The period of time following the submission of your applications can be the most stressful. You might be in the boat where time drags on and you still haven’t heard anything, or you may have heard back from almost every single school you applied to and are feeling overwhelmed by the impending choice. In either case, do not panic. As long as you have chosen a safety school well you will hear back soon enough. For choosing between schools, the choice will become clear after attending visit weekends.
Give yourself time before making a final decision. You have until April 15th to decide, but you can’t go back on an acceptance once you’ve submitted it. Do not accept a university without going to all of the visiting weekends you signed up for; you never know if you’ll find a hidden gem.
Visit weekends are designed to try to persuade you to accept that university’s offer of admission, but while you’re visiting try to learn as much about the program as you can. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and try to dig into information that the school may not be trying to advertise.
Just because a school is ranked number 1 doesn’t necessarily make it the best place for you. Make your choice based on your priorities and what you are seeking to gain from graduate school. These might include research, reputation/status of PIs, work/life balance, funding, location, etc.
When you find somewhere that is right, you just know. Go where you will be excited to pursue research, where you think will be happy, and the place that will help you achieve your career aspirations.
Journey to Grad School 