2021 Sweat Thread

[startz]

Gut feeling is the most important. Throw a coin, and see if you regret the outcome.

Since everyone could probably use a little lightness about now...
Here is Piet Hein’s grook on coin flips:

A Psychological Tip
Whenever you’re called on to make up your mind,
and you’re hampered by not having any,
the best way to solve the dilemma, you’ll find,
is simply by spinning a penny.
No – not so that chance shall decide the affair
while you’re passively standing there moping;
but the moment the penny is up in the air,
you suddenly know what you’re hoping.

[tbe]

I'm currently deciding between two programs that are virtually tied in all rankings. What are some factors you would recommend considering before making a decision? Things beyond the obvious (program structure, location, stipend, quality of life, faculty friendliness, etc).

I would put very little weight on program structure and stipend.

Focus on
Fit with your research interests
Whether students are happy and feel supported by faculty
Talk to students and faculty at each school. Ask faculty what they are working on, how they approach advising, etc. Ask students what they like about the program, who the popular professors are and why, etc.
If at that point you don't have a gut feeling, flip a coin and see if you are disappointed in the outcome.

[econliker]

I'm currently deciding between two programs that are virtually tied in all rankings. What are some factors you would recommend considering before making a decision? Things beyond the obvious (program structure, location, stipend, quality of life, faculty friendliness, etc).

Stipend is not very important unless you're choosing between no funding and some funding, in which case it is important.

[rtj]

Here is Piet Hein’s grook on coin flips:

A Psychological Tip
Whenever you’re called on to make up your mind,
and you’re hampered by not having any,
the best way to solve the dilemma, you’ll find,
is simply by spinning a penny.
No – not so that chance shall decide the affair
while you’re passively standing there moping;
but the moment the penny is up in the air,
you suddenly know what you’re hoping.

Thank you for sharing this! It’s great.

[SnacksHarrison]

Has anyone heard from CUNY this week? I interviewed last week. They said they wanted to send out decisions "early" the first week of April. I'm not seeing anything from this week on the Grad Cafe.

[cp9290]

Less than a week to the deadline and so many of us still seem to be on waitlists. I don’t understand what’s holding up this market from clearing. Is it a few offer hoarders who are not turning down offers? Is it because admission is so noisy at the top schools that almost everyone is waitlisted at a more dominant school (relative to their other offers)? Someone needs to create a model to explain this

[petheory]

If you have offers from identically ranked schools with comparable strengths in your subfields of interest, it can be really hard to make a decision until the last minute. It's even worse when one school has an obvious advantage over the other in some aspect while is disadvantaged in the other aspect.

Talking to busy faculty and past students also takes time.

[Wahasky]

If you have offers from identically ranked schools with comparable strengths in your subfields of interest, it can be really hard to make a decision until the last minute. It's even worse when one school has an obvious advantage over the other in some aspect while is disadvantaged in the other aspect.

Talking to busy faculty and past students also takes time.

This is really true. I'm going to commit tomorrow, but the choice ended up being way more difficult than I thought and I'm not at all sure I've made the right decision.

[yjk0422]

Less than a week to the deadline and so many of us still seem to be on waitlists. I don’t understand what’s holding up this market from clearing. Is it a few offer hoarders who are not turning down offers? Is it because admission is so noisy at the top schools that almost everyone is waitlisted at a more dominant school (relative to their other offers)? Someone needs to create a model to explain this

I think this is (at least partly) because schools are being extra cautious in sending out offers this season due to the limited/uncertain amount of funding. They seem to be admitting students only when they are 100% certain that they have a spot for them and waitlisting others so they can make an offer later, unlike other seasons when they had the capacity to admit more students and see how it goes. But this is just my guess and I just hope that things will move along faster... the anxiety from being waitlisted is terrible.

[slumdropforest]

Anyone else on Michigan State's waitlist? I'm looking to chat with someone about it!