saintesprit

Hi! I am one of them : ) my portal updated and I got an email notification to check it.

I heard from POI last week that GSAS is finalizing decisions and will release them on/around Feb. 7th!

Modern British/International!

I had a very cryptic email from POI at Columbia last week, basically saying she is hopeful for me but that the admissions committee hadn't made final decisions. She asked me not to make any other decisions until hearing from them (not that I have any to make rn lol), which she said she hoped would be soon - no concrete date though, I'm sorry.

Hi! Unfortunately, no news on my end yet...but the interview didn't go very smoothly for me, so who knows. I have been hoping to hear something this week bc they suggested late January, early February as when they'd be in touch. Fingers crossed, best of luck to you too.

Thank you, trying not to get too invested in case something happens with GSAS (I don't know how common that is?)! No, they didn't give any details re cohort size unfortunately...and no interview, but we had spoken on the phone in November about my application and I also spoke with one of his current students. But that was it!

I feel silly but I don't really know what a POI is haha! But for more context: I got an email yesterday from a Prof I'd been in touch with and he gave me "tentatively good news" re acceptance but warned me it is still not concrete until GSAS approves their recommended candidates on Feb.7th. I hope that helps!

I'm not sure, sorry! Presumably it'd be around the same time but who knows...

A Professor told me that the department has made their recommendations to GSAS, who - as far as he knows -will finalize admissions/do official offers on or around Feb. 7th!

Hi! I had an interview with Yale really early, in the first week of January (before I knew this forum existed) - it was in the African history subfield, I was interviewed very formally/intensely by three professors...they said I'd hear from them in early February but also that they're only taking 1 person in African history, lol. It seems interviews go by subfield so that might not have bearing on your application!

Hi! I didn't have an interview per say, but a "conversation" with a professor I'd spoken with before. It was very informal, she just wanted to ask some clarifying questions about my research interests to better represent them to the broader faculty. According to her, Columbia cuts about 90% on first round. They've done that already (but interviews aren't part of that, she said those decisions are based on level of preparation), now the applications go to a set of faculty (ex; the Europeanists), who make another round of cuts. I think that round is happening now, we spoke last week and she said it was coming up. After they cut another 50% and come up with a list of candidates, then the buck gets passed to the admissions committee and they have final say. She warned me that they'll be taking about 18 people, down from 30, and that she personally isn't on the admissions committee this year so its out of her hands at that level. Essentially, not having an interview or a 'conversation' doesn't seem like it matters - this whole process is so arbitrary and opaque, I'm sorry you feel anxious...maybe try to distance yourself from this process...its so far out of our control. And for reference I applied in international and modern British, but the breakdown of which faculty read which applications still isn't entire clear to me. I hope that helps!