PollyTheory

I was one of the ones who got the "you're rejected" then 10 minutes later the "oops, jk" email. In response to my query, they responded that I was still being considered and that they hoped to have decisions made by April 15th.

maybe an internal waitlist.

So I just got rejected from Notre Dame. Then, 15 minutes later, I get this -- "Just moments ago you likely received a letter from Political Science at Notre Dame stating that your application for admission had been denied. Please accept my sincere apology. The letter was sent by me, and in error, without the authorization of Dr. Keys, the Director of Graduate Studies. Please be assured that your application has NOT been denied and is still being considered. Again I wish to offer my sincere apology for the error." Then, in response to another email inquiring further into my status, "We expect that final decisions will be made by April 20th. Again, my sincere apology for the error." WTF?!? Get it together, South Bend!! I wonder if the Zuckerts & Co. are worth this.... Also, just to weigh in a bit on the below debate, I think that is very sound advice. I also think there is plenty of discrepancy over what the "top" programs are within a lot of fields, particularly theory, and even Poli Sci overall. The NCR rankings are debated. An important thing to look at is placement record and even THAT can be deceiving. Minnesota placed a few theorists last year, but then lost several people. UVA (a lower-ranked program) made an incredibly impressive placement last year with Ryan Pevnick to NYU. Hopkins traditionally does really well with placement. The point is, the HYPs place incredibly well, but it's not to say that a PhD from anywhere else is pointless. I think you're wise, though, to decide that you shouldn't spend 6-7 years on something you are unsure about. For some of us, the pursuit of learning isn't a waste, regardless of whether or not we end up with R-1 jobs. Also, this is a good source (not sure how inclusive it is) for theory placements: http://www.political-theory.org/

Thanks for the words of support. I didn't get top philosophers in the field, but just the top philosophers here at my school. They are relatively well known though. I think one of my problems is probably that my interests are all over the place (despite the screen name). So I go from reading Deleuze to Parmenides to Badiou to stuff about critical race theory to Plato to Hobbes to Metaethics and pretty much everything I can get my hands on. So it's not like some professor is going to look at my SOP or transcript and be like, "hey this kid is into ancients and I am into ancients too" or "hey this kid is interested in democratic theory so am I" and go to bat for me. Plus, now that I think about it, one of my LOR writers actually took on the academic establishment awhile back and there might still be some bad blood in the Political Science world towards her...Whatever though, I'll do something else for awhile then reapply. No biggie. Just wanted to play the world's smallest violin for awhile.

I really think a lot has to do with fit. And let's be honest, it was a VERY tough year. It's always tough for the theorists but when endowments are hit and they're cutting, we can definitely expect to be the ones who are short-changed. My GPA is lower than yours; I don't have a double major (was a philosophy major), went to a Top-10 SLAC but definitely no Ivy and my letters, while probably great (I was very close with my professors) were by no means written by "the top philosophers" in the field. I don't know where you applied but PARTICULARLY for the theorists, we cant get too down on ourselves. And who knows. Maybe every theorist schools X, Y and Z admitted matriculated last year and they need some comparativists to balance it out. All this to say, it's a crap shoot and one shouldn't take it personally. I like to think in a perfect world with unlimited funding, they would've admitted us all -- This is what I tell myself when I try console myself over not getting into Chicago

Wow thanks for that update. That's a total shocker, given how late in the game it is. Nevertheless, I'm still expecting the "rejected" axe to befall upon my ApplyYourself webpage at any moment...

I'm sure they'll do it all in one fell swoop. Oh well. As LCD Soundsystem says, "New York, I love you...but you're bringing me down..."

Well. It's Friday and it's happy hour somewhere.... why not start now??

It's better than getting excited when the little "new message" pops up only to find "An Exceptional Diner Value Each Day of the Week" e-mail from Silver Diner...

Looks like the Philosophers are getting the no from Northwestern via website today. I predict the Political Scientists are on deck...

I posted that, heard from a current grad student. Take it for what it's worth.

Thanks, gradster!!

Sigh. I got no love from Patchen, despite my SOP being basically a love letter to him and Robert Pippin. Can't win 'em all! (unless you're plisar or coachjrc )

I'm with you, plisar. It's in the "unofficial yet undoubtedly on its way" rejection pile, along with Berkeley and Chicago.

Have any UVA admits heard about funding yet?? I called Cassandra who said she "thought" they were done making those decisions and to follow up w/ the Chair. Followed up w/ an email to Herman Schwartz. No word yet. Grr....

What the hell ever happened to Duke?? 7 acceptances posted on the results page - think they're all done with the yays?

HPT -- Kant/German Idealism and Ancient Thought. As an undergraduate I did a lot of work on Hegel, including a senior thesis on reconciliation in the Phenomenology of Spirit.

Thank you jackassjim! I hope they really do because I will probably accept their offer! It is the only school I heard from so far but I really like the department and it is an excellent fit for me.

As of a week and a half ago, they were not finished going through apps. Apparently applications are down. Who knows where they are now, though. This is just the last I heard.... I would not expect to hear until late next week at the earliest.

I spoke with someone in the department at UCLA. Decisions have been made and notifications will go out very shortly. "I am working on the letters right now," he said. E-mail and then a hard copy to follow.

Wonder what the Acai funding package is like?

You mean, acceptances. You hope they're all busy entering our acceptances.

Jeez! Another Duke acceptance posted! They appear to be both internationals, though, if that means anything...

Same here.

I fear you're right, plisar. So much for NorCal....