I feel like dying...

[right_here_waiting]

Oh God... How long more do I have to wait? Letter from PI tells me that I've been waitlisted. I know that writing this on this forum doesn't help and probably should spend time on doing something else. But I can't feel like.... ah... so much pain and agony.

[Tiglath-Pileser III]

All of us who are on multiple waiting lists and have not received any acceptances feel like this. Feeling like this at this time of year is normal. Take a deep breath, relax, and do whatever you to cope.

-H.

[JerryLandis]

I think waiting for decisions is a lot like waking up with a hangover. You lie there, knowing you should get up and get some water, brush your teeth, etc., but the thought of getting up is too daunting. So you just stay in bed for a few hours, awake and miserable. Then when you finally get up it's the afternoon and you're pissed off at yourself for squandering the day. The lesson is: no matter how much you want to just sit around waiting for the decision notice, the best thing to do is to go off and do something else! Doing something to occupy your mind is a must. For most of us I guess that means doing work, but I find that creative hobbies are the best way to free yourself from the waiting worries. It's just mustering the will to do something in the first place that's so difficult when your mind's off in the clouds.

[johndiligent]

In the immortal words of the great poet Frankie Goes to Hollywood: "Relax."

It's still so early. Don't panic yet, and just enjoy the fact that - while you were waitlisted - you weren't rejected. That's a good sign!

[liszt85]

In the immortal words of the great poet Frankie Goes to Hollywood: "Relax."

It's still so early. Don't panic yet, and just enjoy the fact that - while you were waitlisted - you weren't rejected. That's a good sign!

Good advice but its easy to say this when you have been accepted to your top choice I was in a similar position last year. I got an acceptance from one of my top choices on the 23rd of January. My more illustrious friends didn't get admission letters until March (they were applying to Physics PhD programs whereas I was applying to Linguistics/Psychology PhD programs though my masters was in Physics). I was an outcast for those three months nothing I said would convince them that they would end up with acceptances.

[adam_cs]

Start working on alternatives. get a busy life or get a busy death .

[Tall Chai Latte]

Three schools on my list, including my top choice, are keeping me on the hook! I am happy and feeling fortunate about having admits, but the fact that I can't decide since these three schools haven't replied me is getting me! Oh I just want it to be over with, I want to move on with my life and make the best out of the next 5+ years....

[johndiligent]

Good advice but its easy to say this when you have been accepted to your top choice I was in a similar position last year. I got an acceptance from one of my top choices on the 23rd of January. My more illustrious friends didn't get admission letters until March (they were applying to Physics PhD programs whereas I was applying to Linguistics/Psychology PhD programs though my masters was in Physics). I was an outcast for those three months nothing I said would convince them that they would end up with acceptances.

Small quibble but I haven't been accepted to my top choice. I've been accepted to a good school in an expensive city with little to no funding for the first year, when I already have $68,000 worth of debt from undergrad. I assure you I am as anxious for other results as anyone else.

[adam_cs]

one acceptance with funding. That's all I want. Don't care if it's not my top choice.

[Lise]

I second that. If I get just one acceptance, I will be over the moon.

[Timothy Vallier]

one acceptance with funding. That's all I want. Don't care if it's not my top choice.

Amen to this!

[SublimeDelusions]

At least being told that you're waitlisted is being told something. There's a chance if the professor told you that, then they're interested in having you in their lab. Over all, it isn't bad news.

It's a lot better than hearing nothing and having everyone that you've spoken to for advice say "hey, if you haven't gotten in by now, you're doing something wrong and you should probably just come to terms with the fact you aren't cut out to be a grad student."

Like everyone else said, just relax and see how it turns out. You may still have a shot at being surprised.

[liszt85]

Small quibble but I haven't been accepted to my top choice. I've been accepted to a good school in an expensive city with little to no funding for the first year, when I already have $68,000 worth of debt from undergrad. I assure you I am as anxious for other results as anyone else.

Ah, I see. Didn't know about the funding issue but I vaguely recall you using "top choice" when describing your acceptance to one school in some earlier post and UBC is the only school you've gotten an acceptance to so far, hence the post prior to this one. Maybe I'm mistaken. In any case, good luck! Depending on your program and your skills, you could always find RA positions once you get there (esp if you have programming skills that could be useful in other departments or your own, though I have no idea about how research in religious studies is done or even if you need to use computers to code up stuff).

[hairu]

I second johndiligent! I've been actually accepted to my top choice but without much hope for funding, and the school happens to be located in one of the most expensive cities in the world... contacting people (faculty, staff, current grads) is not so easy... they're like people in the 19th century... it always takes more than a few days to get simple responses.

The thing is... I'm in no position to do my phd without funding... (well, who would?)

And admission without funding is like... a pie in the sky...

[johndiligent]

Ah, I see. Didn't know about the funding issue but I vaguely recall you using "top choice" when describing your acceptance to one school in some earlier post and UBC is the only school you've gotten an acceptance to so far, hence the post prior to this one. Maybe I'm mistaken. In any case, good luck! Depending on your program and your skills, you could always find RA positions once you get there (esp if you have programming skills that could be useful in other departments or your own, though I have no idea about how research in religious studies is done or even if you need to use computers to code up stuff).

Yeah, I'm hoping to find a way to make it work without piling on to the loans. I have an interview tomorrow via Skype for a Residence Coordinator position there, which - if I'm successful - would at least take care of the "How will I live?" problem. I must admit that getting accepted without funding is better than rejection without funding, and I suppose the norm at the MA level.

[johndiligent]

And admission without funding is like... a pie in the sky...

Exactly! It's like being given a million dollars but being told that you're not allowed to touch it. So frustrating!

[bikefarm]

Exactly! It's like being given a million dollars but being told that you're not allowed to touch it. So frustrating!

Agreed. But we all have to keep hope alive!