Finding out why you got rejected

[columbia09]

Did anyone here apply in previous years and manage to find out why you were rejected from a school ? Was it funding ? Grades ? GRE ? LOR ? etc I'm getting really antsy seeing a lot of people getting replies from schools I applied to and me not hearing anything. 

[GeoMex]

In my rejection this year, they told me a general reason as to why I might have been rejected, since they can't tell you really.

[Usmivka]

I know why people most often get rejected from my current program: funding. Life is a lot easier if you bring in an external fellowship.

[GeoDUDE!]

A lot of profs want graduate students, encourage them to apply, and hope that they sort out funding by the time they can accept them. Much of the time they cannot sort out the funding, as NSF grants and admissions are not on the same timelines. 

[columbia09]

A lot of profs want graduate students, encourage them to apply, and hope that they sort out funding by the time they can accept them. Much of the time they cannot sort out the funding, as NSF grants and admissions are not on the same timelines. 

 

This was the case with me at VT. He told me that I should apply and that he's applying for a grant that can support me. One month later, 'sorry didn't get the grant you'll have to compete for 4 TA positions against 100 applicants".

[GeoDUDE!]

This was the case with me at VT. He told me that I should apply and that he's applying for a grant that can support me. One month later, 'sorry didn't get the grant you'll have to compete for 4 TA positions against 100 applicants".

 

 

Funding rates are super low from NSF, much lower than getting into graduate school. It's not surprising. Its one of the reason why some of the earth science labs that have graduate programs are so difficult to get into: they are almost all based on research funds and endowment and have no TAs since they don't teach undergraduate classes ! 

[laocoön]

After getting shut out last application cycle, I only followed up with one program, and they stated it was against department policy to divulge the exact reason for rejection. Instead, they sent me a general list of why people get rejected, which wasn't really much help. Soooo...I guess the amount of info you can get out of the department is dependent on the specific program.

[billobob]

Very few schools will tell you. The #1 reason for getting rejected is quite simply because a professor thinks another student is a better match for the research he's doing, assuming you're applying for a PhD or funded masters.

Contacting and talking to POIs is the most important thing in the entire process IMO, again unless its a more professional degree.

[columbia09]

Very few schools will tell you. The #1 reason for getting rejected is quite simply because a professor thinks another student is a better match for the research he's doing, assuming you're applying for a PhD or funded masters.

Contacting and talking to POIs is the most important thing in the entire process IMO, again unless its a more professional degree.

 

I feel like not a lot of people do that. I was very fortunate to speak to 7/8 of my POIs. Some of them even called me up and we chatted for a bit. I think building good relationships with them is the most important thing plus it also helps to know a professor that knows your POIs pretty well