Down to the wire

[jacket24]

We are now halfway through March and, like many of you, I have still yet to hear back from several programs. There are now only 4 possible weekends left to visit programs, evaluate offers, and make a major life-changing decision before the April 15th deadline. There should be a deadline for programs to release decisions at least 1 month before offers need to be accepted or declined. I don't know about any of you, but I'm definitely feeling the weight of impending possibilities and hope that I'm notified with enough time to make an informed decision.

 

Anyone else feeling the pressure of crunch time? Have you already made up your mind or narrowed your choices down enough that you're just waiting for the green light (acceptance)? Personally, the course of the next 4 years of my life still hangs very much in the balance and could change drastically based on the whims of the adcoms. 

 

Hoping for a big week with good news...

[rising_star]

You'll be okay. At this point in March, I hadn't even heard from the PhD program I ultimately went to. I didn't have a chance to visit, as I did for other programs, but I was okay with that because I talked to current students via email, phone, and Skype, had previously met the POI, and asked people when on visits about not only their program but also the others I was considering. It worked out. Were there a few things I wished I'd known before deciding? Absolutely but I also knew it would be impossible to make a fully informed decision. 

[Sarochan]

I'm feeling the pressure; half my schools haven't gotten back to me, and it's making me anxious! I'm trying to remember that there's still time for good news, but it's hard to not consider my choice as one between just the two programs I've heard from. It'll certainly throw a spanner in the works if I hear something positive from any of the other programs! I'm already having enough trouble deciding as it is.

Things are still basically up in the air though. I'll be super happy when I know all the outcomes from everywhere.

[Hani2015]

7 programs.no single word from any of them.

does that mean I'm almost rejected? 

after reading many comments in the this forum, I understand that if I have not heard anything by this time. I'm rejected.

is that true?

[MJS]

If you have not heard anything from a program, it means your application is still under consideration. That is a good thing, especially if the program has already sent out one or several batchs of rejections and you did not receive a rejection.

[CFBrown]

The only pressure (or anxiety) I'm feeling is finding out what financial aid I could get offered from the schools who've admitted me. The feeling of getting accepted was nice (especially from USC), but if it don't make sense, it don't make dollars...