reixis

For what it's worth, my GRE was slightly higher than yours (152Q/154V/4.0) and I did apply to six schools in the US (Harvard, MIT, Cornell, UPenn, UConn, U. of Miami) out of undergrad from an obscure non-English speaking university. I was initially wait-listed at UPenn, UConn, and Miami and rejected at Harvard, MIT, and Cornell. I got an offer out of the waitlist from UPenn (I withdrew myself from UConn and Miami lists), but for particular reasons decided to go to a place outside the US. I think that the most important factors are having a good sample and being a good fit to the program that you are applying to. If you can get letters from American professors, that might help you as well. I would also strongly advise to look not only for good fit in terms of your research interests, but also for programs with a good graduate and staff community. This might make a big difference in the long run. Hope this helps!

One more to the list. Though I suspect anyone is going to NZ, it would be great to keep connected!

I just received an e-mail from the DGS at Penn telling me that I was next on the list for an offer. I told him that I accepted an offer elsewhere. Hopefully this will turn out to be an offer for someone else!

I just accepted Otago's offer. I will be moving to New Zealand next semester! I received a pretty good scholarship offer ($25,000, non taxable) annually, plus tutor opportunities that amount to approximately $6,000 each year. It's a research only degree (similar to the UK) and the offer is for three years and a half. I know the department is not ranked, but I have heard a lot of good things about them and I will have the opportunity to work with a leading figure in my area of interest who happens to teach in NZ (though not at Otago). Anyway, after carefully balancing my professional interests and my personal interests, I decided I would give it a shot. I will withdrawn my name from the places I'm waitlisted. I hope this helps someone. Also, best of luck for everyone and thank you for making this place such a friendly environment. If anyone is ever coming to NZ and needs a place to stay, feel free to shoot me a message.

I am still waiting on UPenn, UConn and Miami. I have no idea about my prospects at both UPenn and UConn unless sheer speculation. As for Miami, I was told I am ranked 17th on the list, so I'm not really expecting any good news from them. I'm also considering accepting my offer at Otago. It's not a PGR-ranked department, but I had a very good experience interacting with them in the past months. Also, the money is pretty good and I think I would be able to live more comfortably. Downside is that it is far from home and, with the exception of Australia, it is geographically isolated from the rest of the profession.

As I believe many of us will have our futures defined this week, I would like to wish the best of luck for all of us still waiting! It's been a very stressful couple of months, but it certainly helped to have this place to talk about the process.

Yes, but that was before people declined their offers. I have heard of no news ever since.

Is it common for departments to take a while to send new offers after people reject previous ones? It's been a silent period in the past two weeks.

No news from Penn since two people from here declined offers. This waiting is killing me, really.

Anyone knows when visitations will take place at UConn? I know that Penn is holding visitations this weekend, so for those of us who are waitlisted there, some good (or bad) news might be released next week.

Congrats!!! I'm hoping to hear good news soon. Fingers crossed.

That's good news! Thanks for sharing. Do you happen to know his or her AOI? I heard from a student there that the list is usually short. Receiving an offer this week would solve all of my problems with international deadlines!

Anyone here planning on declining an offer from UPenn or knows of someone who plans to do so? It's great fit for me and it would help me a great deal for future planning if you could decline your offer as soon as possible (if you are so inclined, of course).

Hang in there! From what you said earlier, your prospects are really good at UConn. I don't know for sure, but my sense is that if you are well-ranked on the waitlist at a less-known program, your chances of getting in are good since some of their acceptances might end up accepting offers from better ranked places. Also, I suspect that many schools will be holding visitations in the next two weeks. You might expect people to start declining offers (if they are so inclined) by that time.

Rejected from Harvard. Letter was posted on the website.