ewurgler

Subfield? From my primitive searches, it looks like Princeton has better placement at top universities. Obviously a higher US News ranking. A potential advisor at one of the schools I'm looking at went to princeton and said they tend to cut you off (funding-wise) after 5 years. Something to check on for both schools. Also, I spoke to a soc faculty member yesterday that said Penn HAD a reputation for being an unhappy department, but he said this was a while ago. I'm waitlisted at Penn and a faculty member I have been talking to said the graduate program isn't quite as organized as others. Go visit.

I just declined. I hope this opens up space for waitlistees!!!!

Sweet!! Free trip to LA!! Congrats!!!

Thank you!! If you visit, let me know how you like it!! If they end up letting me in at last minute, I doubt I would be able to visit in time.

Congrats!!! I'm very happy for you!! Now convince the other admits to decline!!

Well, I did have a few other offers, so I did mention that--the faculty I talked to asked me what my first choice, second choice, aid offers were (in an effort to give me differences between programs, etc). So, perhaps don't lie. WHat I would say--"I am very still very interested in the program and I had a few questions about the waitlist process. I know you are relatively new to the department, but do you have any idea what the target cohort size is, how many offers have already been extended, and if they have pulled from the waitlist in past years? I don't want to get too excited if there is little chance I will eventually be offered admission." Or, you could wait to send this type of email after you have another offer. I sent this type of email because the woman I had been in contact with was very helpful during the application process and seemed willing to help me out.

Well, the grad coordinator has no influence on admissions. I think it is fine to request more information. I would (and have). Also, is there any faculty member in the department/potential advisor you have been in contact with previously? I sent an email to faculty I had been emailing and asked her some of the same questions: do they usually get off the waitlist, is it ranked, when will I hear by? Don't worry!! This is part of their job. They are used to it.

Finally some Upenn admits posted! For those accepted--is there a good chance you will attend?

Email and ask the grad coordinator!!! This will not hurt your chances.

They don't care. There was a range on my visits. Where flats--you may have to do walking/stair climbing. I am a faithful jeans + sweater girl.

Tell them, and tell them the funding package offered by other schools. They may want to know your other schools because they have an idea of how much those schools would give you, and then they will try to "out-bid" them. NO HARM WHATSOEVER!!! You're in! Its their turn to woo you.

NOpe they won't drop you. I had a W winter quarter and a NP spring quarter for physics courses last year. I still got accepted!! They don't care--I doubt anyone but the grad coordinator would even see the final transcript.

They are saying that you will know one way or the other by mid april--this does not mean acceptance. Some programs are more open with waitlists than others. I recently asked one school where I was waistlisted how applicants are pulled from the waitlist (ranked, by subfield, etc), and whether or not many waitlistees are eventually granted admission before april 15th. THey were great and told me it was ranked (and gave me my rank), and said yes, last year they exhausted their wait list. Ask the grad coordinator. INdicate you have other offers but remain interested in the program.

For me, I know there were applicants who had higher GPAs and GREs, so I am not surprised I was waitlisted at a few. But, I am confident in my preparation and ability--and so are the schools that waitlisted me. If you couldn't keep up, you would be in the reject pile. I am more worried about being a bit behind in methods training (as I didn't do soc in undergrad) anywhere I go. Additionally, the admissions process is clearly weird, inconsistent, and I'm sure biased. Look around at signatures. I know people have gotten rejected from places I got in to but I was rejected from places they got in to. BE CONFIDENT!!!! Go where you will flourish and don't let some sort of bruised ego or insecurity keep you from doing what is in your best interest.

Nope--no change on the website in terms of status. THey finally did update it saying it was complete though

Yeah--my emailed was individualized in that it said "dear my name." Who knows.

I have no idea. But, the grad coordinator just said that last year they exhausted their waitlist (everyone was eventually offered admission.) This is really complicating my decision!!

Update: They extended 20 offers for a target cohort of 9. The waitlist is ranked. I am number 3. New thoughts?

No info. Their cohort is usually 5-6 in soc. They take some in demography as well. I'm going to email them about how they pull from the waitlist. ugh. I hate waitlists.

Hey--just got waitlisted. Not sure whether to wait around to see what happens or accept elsewhere. Any thoughts?

It makes a big difference to me. It signals the investment of the faculty in the success of its graduate students. If no one bothered to reply to emails or were indifferent, I would think they are too wrapped up in their research to give a shit now, or give a shit while I'm looking for guidance on my diss. Based on a few programs I visited/spoken with/talked to undergrad advisors about, I think there are big differences in how much attention grad students are paid and how important PhD training is to various programs. You will have to be around/work with these people for years. It will be good to know if they care about your success.

Hey: I went to UCSD for undergrad and still live in san diego. Though i was in the social sciences, I am very aware of how strong CS is there. I really loved ucsd and got an excellent education. Though I am pretty sick of southern california in general, san diego has some good points. Though I would avoid living in la jolla if you have a car and don't mind driving a bit, it is very beautiful. I've never lived in santa barbara, but I have visited several times. It is very cute but small. I would think san diego has a bit more of an "urban" feel than santa barbara, and I suspect has more opportunity for summer internships than santa barbara. Anyway, if you end up in san diego and want some info on places to live outside of la jolla, PM and I can give you some info.

I know grad housing is a great deal if you really want to stay near the campus, but if you are willing to drive a bit, there are great deals in much better parts of san diego. If you at all want to try off campus, let me know and I can give you some good tips if you tell me the types of things you want in a neighborhood. My life improved 100% when I moved to a different part of san diego away from la jolla.

WOW!! better than my IU package from sociology. You'll be fine. Look at craigslist: cost of living is super cheap!! I will most likely be at IU on 15k a year and am not worried. If you share an apartment, you could be paying like 300 a month in a nice neighborhood.

Yep. But hey, at least people want to be educated, contributing members of society. Plus, maybe the over-saturation of PhDs will trickle down and all high school teachers will have at least a masters in 50 years. That would be cool.