waitingforresults

I will be there

MA in Comparative History at Central European University is fantastic; it usually comes with funding (at least partial), and living in Vienna/Budapest for a couple of years is also a very enriching experience.

I am sorry and I explain my position below. Though, assuming one's background, life circumstances, and current situation based on location or institution is not nice either. Most of the people in my MA program come from less-than-affluent backgrounds, let alone gruesome life stories. You are right. My point may have sounds rude, and the only reason was that I haven't heard from any professor I've spoken with (in my field) that the practice of sending emails to POIs has any value. Some are even deeply concerned about these practices, acknowledging that while the emails are good and nice, and the students are interesting, they can do nothing from there. I wrote POIs for MA programs 3 years ago, and I can't say it was a useful or enriching communication tool. There are better ways to build a network and get advice on your project, from conferences to simply approaching a professor whose article or book is of great interest to you and asking some research questions, especially if your fields are similar. I was doing it myself since the later stages of my undergrad, and it was a shot in the dark that occasionally turned into a nice and long exchange about ideas, primary sources, and research project framing. Having said that, I genuinely believe that, while communication is important, it should not be bound to the application process, and it should never feel like an unspoken obligation. I see far too many people posting results and saying that they had high (or some) hopes due to good communication with POIs. This culture not only disillusions people and institutions and discourages from moving forward with their plans to get a degree, but it can also lead to more dire outcomes.

That was an honest question, because you've previously written about rejections from Yale, Stanford, and Princeton. Because that isn't going to help, not all POIs do admissions for your field every year, and knowing someone's name isn't a variable in this situation. But thank you for your ad hominem remark without considering that I can come to New Haven from somewhere else for a graduate degree. This is here just FYI. Good day.

But, in the end, all of those tips and communications didn't really help you with your admissions, did they? All I'm trying to say is that communicating with POIs has no positive or negative impact on your chances, and the false impression of being friendly and helpful can create unrealistic expectations from applicants. Furthermore, you can get all of this advice from your home institutions' advisors and professors, current grad studnets. Especially when it comes to SOP, which is a unique genre of writing that you will never encounter elsewhere and for which you never receive actual feedback from reviewers.

That's exactly why I don't support the practice of "reaching out to POIs" before an application process (u nless the requirement for such communication is stated on the application portal). Several professors from various Ivy schools have told me that this is a waste of time. Almost all POIs will encourage you to apply anyway because they appreciate your interest in working with them, but they have almost no influence on the selection process or how other professors will evaluate your application. My point is that such communication creates a false sense of "good odds." Your application, SOP and recommendations are the only things that can boost your chances, not a friendly chat with potential POI.

Probably. I received emails from the POIs and the chair of admissions committee 2 weeks ago informing me of the descicion, and the admission letter is available in the portal as of February 6.

Check the portal. I received all formal admission and funding information without receiving any mail; I simply decided to checked the portal ater 5 PM EST yesterday.

UW-Madison informing admitted studnets now through email from DGS.

US Fullbright also funding US MAs. At least 50% of European / Eastern European / Eurasian studnets are from Europe and have MAs from there too (my case).

It's easy to become cynical and label everything as a scam. However, I have no idea about the drivers for those decisions or how they're made (only guesses). Regarding your point about MA degrees and funding, there are fantastic MA programs in the EU or UK, often with funding or the opportunity to obtain one, particularly in Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands. Even without a direct stipend, education there is available for free, and funding can be obtained on the fly (like in Germany from Parteistiftung, like Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung etc.). But this is just an idea. The point is that there are always options.

Perhaps. I can't speak for my field (Eastern Europe/russia/Eurasia), but professors I know from Ivies are sometimes discouraged about the prospects of their graduate students particularly because of the job market, and prefer them to have enough qualifications and degree(s) before coming to the PhD. Just so they can have a Plan B. Moreover, some programs offer applicants the opportunity to pursue an MA if they are not accepted for a PhD, which, in my opinion, is a great option (though some take it as an offence).

Yes, and it will gradually become more common, because the job market is overcrowded with people who pursued a PhD without a clear plan for the rest of their lives. Going straight to a PhD from college is often referred to as "postponed unemployment" in place where I am from. And the best way to get a "taste" of academia is to get a 2-year MA degree (you can transfer some credits to your PhD studies later) and some work experience in the field to realize what you are truly capable of and whether it is what you want to do with your life. I wrote about it a few days ago, based solely on my personal experience, so take it with a grain of salt.

You are completely correct; I would prefer that each university release everything at once, without these strange moves. And the sheer popularity of this forum/website is rooted in this somewhat chaotic system.

Sure, the idea of recruiting for PhDs in UK academia is absurd, given that they frequently come without or with laughable (on US and EU scale) stipends/funding. Because acceptance rates are only 3-5%, US schools want to "land" the students they've chosen, and they want to make you feel special. And, in general, UK doctorate systems differ in that you can compete it without having a close relationships with your advisor, committee, or even peers because you only have 3-4 years to complete your dissertation. In the US schools, the lack of relationships with advisors is a problem, and cohorts are usually close because you study together for the first 2-3 years before ABD and going into the fields.