polytropos

Funny this came up, as I have been looking to next year, too! Someone could probably do a fascinating psychological study on us, unfortunately that someone is probably sitting out there waiting to hear back on all of his applications.

I am personally getting the silent treatment from nearly all of my applications. I had one rejection (as described above, the object of my sincere gratitude), one acceptance (funding has been pending in silence for weeks), one interview (then silence for almost a week), and 4 that are just plain dead silent. 2 of those I am nearly certain I didn't get into because of acceptance/waitlist/interview activity posted on here, but I would still appreciate a letter (I did, after all, pay a lot of money to apply). Of the other two, one has already accepted people (a long time ago), and one hasn't said or done anything that I can tell. I am holding out hope because it is all I can do right now, but I am just about to lose my mind.

I have wondered the same thing. Then again I would have to get the rejection letter actually sent to me before I could ask, but in the end I would like to ask why. I have been told I would make a "very strong applicant" and that with my credentials I shouldn't be shy to apply anywhere I was interested. And yet I have one acceptance with no word on the funding situation, 1 rejection, and 6 time bombs just sitting out there driving me to the edge of insanity and waiting to ruin future days one by one. And then there is knowing that no explanation will be given, just a rejection. "You are the weakest link. Goodbye!"

I want to thank Duke University for just rejecting my application right at the beginning of February. At the time I was disappointed (though I knew I had royally screwed up the essay I sent them), but I had no idea then what a great blessing this quick rejection was. Now I am being strung along through weeks of anguish and pain by programs that have likely already rejected me but do not have the common courtesy to send me a notification. For those programs (and you know who you are), I have one question: HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT? So thank you, Duke, for your timely rejection. I wish I were independently wealthy so I could write to the others and let them know what I think about them... I think I would even send a small donation to Duke's Classics Department for their ethical treatment of applicants. (/rant)