DariaIRL

April 15...for postal decisions, they can be postmarked April 15, and not received. Kind of lame, but I've had it happen. Have you logged into your online application to check status? Checked your spam email folder to make sure that nothing went there by mistake? Thinking positively, sure, write to your POI and express your continued interest in their program. Maybe write to the grad advisor too, in case they know what your status is. It is possible to receive an offer after April 15. It's only an issue if one already accepted elsewhere and would need to be released from the school. April 15 is also when depts can act, if there are outstanding offers that haven't been responded to, then they can turn around and give them to the next people.

It was tacky of the school to word the email in that way. The April 15 deadline is only good to those holding offers, but the depts and people on waiting lists have to suffer in the meanwhile. I understand the dept's tense attitude, but they could have definitely been a LOT nicer in asking you if you were planning to wait until April 15 to decide. It's good that you sent a polite email back right away, since who knows..you'll probably run across them later at a conference or something. It's just a mental note to you that you made the right choice.

My undergrad school held a 'prospective student weekend' for the grads who either accepted or are still thinking of joining their programs in the fall. I volunteered at a few of them and I can say that they are really nice things to participate in. Business casual attire is an easy choice, but there were some people in suits (hopefully they were comfortable suits!). The events were spread out over a couple days, you're usually provided with food---breakfast and dinner (with lunch on your own), etc. You will wear a nametag and have a folder of stuff to look through. Hopefully your department will be there (current grads, faculty, advisor/secretaries) so that you're not alone. Even if your department isn't there, EVERYONE is super friendly and it's easy to join a table or group of people. There were talks at each key event, usually about networking and how important relationships are (personal and academic) or maybe bonding games, it varies each time. During this time it's good to make friends with new grads in OTHER departments too, so that you're not compartmentalized when you join up with your cohort in the fall. In general, these things are for boosting morale / you should be here / we want you to be here / look at what resources we have for you. There's just lots of good stuff happening, so you should go if your program has something like this!

emichele---I'd contact School #3 to ask if they know whether you're on a wait list or anywhere close to an offer. By now, most schools know who is in and who is out. When I worked in a grad program as an undergrad, around this time, you pretty much tell someone, "Yeah, you're not getting in" while the official rejection notices were being prepped and mailed or waiting for a reviewing faculty to sign off on all decisions before they go out. Those on a back-up list know they are on one because they've been contacted by faculty already/interviewed and faculty would be keeping in regular touch with these back-ups in case the person they offered to, rejected towards the end. I'd only ask School #2 for an extension of School #3 said that you're reeeeally close to an offer with them(School #3 that is). But it sounds like School #2 is a good program too, even if it's not as good as School #3.

As in, how is competition for admissions this year? It's probably harder, a combo of bad job market/economics leads folks to apply to grad school. Schools themselves have had their budgets/endowments cut so there is less funding to offer to students---both continuing and new hopefuls.

Like others have said, don't officially accept until you receive the funding info laid out. Three years sounds great, but what do they consider a year? Is it 12mos or 9mos or other? Things like that should be clear before you decide to accept or not. I second the recommendation of emailing/calling the department secretary/advisor/program asst to ask about the funding. I'm not sure what place a Financial Aid Office has in sending you your support offer for a department's program, tbh. The offer details, including financial support, should be coming from the program itself. Financial Aid is an individual/student's own decision and work process.

There's no need to follow-up, such as a thanks for letting me know message. It's kind of awkward for the office receiving the reply and would there be a 'you're welcome' reply? Not necessary. You might email and ask for feedback on your materials and see if they can offer insight on their decision process. It may be that there's room for improvement, or it was simply there were way too many applicants for so few spots. But as far as I have heard, no one has changed their mind once making a decision on an application.

Something short is fine: Dear so-n-so, Regretfully, I am writing to decline your [generous/etc] offer. I want to thank you for considering me for your program. Sincerely, your name. Be prepared for them to ask where you decided to go. If you want to say it in your declining msg, feel free. But you don't have to tell them where if you don't want to either.

(speaking in reference to your PhD scenario) It's not impossible to work a real (that is, non-academic, off-campus) job while you're in grad school. Typically, your required (hard) courses happen within the first 1-2 years though. If you are able, attend the first quarter (or some other length of time) and see if the coursework and research expectations, etc are doable before you add a real job in the mix. Also, your message didn't specify, but could you look to other grad departments at your school for RA/TA funding? If your own program isn't offering you anything for that first year, you should be able to look elsewhere. It'll broaden your experience, and get you paid while you wait for that second year when you would get department funding.

A hand written thank you with the update that you've gotten into a top school for sure. The gift..eeeh, don't go overboard, maybe $10 per gift is fine if you really want to give them something. But the profs I hear from are just happy to receive the thanks for their time. Writing dozens of recs is not easy!

I don't think this is a big deal. Programs and faculty are familiar with the process of writing recommendations and there will be some slip-ups. If your recommender is an amiable person, ask her to email an updated letter with the correct program name to the schools. But otherwise, it's one word off, the other words she wrote are more important.

If your schools are on the Resolution where April 15 is the last day for notification (good or bad), then that's the date. If they're not, then check each school's website because they will usually have what they consider their last date posted somewhere. Sometimes offers can be made after April 15, but when that happens the school and the individual know this is happening so it's not like a late surprise, although good.

Have you tried asking the program(s) if it's possible to switch between the two types of funding? While my offer letter said I'd be on RA, I've been able to TA too.

When I was an undergrad, I worked in a department grad office where we sent our decisions via email. The offer email included important bits like funding info and such but the Graduate School of the university would be sending a separate packet that has other things like where to send your deposit and immunization records. Since the Grad School manages all graduate programs at the university it could sometimes take weeks after one receives an email dept offer, to receive the Grad School offer. From this experience, I wouldn't think that just an email offer to a paper one means the email department cares less. If they ignore your subsequent questions, that is definitely caring less. lol.

Decisions (offers or denials) can be sent in batches, so maybe you aren't part of the first wave but you'll catch the next! Just be patient and don't read too much into things that aren't there yet.

Wow, that's terrible! I'd call them and let them know you received their letter nearly 2 months after it was initially dated, that you are very concerned about the delay and its impact on your consideration. Then ask whether emailed letters from the 2 recommenders (assuming they are at the ready and can do this ASAP) would help make your application complete without a late penalty. Paperless/online/email is the way to go, seriously. Sorry that happened to you.

It is more common for folks holding onto offers to take the whole time (up thru April 15) to make their choice. I'd imagine if the deadline was even later, people would take that extra time too! It's a big decision, but it puts others in a weird spot as well. Schools can make offers after April 15, which is only helpful if you don't have offers yourself that you have to act upon by April 15!

If they're listed on the Resolution and it was an offer w/ financial support, then they really shouldn't say they can set whatever deadlines they want.