Fall 2022 Sweat Thread

[sincostancotseccsc]

As past years, I am creating a sweat thread for everybody, and this is the thread for you to talk about your nervousness and relieve your stress.

I have applied for the math PhD in 10+ schools this year, most of them are outside of the US though, I hope I will end up landing in at least one PhD program next year.

[pkzrd]

Does anyone know if graduate student TA stipends are taxable?

Yes stipends are taxable.
Your school withholds federal/state/local tax from your paycheck then you (might) get some of them back when you file tax returns.

[pkzrd]

Also (if it's not already obvious) when comparing offers between schools make sure to take into account the cost of living.

Things like rent, health insurance payments/tuition fees (if any), renters/auto insurance, income tax etc.
i.e. 30k a year in Boston or the bay area is probably a much tighter budget than 30k a year in say State College or Columbus.

[mindyummy]

I've heard stories from grad students at my school that departments usually don't care that much about well-being of grad students, giving them lots of TA work while paying minimum wages and then kick half of them out thru qualifying exams.
They told me that besides getting to know the school and judging reputation of the department while picking a school, it is important to contact some graduate students and ask them about how they are treated to get a sense of how I will be treated.

Are there any truth to that?

[pkzrd]

I've heard stories from grad students at my school that departments usually don't care that much about well-being of grad students, giving them lots of TA work while paying minimum wages and then kick half of them out thru qualifying exams.
They told me that besides getting to know the school and judging reputation of the department while picking a school, it is important to contact some graduate students and ask them about how they are treated to get a sense of how I will be treated.

Are there any truth to that?

To a certain extent it's true the department don't care all that much about us, though I suspect some department care more or less than others. Some schools are notoriously of using difficult qualifying exam to "kick grad students out" so that they can cheap labor for teaching lower level undergraduate classes.

Arugably it's the result of capitalism. Schools are becoming corporations, giving out less tenure-ship (thus more adjunct and cheap TA required) while administrators, endowment managers and football coaches are getting paid 7 digits (or even 8 digits). If I recall correctly UC Santa Barbara and UC Santa Cruz had graduate students go on strike because of terrible pay, and then the schools fired them lol. There's a video on netflix that sort of explains this.

The bottom line is, we are getting paid terribly, probably overworked and the odds of getting an academic tenure-track job after graduation is almost zero. But I'm sure you are aware of this before applying to programs. If your school has a graduate student union, join! More graduate students in the union means more bargaining power.

EDIT some links
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03459-7
https://www.science.org/content/article ... onsume-you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YytF2v7Vvw0

[Weil98]

I've heard stories from grad students at my school that departments usually don't care that much about well-being of grad students, giving them lots of TA work while paying minimum wages and then kick half of them out thru qualifying exams.
They told me that besides getting to know the school and judging reputation of the department while picking a school, it is important to contact some graduate students and ask them about how they are treated to get a sense of how I will be treated.

Are there any truth to that?

To a certain extent it's true the department don't care all that much about us, though I suspect some department care more or less than others. Some schools are notoriously of using difficult qualifying exam to "kick grad students out" so that they can cheap labor for teaching lower level undergraduate classes.

Arugably it's the result of capitalism. Schools are becoming corporations, giving out less tenure-ship (thus more adjunct and cheap TA required) while administrators, endowment managers and football coaches are getting paid 7 digits (or even 8 digits). If I recall correctly UC Santa Barbara and UC Santa Cruz had graduate students go on strike because of terrible pay, and then the schools fired them lol. There's a video on netflix that sort of explains this.

The bottom line is, we are getting paid terribly, probably overworked and the odds of getting an academic tenure-track job after graduation is almost zero. But I'm sure you are aware of this before applying to programs. If your school has a graduate student union, join! More graduate students in the union means more bargaining power.

EDIT some links
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03459-7
https://www.science.org/content/article ... onsume-you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YytF2v7Vvw0

Do really grad students get out just because of qualifying exams? Don't they have more than one chance of redoing the exam(s)? I never heard of someone leaving their PhD program because he failed quals. This is the first time I hear this!!

[Cophysneurec]

Do really grad students get out just because of qualifying exams? Don't they have more than one chance of redoing the exam(s)? I never heard of someone leaving their PhD program because he failed quals. This is the first time I hear this!!

I have heard that it is not uncommon for 50% of a class to not make it past quals at certain programs. I do not data, but I have heard UCSB was like this around a decade ago. It's extremely common in economics, so it wouldn't surprise me if there are at least a handful of top 100 or top 50 programs like this.

[mindyummy]

Anyone thinks omicron's gonna throw a curve ball at this year's admission process, like in 2020?

[Cophysneurec]

I sure hope not. Considering how mild and contagious it is, seems like further restrictions would do more harm than good.

[pkzrd]

I've heard stories from grad students at my school that departments usually don't care that much about well-being of grad students, giving them lots of TA work while paying minimum wages and then kick half of them out thru qualifying exams.
They told me that besides getting to know the school and judging reputation of the department while picking a school, it is important to contact some graduate students and ask them about how they are treated to get a sense of how I will be treated.

Are there any truth to that?

To a certain extent it's true the department don't care all that much about us, though I suspect some department care more or less than others. Some schools are notoriously of using difficult qualifying exam to "kick grad students out" so that they can cheap labor for teaching lower level undergraduate classes.

Arugably it's the result of capitalism. Schools are becoming corporations, giving out less tenure-ship (thus more adjunct and cheap TA required) while administrators, endowment managers and football coaches are getting paid 7 digits (or even 8 digits). If I recall correctly UC Santa Barbara and UC Santa Cruz had graduate students go on strike because of terrible pay, and then the schools fired them lol. There's a video on netflix that sort of explains this.

The bottom line is, we are getting paid terribly, probably overworked and the odds of getting an academic tenure-track job after graduation is almost zero. But I'm sure you are aware of this before applying to programs. If your school has a graduate student union, join! More graduate students in the union means more bargaining power.

EDIT some links
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03459-7
https://www.science.org/content/article ... onsume-you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YytF2v7Vvw0

Do really grad students get out just because of qualifying exams? Don't they have more than one chance of redoing the exam(s)? I never heard of someone leaving their PhD program because he failed quals. This is the first time I hear this!!

Oh sorry because of all the trash talking I failed to respond.

Some programs are more notorious with having lower graduation rates i.e. % of incoming class successfully graduating with a Ph.D. Some of these statistics are somewhere on the school's website but it might not be the whole story (pure math might be harder to "survive" than say applied math in some departments). Contacting current grad students at the department you're interested in/accepted to will give you a fuller picture.

[mindyummy]

I sure hope not. Considering how mild and contagious it is, seems like further restrictions would do more harm than good.

I hope not too. The number of cases look even worst than 2020 and 2021 combined. Though news say this variant is less deadly, so maybe it won't be as bad.

Weird times we live in

[Cophysneurec]

South Africa is looking good (where this thing started), and T cell immunity from the vaccine holds up to Omicron. Hospitalizations lower for Omicron vs Delta even with higher case rates.

Congratulations on getting in to Ohio State!

[mindyummy]

South Africa is looking good (where this thing started), and T cell immunity from the vaccine holds up to Omicron. Hospitalizations lower for Omicron vs Delta even with higher case rates.

Congratulations on getting in to Ohio State!

I hope you're right. It seems this pandemic refuses to end.

[Cophysneurec]

True that. It's been a dismal couple years.

[mindyummy]

True that. It's been a dismal couple years.

Yeah, can almost say my degree is online.

[deviant_lime]

Has anyone contacted schools to submit fall grades that were unavailable at the application deadline?

[YellowBee]

I know it's super early in the admissions cycle, but I already feel super nervous. What has everyone been up to over winter break as they're waiting on results?

[Cophysneurec]

Has anyone contacted schools to submit fall grades that were unavailable at the application deadline?

Yes. I uploaded through the portal when I could, and otherwise emailed my transcript to the most relevant email address I could find. They have all responded positively.

[Jmr324]

I know it's super early in the admissions cycle, but I already feel super nervous. What has everyone been up to over winter break as they're waiting on results?

I've been pretty anxious as well. I try to stay busy with research and learning. Next week my semester starts so hopefully, that will keep me busy.

[empty_functor]

Did anyone get any emails from Yale? I have someone in my department told me he's accepted unofficially thru email pending official acceptance? Trying to see if it's everyone who's accepted or just him

[deviant_lime]

Does anyone have any info on whether the number of applications departments are receiving is more in line with pre-covid years or is it going with the more recent trends of increased applicant numbers?

[matejxx1]

From my conversations with profs its pretty much same as it's always been.

[123t]

Did anyone get any emails from Yale? I have someone in my department told me he's accepted unofficially thru email pending official acceptance? Trying to see if it's everyone who's accepted or just him

So when they will update the status in the portal?

[123t]

Has anyone contacted schools to submit fall grades that were unavailable at the application deadline?

Yes. I uploaded through the portal when I could, and otherwise emailed my transcript to the most relevant email address I could find. They have all responded positively.

How do you update for UCLA? They did not respond to my email. Can you provide the email link?

[Cophysneurec]

How do you update for UCLA? They did not respond to my email. Can you provide the email link?

Check my profile again.

Maybe one of their staff emails would be suitable if they list them.

[Weil98]

Does anyone know if Ohio State will send any more acceptances?

[vladvladvlad]

Does anyone know if Ohio State will send any more acceptances?

In past years they've supposedly sent out offers in two waves. I don't know if that will be the case this year, but it's possible they might send out more offers later this month.

[deviant_lime]

What does it mean if a department invites you to an open house but has not sent offers yet? Do they invite all applicants or just a long list/ short list etc?

[Weil98]

Does anyone know if Ohio State will send any more acceptances?

In past years they've supposedly sent out offers in two waves. I don't know if that will be the case this year, but it's possible they might send out more offers later this month.

I hope so!

[Weil98]

Friends, do all universities have waiting lists?

[HyperCar2022]

Friends, do all universities have waiting lists?

Technically yes. Almost all universities released admissions time to time untill they got right number of students they want. Though you may not be notified as wl sometimes, before last day of notification, you still have chance

[Weil98]

Technically yes. Almost all universities released admissions time to time untill they got right number of students they want. Though you may not be notified as wl sometimes, before last day of notification, you still have chance

Ah I see. Thanks for replying!

[watermelon117]

One of my references submitted the letters 3 to 6 weeks after most deadlines of mine and has still nine more places that he has not yet uploaded the letters. I have tried to find another reference and reached out to the programs I have applied to. I don't know. I felt suicidal during my winter break whenever I saw my empty inbox (no email notification of uploaded letters) and depressed from time to time this semester. Luckily I have gotten out of town and stayed with my quasi-family during this time and have slowly recovered to work and study again.

I just want to vent anonymously here. I don't want to bother my friends who care about me and are stressed by their own things rn (new work; applications; working on their dissertation; etc.); I don't want to talk to some other people I know from my department who enjoy being listened to but will only throw indifferent shit at me unrelated to my situation when it is not their struggles. Looking forward to moving to a different environment in grad school too and leaving all those egocentric immature snobs behind.

[HyperCar2022]

One of my references submitted the letters 3 to 6 weeks after most deadlines of mine and has still nine more places that he has not yet uploaded the letters. I have tried to find another reference and reached out to the programs I have applied to. I don't know. I felt suicidal during my winter break whenever I saw my empty inbox (no email notification of uploaded letters) and depressed from time to time this semester. Luckily I have gotten out of town and stayed with my quasi-family during this time and have slowly recovered to work and study again.

I just want to vent anonymously here. I don't want to bother my friends who care about me and are stressed by their own things rn (new work; applications; working on their dissertation; etc.); I don't want to talk to some other people I know from my department who enjoy being listened to but will only throw indifferent shit at me unrelated to my situation when it is not their struggles. Looking forward to moving to a different environment in grad school too and leaving all those egocentric immature snobs behind.

Hope you have good news soon. Take it easy and do sth fun. I think at this stage, there's few things we can do but wait

[watermelon117]

One of my references submitted the letters 3 to 6 weeks after most deadlines of mine and has still nine more places that he has not yet uploaded the letters. I have tried to find another reference and reached out to the programs I have applied to. I don't know. I felt suicidal during my winter break whenever I saw my empty inbox (no email notification of uploaded letters) and depressed from time to time this semester. Luckily I have gotten out of town and stayed with my quasi-family during this time and have slowly recovered to work and study again.

I just want to vent anonymously here. I don't want to bother my friends who care about me and are stressed by their own things rn (new work; applications; working on their dissertation; etc.); I don't want to talk to some other people I know from my department who enjoy being listened to but will only throw indifferent shit at me unrelated to my situation when it is not their struggles. Looking forward to moving to a different environment in grad school too and leaving all those egocentric immature snobs behind.

Hope you have good news soon. Take it easy and do sth fun. I think at this stage, there's few things we can do but wait

Thank you! You too.

[Scathrules]

Has anyone's application status for Rutgers been updated from "Application Pending" to "Application Review" (or anything similar to this message)? Mine still says pending and I never got an email back from the admissions office.

[fakeName]

Has anyone's application status for Rutgers been updated from "Application Pending" to "Application Review" (or anything similar to this message)? Mine still says pending and I never got an email back from the admissions office.

Hasn't changed for me yet. In the middle box it says "Application Pending: Check back soon for a decision on your application!," and the under review circle on the left is still locked (profile created through application submitted are checked). As far as I recall, it's been like this and has not changed.

[YellowBee]

Has anyone's application status for Rutgers been updated from "Application Pending" to "Application Review" (or anything similar to this message)? Mine still says pending and I never got an email back from the admissions office.

I checked and mine still says application submitted.

[123t]

Why all schools are quiet these days? Too boring.

[hornedsphere]

Why are most places horribly quite this time around (especially for pure math stuff)?

[YellowBee]

Is February the month when most results come out?

[fakeName]

Is February the month when most results come out?

Typically yes. From my needlessly extensive grad cafe research, this year doesn't seem PARTICULARLY slower than the last two years though, but outside of one interview I have heard literally nothing from any of my schools

[ms60000204]

Can I bet on some miracle that I will get into at least one school? Does this happen?
I don't really have any research experience and non of my rec letters will be strong, but I only applied to T50 schools. I already gave up and overloaded myself in my last semester as a sort of back-up to the second round.

[hopium]

Is February the month when most results come out?

Typically yes. From my needlessly extensive grad cafe research, this year doesn't seem PARTICULARLY slower than the last two years though, but outside of one interview I have heard literally nothing from any of my schools

You could also check on Gradcafe on when the results were out for each program in past years.

[empty_functor]

I'm not sure if it's just my computer screwing up or this website is broken. But every time I get a notification and when I clicked on it nothing happens. Since I'm kinda lazy to go thru every post and see who pinged me in their post, PM directly

[uhoh]

Apparently some Cornell results are out. Does anyone know if these include applied ones too?

[deviant_lime]

Has anyone heard anything back from USC or Indiana Bloomington?

[MadMax]

Apparently some Cornell results are out. Does anyone know if these include applied ones too?

No. That's a completely different program.

[Scathrules]

Has Irvine sent out any acceptances? I've seen some rejections on gradcafe but not sure if it's true.

[jalgebra]

if I haven't heard from Cornell when they sent out a bunch or acceptances and rejections, does it mean I'm on a waitlist?