sorashinobi

Is anyone still in Chicago Limbo? I haven't heard anything yet, so I am assuming it's a rejection.

For the second time (it happened last year) I got two rejection emails from UCSD. I get the message UCSD!

Just to add my two cents, I did my undergrad thesis on British politics at Michigan and it took me a while to find an adviser and second reader who had more than a cursory knowledge of the British system. If I were doing something on the US or developing world, it would have been much easier.

Applied to Princeton, NYU, and Yale. Haven't heard anything from any of them. I hope that means I'm not out of the running for all three.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that's kind of odd. Michigan and UCLA were my top two, so I am a happy girl regardless.

On the waitlist for Rochester.

Thanks! I'll post anything if I hear from them. I am in the UK for the year though, so if it's by post, I'll probably be one of the last to know. Good luck all!

Did the say how they would be notifying people? On a separate note, I have a presentation tomorrow and have been working on it for the past 5 hours most unsuccessfully because I keep checking this site and UCSD's application page.

I agree with you that a lot of the acceptance process is hugely influenced by intangible factors that we have little or no control over. And I also agree that simply being rejected in no way means that you are a failure (as someone who got rejected from all of the 5 PhD programs I applied to last year). However, I hope that the "it's mostly luck" mentality in no way diminishes the accomplishment that the people who were lucky enough to get in feel. They had to work damn hard and pure luck is not enough to get you in.

Finally out of the UCLA limbo! I got in, but on the wait list for funding so I suppose that's another limbo though.

I haven't heard anything. They sent an email saying the expected decisions by the end of the month. Also, I am stuck in UCLA limbo. Haven't heard anything one way or the other. I am assuming that I am rejected but I would still like to know.

Given that it is 10:30 where I am I have early class tomorrow I am now faced with the dilemma of staring at my inbox for my Chicago rejection or attempting to go to sleep.

I am doing my Master's right now at the LSE and I have to tell you that I found my undergraduate thesis absolutely indispensable. What I tell people who ask is if you don't plan on going past your BA, don't bother, but if you do, it is an absolute must. Not only does it get you a great relationship with a professor who knows your work (a great source for letters of rec). Also, it is a great way to get research experience in an environment where you're not expected to really know how to do it. At LSE they give you next to no guidance (won't even read chapters or drafts). Lastly, it gives you the opportunity for publication. I am convinced one of the reasons I got into PhD programs this year is because of my thesis winning awards and getting published. Bottom line, do it if you want to keep going with your education. The worst you have to lose is some sleep.

I went there for undergraduate and still got rejected last year. I finished my honors thesis and went away to LSE for a Masters degree before being accepted this year. My understanding is that they get somewhere around 400 applications for 35- 40 spots. Out of curiosity, what was your subfield?

My personal opinion would be to go interview anyways, and don't offer up the information that you have been accepted elsewhere unless explicitly asked. It's always good to keep options open and it might be helpful when negotiating funding with your first choice to be able to say you have an offer elsewhere.

Thanks! I am so nervous waiting for replies that my ability to find the bleeding obvious threads seems to have diminished.

I am out of the country for the year and it appears that most of the schools aren't going to cover even half the cost of an international flight. I feel like I am at a huge disadvantage because i am not going to get the benefit of learning from other people's questions and also not getting to talk face to face, especially about financial matters. So... 1) What questions would you ask professors/ administrators/ grad students? 2) Any tips on dealing with financial negotiations over the phone? Thanks!

I took the "carpet bombing approach" and applied to 13 programs: UCLA, UCSD, Michigan, NYU, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Penn State, Rochester, Chicago, and University of Washington. I've heard back from Stanford, Michigan, and Penn State and am still waiting on the others. Anyone know if there are schools that don't notify first by email? I am in London for the year so it can take FOREVER for mail to get here from the states. I just want to get put out of my misery and know already!