zigazowohnow

Alright people I just had to write this and I hope many of you can relate. I've found that many try to excuse their self-perceived low GRE scores and GPA's by saying they did horrible, sucked, bombed, etc. and then listing a decent number. I think it would be great for everyone to just post they're numbers and just leave it at that. Personally I didn't have the highest of scores or GPA but to see people exaggerate how horrible there score/gpa was when it was 100 points (GRE) or .4 points (GPA) higher than what I have is really unpleasant and quite insulting. I can't be the only one who feels this way. If you would like to comment on your scores or GPA's maybe you could say that it is below the median numbers for people in your field and leave out the superlatives. Remember that you are insulting everyone who has numbers below your "horrendous" scores. Example: I basically failed the GRE with a 690V and 730Q....should I retake it?! :cry:

But honestly to me it doesn't seem like a lot of people apply multiple times. That seems like more the exception than the rule. I think this may be because people who are re-applying only applied to very few programs their first time around and maybe very few the second, then mix that up with very competitive admissions and possibly a beginners personal statement then you end up re-applying. I personally am applying for a second year and I noticed other than revising my personal statement a very important part is to verify that the faculty at the program you want to attend are accepting students that year. The programs that rejected me all had faculty who didn't respond to my email asking if they were taking students, yet I applied anyway just in case, and it turned out none of them accepted students.

I find the most common one is the Personal Statement! Most people seem to say this. GRE's scores and GPA's are set, but it's the personal statement that is very subjective and can really sway a committee towards admitting you or rejecting you In your Personal Statement don't re-write your CV (that was one of my mistakes), emphasize your research interests and how they fit with particular faculty in the department and spelling errors are a kiss of death (literally they take that very seriously!)

I wouldn't want to take the gamble of saying I'd accept with no funding, simply because they could call my bluff and I'd be looking like an idiot when I say I was lying. I'm hesitant to indicate if accepted I would definitely attend solely because the Prof. I applied to work with asked what other programs I applied to and I mentioned I only applied to one other. So if I did say I'd definitely accept I think it would smell of desperation.

I've been hearing lately that if you are wait listed you should inform the department in one way or another that you would definitely accept the offer if they were to give it. What is the rationale behind this? As far as I see it if you're on a wait list your just stuck with waiting, how would it change anything to let the department know you'll accept? Open to any interpretations...and best of luck to everyone!

I've had bad experiences with secretaries at grad departments and actually told the professors there. They mentioned that they can't control who gets hired but it used to be much worse, now it's just bad. I understand you're already down about being rejected so it's hard to muster up the strength to tell the department. However I would consider notifying the Head of the department about the lack of professionalism. Maybe you can mail an anonymous letter and state the grad. secretary's full name so they wont be confused. Regardless I wish you the best in your graduate pursuits and always remember these grad secretaries are most likely jealous of us and this is shown through their apathy!

To comment on accepting and then withdrawing, from a wait listers perspective. You have no idea who may be waiting on your spot and then receives a rejection letter because you took it and they end up accepting at another University that they may not have been as fond of. It's actually quite selfish apart from the unprofessional portion. However, don't think I'm judging you, I would have probably done the same thing not realizing the short and long term implications of my decision, yet now that you do know I hope that you would do the right thing. I know how badly you would like to get in to your wait listed school and I completely understand you not wanting to screw yourself over. I wish you the best of luck on getting accepted as soon as possible. Cheers!

Yet another issue to worry about: What if the persons spot that you're waiting for has your school listed as their #2 and they are on a wait list for their #1 school. That could extend this waiting process so much further, I was hoping I would hear (positive) news this upcoming week, yet I have no idea what situation the other people who have been accepted are in. Fortunately, I know I was the only genius who applied to only 2 schools, everyone else was on a world tour of interviews. Let's hope they all get accepted to their #1 and it's not the same as mine! Or maybe someone will find out that they received an external fellowship they applied for and a spot will free up?!

When I called the grad secretary I was so nervous I didn't get around to asking if the list was ranked. However, there were only 7 of us who interviewed and the year before last they interviewed 9 and accepted 7, so I know they can accept 7. BUT when she mentioned the wait list she said there were "a few" of us on it, which is weird, maybe they don't have great funding secured? Also, If you're accepted there you're guaranteed funding.

Any of you guys want to take a stab at the odds of getting off the wait list and receiving a funded admissions offer. :roll: (fyi: I know these things vary by program, number of students admitted and number of potential on the wait list. I'm speaking in very general terms to gage the amount of hope one should have when waiting it out)

I'm really worried about admissions this year. Last year I applied to 3 programs and was rejected (none of the faculty I applied to work with was accepting students) now this year I applied to two, that I had intended to apply to last year but it's a long story. Now I've got one rejection and one wait list and am now realizing how important it is that I get a PhD in my field since it is the only way I can have the freedom to explore my research interests. Of course I could have applied to more programs but I would have just been applying to work with professors that were doing research that I was only tangentially interested in. I don't want to be a drop out so I figure I should follow my passions as I could easily get accepted into some low tier program! Now potentially facing the possibility of not getting off of a wait list I'm thinking about the fact that I'll have to give up on a dream and get a 9-5 hopefully doing something I'm interested in. To keep myself from feeling really down, I tell myself that I'll find a great job in NYC, get involved in some great volunteer work, enjoy the city + life, and join a dance studio to get in shape and shake my booty. Hey, you always gotta have something to look forward to!

I had a great connection with the faculty member I wanted to work with. I visited the university in October and the spoke with two of the faculty members I was interested in and made a great connection with one who stayed and chatted with me for over three hours and insisted on hugging me prior to leaving and emphasized that I needed to be there and not at the other programs I was considering applying to. So I arrogantly assumed I was a shoe-in until last week when I received a cold blunt rejection letter from them. Now it's awkward, I'm thinking what am I going to do when it comes to running into each other at conferences, we are in the same sub-specialty. I just wish I could have received an email from the professor or something nice just stating they couldn't accept me this year so that when we do see each other it wont be awkward. We are all colleagues so you think it would be in these professors interests to be as professional as possible.

I just interviewed at one place in which they gave the "don't worry about it you're pretty much in" feel and even received an email from the prof. i applied to work with saying that they were pleased to have met me and hope that I come there next year. Yet, I find out this week that I've been wait listed!