JessieLynn

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a "Recruitment Day", all expenses covered (hotel/airfare/food) by one of my universities. As I have not been accepted yet (...or even been contacted by my POI!) I was wondering if others thought this visit might be an interview? I've read several posts on GradCafe that talk about how Recruitment Days/Weekends are a chance for the universities to impress the applicant, but I would think this would only be true for those who have been accepted? I was sent an itinerary for the trip - and there is an hour and a half allotted for what they call "faculty/grad student appointments." I'm hedging a guess that this may be what the university is calling their interviews? I want to be as prepared as possible, and have begun to prepare for both, but I was wondering what others thought? Anyone care to weight in? Thanks!!!!

So, thanks to everyone's suggestions, I emailed my POI. She very nicely told me that they had sent out their first round of decisions, but had deferred my rejection in case there was an opening later in the admissions process. (Unofficially wait listed??) Even though it wasn't the answer I was hoping for - I felt a sense of relief knowing what's going on! It helped a lot that her reply was thoughtful, it definetely lessened the blow of not making their top picks. Now I can stop obsessing about whether their decision was lost in the mail or sent to my spam folder!

This is my furry companion, Laela! She's been my lap bunny through the GRE, applications, and now hearing back from programs. She was the first one to make me feel better when I was wait listed at my top choice program - I don't know what I'd do without her

Thank you everyone for the advice!!! I am definitely going to send an email now. To garibaldi - yes, I did respond to the article my PIO's sent me - she was right, it was very interesting!

No, I haven't checked what method the department sends out its decisions. On the "results" forum here I saw that someone was accepted by phone, but that's all I know. I've been checking my online app status and it still says "decision pending". I was considering calling the department secretary and asking when (if not already) the department will make their final decisions?

Near the end of January I received a call from my PIO from one of my top choice universities to talk about "my interest in their program". I was asked a few questions about my interest, then I was asked what questions I had about the program. I was on the phone for a little over half an hour, and during the conversation my POI kept stating how she "found my application very interesting". At the end of the phone call I was told that the department would make their decision in a week to a week and a half. The same day as the phone conversation my POI emailed me an article she had written because she thought I would find it interesting .... now it's been almost a MONTH and I haven't heard anything! I am assuming that their decisions are already made, but for weeks now I've been wondering if it would be completely inappropriate to email my POI to ask about their decision process and if its finalized?? If anyone has any input on this I would really appreciate it - I've driving myself crazy going back and forth wondering what I should do!