zilch

I was talking to my academic adviser about grad school applications and he mentioned that alot of times after the top tier students have been admitted they will hold applications of good candidates that they would like to admit while they are waiting for news from funding agencies about whatever grants that they are applying to. so I would say your chances of getting in after extended silence is directly related to how generous the people at NSF, NIH, etc are feeling

this one isn't really a bad rejection message so much as a frustrating overall experience I applied for the PhD program in Electrical Engineering back in December. My grades aren't great but I have research experience and a publication. A professor from the department contacted me and asked me to call him. During the phone conversation he said he was going to recommend me for admission and a few days later he emails me saying that he was going to try to get me a fellowship. This all occurred 5-6 weeks ago and then today I check the website to find that I have been rejected. The message itself was pretty standard, just a we've reviewed your application and cannot offer you admission type of deal, but I thought I was essentially as good as admitted, the shock was rather unpleasant.