belowthree - I've spent probably more time and energy thinking about than I should - especially trying to see their viewpoint. What bothers me most is that it's an implied rejection that you as an individual just are not good enough for us. Other rejection letters than I've received have more the message of - you're good, but there were better applicants ...
Here's the rough profile for me: GRE: 800Q 600V 5.0A GPA: 3.23 undergrad in mathematics at a top 20 US school, 3.8 M.S. at a top 20-25 school, taught 1 class while getting my MS along with a semester of TA. 15 years work experience.
Why I think I've been rejected from Georgia Tech
- No research / publishing experience
- No letters of recommendation from academia.
Couple of factors in the above items:
1) It was unheard at the school I went to for my master's for the MS students to do research. The faculty didn't believe it was worthwhile at the time and highly discouraged the thesis option. From looking at the current landscape, this has very much changed - and even with more undergraduate level research as well.
2) I don't paid by my employees to publish. I get paid to build solutions that help the company make money.
3) I'm choosing to leave because I'm sick of the grind and I really don't want to be doing the current type of work for the next 20-25 years of my professional life. I love teaaching, studying, solving difficult problems... [this entire line was not expressed in the application at all]. I'm definitely not doing this for the pay - I'm sure there's no way I'd ever make up for the lost income for at least 4 years of additional schooling.
4) It's been 15 years since I've left grad school. Although I did touch base with a few professors from my graduate school, I did not feel it was appropriate to ask for a reference letter so far removed.
Best wishes to all of you -