scintille

So, what are everyone's topics? Is anyone else finding it hard to concentrate?

Has anyone taken up any useful vices during this process? Alcoholism just seems too obvious but I definitely need something to keep me distracted other than this forum, which only encourages my neurotic tendencies.

Was anyone else hoping to get into Duke so they could spend spring break somewhere warm? Just a little bit?

Noooo not theory. So are they probably done with theory?

Ditto. Any news on NW? Anyone willing to call?

As if its not bad enough getting a rejection, I then have to admit/confirm/painfully remind myself of defeat by changing Duke's status in my signature. I hate the internet.

From poliscijobrumors (re:late rejections) Schools don't make all their decisions at the same time. There's at least 2 possibilities here: For many schools, there's probably something like 3 or 4 piles (or more, if these are further divided) 1) definitely yes, we'll admit them (probably small pile) 2) definitely no, we can go ahead and reject them 3) if they have a wait list, then: probably yes, but only if we have space for them, if some of the definite yeses say no. 4) not sure/maybe, so let's wait and see how many of our definite yeses say yes, and then how the wait list shapes up. Or it could be that some schools don't bother notifying about rejections until they've got their incoming class in place - which means waiting until they've more or less finalized their list of admits and have a good sense of how many are coming. In other words, their highest priority is dealing with the ones they've admitted, and only after that do they get to the form letters for everyone else.

Does anyone know why schools hold onto some rejections until weeks after their initial wave of admissions? I know they might still be considering some applications but in Duke's case it seems like there are too many people waiting for them to all be under consideration.

If I haven't heard from Duke yet should I assume they're pulling a yale and waiting an extra few days just to reject me? Thoughts?

They still might it's only 2:00 there and I didn't get my Yale e-mail till after 3:00 on Friday.

I spoke to someone on the committee at Michigan today and they said they usually admit 3 people for every 1 spot they want to fill, I'd assume its roughly the same or other schools. Which isn't actually that interesting but its a slow day/week so I'm clinging to any information I get.

On behalf of the theorists I suggest we all adopt a veil of ignorance in order to determine how we might best structure social relations on this board.

Is anyone else still waiting to hear from Duke?

So at this point if we haven't heard from Duke is it a de facto rejection? Or do they admit/reject in waves?

Talked to a friend in the PS office at Michigan and my advisor. Apparently they have a ton of applications ("a room filled with folders") 130 applicants in comparative. And they're still reading and will be done in about two weeks.

Hmm no acceptances but I did get a free trial offer of the Oprah Winfrey Acai berry diet and an intriguing business proposal from "Stella Dikko Samba the only daughter of late Mr. and Mrs. Dikko Samba" whose father was "a very wealthy cocoa merchant in Abidjan,the economic capital of Ivory coast."

Well I just called Duke and got voicemail, so lets hope they're all busy at their computers entering our decisions into the system.

Someone please convince me not to call Duke and Northwestern to ask when decisions are coming out because it won't help them announce any faster. Thank you.

If they're done why don't we have rejections? Toying with us is just cruel.

Listed below, and I've only heard from Yale(rejection)

I'm in the same boat, so far I've only gotten a Yale rejection. But I think we'll hear a lot more in the next two weeks. So take up some kind of addictive hobby for the next 4 days or so, or you can help me finish my senior thesis which is what I'm using to keep myself busy.

1 week ago "Unregistered: I'm on admissions at a top 10. Applications are up a lot, but quality is not. A lot of people who clearly shouldn't be in a PhD program -- due to fit and/or academic performance -- are applying. I got through the files just as fast as in the past. My guess is that schools will be on the same timetable as last year." "Rochester is admitting people today. Duke is rejecting people over their website today."

From PoliSciJobRumors (posted 2 weeks ago) "It happens I am chair of grad admissions this year. Applications up dramatically, in quality and number. Though, of course, our existing set of grad students are all quite wonderful, mind you. Quite. Wonderful Don't send me emails, you Duke people. We love you. Biggest increase is in IR and Comparative. Very impressive. Quite a number of folks with law degrees, at really fine universities, are considering getting PhDs. We'll be sending out acceptances in about three weeks, maybe a little more. Mike Munger" Pretty sure its authentic, he was signed in as himself.

Did you talk with an advisor at NW or at your school?

I'm dying here. Someone needs to call Duke, UNC and Northwestern. For those of you who have called to check on decisions how were your calls received and did you get any information?