com/2018/01/08/who-hires-whom/ 

[Beeman]

8 hours ago, awesome3141 said:

 

That's a good strategy and similar to mine. My mentor who is just starting as junior faculty at R1 school told me to draw a line at top 25 by usnews standards if I want to go into academia given the current job market. He said anything below top 25 and R1 is virtually impossible and tenure track anywhere would not even be a guarantee. He said that I should go to the highest ranked school I possibly could. I can't say I totally agree, but I deferred to his judgement and applied to 17 schools (thank god for fee waivers) all in the top 25, with most of those 17 concentrated towards the bottom of the top 25 since I don't want to waste time on rejections. I'm still waiting to hear back on 6 programs but have gotten in to 1 top 10 program so far. I'm having an existential crisis though because I feel like that top 10 program is actually a really bad fit though and several of the lower ranked programs I got into seem like a much better fit. I feel like my mentor will push me to take the top 10 program offer though. I'm grateful to have gotten in anywhere considering how difficult this season is, but starting to think about making decisions now is extremely nerve racking.

 

Tangential- but this is a really interesting analysis on programs and placement in sociology: https://scatter.wordpress.com/2018/01/08/who-hires-whom/ 

I feel the same way! I am awful at making decisions. I also didn't want to apply to some highly ranked schools because I deemed it "paying money to be rejected," and also as a minority student, I wanted to go somewhere that I felt comfortable (at least somewhat). 

Something important that one of my advisors told me was that while ranking is important, past a certain point its more arbitrary and the more important part is fit and who your mentor will be. You want to be with a mentor that will establish you in the field doing the research you want to do. Ultimately, your current mentor may have opinions, but you're the one that's going to have to live it! Do what's best for you. 

[RDaneelOlivaw]

16 hours ago, awesome3141 said:

A professor on admissions committee at top program tweeted that "the pool was RIDICULOUSLY strong this year" and that she had heard the same elsewhere. Her guess was that "this is mostly a temporary effect of pent-up demand"

Thanks for the information! Just some consolation in case the next couple of weeks don't turn in results...

[reallytryingmybest]

Still only radio silence on my end. Before I ask, I'll preface this with "yes, I have checked the results page". Some schools haven't had results posted in years so it is relatively unhelpful. Has anyone heard from UH Manoa or CU Boulder?

Thanks!

[Klutch2381]

5 hours ago, reallytryingmybest said:

Still only radio silence on my end. Before I ask, I'll preface this with "yes, I have checked the results page". Some schools haven't had results posted in years so it is relatively unhelpful. Has anyone heard from UH Manoa or CU Boulder?

Thanks!

Did you receive this email from CU today? 

Have you applied to CU Boulder and are wondering what happens next? Join our graduate admissions team tomorrow, Tuesday, February 8 at 1:00 p.m. Mountain Time on Instagram for our Ask Me Anything (AMA). This is a great chance for you to ask your questions about the decision process and next steps.

Submit your questions now by using the question sticker in the @futuregradbuffs Instagram story. At the time of the AMA, login to your Instagram account and watch the @futuregradbuffs story to hear your answer! This is not a live social media event, it will take place in the Instagram stories.
 

 

[catlady1994]

57 minutes ago, Klutch2381 said:

Did you receive this email from CU today? 

Have you applied to CU Boulder and are wondering what happens next? Join our graduate admissions team tomorrow, Tuesday, February 8 at 1:00 p.m. Mountain Time on Instagram for our Ask Me Anything (AMA). This is a great chance for you to ask your questions about the decision process and next steps.

Submit your questions now by using the question sticker in the @futuregradbuffs Instagram story. At the time of the AMA, login to your Instagram account and watch the @futuregradbuffs story to hear your answer! This is not a live social media event, it will take place in the Instagram stories.
 

 

Hey! I didn't apply to CU Boulder so this is not a ton of help but I got a similar email from NYU inviting me to an informational session about mentoring that is supposedly for BiPOC applicants this Thursday. I'm unsure of whether everyone gets emails like these or whether it's something to be excited about? It seems odd to me to have an info session so close to the time that they are releasing decisions just to reject the applicant. So does anyone know if invitations like these mean something? Very confused, so anyone's input would be appreciated! 

[Chen2022]

8 minutes ago, catlady1994 said:

Hey! I didn't apply to CU Boulder so this is not a ton of help but I got a similar email from NYU inviting me to an informational session about mentoring that is supposedly for BiPOC applicants this Thursday. I'm unsure of whether everyone gets emails like these or whether it's something to be excited about? It seems odd to me to have an info session so close to the time that they are releasing decisions just to reject the applicant. So does anyone know if invitations like these mean something? Very confused, so anyone's input would be appreciated! 

 I also got the email from CU Boulder, I think it is more general email from graduate school for everyone. But I did not get the email from NYU, but I am international student. 

[deadinside]

12 minutes ago, Chen2022 said:

 I also got the email from CU Boulder, I think it is more general email from graduate school for everyone. But I did not get the email from NYU, but I am international student. 

I'm also international and didn't get an invitation either from NYU. 

[catlady1994]

Here's the language of the email: 

You are invited to a special event designed for prospective and admitted students to NYU graduate and professional schools like you, featuring:

• Mentorship presentation by Dr. Karen Jackson-Weaver
• Faculty panel discussion
• Networking breakouts led by current graduate students of color

We know that mentorship has a profound impact on student success and belonging. Whether you already plan to attend NYU, or even if you enroll elsewhere, we believe this event will provide valuable advice and insights into how you can begin to create those vital connections before, during, and after your graduate or professional program.

[Minion20]

Anyone had interview at Yale Sociology? How was the experience? Can someone please share a few details.

[Gro]

Hey y'all, did anyone get rejected from UNC Chapel Hill's program? I saw a few acceptances, but no rejections. My status is currently "submitted". Just trying to decipher if there is hope or if I should take it as a soft rejection. 

[yugi666]

Has anyone heard from the PhD program for Sociology at Princeton? :______;

[awesome3141]

24 minutes ago, yugi666 said:

Has anyone heard from the PhD program for Sociology at Princeton? :______;

 

They are usually one of the last places to send out acceptances and rejections. I wouldn't expect to hear anything from them for at least a week, more likely 2.

 

[yugi666]

2 hours ago, awesome3141 said:

 

They are usually one of the last places to send out acceptances and rejections. I wouldn't expect to hear anything from them for at least a week, more likely 2.

 

Oh that's good to know, thank you! Do you happen to know if they conduct interviews? I've gone through the past few years of sociology acceptances on the results page, but haven't found anyone indicating that they did. 

[catherine666]

5 hours ago, Gro said:

Hey y'all, did anyone get rejected from UNC Chapel Hill's program? I saw a few acceptances, but no rejections. My status is currently "submitted". Just trying to decipher if there is hope or if I should take it as a soft rejection. 

They've sent out all acceptance offers. It's better to move on...

[imtiredlmao]

just saw some acceptances from arizona but haven't heard anything from them... i'm going to take it as a soft rejection </3 rip, everyone

[theory_philosophy]

EDIT: Wrong subforum; please ignore.

Has anybody received an offer from the Dept of Pol Sci at Yale? 

I wasn't super competitive for it (horrendous GRE quant score) but thought I'd check...

Edited February 9, 2022 by natsecguy
wrong forum

[CinnamonCream]

1 minute ago, natsecguy said:

Has anybody received an offer from the Dept of Pol Sci at Yale? 

This is a subforum for Sociology. Check out the Political Science Forum (https://forum.thegradcafe.com/forum/36-political-science-forum/) for polisci.

[Randomhouseplant]

This is actually my 4th attempt at PhD in Sociology programs as an international student. The first 3 years I was not admitted to any programs (qualitative/political sociology). But this year I got admitted to 6 programs so far! Just sharing this to let everyone know rejection isn’t end of the world. Someone will eventually appreciate your idea (as it evolves, ofc).

[Klutch2381]

3 hours ago, Randomhouseplant said:

This is actually my 4th attempt at PhD in Sociology programs as an international student. The first 3 years I was not admitted to any programs (qualitative/political sociology). But this year I got admitted to 6 programs so far! Just sharing this to let everyone know rejection isn’t end of the world. Someone will eventually appreciate your idea (as it evolves, ofc).

    I admire the dedication. That’s awesome! 

[Blane]

6 hours ago, Randomhouseplant said:

This is actually my 4th attempt at PhD in Sociology programs as an international student. The first 3 years I was not admitted to any programs (qualitative/political sociology). But this year I got admitted to 6 programs so far! Just sharing this to let everyone know rejection isn’t end of the world. Someone will eventually appreciate your idea (as it evolves, ofc).

wow that's insanely impressive! I'd love to know more?

 

what did you change? what's your profile like? where did you get in? Any info would be very helpful for those of us staring down the barrel of another potential trip around the block....

[the_blue_danube]

Hey everyone, I saw one post about an interview for the NYU Shanghai track. Has anyone else been contacted for an interview? I have not so I'm worried it's bad news.