Itchy

Stanford has finally dropped the shoe - official rejection notice via email. In the rejection email, they mocked me thoroughly, noting that my application was 'totally stupid' and that they could tell I was 'stinky' and they didn't want me 'stinking up their campus and stuff.' Stupid trees.

I saw the PM, thanks very much for the information. I think at this point the best I could hope for would be waitlisting. Thanks!

I have no doubt that s/he is legit - I was wondering how people get information. That, and trying to hold on to hope.

Please don't interpret this as "I don't believe you", because the intent is much more "how does one find out this kind of thing," but... how do you know they sent out three offers? Please feel free to PM if that's better. Also, confusingly, my indirect Stanford sources say that they do not always (in fact, rarely) interview, at least for cognitive.

Word. For that matter, I (as requested) listed more than one professor on my personal statement. If I send an email to the first professor, would s/he just know to forward it to the next one on the list? Is it insulting to one or both of them? I can't imagine why, but people are strange. When you're a stranger...

Dear God, has anyone heard anything from Stanford? There have been (in theory) some rejections, but there is a large wall of silence around that university, and it's driving me NUTS. It's like they're all trees or something.

I'm very sorry. It's a terrible, terrible, heartbreaking process. It makes me feel better and worse to know that it is also largely random. As a rejection letter I got many years ago put it, there are many equally qualified candidates, and while the schools try to be as systematic as possible, the truth is that the reason one person gets in and another doesn't is often that there is no reason. The schools can talk about match, but match is often code-word for 'one professor liked the guy with the hat because he likes hats.' This is not sour grapes, because that's not the position I'm in, but I am bitter.

Word.

Do you also have the dream where you see yourself standing in sort of sun-god robes on a pyramid with a thousand naked women screaming and throwing little pickles at you? Why am I the only one who has that dream?

I appreciate the support. And I'm sorry for you as well. Even more than company, misery loves an email explaining that it was all a terrible mistake and my acceptance package is in the mail...

Rejection from Princeton.

It means nothing, I'm afraid. Some places make their minds up within hours. Some wait for the regularly scheduled meeting to discuss student placement. Some schools are waiting for grant/assistantship information. There's just no way to know what your school is doing short of asking them.

Thanks for that. Not the part about you getting rejected, the part where you provided helpful information. Helpfully. I've been fantasizing that since I've already met with a Princeton prof (almost a year ago) that they don't need to interview me, and that Stanford was so impressed with my application package that they also decided to forgo an interview as well. It's my fantasy. I'm a simple person.

I've heard from one program out of 7. I mean seriously, I know Penn has rejected me. They know it. Everyone knows it. At least allow me the dignity of closing the book on my failure. And that's only one example. Princeton? Stanford? No idea. None.