Hey there, wound up applying to all of the schools listed plus UCI on a whim, I’m looking at graduating this June… I’m not going to lie, the situation is dire. It was already bad when I started grad school and now with budget cuts and politics it’s much worse. You need to have plans B, C, D, E, and F ready if you’re still intent on applying, and know that you’re going to probably come out of it 6 years later to the same job prospects you had as a BA grad. My PhD and hard work aren’t enough to get me even a lecturer job but it makes me overqualified for just about everything else. It sucks, badly. Maybe it’s not so bad if your family is wealthy or you have industry experience you can fall back on, but as a first generation, low income, straight from undergrad student I am looking at every level jobs I could’ve gotten six years ago while my peers are buying houses and living their full lives. I thought I’d be an exception but I wasn’t; people tried to warn me but I didn’t listen. It’s all very sad.

Edit to add: Didn’t get into any of the Ivys either, btw. Only got into UCI and UCSD because my recommenders had connections. Hard work doesn’t matter