Stressing out over grad school apps

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the emotional stress and uncertainty associated with applying to graduate school, including feelings of anxiety over potential rejections and reflections on academic and career aspirations. Participants share personal experiences and advice regarding the application process and coping strategies.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses extreme stress over receiving a potential rejection from a graduate school, emphasizing the importance of this opportunity for their future.
  • Another participant suggests diversifying aspirations beyond a single path in science, highlighting the slim chances of becoming a professional scientist after completing a PhD.
  • A participant questions their decision to apply to graduate school early, contemplating whether gaining work experience first might have been wiser.
  • Several participants advise focusing on the present and not dwelling on outcomes until all applications are submitted, suggesting that a contingency plan may be necessary if rejections occur.
  • One participant shares their own experience of receiving multiple rejections before eventually being accepted, indicating that initial setbacks are not uncommon.
  • Another participant expresses confusion over the interpretation of rejection communications, suggesting that stress may lead to misinterpretation of messages from schools.
  • A participant reflects on feelings of inadequacy regarding their academic performance and the impact of professors' evaluations on their self-esteem.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share a common understanding of the stress involved in the application process, but there are differing views on how to cope with this stress and the implications of potential rejections. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to take in light of these challenges.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about their academic readiness and the appropriateness of their chosen schools, indicating a lack of consensus on the best strategies for applying to graduate programs.

Delong
Messages
400
Reaction score
18
Hi everyone, I'm applying to grad school and I find the process extremely stressful. Today I got almost/maybe rejected from my third graduate school and I am completely freaking out. This one was one I was actually pretty hopeful I can get in. I still have four other schools I applied to but if this trend continues I might not get into any. Getting into grad school and pursuing life as a scientist has always been my dream. All my future plans rides on this. When I got the news today that I may be rejected I was so stressed I actually had to find a place to sit down and control my breathing. I feel like my organs are ripping apart from all the adrenaline. Can someone offer me any words of comfort or ease please? I think that I'm a pretty good student, I'm not straight A's but I love science and I worked hard. I always took hard classes and I even completed an REU. My GRE scores are decent. I really hope I can get in somewhere and that I stop freaking out.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
My advise is to start fostering other dreams. Nobody should close themselves off to all but one path. Dont give up on science, but even if you happen to get in and manage to complete the PhD the chances of you being a professional scientist are very slim.
 
ModusPwnd said:
My advise is to start fostering other dreams. Nobody should close themselves off to all but one path. Dont give up on science, but even if you happen to get in and manage to complete the PhD the chances of you being a professional scientist are very slim.


I never had any other dream than doing research. I can't imagine myself doing anything else for a living. Did I make a mistake by applying to grad school this early? Maybe I should have worked a few years? I don't know.
 
As much as possible try not to think about it. Once all your horses are in, then you can act on the result, but until then, dwelling on the outcome will only add to your stress.

If the unthinkable happens and you don't get in, then you just have to come up with a contingency plan. If you really want to get into graduate school, it would be worth analysing what happened and figuring out how you can improve your chances for next year. Yes, it would suck to "lose" a year, but probably not as much as you might think now. That might be an opportunity to get a job and stash away some money as you prepare for the long penniless haut of graduate school.
 
Choppy said:
As much as possible try not to think about it. Once all your horses are in, then you can act on the result, but until then, dwelling on the outcome will only add to your stress.

If the unthinkable happens and you don't get in, then you just have to come up with a contingency plan. If you really want to get into graduate school, it would be worth analysing what happened and figuring out how you can improve your chances for next year. Yes, it would suck to "lose" a year, but probably not as much as you might think now. That might be an opportunity to get a job and stash away some money as you prepare for the long penniless haut of graduate school.
Ok thanks for your advice. I sometimes think I'm making some naive decisions. Maybe I should have applied to easier schools. Or maybe work a year before entering. Do I even know what I'm doing? Try ing to get myself into grad school... Who am I kidding I'm not a disciplined student and my grades aren't that good. Probably my professors said some honest things about me in the letters. I feel pathetic. Gonna go cry now.
 
I applied to six graduate schools and got rejected by five of them before being accepted by the sixth. I don't even understand what you mean when you say you maybe got rejected; given the heightened state of stress you're apparently in my first guess would be that you're misinterpreting some trivial communication.

Or maybe work a year before entering.

If you don't get in anywhere you can just do exactly that.
 
Office_Shredder said:
I applied to six graduate schools and got rejected by five of them before being accepted by the sixth. I don't even understand what you mean when you say you maybe got rejected; given the heightened state of stress you're apparently in my first guess would be that you're misinterpreting some trivial

If you don't get in anywhere you can just do exactly that.
The email said i didn't get in. I replied saying that at least one of the professors seemed interested in having me but she replied later saying I wouldn't be a good fit adding more to my misery.
I feel like my life as a student is being judged this feeling sucks.
 

Similar threads

Other How to Afford Moving to Another State For Grad School?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
Admissions Graduating a year early anxieties + grad school
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
Studying Any tips for getting GPA over 3.7 in grad school?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
Is a Low CGPA a Deal Breaker for Grad School Admissions?
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
5K
Admissions Grad School Admissions: Which do I Bother With?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Other Physics PhD after working for few years
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
Admissions Curious about my grad school prospects
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Admissions Applying to PhD programs after a few years out of academia
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Admissions How Can I Overcome Limited Research Experience for Grad School in Physics?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Advice: Doing grad school abroad and getting a masters instead of PhD
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K