Halfway Done - Over it
I applied to 8 Social/Health Psychology PhD programs this cycle (this is my 3rd), and was really hopeful, but my optimism is shot right now.
I've already been rejected by 4 of them (UCSD, UMich, UWisc, WSU).
The remaining 4 are not promising either.
I applied to UCLA and UCSC as hail mary options just to see if I could get an interview, so I'm expecting a rejection from them.
I also found out from the faculty member I applied to work with at UNCC that she probably won't be accepting anyone cause funding is non-existent; that was my #3 school.
My #1 is CSU, and I applied to work with 2 separate faculty members, one of which just informed me she is no longer accepting new students this year.
I feel at a complete loss right now, and especially since I got rejected by my alma mater (WSU), and I have zero motivation to keep going through this process.
I'm heavily considering not applying again next cycle, but I don't want to give up my dream of being a professor and doing research yet. Does anyone have any advice or helpful information to share? Anything would be so nice right now.
Posted Feb 26, 2026, 3:35 AM UTC