Waiting, waiting, waiting...

I've had 6 first-round interviews so far, one prompt ding (which I was thankful for), and one invitation to a super-day. I'm really thankful that I've gotten so many interviews, so I'm definitely not complaining.

I have a couple more (4 first-rounds and the 1 super-day) interviews, so I haven't given up hope, but I'm getting sick of waiting for the firms that have told me they'd reach out to me with a decision.

I have an offer to go back to a firm that I worked with last year, and I really like the people there, but I have several concerns, including the expense of living (it would be unpaid again), the fact that I will have gone back to the same place twice (why would interviewers in the future not expect me to just go there again even if I got an offer?), and the issue that it's not really the side of the industry that I want to check out/get more experience in (it's a buy-side shop and I'd want to try something on the sell-side this time around).

In each first-round the interviewer said that, "the turn-around time should be very short", but I still haven't heard anything back. One was honest enough to say, "if you have exploding offers please call us, otherwise we'll let you know on this date". Another was the only interview (first round and super bundled in one last week), and they still haven't told me the result. You'd think if they didn't want me they'd have no problems saying they picked someone else.

From what I've read and heard, it seems like the firms I haven't heard back from are stringing me along on a wait-list so they can see if their top choices accept offers. Is this probably the situation? It's just really frustrating when they say they'll contact me "very soon" and don't actually call. It's not HR either--each time they've said they'll definitely let me know either yes or no it has been the interviewer. I'd rather get dinged than sit around waiting with inflated hopes.