[2021 Rejection Thread]

Can anyone claim the Marquette rejection? I’ve been wondering if the person who posted solicited or not.

[For those of us who haven't heard yet...]

Checking the results page and combing the forums has basically become my part-time job. Except I'm not getting paid, and it doens't help anything. Come to think of it, not all that different from my actual part-time job.

[Time spent on Sample paper]

On 12/10/2018 at 6:48 PM, CrustyCrustacean said:

I spent about a semester doing the initial writeup, then pretty much built it up from scratch again over two months. 

@lukasodb and others, I'd be happy to look at your sample (my ethics is more meta-ethics but maybe it's still of some use if your sample's in the area)

Pretty much what I did too. I made sure to delve deeper into the secondary material, which in turn effected my argument. After taking notes and reading (a lot) for about a month, I recast the whole orientation of the paper, and completely rewrote the last half -- which took, I'd say, 2 or 3 weeks of writing 2-4 hrs. a day. (The paper's about Sartre and the problem of concrete experiences with non-being.)

[Rejections]

Rejected from Duquesne, BC (where I did my MA), and Fordham. Didn't get contacted for an interview with Villanova, so I assume that's a no too. Feeling pretty hopeless about the prospects. I've yet to hear anything from Marquette, but given my track-record this cycle, I don't feel good about it. Easy to get discouraged. If I get rejected there (and at Villanova), I'll be o-fficially shut out for the year. Feels bad man. 

[UVA Religious Studies]

I applied to this program last year (TEC Track), and I made it to the waitlist, which, frankly, is no small feat given the caliber and size of this program. Anyway, bearing in mind that I was not, finally admitted, I'd say:

1.) Your GRE scores need to be as high as you can get them, especially in the verbal and writing areas; quantitative scores won't be as important, but, again, when we're talking about a program like this, you need to look as good on paper as you possibly can.

2.) Your background will probably help, but it could be a FATAL mistake to bank on it. What I mean is (and you probably already know this) you can't give other elements of your application short shrift just because you have a solid academic background. You'll be up against a whole slew of people with solid academic backgrounds; essentially, it will put you on reasonably equal footing with your competitors, but only in terms of that one single element of the application. A solid background is par for the course in this app pool, I'd say.

3.)-4.) I can't speak to these ones. Hopefully someone who knows more than I do can chime in on it. 

5.) Focus on your SOP and writing sample. Show them to professors you respect and trust and don't take "this looks great" as answer on your first draft. (I mean, don't be rude about it obviously, but professors are busy and they may not give your material the attention it needs unless you show them that you're serious about submitting the best damn SOP and writing sample you can possibly put together. 

Also, if you know anyone who knows someone, don't be afraid to ask if they'd be willing to introduce you. One of my professors knew one of the professors in the department there, and my prof put me into contact with him. I emailed him, we talked over Skype, and, in the end, he connected me with another professor in the department, whom I had a nice chat with, etc. Although I didn't finally get in (and although this talking-to-strangers-you-admire is stressful beyond belief), I think that this sort of putting-yourself-out-there-and-showing-them-that-you-care behavior goes a long way. If nothing else, it encourages them to really look at your application. 

And don't be nervous! From my experience, the professors in the department there are lovely, considerate, and eager to get to know you. And, at the end of the day, if you don't get into UVA -- here's to you hoping you do!-- you'll get in to some other really good program. 

Best of luck to you!

 

[Choices and Decisions]

8 hours ago, seung said:

I'm off the waitlist at UVA! Ecstatic!

Super happy for you! Glad someone got off the list. Congrats!

[Choices and Decisions]

5 hours ago, seung said:

With a sprinkling of caution and with plan B tucked away somewhere nearby, yes

Well I sincerely hope your hope will be rewarded.

[Choices and Decisions]

2 hours ago, seung said:

Another update concerning UVA. Of the 13 people admitted, only 5 have made decisions. Also, waitlist is unranked.

So do you think there's hope?

[Choices and Decisions]

15 hours ago, seung said:

Confirms my suspicions,  it's still disappointing to hear. Did you contact the graduate school or your POI? 

I contacted the graduate coordinator in the department. 

[Choices and Decisions]

7 hours ago, seung said:

Looks like UVA has been sending out rejections over the past few days.  As for the waitlist, I am discouraged, to say the least.  Including myself and @Sloproth, I know of 3 people who are on the waitlist for the TEC program--this indicates that it is probably not a short list for the Religious Studies Dept as a whole.

I got an email today in response to an inquiry saying that UVA has already sent out more offers than they can cover and that it is very unlikely I'll be taken off the waitlist. While I wasn't expressly rejected, I think it pretty well amounts to a rejection. Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I imagine the same is probably true for others on the waitlist. Good luck to y'all. 

[Choices and Decisions]

2 hours ago, seung said:

Thanks Sloproth.  I'm also an applicant for the TEC track.  This is the most competitive of the tracks right now, I think. UVA is in such high demand for the kind of work the TEC does.  The fact that all the Ivy League schools reduced their number of seats this year does not help our cause =[ Wishing you the best, though.  Let's keep waiting. If I hear anything, I'll make sure to post it here as soon as I can.  Hope you will do the same!

I certainly will.

[Choices and Decisions]

1 hour ago, seung said:

My letter  from UVA informing me of the weightless calls me a "top candidate." Did anyone else receive this freezing too? I'm just wondering if this is just a generic letter, or if there is cause to hope.

I applied to the TEC track, and my POI recently conveyed a similar unfortunately vague "wait and see" sentiment to me. W/r/t the "top candidate" thing, it must be generic; my letter said the same. I wonder how much cause there is to hope -- I spoke to a professor there over Skype early on in the app. process, and he told me that, these days, the number of applicants they admit to Theology is "vanishingly small." Hardly an inspiring phrase. But who knows. Time will tell.   

[Choices and Decisions]

On March 1, 2017 at 10:36 AM, seung said:

Anyone else here waitlisted at UVA?

Hey, I've been lurking on this forum for a week or so and figured I'd finally join the conversation. I've been waitlisted for the program at UVA as well; haven't heard anything for quite a while. Any news for you?