AndrewJake

I was hoping (expecting really) to hear from my first choice program by yesterday given that their spring break starts tomorrow. Does spring break mean I should just resign myself to not hearing anything until they get back or is that just for the students and the administrators work through it? Thanks

Good feedback thanks. I had contact with a POI and the Director of the program prior to even submitting my application and to say they were positive about my prospects would be an understatement. I submitted my application aaaannnd crickets. The POI returned an email saying she hadn't heard anything, but that she didn't think that meant much since she wasn't on this committee this semester, and the director of the program is not returning my emails at all, but maybe he has a policy against it once the application process begins? I really have no idea which is why I feel sick to my stomach most of the time. Thanks for the response and good luck.

I'm trying to get a handle on interviews. If you spend any time on GC you get the impression every program does interviews, but I've had department heads and program directors (well one anyway) tell me that they only talk to people after they have more or less decided they want them.

What percentage of programs, I know this is a broad question but lets say in the Social Sciences, do interviews before making admissions decisions? On these forums you get the impression that interviews are always a part of the process, but I've had department heads and program directors tell me they never do interviews before they more or less know they want to admit someone. I've been admitted to one program so far, and I talked to them on the phone, but the decision had really already been made. Thanks

So what is the general feeling about calling or emailing to get updates? I had a great conversation with the Program Director before I even applied, then once I submitted I sent an email letting him know and thanking him (no response). 1/22 I emailed the women who does all the administrative work just to make sure my file was in order. She confirmed it was, and they expected to make their decisions by "early March". Fast forward to about a week ago I emailed my POI and she responded quickly saying she had not heard anything, but she was on sabbatical last semester so isn't on the committee this year. She said I should email the Program Director to let him know that I had been accepted somewhere else but that they were still my first choice which I did and still have not gotten a response. That was 8 days ago and of course I'm dying over here....is it kosher to go back to the administrator for an update? Thanks

Does anyone know anything about the process at the Newhouse School's Mass Communications PhD? I can't find any mention of it anywhere in the forums or the results page except for one person who says they were asked to interview on campus in February, and turned it down, and then proceeded to spell Newhouse wrong. I emailed my POI who was as kind and encouraging as ever, but was on sabbatical last semester and so wasn't on the committee this time around. She recommended I email the Director of the program (who I have spoken to on the phone and emailed with before) and he has not returned my email. Guess I'm SOL?

I have not even gotten a decision...what program? So it seems like everyone on here is pretty comfortable calling or emailing the department their applying to for updates as they wait? I followed up once last month just to make sure my application was in order and haven't bothered them since. Of course I want to scratch that itch, but also don't want to be a bother and at this point I can't see how it will have any impact on the outcome. Good luck to all.