miniqueerthingy

What's the etiquette on declining offers? Are you expected to say why you are declining, where you are going... And should you inform faculty who have taken the time to speak to you? 

This is a long-shot, but is there anyone here who has been accepted with funding to UW-Milwaukee who is considering turning it down?
But happy Friday everyone! I know this waitlist game has been long and still has over a month until it's over. Hang in there!

Hope all are doing well. I've not been accepted anywhere and have four schools to hear back from. I hope that good news still awaits. I tried my hardest this cycle (my second cycle of applying) and am still waiting it out. I'm glad that some other folks have been accepted and have the chance to continue to a doctoral program. Wishing the best for all!

I would not listen to this advice. Once you’re in there is no difference between being a direct admit or an off-the-waitlist person. There’s a lot of reasons why you might be waitlisted one place and accepted another and it’s not necessarily a matter of fit. Do not take yourself off a waitlist unless you are sure you would not take their offer anyway. 
To the original question, you can and should email them to say that you are still interested but that you have another offer and ask if they can give you any more information (e.g. is the waitlist ranked or by area? where do you stand on it? are they waiting on many responses or have most people accepted already? do they expect to hear back or respond to you by a certain date (e.g. after visit days), etc.). None of these answers will actually help you get in (nor will having another offer) but at least you’ll have some info.
If you have a strong sense that you might take the waitlist offer if it is made, I would just hold on until the deadline (and follow up with the waitlist). The other school knows this is a thing and will respect it. There is still more than a month to go and often waitlist movement happens at the very end.

Waitlisted at UMD. (top of the waitlist). I really hope I get in here because I really love the faculty there. ????
 

Long time lurker here - is there an open house or something like that you can attend? If so, I'd go to that and try to express interest there to the professors directly, because it seems likes it's hard getting programs to reply to emails when you're waitlisted. But honestly, if you have a fully funded offer somewhere else, I'd take that and not sit on a waitlist anymore! An offer of admission is always a better sign than a waitlist, so the program that offered you admission will probably be the better fit anyways. Especially since you don't know if you'll even get off the other waitlist, whereas the place that offered you admission definitely wants you. Congrats on being accepted somewhere!

Any advice on inquiring about a waitlist status? Should I just wait for them to contact me? I got a fully funded offer on Monday, but my top choice is the school at which I’m waitlisted. If I do reach out, would it be ok to mention my other offer? I’m not sure if that’ll make me look more interested (i.e., I have another offer, but I still would rather be here) or if it’ll make them feel less inclined to keep me in the loop. 

I just got accepted into Masters in English and Film studies at University of Alberta with their top funding. So yayyy. I thought all was lost but then this miracle happened. Honestly, I still can't believe it and I still feel that they sent me this email by an accident and they will realise this soon and I would be informed of this and be heartbroken again. ?
They said that the Official letter would come later, probably before March 25. I have to confirm my enrollment before March 25. 
My question : I have also been waitlisted at indiana and am awaiting admission decisions for U penn and University of maryland. Should I expect these phd programs to make all their decisions before March 20? I would, to be honest, even like them sending me prompt rejections so I could mentally prepare myself for U of Alberta. ? ?
 

I'm waiting for some other programs pluuus I just don't want to have to rush my decision so much between the programs I have gotten in to!
Ah yeah, I was thinking about just emailing and asking for an extension.. even though I don't have like thaaat good of a reason I just want more time!

Yayy...congrats ? 
Yes, that early date is kinda frustrating. 
Are you waiting for some other programs? 
 

I also got in there and am wondering about the weird/early date! Do you know why this is?? Has anybody been accepted by another program that makes you confirm (much) before April 15?

I just got accepted into Masters in English and Film studies at University of Alberta with their top funding. So yayyy. I thought all was lost but then this miracle happened. Honestly, I still can't believe it and I still feel that they sent me this email by an accident and they will realise this soon and I would be informed of this and be heartbroken again. ?
They said that the Official letter would come later, probably before March 25. I have to confirm my enrollment before March 25. 
My question : I have also been waitlisted at indiana and am awaiting admission decisions for U penn and University of maryland. Should I expect these phd programs to make all their decisions before March 20? I would, to be honest, even like them sending me prompt rejections so I could mentally prepare myself for U of Alberta. ? ?
 

There are too many variable factors if you've been waitlisted. Sometimes, schools have their entire cohort filled before March. Sometimes, the same school is trying to fill the cohort after April 15th as more people make their final decisions. Every day after April 15th makes it that much harder to fill the cohort.

Just got an email with a PhD acceptance with full funding!!  I had basically given up on this cycle after UT Austin and Washington rejections and an implied rejection from UIUC and other programs. 
 
 

Me too. They said they're offering everyone a 50% scholarship and that 50% of their PhD students have MAs coming in.  I think there are fully funded MAs out there too, which would probably be better. But I do understand it's tempting since you get to take the same classes and work with the same faculty as PhD students, which could certainly give you an advantage next year... but life in nyc + loans doesn't sound fun. Hope you figure it out!
 
I also STILL haven't gotten the Irvine rejection... Not sure why all the West coast schools don't want me. I feel like there's another stronger applicant in my field who only applied to West coast schools. Or they just h8 me ?

Just got rejected from NYU but accepted to the MA program... I really have no idea what to do. This was my top program, so I'm very tempted to go just to be able to be there. But is it worth more student loans for? Ugh, this whole season has been so demoralizing.

Just got the awaited UCI rejection! I hope everyone is holding up ok!

can the penn rejection come faster please ?

Hey there, folks! I just declined my offer at SUNY Buffalo for the English PhD program. I don't know if they have a waitlist, but I figured I'd give ya'll a heads up. 

Hi all! I just emailed to take myself off of UMD's waitlist. Hope this helps someone else out!

My unfortunate anecdote for the day: Received a phone call from a PA phone number. I always figure these calls are spam so to not get my hopes up, I let them go to voicemail. The number leaves a voicemail. My heart drops. The voicemail was from a friend who recently moved to PA and changed their number ????

Looks like UPenn is starting to call their admitted students. Good luck everyone! I hope that at least one of us gets one of those calls!

I also applied for the Lit and Culture track, and my research focus is early modern.

When I emailed them, they said that their waitlist was not ranked per se, and it all depends upon how many accepted students from our particular research field (eg: my research focus is gender studies and postcolonial) decline the offers. I should probably ask them how many students are there in line for gender studies focus. 
Also, I applied for the Literature and Culture track (integrated MA PhD) . There is also a Rhetoric track. Which did you apply for and what's your research focus? 

I am also waitlisted at Indiana. Does anyone know how the waitlist is ranked? I am PhD track.