Self-fulfilling admissions professy?

[deianira]

I finally got my first rejection today - UCSF Neuroscience. This school happened to be at the bottom of my list (yes, despite it being at the top of the grad school rankings for neuro). Similarly, UofMD was my "safety" school, and although got an itnerview invite, the itnerest seems to be lukewarm (they don't do rotations, so interested professors contact prospective students directly). On the other hand, my two top choices have invited me for interviews. So I'm wondering if I did something in the application process or in communicating with the schools which betrayed my attitude. I tried to keep my application materials as generic as possible, though, and applications are pretty standard for all schools. Anyone else have this experience with their schools?

[frankdux]

there have been a few stories on here before about people getting rejected by safeties and accepted by reach schools. it happens.

[socialpsych]

This may not be a coincidence, for two reasons:

1) Both your enthusiasm and your results may be caused to some extent by your fit with the researchers at a given school. You may be more excited about schools where you are a better fit, and these are also more likely to be interested in you as an applicant.

2) If there is a big difference in ranking, especially if your apps asked what other programs you applied to, your safety schools may be worried you're not really interested and would turn them down anyway (since you're likely to get in to a more prestigious program).