o.j.

Many many congratulations! Super thrilled for you.

So I wrote to UPenn and this is what I heard back: "I'm not sure, but I think everyone should hear something sometime in February."

It is going to be OK. It is not the end of the world, and I do think that for all the competitiveness of the process, I don't think it is alone a reflection on you as a scholar or indeed a philosopher. So don't worry, I am sure something will come soon.

I think we may not hear from UPenn for another week -- just a feeling.

When you say Penn, you mean UPenn right? Didn't hear from Cornell, my first rejection (assumed). Didn't think it would sting as much as it does. I think I can see all the problems with my applications. Bracing for the next 4 now.

What might be the likely causes of the said disorder?

For those considering Boulder, you might like to take heart in knowing how competitive your application was: applications to University of Colorado are up 33 per cent this year. http://cannabispatientsalliance.org/2014/01/23/reality-check-the-impacts-of-retail-marijuana-on-colorado/ Congratulations again! * Skeptical of the logic of the argument in the article though.

True that. I have to be away the first two weeks of Feb, but I am dreading getting back and dealing with no news or bad news. Boo.

Hi Qeta, I am also applying to study South Asia. Which places have you applied to?

May be they feel that doing so will reveal too much of their admissions process? Also, I wonder if it is just the software and resources also: much easier and efficient to ask the grad co-ordinator to update 50 files in one single update than update 100 of the ones going through and then another 50? Perhaps more chances of human error in this case also?

I was thinking that grad schools could easily tell people who have been rejected very early on. Especially those candidates who are rejected as they narrow the pile, from 400 to 100 for instance. Such a system would allow these candidates to go about their lives and start executing alternate strategies. Additionally, for those who have to wait while the professors trash it out, in 50 per cent of the cases, there will be the sweet reward of an admission. Why don't they do it this way?

Hey thanks! I didn't apply to Wisconsin, but the tip is useful. Thank you.

I know this might sound lame, but how do you check the status of your application? When I log on, it just takes me to apply-web and there it only says submitted. Should I be seeing something else? Panic!?

Not many people are checking my LinkedIn profile, so I would say that you are probably in good shape. Have you considered upgrading to a paid subscription? ;-)

I wanted to ask if it is commonly the case that POIs at some schools do not get in touch with the candidates at all? I was noticed this particularly for Princeton or Yale where few POIs got in touch with the candidates.

This is excellent. Well done. More on the way, I am sure...

UCSD and Rochester seem to think so. Wonder why that would be the case though?

Haha. I am having to read sociological works on "time" and "waiting" as plausible strategies for youth. Needless to say, it resonates scarily closely.

I just got a phone call from an "unknown number", I quickly answered it, but after four seconds of complete silence, the call dropped. I am sure it is one of those pesky marketing firms, but boy it got me nervous. Especially as I took one last sniffle before answering it to ensure I was in the best form (I have a cold). No one has called back either.

I am inclined to say don't send it. The e-mail itself doesn't tell me much, partly due to the blanks but partly due to the structure too. The e-mail can be improved easily, but it is almost certainly not going to achieve its stated goal. A good mail could be construed as "lobbying" for admission. Otherwise, a professor could think that you have sent the mail out of nervousness, and not give it due consideration. For those reasons, I would say don't send it.

I think you have done the right thing by tailoring your statement to indicate research interests and fit. However, as a lay reader, I would find it strange if you didn't already have particular faculty you would like to work with given that you have gone to such lengths to indicate fit. So I would say mention 2-3 POIs to narrow your interests slightly. That said I saw one personal statement which didn't list POIs specifically, but referred extensively to the person's work and the ideas he had related to that person's work. The person got in almost all the places he applied to. I am not sure that listing a POI who other adcom members don't like will jeopardise your application, but let's assume for a second that it does. In that case, an adcom member will be able to discern which POI you are likely to work with from your research interests, and if he doesn't like the other POI then the result will be the same whether you list a POI or not. Same goes for retiring POIs. Ad com members are probably more likely to take your interests into account, and will not base decisions entirely on your selection of POIs. If it turns out that there is no one to supervise your research then it is probably in your interest to not go there anyway!

I always think that we are being pitched against this one other person (who is obviously far smarter than me in my head). In all likelihood, we are probably pitched against a range of candidates. So for instance in comparative sub-field, they might have top 20 (assuming we make it from 400 to 80 and 20 per sub-field), then all professors sit around looking at the files. Then they go, oh that Oxbridge person with a top tier journal publication has to get in. All others agree. I imagine that the top 5-6 candidates get overall roars of agreement. It is the bottom 7-10 where there is likely to be more debate...

I think that the process of cutting down from 400 to 80 is pretty scary, but I imagine the process of 80 to 40 is potentially even more arbitrary. P.S. Cautiouslyoptimistic - I hope this is not keeping you awake! It must be 2AM where you are right now.

Thank you and to you too!

I don't think the school I am applying to conducts interviews. Were you in touch with a supervisor before you submitted your application?