FALL 2008 acceptances

grae313 · Post by **grae313** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 3:17 am

I just realized that I was comparing Stanford's 9-month stipend to the 12-month stipend at other schools. For 12 months, Stanford Applied Physics' is $29k, which is much more reasonable and topped by only Berkeley and UCLA because of the fellowships they are offering.

grae313 · Post by **grae313** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 3:24 am

oops, also Cornell's is better. OK, so they are still being outbid by a few schools but their offer is definitely more reasonable than I was saying at first.

zxcv · Post by **zxcv** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:48 am

Congrats to everyone who was heard back in the past couple days, especially butsurigakusha at Berkeley! We may not be good enough for Santa Barbara... their loss!

butsurigakusha · Post by **butsurigakusha** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 1:15 pm

Yeah, I am kind of surprised by this. I expected SB to be a more likely acceptance. Maybe we will hear from them soon. But now that I'm in to Berkeley, getting accepted to SB doesn't seem as big of a deal. As of right now, I think I am leaning toward Berkeley, and I will be even if I am accepted to SB.

peder · Post by **peder** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 4:18 pm

Yale Geophysics! *does a little dance*

zxcv · Post by **zxcv** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:22 pm

@butsurigakusha: ditto.

drken · Post by **drken** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:43 am

so apparently my package from the university of chicago was lost in the mail or something, because i emailed them today and found out that i was accepted... and should have received the package "awhile ago". i'm not sure why they don't live in the 21st century and use e-mail like everyone else... but i guess i can't really complain! for anyone else out there who is waiting on chicago, i'd recommend emailing them to find out what your status is -- i heard back in just a few hours.

that completes my all of my applications... now to make a decision..

Helio · Post by **Helio** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:53 am

First and foremost.... congrats everyone on their acceptances.

I mean if you have a university that has a application question: "If you were a foot tall mustard glass what would you do" or something along those lines... do you really question why they use snail mail?

fermiboy · Post by **fermiboy** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:09 pm

Finally, I have a choice! Admitted to U. of Arizona physics today, w/ full support.

celts · Post by **celts** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:15 pm

@fermiboy

How much stipend did Arizona offer you, if you don't mind sharing?

fermiboy · Post by **fermiboy** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:20 pm

$15,042 for 9 months (the academic year), with the possibility of $3,500 to $7,900 for a summer RA. Also tuition waiver and health insurance.

jdhooghe · Post by **jdhooghe** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:07 pm

That's great news fermiboy!

grae313 · Post by **grae313** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:18 pm

fermiboy wrote:Finally, I have a choice! Admitted to U. of Arizona physics today, w/ full support.

AWESOME! Congrats!

jdhooghe · Post by **jdhooghe** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:19 pm

U. of Maryland is sending out acceptances today....heres hoping!

hpharty · Post by **hpharty** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:31 pm

Thanks jhoodge, for making me just that much more crazy about checking my e-mail.

Good luck to all of you other UMD applicants. I really want this one.

fermiboy · Post by **fermiboy** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:38 pm

Thanks, but I don't think I'm going there. I really liked my visit to U. of Oregon, and Arizona will have to really impress me to take me away. Of course if by some miracle I'm admitted to UCB, UCSB, or UIUC I will have to seriously consider them. One thing I realized is that for someone like me, who is dead set on doing theory, but doesn't have the superstar credentials or preparation, it might be better to go to a so called "second tier" institution. The reason being is that I will be able to work with the people I want to work with, rather than if I had went to a place like Cornell it might be harder to work with my first choice because of the competition. So maybe being rejected by the top tier is a blessing in disguise.

jdhooghe · Post by **jdhooghe** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:40 pm

You and me both brother.

doom · Post by **doom** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:45 pm

Accepted to Maryland!

Two-year TA offer and guaranteed summer support for two years, totaling at least $20,000/year.

hpharty · Post by **hpharty** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:48 pm

Holy crap it is true.

Well done doom.

dlenmn · Post by **dlenmn** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:56 pm

Congrats! Was it by email?

jdhooghe · Post by **jdhooghe** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:56 pm

Frick....still nothing

hpharty · Post by **hpharty** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:58 pm

Same here breaux.

dlenmn · Post by **dlenmn** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:45 pm

Johns Hopkins via snail mail.

When I first saw their letter the phrase "financial aid package of $59,700" I almost fell over. Then I saw "this includes full tuition of $37,700"... Felt like I had hit the jackpot for the moment there.

doom · Post by **doom** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:00 pm

Yes, Maryland did notify by email.

jdhooghe · Post by **jdhooghe** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:03 pm

Since I didn't get in to Maryland today, does that mean I am on the wait list? Do they have to manually put together an email for each student? Hopefully the latter as I still have a chance then and will recieve an email hopefully in the next few days. What letter does your last name start with doom?

hpharty · Post by **hpharty** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:23 pm

i thought the same thing jhoodge. My last name starts with "h". No letter for me either.

agonizomai · Post by **agonizomai** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:39 pm

I applied to Maryland as well (and did an REU there this summer) and I still haven't heard. The same is true of a friend who was in the same UMD REU physics program. I also check gradcafe and there is nothing there. I think they're probably still finalizing decisions.

donkey · Post by **donkey** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:04 am

The email I got today from Maryland was addressed specifically to me, so they probably are doing them one-by-one. My last name starts with an 'M'. I was at nearby NIST over the summer and was quite sure I would get in. However, the email does say that there were over 600 applicants for an entering class of only 25 students. What I was really hoping for was a Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) assistantship. The email mentioned nothing about JQI, but I did get one of their department fellowships which guarantees a minimum of $25,000 per year over two years with a half TA. The JQI thing is super competitive and may be available to current grads. I'm not completely sure I didn't get it, but I'm guessing probably not. Good luck to those of you who haven't heard yet; seeing as though there isn't any Maryland action on thegradcafe yet, I highly doubt they're done sending out acceptances.

doom · Post by **doom** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:25 am

My last name starts with a B, if that helps.

jdhooghe · Post by **jdhooghe** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:22 am

25 students.....son of a nutcracker >.<

ibbgs · Post by **ibbgs** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:57 pm

So I was thinking that it might be useful to post where you decide to go once the decision is made, not only for people on waiting lists but also for people reading this next year.

DigitallyCrazy · Post by **DigitallyCrazy** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:52 pm

Berkeley, baby! Unfortunately, I'm too tired to let anybody know, I have way too much hw to do... Don't anybody tell my parents or gf, or they'll be pissed at me!

multigoal · Post by **multigoal** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:05 pm

To those who are waiting for davis...
Davis is planning to release their next wave this week.......

grae313 · Post by **grae313** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:38 pm

I just got an email from Berkeley's graduate division:

"Congratulations! You have been admitted for the Ph.D. in Physics for Fall 2008 at
the University of California, Berkeley. You have also been selected to receive a
financial award. Your official letter of admission and the terms and details of
your award will be sent to you via U.S. mail tomorrow. We're pleased to offer you
admission and hope that you will choose to attend Berkeley."

I was extrememely confused for a bit because they already sent me an email admitting me a while ago, then I realized it was from the University's grad division, so it is the "official notice," apparently.

So yeah, when they say you've been "recommended for admission," they are forwarding stuff to the grad division to make sure you pass University requirements for entrance (which everyone will).

jdhooghe · Post by **jdhooghe** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:45 am

multigoal wrote:To those who are waiting for davis...
Davis is planning to release their next wave this week.......

Excellent, thank you for the info. I really do hope I get in....I'm seriously getting depressed here.

jdhooghe · Post by **jdhooghe** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:48 am

grae313 wrote:I just got an email from Berkeley's graduate division:

"Congratulations! You have been admitted for the Ph.D. in Physics for Fall 2008 at
the University of California, Berkeley. You have also been selected to receive a
financial award. Your official letter of admission and the terms and details of
your award will be sent to you via U.S. mail tomorrow. We're pleased to offer you
admission and hope that you will choose to attend Berkeley."

I was extrememely confused for a bit because they already sent me an email admitting me a while ago, then I realized it was from the University's grad division, so it is the "official notice," apparently.

So yeah, when they say you've been "recommended for admission," they are forwarding stuff to the grad division to make sure you pass University requirements for entrance (which everyone will).

Grae, you seriously must be on cloud 8. If I was in your shoes, no bad news could ever get me down. I still can not believe how good you got it and I do believe you worked damn hard for it too. Wow, just wow

grae313 · Post by **grae313** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:01 am

jdhooghe wrote:Grae, you seriously must be on cloud 8. If I was in your shoes, no bad news could ever get me down. I still can not believe how good you got it and I do believe you worked damn hard for it too. Wow, just wow

thanks!

multigoal · Post by **multigoal** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:48 am

@ jdhooghe
Was Davis ur reach school or a safe choice?

jdhooghe · Post by **jdhooghe** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 3:14 am

I did not have safties or reaches because I honestly did not know what they were looking for. The only thing that I do know is that because of my inability to stand, or care for that matter, general education courses and my severe test anxiety the top schools were out of my league. For the last five years, I have sacrificed any semblance of a social life and worked INCREDIBLY hard to do well. I continually have to struggle against my *** family's podunk genes but ALWAYS end up winning in the end. I think that shows, most of all, my devotion to physics. I pride myself on being at the top of my class in both understanding of the material and grades in my physics classes. That, apparently, is not enough though. I did not get accepted to any of the seven REUs I applied to last summer, hell, I was even contacted by a university that was extremely interested in my profile and still turned down. I am a very, very humble person and I am never comfortable making myself look better than the other applicants and I think that comes across in my statements as unconfidence. Are most people applying to my schools smarter than me? Probably. But I sure as hell have one of the strongest work ethics ever. I am sorry for sounding angry but I feel that the world has continually been shitting on me since I've started down this career path. I know most internationals see this as an "Oh poor american baby" post and I feel extremely lucky to have an education here but right now, I feel hopeless.

butsurigakusha · Post by **butsurigakusha** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 4:36 am

@jdhooghe

I hope you get into one of your schools. I would be surprised if you didn't.

jdhooghe · Post by **jdhooghe** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 2:24 pm

I really do hope that everyone's hard work pays off. I'm sorry again for making that a "woe is me" post. However, I know all of you know the feelings that are running through my head at the moment, so thank you for your support. I am really hoping that things turn out well for all of us.

grae313 · Post by **grae313** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 2:43 pm

butsurigakusha wrote:@jdhooghe

I hope you get into one of your schools. I would be surprised if you didn't.

ditto. you deserve it

Karatechop250 · Post by **Karatechop250** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 4:53 pm

Finally got in somewhere. TA at University of Alabama with health insurance. Total Package is worth 36000 but Im just excited that I got in. Im happy right now.

dlenmn · Post by **dlenmn** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:13 pm

Congrats! No burger flipping!

LucasWillis · Post by **LucasWillis** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:34 pm

Just got accepted to University of Maryland. Unfortunately, they didn't mention JQI fellowship, just a TA, so I suppose I'll be turning down that offer pretty quickly. Did anyone else apply for JQI?

now · Post by **now** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:36 pm

I applied to Maryland CP. Haven't heard anything from them yet. It's my first choice.

dlenmn · Post by **dlenmn** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:42 pm

Not an acceptance, but I just got the following email from Wisconsin:

"We have good news! We are now able to offer you another supplemental $1000 fellowship on top of our original offer. More information will be sent to you regarding this fellowship."

VT (and other Wisc people) did you get this too?

VT · Post by VT » Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:53 pm

Nope, congrats man! You are more 'tastier' than any other candidates!

When did you receive the email! Wisconsin seems to have started to trickle out some wisc juices! Nice.

dlenmn · Post by **dlenmn** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:48 pm

Got the email at around 5:40 eastern time... I actually got the email twice. I wonder if that means that I get $2,000...

Hopefully they'll get you in on the action as well.

Also, Penn State just sent me an invitation to their open house. But I just withdrew my application from consideration the other day -- at which point I hadn't been accepted. Weird.

lupin · Post by **lupin** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:59 pm

Finally admitted. TA at Kansas state university. Although not the best option but at least I have a place to go to. Half of the stress has been removed.