ruckeme

i too have not received any interview invitations from anthropology departments. I am unsure what this means. Solid application, so no questions? No interested professors? Passed first round? the possibilities are endless...also, i received a phone call from a top program in the east, but it was just an admin question. the person also mentioned she was calling 14 other applicants with the same question. are people populating the results page with this as an "interview"?

my plan b is getting a job. YUCK!

warning - long story another moment of uncertainty: after returning home from doing a bit of grocery shopping, i checked my phone because i suddenly realized i had the ringer turned off. there was a voice message; it was from the dgs at one of my reach schools. however, the dgs was not from the program to which i applied. it was from a dept. i indicated interest in for a combined degree. the dgs said there was a question about my application. she sent me an email relaying the same information in her phone message. since being admitted to this school was far above my most optimistic expectations, i took the messages in stride. i delayed my call back untll the next morning and informed the dgs -via email - i would call her at that time. meanwhile, i called my mentor and we went back and forth about the possible reasons for her call: 1) an admin question 2) more info about my interest in the program 3) info on possible advisors. the assumed rationale for the call, in the words of my mentor, "they would not have called if they were not interested". hmmmmm....i thought....could it be A. my program of choice does not want me and so they farmed me out to this other department B. since i expressed interest in this other department, my application is automatically reviewed by it, regardless of whether my program of choice wants me or not; or C. my program of choice wants me and now i am being considered for the combined program, to boot! i re-read my application, researched additional information about the department (including the dgs), and rehearsed answers to possible questions, WHEW! well, next morning, i promptly called the dgs at 8:30am. to my chagrin, she just wanted to confirm that i meant to check the box on my application for consideration to the combined degree program. I answered "yes". she revealed to me the department just received my application (along with 14 others), and she was calling all 15 applicants to make certain they wanted to be considered for the program. apparently there was some glitch in the application software that only recently allowed the department to view this choice indicated by applicants. The conversation lasted exactly one minute. I feel like Mrs. Magoo.

one day last week i checked the "results" page on grad cafe and saw that several posts listed "ACCEPTED via email" to one of my top choices. Well, I immediately checked my email and there it was.....an email notification from the same school! I was so excited and already set in my mind that i would be receiving an acceptance. it was now just a question of how much funding (if any). i opened the email. it directed me toward the pdf attached below. i clicked on it, and to my horror it was a rejection! i sat at my desk in a state of confusion for about 10 seconds. then i re-checked gradcafe "results" to make sure i hadn't imagined what i saw earlier. i hadn't. -perplexed in ohio

what school was this, may i ask?

i am still in school too. i can't get any of my school work done. *sigh"

i am a bit skeptical about the application comparison - sounds like a lot of work, especially since many people DO reapply to programs. i was told by a graduate student that reapplying increases your chances of admission because it shows you are serious about your commitment to the program.

since the apps were due around the winter holidays, i sent them a holiday card (customized with a picture of my school on the front) and a $25 gift card to a place suiting his or her personality best.

if you do not receive an interview does that you you are not being seriously considered for an acceptance?