quietsoc

I also applied there, with the sociology concentration! It was definitely my "well at least I'll try" program, since the admissions system is slim and makes no sense ? haven't heard anything, nor has my portal been updated. Although according to previous years, they were accepting people into March. I just hope I eventually hear something from them.

So I cannot give specific information, but a person I worked with in the past did a soc program there recently, and was adamant I did not even apply there. Obviously that is only one opinion, but I trust it. From the vibe I got, they aren't the best to their students, at least in their experience and opinion. However, this is the only information I have, and I would be interested to hear if anyone has similar or opposite stories. For your case, (if you were accepted, if so, congrats!) I would definitely take a school visit, and try to talk to graduate students. A department can change, and quickly too, but they would be the best source to go to to attempt to find some truth, I would think.

Thanks for the info! If I HAD to take an educated guess, I am guessing that 3-4 people total from the shortlist got funding offers, and they plan to extend it to the funding waitlist (probably the whole shortlist, if not most?) once people deny/they get a few more spots. An interesting process, that is for sure.

The email stated that "you are admitted, but on a wait-list for funding, and will not be given full admission to the university without an offer of funding." So it seems like attending without funding isn't an option (which is probably good, they aren't out to steal peoples money!) @vincentorld

Me too--the email made it sound like some people had already received a promise of funding, but honestly it was written in a way that I really have no idea. If they did promise funding to some students already, I don't know why they don't just...waitlist people, like other universities! What an odd situation to put so many students in.

The "general lore" is that if you want to work at a top 10 school, go to a top 10 school; if you want to work at a top 20, go to a top 20; etc. etc. Obviously this is incredibly case dependent, as ANY academic job is incredibly difficult to get today, no matter where you come from, and vary so much based on niche and fit. And, given the intense, almost absurd selection process to even get into any of these programs, you...can't really define any as safety. And even job placement has little to say on departmental strengths, or the general prosperity of the graduates from the program--the fact that that is based off of placement into academic jobs is absolutely inane in itself, given as a PhD is a training to be a researcher, and there are so many avenues for that that people exclude because they aren't "prestigious." Sorry for the rant, haha. I hope this answered your question at least a bit!

I don't think they do interviews--overall, I think interviews are pretty rare with straight sociology programs, especially at the top.

I got the email from Vanderbilt today. It was a stock acceptance email from the graduate admission director; she said that official letters will be sent in the next few weeks. I don't know if everything was sent out at once, only what I got!

I was the second one. They only mentioned that it was forthcoming, no date. However I plan to be in contact with my POI soon, so if they let me know a more official date/if I receive anything I can report back.