sebastiansteddy

Hmm, I wonder. I guess I'll just have to wait (even longer!) and see!

The grad secretary at Florida replied to my e-mail: "It is a hard call for me to say if you will be admitted or not." No idea what that means... I think I'll still assume rejection unless someone tells me otherwise.

Hmm... well maybe it's not over yet? Who knows what's going on there... But again, major congrats!

When I e-mailed Dr. Dobrin, he just forwarded it to the grad secretary, who refused to tell me anything via phone. How did you get in touch with him via phone, and not the grad secretary? Did you call him directly? I am confused, because they notified some accepted students a while ago, and quite a few rejections have already gone out as well. ETA: CONGRATS!!!!

Penn State would be the one I picked, if I were admitted to both. I think it has a much better reputation, and I suspect that UW will drop a bit when the next rankings come out. I think funding at Penn State is much more secure than at UW. BUT you need to consider your fit with the program, faculty you'd like to work with, etc.

Nada. I was considering e-mailing again. I don't want to be too much of a pest... but also it is fairly unlikely I'd accept their offer if they did happen to extend one...

I think EVERYONE would do well to remember this!

You should be incredibly proud to be accepted to UNC! I am sure ALL of your recommenders will be happy to hear this. Whether you tell them about rejections or not - that is something you should judge based on your comfort level with them. I highly doubt that any of your recommenders will be upset, since you have a great offer.

I thought Chicago didn't have a wait list! Food for thought though: many advisors have warned me not to chose a program based on ONE faculty member. What if that person ends up being a jerk? What if that person retires? Moves? Etc. At SMU, are there other people you could and would want to work with beside Bonnie Wheeler? Just something to consider.

You certainly have more cause to be upset than I am since I can drive. But still... it's frustrating. Even if it is something he genuinely didn't know... I don't know it just seems in bad form to let people make plans and then tell them afterward that the university will o longer fund those plans. I am also wondering if the university is still paying for Gwendolyn and Laokoon because they are fellowship recipients, maybe? IF that is the case, it does make me a bit nervous that there could be some sort of divide in the department between those on fellowship and those on normal TA-ship (which a current student sort of suggested on this thread earlier).

Well this is strange. Will you guys let me know if he does inform you of that? ...What if they want me less than everyone else they admitted? ...Are you guys flying or driving? I am within driving distance, but will be staying in a hotel.

It is guaranteed for 4 years (I have an MA). I was told that 5th year funding is almost always available for students who remain on track. I'm just a little annoyed. I CAN pay for the visit (it's within driving distance) but it seems in bad form to notify a student of the "change" after they have already made travel arrangements.

He e-mailed me this afternoon to let me know. Hmm...

Should I be nervous about a school that is not willing to help out admitted students with the cost of visiting the program for their open house? One of my schools initially said they'd pay a certain amount when I was accepted, but is now saying they are no longer able to do so. Might this mean the program is having serious budget problems, something that should concern me?

Did any other admitted students receive an e-mail from Dr. Garcha that the department is not able to fund visits after all? What is up with that?!

And to reply to Gwendolyn, I named AT LEAST 3 professors I wanted to work with at each program. If a program had less than 2 or 3 people I wanted to work with, then I couldn't see it being a fit for my interests. At most places I applies, it was difficult to pick only 3 professors I could see as potential advisors. ALSO - I am wondering if there might be some sort of a difference for applicants coming in with an MA versus those entering with a BA. With an MA, your research interests should be somewhat focused at this point, perhaps more so than those coming in with a BA. Perhaps with an MA it is more reasonable to point out specific faculty with whom you could see yourself working than it may be for those entering with a BA, who have more time to grow their research focus? Just food for thought.

I think there's a difference between name dropping and indicating how a professor's work has and will continue to guide your own research. That is what I explained in each of my SOPs. Also, I did not contact a single professor before applying, unless I had a genuine question about the program or their research. I was advised not to. Again, no HYP for me, but still a successful application season, in my book. I was rejected from Michigan, and I did list specific faculty in my SOP. Perhaps they'd rather admit students who are a fit with the department as a whole, as opposed to a fit with 3-4 professors who may or may not remain with the department during that student's time in the program? It is entirely reasonable.

For what it's worth, my first time applying I did not include any fit paragraphs that mentioned specific names. I was only accepted to MA programs that go around. This time, I included a fit paragraph in every SOP. Again, I was not accepted to any place like HYP, but I view this application season as a success. Also, I think certain schools react to fit paragraphs differently. I have heard (through the grapevine, so to speak) that Michigan tends to prefer applicants who do NOT list specific professors. But, who knows?

Accepted to Stony Brook!! Will be declining, hope it helps someone out!

I applied to the PhD - so maybe she meant all PhD decisions have been made? Who knows what's going on at UF. It really annoyed me that she said she'd e-mail me right away, and then never did. I know she's probably overworked, but it seems like their department is just terribly unorganized. It's not making me think very highly of the department...

I was told the same. She said she'd e-mail me right away, and then she never did. ETA: She also said all decisions have been made and it is just a matter of notifying. I don't get why they have to e-mail one applicant at a time...

U Florida is really annoying me. A week ago I was told that I would receive an e-mail this week about my application. Nothing all week. So today I e-mailled the graduate coordinator. No reply. I saw someone on here post they called the department and received information, so I called around 1:30 PM. The secretary told me the grad coordinator forwarded her my e-mail. She also said all decisions have been made, and it's just a matter of notifying applicants. She said she would check my file and then e-mail me back right away. STILL NO REPLY. I don't understand why they can't get it together and just notify everyone?! Sorry, just needed to vent.

As I have stated, I have NEVER worked so harder on anything in my life than I did on my WS and PS. While it still wasn't enough to get me into Penn, Chicago, etc., I have to believe that this explains my success at places like Ohio State, Riverside, Irvine, etc. (And I am considering my wait-list status at Irvine a success.)

Just realized UF is on break this week... but some decisions did go out earlier this week.

Exactly! Someone on the adcomm where I am getting my MA told me an anecdote about this. An undergrad applicant from Yale had a LOR from Harold Bloom. The letter read something to the effect of "Dear Job Search Committee, I recommend _____ for this position. I have no doubts that _____ would be a great addition to your faculty. Sincerely, Harold Bloom." The blanks were not filled in... and he used his job LOR form, not his application LOR form... That student was not accepted.