speeddemon608

So, I got a reassuring response from the professor of interest saying some nice positive things. However he also said that they are still figuring out the financial situation to admit as many good students as they could. So it seems like a little bit of good with a little bit of bad, but it does seem as if the money might be the only hurdle, instead of a poor application which I was fearing to be the case. I've now also scheduled a visit for when I'll be in the area, which I believe/hope can only be in my favor. I'm beginning to wonder if they'll now delay my decision until after they meet me? The original response from the grad chair said I'd know very soon, but it seems unlikely that they'd send a decision before my visit. I agree with most of you guys that I think the series of events is for the best, but I can't help thinking I could've known sooner if I just sat still! Oh well, here's to a few more anxiety filled weeks.

I've been wondering if this program is on anyone else's radar. Still waiting here (PhD), and not sure from the couple past results in the database when to expect a decision. Have you heard anything yet?

Thank you guys for all the thoughts. I don't think it's a generic e-mail since it responded to my question about visits for mid-decision prospectives. It does seem like that wouldn't be sent out to someone they knew was rejected. After a solid string of rejections so far, I feel better that I can indulge my hopes a little more (still can't expecting anything though!). As the response and some of you suggested, I went ahead and sent an e-mail to the professor I mentioned in my statement of purpose. I said that it is a top school on my list now (true statement), I'm interested in his research, and that I'd like to visit. Still waiting on that response, which I think will have to be a little bit more telling. I was pretty hesitant to send the e-mail because I couldn't help but see it as "you've probably already decided whether you want me or not, so should I come visit?", but I'm pretty sure it's worded more appropriately than that. We'll see...

In response to a question about visits for prospective students (mid-decision) and a timeline for final decision, I got this response from a grad chair: We are finishing up the review process so you should be hearing from us very soon. You are always welcome to come and visit and I definitely encourage you to do so; I would also strongly suggest looking up faculty who are conducting research that interests you and then seeing if you can meet to discuss potential mentorship. I hope this helps. I know it's of no use reading into these, but somehow I need to kill some time. What do you think, secret message of rejection or acceptance? This response seems to be a particularly nasty shade of 'neutral,' tough to say. On a more practical note, should I now be redirecting the original question to the professor that I mentioned in my SOP?

Hmm that is probably a safer bet than asking the professor of interest directly. Sounds like a middle-ground kind of action that could be a good idea.

Hmm I do have that kind of innate feeling that it's a weird thing to do as well. I suppose it's a product of me being tired of waiting for a positive decision. I keep feeling like I should be doing something or anything to improve my chances of getting in, perhaps a little bit too much so.

Hm, maybe I should just simplify the question a bit. Would it be a bad idea to visit your top-choice program before getting the program's decision on your application?

So in 3 weeks, my SO of 2+ years will be visiting a school she was admitted to. She likes it enough that she's asked her parents and me to visit with her to see the area and the school while she talks to professors and what not. Conveniently, this school happens to be my top choice (different department, we applied to only a few schools near each other), and as far as I can tell, no decisions/interviews have been made. Now, being that I've only had a one e-mail exchange with a prof I'd like to work with, should I ask the school if I can talk to profs/grad students and see my department of interest while I'm already there for another reason? The application deadline has been past for weeks now. My main worries are that it comes off as presumptuous and/or annoying to whomever I talk to, either the grad coordinator or the professor I'd like to meet. Also it might become awkward if I try to explain why I'm in the area if for some reason I need to say. One other reason not to is that instead of paying to fly there myself and see the area, I may just be admitted and have a visit paid in a couple weeks anyway (no reason to believe this is the case). On the flipside, one positive of the situation is I get to show my interest, and hopefully sell myself a bit better, during the very time they are considering applications. I also get to see the area and program and discuss my thoughts about them with my SO as the visit goes on, in case I do get admitted. Maybe even by asking the question, they might tell me more about my decision in a suggestion on whether I should visit or not. So would visiting be a good or bad idea?