Mal83

Hahaha...just got my reject letter from AU and my acceptance to George Mason at the same time...beautiful. Waitlisted at GW but rejected from American, I lost count of how many people on these boards posted their reject or waitlist decisions from GW and got INTO American. Looks like the admissions people who said there's no significance to the batches are big ol' liars...Ok, that sounds immature and they probably have to say that, but still. I also can't help to wonder if I had just submitted my app a little sooner that would have gotten me in. Anyway...aside from this little rant right here, I'm done, I'm relieved, I got in somewhere and I'm happy about it...and I also shredded my reject letter...done with American, so glad I don't have to think about this anymore....sorry to everyone else who has gotten the same letter and good luck to those who are on the waitlist.

Walking out into oncoming traffic, at times, seems like it would be less painful than this process. I and a few others are still waiting for American University decisions and watching post after post pop up since March 14th declaring acceptance has been cause for great anxiety. We've learned that we're in the last batch of decisions and the general concern is that they are mostly or even all waitlists and rejections. This is probably the case. I've begun to prepare myself for the waitlist notice that I know I'll get this week. You're right to use the word excruciating, it fits fits this process perfectly. If you feel the need to email then you should. I didn't do it too often, but when I did, just the idea that I might get a little bit of information granted me a bit of relief.

I'm not sure what to make of this but according to the SIS Graduate Admissions page, there's still a message under application cycle update that says they're still accepting applications for the Fall 2011 Master's Class. Why would they still be accepting applications at this point? Would they really give a spot to someone who completes an application today rather than a qualified applicant who did it months ago? American really needs to start posting decisions online, it's too painful this way.

That's what we're waiting to find out, I mean if the person on the phone said both packages and letters then I suppose there are a few acceptances in there. There have been a few people here who have gotten their invitations before their acceptance packets, but there were a few grad day events around the country some of them as early as the beginning of March. I don't know if they take your address into consideration when inviting you to these things, especially for the final one in DC, to my way of thinking, everyone should be invited to that one regardless, but if the last day to RSVP for it was the 1st of April and if they had just finished making all decisions by then, then how could they get out the last few invites to last few accepted applicants? A few others had called admissions a little while back asking if the batches had any significance, as in the 3rd one being possibly just waitlist and reject letters, they were told there is no significance whatsoever. Well, if that's not true, I think that's pretty crappy, so I sure hope there are a few acceptances in there, don't care much about the grad day thing as I'm too far to go, but it does add to my suspicion that I just didn't get in or have been waitlisted. It would be a dream to get in but this whole thing is getting a little old so I really just want to know either way. The few of us who are still waiting will know by the end of the week I'm sure....so in some way that's a relief.

I'm an RPCV from Ukraine (07-Dec 2009). The application process took a whole year for me. I had a medical issue and believe it would have been a little less time had I not, but it was worth the painful process. I think if you just understand that it could take that long then it should be easier for you. After I had an interview I was nominated for an assignment a few weeks later, that's when you have to start all of the medical clearance stuff and that's what generally takes the longest. If you're in good health you won't have much to worry about, even if you have some issues as long as they can be either resolved or accommodated by your host country then you should be OK. I have mild asthma and was nominated for the Central Asia region but got denied medical clearance, I ended up getting switched to Ukraine, which was a bit of a let down because I was psyched for Central Asia, but the bottom line was that I was happy to go anywhere. It all worked out and it gave me the foundation to move on to grad school in an international affairs/development program.

It's strange that you've been accepted into Elliot and waitlisted at American...from what I've seen on these boards it's been the other way around. Did they give any indication as to when they'd make decisions off the wait list? But I'd take Elliot's acceptance letter and run all the way to DC with it. Gosh, I sure hope this isn't just the waitlist/reject batch. Although I guess I should just prepare for it.

You should join the American SIS thread in the Government Affairs forum, there are a few us stressing over still not hearing despite lots of other applicant posting their acceptances...it sucks big time. But through contacting admissions we've found out that as of Friday the last of the decisions have been made and sent out. So at least we know that this coming week we should all know. You should contact them and ask when you can expect a decision.

Is it a little warped to have the urge to RSVP to the Grad Day event just to see what happens? I mean just fill out the form that's right here http://www.american.edu/sis/RSVP.cfm and submit. According to those who have gotten invitations the last day to RSVP was April 1st. But the form is still available. Living way too far away I wouldn't go, but I just wonder if it would give me some clue, like after submitting it would say "thanks, Mal, see you there" or "uhh, you're on the reject list, no way." If I'm not mistaken someone around this forum actually did this and it all worked out for them. Hmmm.

ex For American University I've been only emailing admissions, I've done it twice now and was really told the very same thing..."you'll from us the first week of April." I had asked a more specific question the second time and it wasn't really answered. At this point I won't email anyone else, if I don't get anything the mail by next Friday, I'm calling. But at George Mason when I found out my application was fully processed after being declared "incomplete" by admissions I emailed the coordinator just because I had spoken to her on the phone after getting that annoying "incomplete" email. I actually called her by accident, meant to call admissions but dialed her number instead, glad I did. So when I figured I'd email her and not admissions a couple of days later to let her know that my application was now complete I also asked when I could expect a decision because admissions didn't say anything about it. She said I should be receiving a very exciting letter in the mail next week. That has definitely been the most helpful response I've ever gotten.

I've only had Ukrainian Shawarma which didn't include french fries...but these shawarma stands or huts where all over the place, you could even get it in the smallest villages. In the city, these were the only food places, besides McDonald's that had lines to get in.

If you asked me if I'm jealous much, I would reply: why yes, yes I am.

Sweet, thanks!

This last one hurts me and I didn't even experience it.

You're welcome! I just couldn't imagine telling someone you're too old to get a degree. If you can be a Peace Corps volunteer at 78 years old than literally any of you here can and should earn an advanced degree if you so desire without even wondering if age is some kind of hindrance. Yes, the Peace Corps actually loves older volunteers because not only do they bring more experience and wisdom to the communities they serve, but in some cultures they are valued and respected even more than a 22 year old fresh out of school. The oldest ever volunteer was 86, and I served with a 78 year old man in Ukraine. He was beloved by the university he taught at and he made it through the whole 2 years and 3 months. Plenty of people don't make it through half that time. He had lots of trouble learning the language, which is understandable, but other than that he did an amazing job and everyone, including the Ukrainian PC staff, was inspired by him. He received a standing ovation at our End of Service ceremony.

Oh man, that would have been for me a major meltdown. It's almost like when I got home the other night and saw a big white packet on the counter, my gut reaction was "Oh my god, it's here, acceptance packet!" No, it wasn't, not even close. I was really depressed after that.

Yeah, I've been taring my hair out over waiting for my second choice school to grace me with a decision. I've been waitlisted at my first choice. This seems to be a dilemma a lot of people are having. Schools with later deadlines for getting their own decisions out than others who need to know sooner. It sucks. I can't tell adcomms to hurry up because I need to let another school know. So I've been thinking a lot about what to do if I should get an offer from my first choice eventually in May which is way beyond anyone else's deadline. I'd be absolutely nuts to decline the offer that I do have and could potentially get in the mail next week. I can't do that and I won't. But are there really any consequences to accepting an offer and going along like you're going there and then pulling out after you get what you want? You'd loose your deposit, but if it's worth it to you then is that such a big deal in the long run? I mean you might have to not attend for any number of reasons, financial situation changes drastically, family emergency, just big change of plans...etc. Finally getting an acceptance from your top choice is also one of those reasons...I just don't know if there are any repercussions to doing that other than loosing your deposit. I figure I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

I'm 27 and have already applied and been accepted to the Global Affairs MA program at George Mason, hoping for International Development at American, but yes these programs require relevant experience for admission because they are professional degrees rather than research based, the more you have the better. So naturally the average age for these programs is a bit higher.

I think I will take some satisfaction out of knowing that tomorrow is the day every last decision they have is going out in the mail...or at least so they say. Then it's just a matter of how fast that packet/reject letter is delivered to your mailbox. I live in Arizona :/

0...I included a name in my top choice school application because her expertise in Eastern European affairs is of great interest to me, not so much to do research with her, but just to take her classes. I was waitlisted...I don't think that had anything to do with not talking to professors before hand because I'm going for a professional degree in International Development, it's not research based. I guess if I had tried to contact her it could have helped, I don't know. I was accepted to my safety school for Global Affairs without even mentioning anyone let alone talking to them. Still waiting on my second choice..didn't get a hold of anyone there either.

Yes, I know ESIA's May 21st thing is ridiculous. They should be working on ranking the waitlist application so that when May 1st comes around and they know exactly how many offers were declined they can send out offers to those at the top, which shouldn't take 3 weeks especially if decisions will be posted online again. And if they had an April 15th deadline like everyone else we'd know even sooner. GW is still my dream school, but I'm kind of in the same boat as you, I feel like if I do get into AU I'll probably get really used to the idea of going there because it's still in my dream city and yeah it's basically on par, at least on par enough for me. I just don't want to wait anymore. I don't want to be still wondering, waiting, hoping or whatever in May, I want to be at peace and excited. I think American will do that for me. So GW will always be in the back of my mind but I don't think I'll be holding my breath. Plus I'd be insane to decline American in hopes of admission at GW weeks and weeks later. So I will absolutely accept American, I don't know how it'll work if I do get into GW, will cross that bridge when I get to it. I'd still be waiting on Mason too if the Global Affairs coordinator hadn't given away my decision in an email she sent in response to me simply asking when I would hear from them. I was glad she gave it away, I really needed that.

I'm 27 now, will turn 28 right when school starts. It took me a little while to finish undergrad due to an extreme case of the"I don't know what the hell I want to do" blues. But once I figured it out, I finished with a bang by diving straight into the Peace Corps which took 2 years and then not realizing how bad the job market is decided to work in my field for a while before grad school.....that hasn't worked out at all so here I am now soon to start grad school in the DC area. Woohoo! And..for those of you who are "more experienced in life" I personally would love to be in class with you guys, learning from you and working with you on projects. I prefer diversity and the experience you bring to the classroom makes me feel like I'm learning more. And what an absurd thing to say...that you should give the younger applicants your chance at an advanced degree...first, if you're more qualified than me, then you've earned the spot. Second, yeah, that's ageism, no one agrees with that.

well they probably just need to do it the way they set out to do it, I am in no way shape or form wishing or suggesting this is the case for you but I mean could you imagine if it is a rejection and you open the letter right there? And you even know the contents of the letter before you open it, if it's a big packet or a regular old envelope. I think in general that could be really awkward for everyone involved. I'm not sure why they can't email your decision. I know schools that send via snail mail will at some point let applicants know over the phone or through email after a while, especially if you've been accepted I would think they would want you to know that. Maybe if you wait a few more days to call, perhaps if they've already sent them out than they'd be more likely to tell you over the phone or email...who knows?

There are definitely no online decisions. The bottom line is that we will all know by the end of next week. So a week and a half left of this. I believe you can call them for your status, I won't do that though, can't handle someone looking up my file and waiting for them to say those words. I'll do that only if I don't get anything by next Friday, because that's the end of it for me. I tend to lean toward preparing myself for the worst, but according to that response I got today, all decisions will have been made by the end of the week...so there's still 2 days left of decision making to go. So I wouldn't loose all hope or get too down about it. Plus I don't think they'd have an all reject batch. All of my components were in by the deadline (by a hair mind you), but about a week after the deadline I got an email from them saying that my app was incomplete despite a green check mark next to every thing listed on my VIP page. I called and asked if this would set my application even further back, like to the "we'll review it only if we have space left over" pile. I was told that it wouldn't because my app was indeed complete. But it still makes me a little nervous. I think I'm just going to try really hard to not expect anything for the next few days. For the best probably. I feel like something quick and courteous like "hey you're in the 3rd batch, don't bother expecting until the first week of April" would have been really appreciated. And maybe I wouldn't have lost a year of my life to stress and anxiety.

Yeah, well bottom line is that we will know by the end of next week, so basically within a week and a half. If not that's when I get to call them and end it either way. It would have been nice to be notified about the batch system and once they determined what batch you're in a little more narrowed down time frame would have also been nice. I saw that people were posting their acceptances as early as the 14th, so naturally that's when I started to go crazy...crazy waiting and expecting...like any day now...any day now. But no, not really. If I new that I was in the 3rd batch which meant NOT to expect a decision until the first week in April then I could have relaxed a little bit for the past few weeks. If I know there's no chance of hearing before then, then I would have allowed myself to not stress about it because there would be nothing I could do about it. And for me, just knowing what's going on is half the battle. With just a little courtesy towards us they could eliminate a lot of unnecessary "when am I going to get a decision?" emails and phone calls. And I could get through this process without loosing a year of my life to stress and anxiety. I'm just going to try really hard at not expecting anything the rest of the week.

Just got this from AU admissions: All of the decisions will be have been sent by the end of this week. You should receive your decision by next week. If you do not hear anything by end of next week, please feel free to contact us. Hmmm, I just get a bad vibe from this, I know it's not logical, but I don't know it seems like a way to let someone down easy. Ok, over thinking this as usual. At the very least I know I have at most another week and a half of this misery and that's it.