regavo

When did you guys who applied to Japan hear back? Was your acceptance labeled "tentative" in the email, is there a chance that your acceptance isn't final?

Just got a rejection email too. I'm a civil engineering student in my last year of undergrad (for all those keeping track).

Oh, interesting. I'm waiting to hear from the NDSEG Fellowship myself. You were at Recruitment Weekend right? I don't think I met you.

That's cool. How come it can be either or? You didn't get an offer from one prof?

Dr. Spencer. How about you?

Just got an offer from UIUC now!! Waiting for the letter to arrive now. I guess good things DO happen to those who wait! =]

Yes you are! Go to Lehigh. It's only on hour from Philly and two from NYC so you'll still have things to do. Bethlehem has things to do there too. I wish Lehigh ave me funding but they didn't =[. Lehigh's structural facilities are very good and their professors go on to teach at top schools and Lehigh attracts professors from top schools. Trust me, you'll be okay. There's no need to be in a big active city for graduate school.

I called the fellowship people and a woman told me the exact same thing. She said they're aiming for before April 15th but since they have to wait for the DoD it could be after. This sucks because this fellowship decides if I can go to my first choice or not; I'm starting to be realistic however since only 10% of NDSEG applicants receive the fellowship. The waiting game that comes along with applying to graduate schools and fellowships is quite annoying and stressful.

What should I do?!?!?!? So guys, I applied to eight schools for MS/PhD: UIUC - Accepted, no funding as of yet (emailed the chair since I attended Recruitment Weekend and waiting for an official "No" if there isn't funding for me, crossing fingers) Georgia Tech - Accepted, no funding MIT - rejected Cornell - Rejected Lehigh - Accepted, no funding University of Wisconsin at Madison - waiting reply Columbia - Rejected Drexel University - accepted, full funding So as you see, it's down to UIUC (if I miraculously get funding), Drexel, or UW-Madison (if they accept me AND give me funding). The professor at Drexel is waiting for my reply and would like to hear from me soon, but I am definitely interested in UIUC!! It seems as if my good-luck this year was just non-existent. In addition, I applied for two outside fellowships, one I didn't get and the other (NDSEG) I'm still waiting to hear from. I really want to go to UIUC but I can't if I am not funded. Columbia, Cornell, MIT, Lehigh, and Georgia Tech are basically no-go's now. From my understanding, Drexel is not highly regarded, especially in Structural. Drexel was my safety school and now it looks like I may have to go there. The professor that is giving me an offer there is cool and has interesting research, but I learned at UIUC's Recruitment Weekend that the name of the institution you receive your PhD from is a huge factor in how far you can go (one professor even chuckled when I mentioned I applied to Drexel, and he went there for undergrad!!). The only way I could go to UIUC is if I get the NDSEG fellowship. I called the fellowship people and they said we should hear back in April but since they're waiting on the DoD it could possibly be after April 15th. However, the percentage of students who receive that fellowship is pretty low. If I cannot go to UIUC then my next idea would be to attend Drexel (or UW-Madison if I am accepted with funding), stay until I get my Masters and then re-apply to the top schools in Structural again for my PhD. If I get a PhD, I'm definitely getting it from one of the top ten schools, hands down. What do you all think about my problem??? I need suggestions and comments. Thanks.

Hey all- I applied for Fall 2011 entry into Structural Engineering PhD programs at: UIUC (recommended for admission, invited for recruitment weekend feb 24-27) GaTech (still waiting, invited to Visitation Program mar 11-12) MIT (still waiting) Cornell (still waiting) Lehigh (still waiting, invited to Open House on feb 26) Drexel (still waiting, contacted via phone and email by a professor who would like me to work with him if I attend Drexel, should hear about admission in another 2 weeks) Columbia (rejected) University of Wisconsin-Madison (still waiting)