Applied after priority application deadline.

Contact with professor in August, kept in touch. From a T30 school, 7 publications (split equally between EER and EE; 3 first-author), international research experience in a relevant lab, extensive community involvement (founded mentorship program, led course curriculum updates for a foundational course in EE with large team, etc.), strong (ranked top 5%) LORs from 3 department chairs (two departments at my uni, one from international lab), SOP perfectly aligned with research and culture.

Ignore the status. Has anyone heard back from the University of Minnesota for PhD at Electrical Engineering admissions?

Had an interview with a PI mentioned in my SoP.

The day before the decision announcement the checklist in my portal disappeared, and the financial aid appeared.

Undergrad and Masters from same school, 5 years of research experience with current advisor

2 years of research experience, 1 publication, 2 conferences, 1 summer REU. No interview.

Honestly more on me for thinking i could get in, $90 would've been better spent on hookers and cocaine.