underdog

This is wonderful news. Congrats!

Just in case anyone is curious... I heard back from the graduate director of LSU today. I was SO impressed by his professional email, kind manner and quick response. As I expected, I have been wait-listed. I have decided to accept the other offer I received, which I a super psyched about. Thanks everyone for being so supportive!

It's certainly likely I overreacted. Getting 3 other rejections in the same 2 days didn't help matters... It is a really stressful time and thanks for reminding us all of that. Frankdux: Christ man. THAT was an overreaction.

I agree here. As we all know, writing a good paper requires many more critical thinking skills, endurance skills, and determination than doing well on a GRE. Writing a dissertation? I am terrified... but I'm ready. I feel as if I'm readying my home for a hurricane.

Thanks rising_star. I've come to think I may have been waitlisted and they are waiting to see if someone declines. This is really fine because *surprise surprise* I was just called for a job interview today! This will make the other school that has already accepted me much less of a financial hardship, if I get the job. I emailed this morning, the head of the dept. asking if they could let me know something... haven't heard anything. I'm starting to think that maybe LSU just isn't the place for me, especially with this new job prospect. Good luck, I hope your scholarship rains money!

You are right, it was the signature and not part of the email. Maybe I should have written, "I felt it was inappropriate to use a signature that denoted a 'keep your chin up kid, you're still special'" sentiment. I feel a much more appropriate way to handle a rejection would be to give the applicant the same amount of respect the applicant had given the institution by following their application guidelines to the letter. To me, respect does not include a quote suggesting that "even though we may reject you, it's what inside that matters." Sorry guys, I don't appreciate "you are all special snowflakes" in my rejection letter. I want respect from one academic to another. I worked damn hard in my undergrad and I would have appreciated it had they respected me as an academic, not as a kid. I didn't want a pat on the head and someone telling me I'm special. My mom can tell me that. I go to a university for academic guidance, intelligent discussion/debate, and higher learning. When you are applying to a graduate program we've left behind the "fire inside" ideas. What matters are our papers, our rec. letters, our scores and how we can contribute to the program. If we were all admitted on the basis of "what's inside our hearts," university admissions would be vastly different. It is for that reason I felt it was condescending.

Thanks palla! It's good to hear someone besides my parents are! At risk of sounding totally cheesy... I'm pulling for you too! As a side note, it gets discouraging reading all these posts from people who are applying to all these ivy leagues/private/mega-schools and having to decide between full-ride scholarships, or they are lucky enough to have other financial assistance. I don't really have all those options and it makes me feel better to know someone is in the "limited geography" situation too. Good luck palla! I wish you the best.

This is what I ended up writing, I felt it was a bit "softer." Dear Dr. XX, I have applied for admittance to the XX Dept. I hope you will be able to let me know when the decisions will be announced. Receiving an answer from LSU will help me to make decisions regarding my future plans. I realize it's a busy time of year, and I thank you for your time and consideration. With best regards, XX Here's hoping they let me know soon. Thanks engguy for your help.

Yes, LSU would be a top choice, their history dept is great. The school I have been accepted to, and I would be happy to attend, would be more of a financial hardship for me (finding housing, job, ect.) If I were able to be accepted at LSU I already have a place to live, easy to find job (family lives there.) Anyway, I think I'm going to send a nice email. Maybe they've forgotten about me?

Ok, I know this has been posted already, but as it is April 1- I figured the answers might change a bit. I have already got an acceptance at one of my top choices, that I am happy to go to, just waiting on funding. But I am waiting to hear from LSU. (Anyone heard from the history dept by the way?) I have checked the boards and lots of others (not in my dept.) have gotten word in Feb. and early March. My admissions packet was due in early January! But here's the kicker, my name isn't "underdog" for nothing. I have terrible GPA and GRE scores... and I'm not one of those who are down playing the situation. They really do suck. I don't want to be one of those people who are on the fence, call and bug them, and then get denied. I feel as if it's a glass house or something. Silly. I have already heard from all the other schools I applied to, and I really need to make some decisions about housing, employment, funding, ect. Do I email? Do I call? If yes, what do I say? Get off your ass and let me know?? My head is about to explode! How do I word that and sound urgent but polite? How have you done it? Thanks yall, this board has been great!

Here Here! I agree, those application packets are terribly painstaking. The first few I did, I almost didn't want to mail! Then to get a rejection letter with no explanation is very unsatisfying. I told my sister I was going to email the Grad Director and ask her for my ad. packet back! My emailed rejection from Tulane: ________________________________ Dear XX: Thank you for applying to Tulane University's graduate program in history. I regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you admission into our program. We had a number of excellent applicants, and could not accommodate all qualified students. I and the rest of the admissions committee wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. Yours, XX Director of Graduate Studies What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. -Ralph Waldo Emerson _________________________________________ I found it pious and condescending, especially the feel-good encouraging quote. And who quotes Emerson? Oh yeah, everybody.

This is what I did in the same situation: Dear Dr. XX, I am writing to thank you for the email I received notifying me of my acceptance and tuition scholarship nomination. I would also like to thank you and the Admissions Committee for honoring me with a scholarship nomination. I eagerly await the decision from the Scholarship Committee and I look forward to returning my letter of intent. Thank you again for your kind consideration, XX _____________________ We southern folks have to return thank you letters! Also, I was genuinely honored/humbled/shocked to get nominated for a scholarship with my GPA GRE scores. It deserved a thank you note. Hope this helps.

I can relate to Horrendous scores. I am a bit older trying to return to college. My GPA is significantly lower due to mistakes made many years ago. (2.84) I'm a crappy test taker, and thus my GRE score isn't as high as I would like it to be. (890) SO, I have these 2 things working against me. I felt like quite the "groveler" applying to college. But I think it's my heartfelt personal statement and my great recommendation letters that got me accepted to my choice school, although one STILL hasn't gotten back to me yet. I made great relationships with my profs in my 2nd try at college. I also spent a good amount of time in the work force, so I have proven that I can/will work hard. I have also done volunteer work in my field. I believe all these things have helped me get my acceptance. I think colleges aren't as focused on scores as we are. I think now-a-days they are looking at the whole student and asking themselves how each individual can contribute something unique to the program.