Sryahmay

Well she wasn't a student when she was reviewing applications, the school hired her in some official capacity. I have heard some crazy application stories--and not every person on the admission committee takes their position seriously, but simply discarding someone's application without even reading it is absurd.

Yea true, I'll give them a call next week and see if I can get an update at all thanks for the advice!

Thanks AshMarie for the kind words I am trying my best to relax and remember that they want me in the program. I think I'm just so anxious and am hoping it doesn't take a whole month to get the official acceptance! I thought about inquiring to grad. divis but wasn't sure if that would be helpful at all and thought it would be annoying.

Hi all I could really use some advice. I was recently unofficially accepted into a doctoral program from the wait list. Long story short my undergrad gpa wasn't stellar (2.8, less than the needed 3.0) so the school needs to get approval from graduate division before I can be officially accepted--I have a masters degree and my masters gpa is great (3.8). I've been told by the head of the admission committee that it is pretty much just a formality and shes never seen grad division not approve anyone but its still a process they have to go through. I had this same problem when I was accepted into my masters program and got the acceptance from graduate division with no problem, I think I'm so drained from this process and am terrified something will go wrong. Should I be concerned that I might not be officially accepted? Having been on the wait lists I'd also like to let go of my spot at other programs because should all go well with this school I'll definitely be attending but I'm hesitant to let those go until I get this official acceptance. One school has given me an extension but this grad. division process could take a month. Has anyone gone through or heard of a similar process? Any advice is much appreciated. also sorry for cross posting--just needed some advice!

I would call them right now and let them know, they might have given your spot away but in case they haven't they probably would be willing to take you back but you need to contact them NOW

I think often schools have unofficial wait lists for whatever reason, so they tell you "you're application is still being processed" really just means you're on the wait list and we haven't made a decision either way. I'm not sure why they don't just tell you this I'm sure they have their reasons but getting them to force their hand might back fire on you if its a school you're interested in. Its definitely annoying and schools should respect applicants enough to update you about your status but sometimes you just have to wait the process out you don't want to force schools to make a decision when really they are just sitting on your application for whatever reason.

fantastic congrats!! hopefully more things like this today

yea I'm pretty sure admits have until COB on the 15th to notify or have letters post marked by. there will probably be a bit of a flurry in the next couple of days. this process is so close to being done!

This forum has been incredibly helpful and I could really use some advice. I was recently unofficially accepted into a doctoral program from the wait list. Long story short my undergrad gpa wasn't stellar (2.8, less than the needed 3.0) so the school needs to get approval from graduate division before I can be officially accepted--I have a masters degree and my masters gpa is great (3.8). I've been told by the head of the admission committee that it is pretty much just a formality and shes never seen grad division not approve anyone but its still a process they have to go through. I had this same problem when I was accepted into my masters program and got the acceptance from graduate division with no problem, I think I'm so drained from this process and am terrified something will go wrong. Should I be concerned that I might not be officially accepted? Having been on the wait lists I'd also like to let go of my spot at other programs because should all go well with this school I'll definitely be attending but I'm hesitant to let those go until I get this official acceptance. One school has given me an extension but I'm not sure how long this grad. division process will take and I only have an extra week. Has anyone gone through or heard of a similar process? Any advice is much appreciated.

jhslp it sounds promising. I don't think admsission coordinators go out of their way to contact students--it sounds like they are trying to sort things out on their end before giving you news

I would say A --you sound more excited in the program, and if you are interested in a career in academia the in-field reputation will matter more than external perception. Since funding isn't really an issue I would say to take the chance.

It sounds like if that student declines you would get their funding and that you don't have to make a decision on the PhD by April 15th--but I would email them again and confirm. Do you have to let the MA program know by the 15th? If so I'd ask for an extension and ask the PhD program to let you know as soon as possible on the 15th if the student has accepted the offer, since they want you in the program and have been in touch it might be as easy as the program coordinator calling this person and getting confirmation. Its weird that who ever that person is hasn't been in contact with a funded offer but it seems like it will be resolved by the end of the day on the 15th. If it doesn't work out I'd take other people's advice and go for the funded MA.

Yea you could do that, the only thing is after you accept school 1's offer/money you would have to get a waiver from them to attend school 2, in all likelihood they would give it to you because they don't want someone attending their program who would rather attend a different program. The thing is just that disciplines are small and while you may not work directly with school 1 they are likely to be your colleagues. There is nothing that would prevent you from accepting school 1's offer and then declining if you get into school 2 legally or technically so you could do that you are right though in that it is offensive. I would really just try and press school 2 let them you they are you top choice and maybe convince school 1 that since you are international you just need an extra week or so. You should also ask school 1 if you were to get in would you get funding, if not you should just pick school 1. Also accepting both offers potentially takes a place from a wait listed student or someone who needs funding--which I know isn't your problem but still just bad karma.

You should let Professor A know that Professor B has already reccomended you but that you are still interested in working with Professor A--having two recommendations would certainly be helpful and once you are there you could probably do some work with both. I guess you would just be obligated to work with whomever your funding was coming from, if that hasn't already been decided then you have some leeway.

If it is allowed I don't really think it matters, they may try to convince you out of it as doing two full time graduate programs can be overwhelming. It might be worth asking the people at both programs if you can pursue concurrent degrees since sometimes schools don't allow this--a "graduate double major" may be different from concurrent degrees. It may also help you get into the program for which you are wait listed since you have funding. Each school has different rules for funding concurrent degrees, you wouldn't have to pay tuition twice but often there is some sort of fee but no way to know that until you ask.

Can you ask for an extension from school 1? Did you call school 2 and let them know you have a competing offer--sometimes that hurries things along. It definitely would not be advisable accept school 1's admission and then go back and change your mind after you hear from school 2 especially since they are funding you... fields are small you don't want to burn any bridges.

I think you need to take the funding. Where you get your MA honestly won't matter that much if your goal is to get a PhD. It sounds like the school you've accepted will offer you more support financially as well as academically and allow you to do the research and write publications etc that you would need to have on your CV to get into a top-10 PhD program. While the first school might be higher ranked the financial stress might not put you in the best position to be a competitive PhD applicant other than having that name on your paper. Plenty of people get into top ranked doctoral programs from Obscure University, and while its naive to think name recognition bears no importance, what you do at the school and your experience will matter significantly more. As others have pointed out doctoral funding is in rough shape and you may very well end up having to pay more money for that degree especially if you are so concerned with the ranking (not saying you aren't a great applicant but it will make it that more competitive and limit you that much more and great applicants get rejected every day). Having less debt will also allow you to have more options in employment should you decide to delay doctoral studies or should you not get in right off the bat.

With April 15th rapidly approaching I am hoping this process is coming to an end. I've been accepted into one program but they are currently looking for funding with no real indication of how long that might take (I also am not being held to any response deadline). I've been wait listed at two schools with one saying a decision might not be made until May which seems like ages from now! I've also heard of people getting off wait lists as late as July or the beginning of August with people who drop out last minute. So my question is how long is everyone willing to wait this process out?

Hopefully it means good news! fingers crossed acdelco

upatthestairs Both Harvard and Berkeley are "good names", and while having a good name on your CV isn't the be all end all I think its naive to think seeing 'Berkeley' or 'Harvard' on someone's CV doesn't help it stand out in a pile. But I think if you went to Harvard and were competing for a position against someone from RandomU you wouldn't get too much of a leg up if you didn't use the resources provided to you at Harvard compared to someone who went to RandomU but really put in the time to make connections, and get the experience that is appealing for a job. People know which programs are strong, so it may get you a foot in the door but it probably ends there. I think if you're thinking which name carries more weight Berkeley vs Harvard its probably a negligible difference especially within PH--Harvard probably has an edge because its Harvard but I don't think its enough of an edge to make or break your decision. As to Harvard vs Berkeley I think it just depends on the training you want I'd imagine Berkeley's training would be much more community and practice based than Harvard's SD, so if you think to do whatever you'd like to in the future you would need to show an employer that you have those skills than maybe lean that way, however if you feel you already have some of those skills and a strong methodological foundation is what you need to advance your career I'd say lean to Harvard. Also the accepted student day at Cal tends to be geared towards Master's students , so if you can't go next week you probably wouldn't be missing out too much and you can always schedule a time to visit later--you won't get the whole experience but you'll still be able to talk with faculty, meet students and get a feel for the campus without having the shell out a ton of cash for a cross country flight. hope that helps!

Mazaya ugh thats hard to hear! Why would you accept someone into your program and then not want to support them, and why would you tell an accepted student that they aren't preferred or highly ranked?! That just doesn't make any sense to me--I'm really sorry that's a tough situation. Fingers crossed for you!

this is a hypothetical situation I see occurring for me int he future. I've been accepted into University A for a PhD program, but no funding (they do not guarantee funding) I'd be happy to attend should they get funding for me but they may not be able to secure my funding by April 15th. I've been wait listed into University B for a PhD but funding would be guaranteed. University B said it may take them until May 1st to move me off the wait list, but I have to tell University A if I am going to accept by April 15th. Should I get into University B without University A securing funding I'd be inclined to go to University B for obvious financial reasons. I know its a no-no to decline an offer after accepting it especially after April 15th but seeing as funding is the determining factor I"m wondering if it would at all be different?

Thanks acdelco I'm still hopeful to get off the wait list. Sorry to hear about rejections anyone heard from Columbia SMS DrPH?

Anyone heard from Columbia SMS DrPH?

Hi all I've been stalking this forum for a while and have been wait listed at two schools which is bitter sweet. I was just wondering for those that have been wait listed is it reasonable to think you may get in? How are you all handling the wait list-ing