PoliSci-freak

No, I emailed them and they said check back in a couple of weeks if you don't hear. But they also said most initial offer holders have accepted their offers, so it's unlikely they'll be making more offers.

Heard nothing... If their visitation is Mar 20 I expect they have told all those admitted, then...

Yep nothing, emailed grad director two weeks ago and said to wait as they're making second rounds soon. Unlikely to go there but still want to have the option.

Is CUNY done releasing offers? What about Maryland? Some have been rejected. Didn't hear anything. Any insights would be appreciated.

Claiming a JHU admit. Weirdly, their prospective student visitation is less than two weeks after their March 2nd announcement (March 15-16) so I am positive they sent out all acceptances. I am CP. They do have a waitlist, nobody has claimed a waitlist, so maybe they have an inside waitlist that they don't make public. I don't know... I wish you the best and hope you get what you want!

Re GWU: someone posted on the results page they were waitlisted and then admitted. Are you able to share if you were told what your position on the waitlist was, and if so what it was? I would appreciate it if you could message me or just share some more info here. Thanks!

Toronto admits: congrats to you all! When is the deadline for you to accept or reject the offers? Curious because I am waitlisted. They didn't use the term "waitlisted" but said I'd be considered again after they hear from initial offers... Any info on the above would be much appreciated!!

Congrats! Were you notified by email or LSEFY?

Congrats! Did your application site (LSE For You) show that you've been admitted? And did you just receive the email?

What makes you think they were trolls?

Comparative. What's your field? Haven't heard anything from them yet...

Should we expect to hear back from JHU & IU early next week? Also, those who know anything about Maryland, if one hasn't heard a thing from them, is it safe to assume a rejection at this point?

UBC announced. McGill hasn't, but they do it later, sometime by mid-March I believe. Toronto seems to have announced but I haven't heard a word yet. Are we sure Toronto sent out all its admits? Also which ones are you waiting for?

Anyone admitted to George Washington's History PhD program? When is their visitation weekend and do you intend to accept the offer? I am waitlisted and wonder if I have a chance... Any insights from admits would be much appreciated!

Anyone admitted to George Washington's History PhD program? When is their visitation weekend and do you intend to accept the offer? I am waitlisted and wonder if I have a chance... Any insights from admits would be much appreciated!

It depends which institution. Is it a top 5 program or what? If it's a top 5-10, it's unlikely many will reject. People decline offers only if they have a better/higher-ranked alternative. Also, note that programs know how many people to admit. If, historically, most of the students offered admission take the offer, they do not offer many more than they can actually take in. So if they want a class of 10, they'll admit 12-13. Other schools that have lower rates of admits accepting offers extend admission offers to (for example) 40 for a class of 15. So it really depends on the type of department you're looking at. I wish you the best!

Any Comparativists admitted to Maryland?

That may in fact help, particularly if it uses jargon like independent and dependent variables, controls, and causal mechanisms, or some mention of experiments...

Sometimes they don't like it when applicants mimic what their POI does. I am not saying that's what you did, but for whatever reasons, faculty see it as lacking an intellectual spark/independence (I've been in a PhD program for two years now and don't have those) if you resemble the research of your POI too closely, instead of viewing it as a strong statement by the applicant that they would find an intellectual fit in the department.

Is it only two people who received a rejection letter from UBC? Anybody else? Anyone accepted?

same, unfortunately... anyone who got in needs advise on Vancouver feel free to message me

Congrats! Which program? MRes/PhD in Political Science in the Department of Government? Did you have an interview?

Agreed with the post above. If this was a few days away, I'd say email and say something along the lines of 'I don't want to waste your time, is it going to be possible to increase my funding? If that is non-negotiable, I would like to decline the offer before our conversation.' If it's tomorrow, take it. In the conversation, s/he will ask you if you have any questions: ask what could be done to make your funding situation better, say you have other offers. Afterwards, send an email to the DGS and tell them how well the conversation went, and say what kinds of offers you have and ask for more. If you get a clear and blunt no then thank them and decline the offer. You never know what this conversation has in store, and as the person above said a little effort can make a big difference in your professional career. Don't be shy to ask is what I learnt in this entire process: ask for more, get more. The only reason they won't give you is either because they actually don't have any more money, or because they don't care if you go elsewhere/have enough students good students that have accepted that they're already satisfied with their class.

You're welcome! You want to keep the funding questions to the Director of Graduate Studies. There is a difference between the Director of Grad Studies (which is a faculty member) and the Coordinator (which is a staff member). Those names may vary across departments, but the idea remains the same. The coordinator (staff) takes care of your paper work etc. The DGS (faculty) is the one who decides your funding package. You want to ask the DGS about extra funding. Individual profs cannot change your package, BUT if your POI is a big deal in their department, they can in fact do so indirectly, by telling DGS 'I'm very interested in this student, can we get them some extra money'? You want to keep your questions about funding to profs at a minimum, only after an extensive conversation, in person (not in groups), ask about options for potentially increasing your funding. Then with DGS, be more direct and say you are hoping to get a two-year fellowship etc. Again do this with DGS in an in-person meeting or over email before/after the visit (don't email about this DURING the visit). They want this to be a personal conversation because if you do it over dinner for example with other students around, you are encouraging other students to ask (which is great) but the DGS won't like that. Also, you cannot get all the info you need about funding online. Students come in with very different package and it is rarely because one students deserves better: usually because one students was more confident to ask. Just ask about it. Then insist (politely). Say it will be difficult for me to move (with my partner/kids or giving up my current job etc) without some extra support. Show them other offers you've gotten (if they are more money/fellowship, even if it's a less ranked department, they want you and would rather you go there than to that less ranked department because of $3,500 a year, for example. Totally legitimate if framed right. Ask about placement record, say 'have your students placed well'? etc. Those are questions you can answer yourself of course, but you need to ask about placement. Maybe ask about an aspect not available online: how do they prepare their students for job talks etc? Also, if you are going there because you are interested in feminist theory and they only have one faculty working on that, ask what is your vision for department growth, any new hirings soon, what about this area?

I would encourage new students (as a current grad student) to ask questions about funding, it's very important. Some of my suggested questions (on funding and other issues): - Ask if you can get a fellowship your first year. This is important because it is an adjustment time and you want to do well in your first year. - If you are a comparativist, ask if you can get a two-year fellowship: one for your first year, another for your ABD time so you can do fieldwork for a year. - Overall, ask for reduction in teaching load. If your funding offer says you need to work 5 years, ask if you can get a fellowship (which means money for no work). - Conference funding: many departments have a $300-500 cap. This is not enough. Ask if you can get, as part of your package, a guarantee for $1000 conference funding annually. This is difficult to get but doesn't hurt to ask. - If you are a comparativist and are going to a university that does not have a center that works on your region of interest, tell your DGS you need some fieldwork support (summer funding). For example, you study Africa, and your university has excellent support for those studying Latin American and Europe. Say you need to have funding to do your fieldwork, given that your fellow grads have that funding in area-centers and you do not. - Don't ask about note-taking with a laptop etc. This is not appropriate: you are expected to be in the seminar even if you use a laptop. Everyone in my program uses their laptop during the seminar but they are fully engaged in discussion. You cannot let them think you're still thinking like an undergrad. Don't dream of a laptop for your TA position... it's unheard of. - Office space: you just cannot negotiate this, but it's important. All else being equal (similar ranking/funding/placement record), between two departments, I'd choose the one with more generous office space. - Try to negotiate a relocation fund as part of your package: I know people who got as much as $8,000-$10,000 from a public university for a move from the coast to the Midwest. - Ask if they can sponsor your membership in APSA (or ISA or w/e you want) annually. - Job market support: practice job talks, mock interviews, etc? - Summer funding, summer funding, summer funding...