Am I Rejected? Need Advice (UW Biology)

[alyb_batgirl]

Hello, 

 

So I recently applied to a handful of PhD programs in Biology/Ecology. I had not heard back from any schools, and sent an inquiry email to my top choice school (University of Washington). I was told that the emails for interviews had already been sent out (meaning: I was not invited to interview). However, in the email they also said that applications were under review until final decisions were made in March/April. I know my application was strong, if not necessarily the best (lots of research experience, great letters, middle undergrad GPA, middle GRE scores). I was thinking about replying to the email asking if there was anything I could do to convince the admissions committee that I was worth the time, or to seriously re-consider my application. I was also considering emailing the professors I had talked to about being advisors. Does this seem too desperate/pestering? I just want to prove that I am worth the risk and have great potential, and LOVE LOVE the type of research/science I do/want to do. Or should I just roll over and accept my fate and wait for the rejection letter in March?

 

Input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[geographyrocks]

 

 I was thinking about replying to the email asking if there was anything I could do to convince the admissions committee that I was worth the time, or to seriously re-consider my application. I was also considering emailing the professors I had talked to about being advisors.

 

Do NOT do this!

 

Does this seem too desperate/pestering?

Yes!

 

The beginning of the spring semester hasn't even started yet.  If you ask them what you can do, they will say nothing because there really is nothing you can do at this point.  Just try to calm your nerves.  Chances are that they haven't even sent out all of the interview invites despite what they said.  People could cancel.  They could do several rounds of invites.  It's really hard to know. 

I completely understand and sympathize with your panic, but there really is nothing to do at this point. 

 

Edited to add: No, you are not rejected.  If you were, you would receive an email that explicitly states that you are.  Hell, I've seen people receive acceptance letters mid-April with full funding packages. 

Edited January 6, 2015 by geographyrocks

[alyb_batgirl]

Thanks for the response. 

I know the days for the interviews (Jan 16 and Jan 23), so I know they aren't really doing multiple interview rounds, at least not in the Biology department specifically. I'm planning to be in Seattle area anyway later in January, so was thinking I would just email the professors to see if they would meet with me, not specifically as an applicant, but as a student in science with aims of eventually pursuing a PhD. More to just make a career connection than necessarily change minds.