Strangefox

I am sure you will not be rejected just because you've asked about your app status And I mean - if you do it politely and are not too persistent. You can send a letter to a grad secretary - if there is no answer, do not senf follow-ups. A short and polite letter - there can be no harm in that.

Thanks! By the way, can tell a couple of things about Madison - for those here who are waiting to hear from them. The professor I was in touch with sent me a very nice letter where they explained that I was rejected and not waitlisted because they do not have waitlists in the department, - they are quite small. I was rejected not because of some weaknesses of my app but because there was no perfect fit between my interests and those of the faculty. That is, there was some fit, otherwise I would not have been interviewed, but there were people with better fit, hence the decision. Oh, well, I guess it's all for the best, I will be better off in a place with a better fit, - said Strangefox looking at the grapes

Thanks!

Oh, well, rejected from Wisconsin-Madison...

Oh, so when they ask me: "Will you return home after your studies?" I must reply without hesitation: "Yes, I will!" I'll remember that!

Thanks! Now credit cards seem less scary

I see. And I will have to pay interest, right? I mean, I take credit, then I pay back the sum plus some more money? Is in inevitable?

The thing that puzzles me is that I thought international students can't take loans! Like, at all! I don't really understand this How can I put groceries on a credit card? I've dealt very little with the system of credit, let alone the American one! So I might ask stupid questions, sorry

Newms and Bumblebee - thanks a lot for your replies!

Person of interest.

And what if I never borrow money from a bank?? I never do it in my country, I do not like paying interest! Does it mean that I will be stuck with no credit history and will have problems because of that?

Hm, why?

That is terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These people are just mean and irresponsible! They failed to match your transcripts to your application and all they have to say now is this??? They have not even apologized!!!!!!!! I am so sorry it happened to you... So they have offered you a job? Are you going to take this offer?? Do you really want to work with such people?

On some website you can check you app's status. So some people just log in and see something like: Application status: Pending (being reviewed that is) or Accepted or Rejected That's why they write: Rejected via the website

Are you going to ask all these questions in an email? I would recommend using Skype. It's much faster, students won't have to type answers so they might tell you more and they can be more honest with you when they actually can hear your voice. You can ask them by the way what are the greatest strengthes and weaknesses of the program.

It's good that you are already thinking about this! I was going to write that contacting professors is a great idea and then I saw that you are going to apply to doctoral programs in English... With English it must be different. May be I am mistaken (English is not my field) but I am almost sure that there have been theads on this forum where people discussed this issue and they wrote that English grad programs are like an exception and your are not expected to contact your potential advisors in this field. You might want to look for these threads, there is a search bar on the top of the page. Good luck!

I want to thank everybody for their opinions! Though I am still somewhat confused about the importance of ranking, your experience and your advice have given me a lot to think about!

Sometimes bad things that happen to us turn out to be for better. And it seems true in your case. You will get a job and will earn much more money than a grad student makes! I think it is great! Congrats! Some people who are rejected feel miserable because they do not know what else to do with their life but it is certainly not your case. I must say, your position is enviable. Good luck!

Thanks, Langoustine! It helps Yes, I think that if I am choosing between a couple of nice programs one of which is ranked higher, I will choose it, eventually.

So I’ve been thinking about how important schools’ ranking will be when (if) I am choosing between several offers. I’ve read threads here on this issue and some people wrote: ranking is less important then friendly atmosphere in a department, supportive peers and advisors. And I was kind of leaning towards this point of view... Until today when I have spoken with a graduate student from one of the programs I applied to. They told me: ranking is very important in today’s job market, go for ranking. And now I am hesitant... Of course I would like to study in an atmosphere that is friendly, not toxic. I would like to have supportive peers around me and advisors I get along well with. But if in the end I will find problems looking for a job and I will see people from top-tier schools getting more offers just because they studied in these highly ranked programs... I am not so sure anymore. My aim is to be competitive on the job market so if that means having less supportive students and advisors... may be that discomfort is worth it. Because eventually there WILL be some discomfort and competition. Either it will be right in the program or it will be in the job market when I am fighting for jobs. And I need to choose... Perhaps I schould choose the first kind of discomfort in order to guarantee that I will find a good job in academia easily – and isn’t it my main goal anyways?? Right now I am NOT choosing between a friendly not-top-tier program and a not so friendly top-tier one. I wish I were! But who knows, may be I will be... I need to understand what the best decision will be in that case. So please tell me what is your opinion about the importance of ranking?

I see. I guess they wrote about Skype in my message because I am an international applicant.

I am surprisingly calm

Yes, they must have sent this letter to every PhD applicant: Thank you for your application to the Newhouse Ph.D. program! Your file is complete. As part of the application process, we will conduct interviews with top applicants via Skype. We will inform you by the end of January should you be among those invited to interview. Please let me know if you have any questions during the application process. Thanks - And January is almost over!!!!!

Hm, still no news from Syracuse. And they wrote that they would notify shortlisted candidates by February... And nothing like that on the results board, no one heard from Syracuse Newhouse this year. Perhaps they are just moving slower through our apps than they expected?

Do not worry! I am sure that with a Fulbright you will certainly get somewhere. Just the fact that you have got a Fulbright shows that you are a strong candidate!