Igotnothin

Never heard that one before. But to decide who is qualified, you need to open the envelope...

I believe that the department has an obligation to review all applications that they receive. The only way they can make justifiable decisions on who to admit, weighing various factors including residency, is to look at every application. The way UW-Madison seems to operate, the most qualified applicant in a given year might never even have his or her application reviewed. That's crazy to me. And it's not fair to the international applicants.

Then what is the point of questioning the e-mailer's knowledge of the review process? Our entire debate is predicated on the information provided in this short e-mail. My argument is that if all spots are frequently filled in phase 1, the school is in the wrong. Your counterargument is that maybe all spots are not frequently filled in phase 1. That's not even a counterargument - that's changing the topic of the debate.

All right so now you're saying that the person who replied to the e-mail on behalf of the department doesn't really know how applications are reviewed? Interesting theory.

Have you read the e-mail that the OP posted? Take another look. Read it a few times. Read the part that I highlighted. The admissions committee member stated that international applications are frequently not reviewed. Let me make a real simple word problem for you. If all positions are filled in phase 1, what is the probability that an applicant in phase 2 is accepted? There's a brain buster.

The verdict is in: Grad Cafe has no problem with the prospect of an international student spending many hours on an application and paying $100 and having zero probability of acceptance.

All right let me highlight the part that demonstrates that international applications frequently do not get reviewed. Hi X, Thank you for your patience. We complete reviews, interviews, and admissions for applicants within the U.S. borders first. We then review external applicants. Frequently, this first phase fills the slots available. I will email you when a decision is made. Thank you for your interest in our program. X

Yeah, good question. I'm not sure whether app fees in general are ethical. You could make the argument that by having an app fee, you control the number of applications you get. Otherwise everyone would apply everywhere and it would put a strain on the admissions committees. But I think $100 is too high, and introduces a bias against lower SES applicants. I know a lot of schools will waive the fee for low-income applicants, but that's extra paperwork and could still sway such applicants to not apply at all. Putting an "international" label on the envelope and then throwing it in the trash isn't a meaningful review. I know that it is common practice to have higher requirements for international applicants, but at the very very least you need to give them some non-zero probability of acceptance. Otherwise you're taking money for nothing.

Yeah that's what I'm saying. I don't think there is any important distinction between the application being processed and then not reviewed and it not even being processed. Either way, the acceptance probability is 0.

Again, you're implying that the grad school isn't at fault because they in fact did review everybody's application. But that's not what we're arguing. The question is whether it is unethical for a grad school to accept $100 then drop your unopened envelope in the trash (which the OP's e-mail indicates happens at least some of the time). Poll 1,000 non-academics and you might have one person say it's ethical. The issue of "processing" is unimportant unless processing involves some sort of evaluation, i.e. looking at test scores, and in that case the application actually has been reviewed.

SMH.

Okay, so you at least concede that "you would have a right to be upset" which is close enough to "it is unethical" for me. Here is the evidence that has happened here: Hi X, Thank you for your patience. We complete reviews, interviews, and admissions for applicants within the U.S. borders first. We then review external applicants. Frequently, this first phase fills the slots available. I will email you when a decision is made. Thank you for your interest in our program. X

You're contradicting yourself here. First you say that the fee is just for processing, i.e. you are not entitled to a review. Then you say the OP should not be upset because "chances are" the ADCOM scanned his application. The question is, is it unethical for a grad school to accept a $100 application fee and not even open the application? I think we all know the answer to that.

I'm saying that he or she should write that the paper is "under review," but not list the journal.

I don't think it's a big deal one way or the other, but I personally would not mention what journal is currently reviewing it. It's not like being under review at a top journal makes it a top paper. And it comes across as trying to exaggerate its significance, in my opinion.

I think it is very unethical for a school to take someone's application fee without ensuring that the application is reviewed. Should be illegal. Good to hear you got into other programs.

Yeah I agree, no need to remind them that they rejected you a couple years ago. With your MS and new experiences you should have a much better chance now. I would focus on whatever experiences or credentials you have that you think are strongest, regardless of whether they came from the last 2 years or prior to that. Best of luck and be sure to apply broadly to maximize your chances.

Oxford!

Dude's just trying to get people riled up... Although it is fair to say that usage of free weights is more common in males than in females. Doesn't mean that some women aren't doing it and doing it well.

Don't let one busy/apathetic PI derail your career goals - stay in the program, just switch advisors. Good luck!

I'm going to get destroyed for saying this, but be careful with male PI's who really want you to join their labs. I have seen and heard about numerous cases of male PI's heavily recruiting female students and things turning creepy before long. That said, my advice is like the others, to do your rotations as required and see where your interests lie in the end. Don't let any feelings of obligation or gratitude affect your decision - your career is too important.

The best thing you can do in my opinion is to really focus on publishing. With only 2 years of your PhD complete and no publications, it's hard to make a strong argument that you deserve a PhD.

Fair enough!

"What's you've suggested actually does sound relatively reasonable." High praise! Even if the SoP isn't terribly important, I don't see the purpose of campaigning for people to whip it together in a couple hours. Can't hurt to make sure it's a well-written and thoughtful essay. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable submitting a generic half-page SoP, especially to a department I really wanted to join. "I have no exposure in statistical research, but here is my application. Enjoy!"

Yeah I would try to get it changed to an incomplete or something like that. Or if it's possible to retake it and have the new grade overwrite the old one, that would be a good option. Better to remove an ugly F than sit back and hope that potential employers don't discover it.