<p>I was wondering if I could still apply to grad schools at this point, at least for the ones that haven't released their decisions yet. Got into more schools than I thought (applied to 14) and kind of regretting not applying to more "reach" schools. I did submit my application a month late but still received an interview invite. What do people think?</p>
<p>What program are you applying to? </p>
<p>What I can tell you is that my application is still under review by UCSD (PhD in biological sciences), at least that is that it says on the website. </p>
<p>If you haven’t applied to Harvard yet, it is too late now. I missed the deadline by one minute, and I couldn’t submit my application. Someone in the administration tried to help me, but to no avail. </p>
<p>I started applications for Yale and Weill-Cornell, but did not finish them on time. At the time I thought that I was applying to too many schools, and that my chances were very slim to get in these schools anyway, so I just quit filling out their forms. They both sent me an e-mail urging me to send an application after the deadline, and they waived the application fee. But that was in December… now it’s February. </p>
<p>I guess you can call or e-mail individual schools and ask them whether they are still reviewing applications. My bet is that most invites have been sent out already, but you never know…</p>
<p>Or you can get one more year of work experience, maybe publish one more paper and try again next year, but only applying to what seemed last year to be “reach schools”.</p>
<p>I am considering BME PhD programs and looking at schools such as GATech (of which I had professor contact with before and I am already accepted to Emory U), UPenn, MIT (already checked Stanford, no good). I already applied to Cornell but I haven’t heard back from them yet. Definitely going to grad school this Fall though, seeing as I’ve already shelled out >$2K in application fees and whatnot applying to 14 schools.
Just feel like I might have shortsold myself even though I am very lucky and pleased to have the acceptances/interviews that I already have. :)</p>
<p>I used a different approach: I only applied to competitive schools, with my average GPA and GRE scores. My thinking (I may be wrong, but from my anecdotal evidence it seems right) is that grad school is only worth it if you can get a PhD from a good school. All my professors at my undergrad institution went to big name schools, not one of them went to smaller universities. Also, PhD graduates from my undergrad school have a very hard time finding jobs. </p>
<p>So I thought that if I don’t get in anywhere, I would try again next year, or do something else.</p>
<p>Out of 14 schools, I received 5 rejections, 5 invites and I am still waiting to hear from 4 other schools.</p>
<p>I know how it feels to shell out $2000 on applications. At least you will get some return on your investment with all the free travels, hotels and food.</p>
<p>I don’t know what a reach school is for you but the more selective programs have already closed their admissions for the Ph.D. programs. They are working on their financial decisions now and new applicants are not accepted or if they are, they don’t really have full consideration for financial aid.</p>