IRdreams

Yeah. I kind of wish Duke hadn't pulled a Yale. I was fairly certain I was out before the email, but the method just seems bizzarely cruel.

As far as feedback goes, you're original advisors and letter writers are probably the best source of this information. Schedule a meet and sit down with them and go through what you submitted with a fine-tooth comb and figure out what can be done differently next time. However, if your advisors love you it can be difficult to get a good answer from them because sometimes they are not as objective as we wish they'd be. If you still have departmental contacts and this remains a problem, talk to someone who didn't love you and see what they think you should do strengthen your candidacy. Some of the best advice I received was from people who liked me the least. I just wish I had had the time to take up their advice (math through multi-variable and linear algebra) before graduation. However, fit does remain an issue for some people regardless of their strengths, especially if you have an interest that has recently been abandoned by the field (even if it shouldn't have been).

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.

I called Duke because of what appeared to be an irregularity with one of my transcripts. Sounds like Monday is their last day of reckoning.

There is no need to hate on the theorists. Lets all be cordial. I'm sure with a few more admits in hand that offer might be able to be negotiated. Now...I just wish I knew what my financing looked like period...

Yeah. I'm still waiting on Duke too. They've already let some IR security people in so... But I'll wait till its official one way or the other.

IR lurker. Called the DGS at Stanford. All decisions will be given out by Monday it sounds like. They asked for my name so before telling me so I'm not so hopeful.