serenade

Ok here's my dilemma: I interviewed at University A last week. While there, I got an email from University B saying they wanted to do a phone interview "in the next few days." I asked University B if I could wait until Wednesday (today) because I'm supposed to hear back from University A by Tuesday/Wednesday at the latest. University B wants to gauge my interest in accepting an offer before making any offers. University A is my first choice, but if I get rejected from it, then University B will become my top choice. If that's the case, I want to tell University B that they're my top choice. But I need to hear from University A first! So, would it be rude/harm my chances to call the department secretary at University A this morning to ask her what time they'll be sending out decisions? That way I could know what time to schedule an interview with University B. But would that be either rude/bothersome or worse, harm my chances?????????????????

More times than I can count...unless I'm engaged in my other pastime: staring at my email continuously, as if I could will it to come in through mind control or something, lol! And when I was in the library yesterday, everytime I heard someone else's iphone "chirp," my anxiety level would soar through the roof...I think my brain has learned to associate that noise with anxiety, even when it's someone else's email!

Don't expect to be accepted. At mine they could only accept 40% of those they interviewed. In one way, these trips can be difficult because it's hard to enjoy visiting a university you might get rejected from, but in another sense, they're really a lot of fun because everyone is in the same application process and understands how you feel. I met a lot of cool people at mine and we had fun hanging out commiserating about applications together. So enjoy the trip - at least the 'not paying for anything' part! Good luck!

Interesting thread...thanks for the link! I imagine there is less emphasis on Q score in humanities than in social sciences, but I wonder if it's still used, even in humanities, to determine funding post-interview, like you mentioned. Yikes.

I know that for my interview, out the 20 invited, only 12-15 people could arrange their schedule to attend in person; the rest are being interviewed over the phone. So I don't think it's a big deal that you can't come. If you explain your situation, I'm sure they'll understand (and could perhaps schedule you in for another time), particularly since you're "across the pond."

I've treated this whole open house thing as an excuse for overdue shopping for boots, clothes, bags etc. Now if I can just put as much effort into preparing for this thing academically...

This is exactly why I'm trying not to get my hopes up...

Assuming everyone invited for an interview/open house is the cream of the crop and performs well in person, how do schools narrow down the list? Do they turn to GRE scores? Rank of undergrad/MA institution? I imagine that everybody invited must be a strong applicant to have gotten on the interview list, so how do schools narrow down? Interview next week with 50-60% acceptance rate of those interviewed - mind spiraling into anxiety.

I can commiserate - I received an interview offer this past week on short notice as well and I have no clue what to expect (though I'm thankful that it's all-expense-paid)! Interested to hear everyone's responses on this.