PhD Applications Communication Studies Fall 2025 Cycle

[Martyna]

5 hours ago, Omkar Poojari said:

I wonder what the results would look like at UPenn's Annenberg? Is it not the most sought after program- probably in the league of Stanford/USC/Cornell?

I read somewhere that applicants often make a mistake of thinking there are safety schools and then there are top schools like the ones you mentioned, so it must be ridiculously hard to get in. Apparently, getting into the most sought-after schools isn't as challenging because they may be able to offer more funding, especially for international students. Basically, they can afford to take on more students. This is what I heard from current graduate students. 

[c202]

Does anyone know how many students are usually accepted at UPenn Annenberg?

The wait is awful 🫠 I hope everyone who's still waiting (whatever university) gets a response soon.

[Omkar Poojari]

3 hours ago, c202 said:

Does anyone know how many students are usually accepted at UPenn Annenberg?

The wait is awful 🫠 I hope everyone who's still waiting (whatever university) gets a response soon.

I think it is 8-12 - based on what is written on their website. They release decisions between Feb 1-Feb 10, I think. Which subfield/research center did you mention in your app- if you do not mind me asking..Good luck!

[c202]

Thanks. One (or two) more week(s) to go 😅 I mentioned this earlier but Culture & Media + Center on Digital Culture and Society and the Media, Inequality, and Change Center. 

9 hours ago, Omkar Poojari said:

I think it is 8-12 - based on what is written on their website. They release decisions between Feb 1-Feb 10, I think. Which subfield/research center did you mention in your app- if you do not mind me asking..Good luck!

 

[Omkar Poojari]

18 hours ago, c202 said:

Thanks. One (or two) more week(s) to go 😅 I mentioned this earlier but Culture & Media + Center on Digital Culture and Society and the Media, Inequality, and Change Center. 

 

Sorry! I forgot that we had a previous interaction about this. And good luck again!!

[AppleSpice]

Hi! How is everyone holding up? I’m feeling a little despondent if I’m being honest. I haven’t heard about interviews (most of the schools I’ve applied to don’t require them but from the few that that do, it’s been crickets 🥲). And after a long break of hearing nothing, got a rejection from Stanford. Not too bummed about it, wasn’t my top choice or an exact fit, and was more so a reach school to see I could get in but still scared and wondering if this is the first of many no’s to come. But reminding myself it will only takes one yes to change your life! Wishing the very best to everyone on this forum! May we all get into our dream programs!

[elontries]

14 minutes ago, AppleSpice said:

Hi! How is everyone holding up? I’m feeling a little despondent if I’m being honest. I haven’t heard about interviews (most of the schools I’ve applied to don’t require them but from the few that that do, it’s been crickets 🥲). And after a long break of hearing nothing, got a rejection from Stanford. Not too bummed about it, wasn’t my top choice or an exact fit, and was more so a reach school to see I could get in but still scared and wondering if this is the first of many no’s to come. But reminding myself it will only takes one yes to change your life! Wishing the very best to everyone on this forum! May we all get into our dream programs!

The wait is definitely killing me. I've been constantly refreshing my email for an update from UW Madison 😅 I agree with you on the power of "one yes"! Last year I was rejected from all of the PhD programs I applied to, so this cycle all/any yeses are welcome XD. I hope you get good news soon!

[CLudmila]

3 hours ago, elontries said:

The wait is definitely killing me. I've been constantly refreshing my email for an update from UW Madison 😅 I agree with you on the power of "one yes"! Last year I was rejected from all of the PhD programs I applied to, so this cycle all/any yeses are welcome XD. I hope you get good news soon!

It’s reassuring to come to this forum and feel like I’m not alone in the anxiety of waiting for a decision. The increase in applications to PhD in Communication has me on very nervous.

May I ask how many programs you applied to last year and how many you applied to this cycle? Crossing my fingers for all of us!  

[elontries]

15 minutes ago, CLudmila said:

It’s reassuring to come to this forum and feel like I’m not alone in the anxiety of waiting for a decision. The increase in applications to PhD in Communication has me on very nervous.

May I ask how many programs you applied to last year and how many you applied to this cycle? Crossing my fingers for all of us!  

I applied to 10 programs last year 😭but I improved my strategy this round. This year I applied to 7 schools - and I applied only if I was able to get in contact with professors whose work aligned with my research. It's worked so far, as I was accepted to one history program! 

Edited Tuesday at 10:53 PM by elontries

[Martyna]

12 hours ago, elontries said:

The wait is definitely killing me. I've been constantly refreshing my email for an update from UW Madison 😅 I agree with you on the power of "one yes"! Last year I was rejected from all of the PhD programs I applied to, so this cycle all/any yeses are welcome XD. I hope you get good news soon!

I'm sorry to hear you didn't get in to any of your choices last year but it's reassuring to know I wasn't alone in this! I also didn't get in anywhere. It's my 3rd time applying, I already got 2 rejections. At the same time, if we were straight up rejections and not maybes, then we provably would have been rejected this month! I've noticed over the past cycles that universities tend to reject you fast if they know you just don't stand chances at all to get into their department. So, maybe the rest of them are evaluating our applications and really giving it a proper overview before they make a decision, it means we all have chances!! Congrats on your acceptance to History program! 🎊

[c202]

Feeling the same way about the wait! It feels endless. Has anyone heard back from Brown? Last year the results came out around this time 😅

Edited Wednesday at 04:50 PM by c202

[Martyna]

7 hours ago, c202 said:

Feeling the same way about the wait! It feels endless. Has anyone heard back from Brown? Last year the results came out around this time 😅

Nope, also waiting. Is the MCM department you applied to? 

[c202]

3 hours ago, Martyna said:

Nope, also waiting. Is the MCM department you applied to? 

Yes, fingers crossed! 

[Omkar Poojari]

I see a UPenn acceptance on the results page. I wonder if it is a genuine one or a troll. Since, there have ben many troll posts since last night..

[c202]

14 minutes ago, Omkar Poojari said:

I see a UPenn acceptance on the results page. I wonder if it is a genuine one or a troll. Since, there have ben many troll posts since last night..

I saw 2 acceptances so I guess it could be real?

[Omkar Poojari]

Both say they got their decisions through postal service- and both are international students. Seems a bit weird that they would send it via post to international students?

And the results page has been spammed since last night. So, just thinking...

[c202]

Ohhh, I didn't see the postal service thing lol. Yeah, maybe not genuine. Last year all acceptances and rejections came out the same day, so let's wait and see (?)

[Omkar Poojari]

yeah, hopefully it is a troll. True- they release all acceptances/rejections on the same day. Based on the previous cycles, it is usually in the first/second week of February. I guess it is a bit too soon. Fingers crossed!

[c202]

 another acceptance was posted, this one seems more likely to be real, and one of the older was clarified that it was via the portal. I guess it is happening 🥲

[Martyna]

1 minute ago, c202 said:

 another acceptance was posted, this one seems more likely to be real, and one of the older was clarified that it was via the portal. I guess it is happening 🥲

I just came here to tell you guys that the person meant portal not postal. I didn't apply to UPenn but keeping my fingers crossed for you both 🥺

[CLudmila]

I don't have any update on my portal or an email . But many are publishing about the notifications. 

[Omkar Poojari]

Many are publishing about the notifications- are you referring to the results page or some other place too where you have come across people posting acceptances?

I think all those (3) acceptances have been posted by the same person on the results page.

[CLudmila]

14 minutes ago, Omkar Poojari said:

Many are publishing about the notifications- are you referring to the results page or some other place too where you have come across people posting acceptances?

I think all those (3) acceptances have been posted by the same person on the results page.

Here, on Gradcafe. That's why I visited my UPenn portal, but I do not have any updates. Who is making jokes about this process is a fool. 

[Omkar Poojari]

1 minute ago, CLudmila said:

Here, on Gradcafe. That's why I visited my UPenn portal, but I do not have any updates. Who is making jokes about this process is a fool. 

Yeah, I second that. If this is a joke, it is horrible. If not, I hope that they are rolling out acceptances/rejections in batches. 

[Omkar Poojari]

I saw this comment being posted by the person claiming the UPenn acceptance. It seems a little weird to address the people of this forum in an unrelated comment on the results page? And I guess the same person has posted the acceptance three separate times. Idk what to make of it.

"Also, people on the comms forum, I've never been able to post there for some reason but wishing you the best of luck! The offer letter spoke to letting them know about the decision when possible, so I think they may be doing offers in multiple batches or at least have a waitlist in mind."