Search the Community

Hi guys, I have applied for 6 Universities this year to join a Ph.D. program in Chemical Engineering. I got 2 early acceptances from MTU(Michigan tech) and Cleveland State, however, it looks like they are not going to fund my Ph.D. I still have 4 applications in NC state, Utah, Kentucky and polytech Montreal. The admission says they did not come to decision yet about my application. I wonder how long should I wait? I am quite stressed as my final semester as an undergraduate is about to end. Most programs also accepted and rejected many. Should I look for another career and forget about joining a Ph.D. program?

Hi everyone, So, I'm a bit confused (aren't we all?). I applied to a program and was contacted by a PI that thinks I am a good fit for his lab and said, in his email, phone interview, and in person interview, that he has a spot available for me (actually, he's looking for two students - he is funded) and that I'd be a great fit due to our similar research background. I went through several interviews with him and others, interviews went really well and received positive feedback. However, the decisions were supposed to be sent out late last week and others, in different concentrations in the same program, that interviewed heard back with positive news - I haven't heard anything. However, this PI emailed me again (same day everyone heard the good news) and told me (without my asking) that he hadn't heard from the program, yet. So, am I insane for worrying (a distinct possibility) I may be chasing something that doesn't exist, or am I really being led on and I've been rejected behind closed doors? I have a Masters (3.9 GPA) in a related field. 3 years research experience. 2 theses (thesiseses? ) 1 publication 1 undergraduate grant proposal 2 presentations, 2 more coming in the next 2 months. 2 years teaching experience. The others who have heard their acceptances are in different concentrations, but I believe the *overall program* decides who gets in or not. The whole situation is odd, considering the overwhelming positive feedback I've received save for the crucial, "Hey, you're in and funded!". Any thoughts, opinions, misgivings are welcome. Cheers.

In August 2017 I interviewed for a PhD position (Fall2018 entry) at a mid-tier UK school and received a preliminary, verbal acceptance from 2 professors. I was going to be entering a master's program at a different UK school that September, so they invited me to visit their department for a tour once I had settled in at my new place. When I emailed them after arriving to decide on a visit date, no one responded for a month and a half. No problem though- Profs are busy and I'm hardly their top priority! They apologized for the late reply, asked for my schedule (which I noted as being very flexible) so that they could arrange a visit before 2018. After I sent them my availability and... no response. It's been 3 months since then. I sent a follow up email 1 month ago wishing them a happy new year and expressing my interest in finalizing a visit, but I've been totally ghosted. Now what's really strange is that I submitted my actual PhD application in 14 weeks ago and haven't heard back, despite the department website stating that all admissions decisions are to be made within 6 weeks. I didn't want to pester the admissions department with any email inquiries, but I happened to stumble on an official thread for the school on TSR where a school rep was answering admissions questions. They told me that something was likely wrong and that they'd be putting me in contact with the admissions team to resolve the issue. Of course, nothing's been resolved. I heard back from admissions saying that i should've received a decision by now. I mean, yeah man, that's what I'm saying! I'm glad that admissions agrees with me haha, but not having received a decision is precisely what I'm asking them to fix... I'm now feeling pretty fed up with waiting on this school. If this is what their admissions process is like, I can't imagine how frustrating it would be to work on a PhD project there.... It's disappointing that things have turned out this way because I was initially HYPED about possibly attending, but I guess that's just the way she goes.

One the professors I asked for a letter of recommendation has not yet responded to my request. It has been three days since I sent it her the email (I live in a different state, so couldn't ask in person). I haven't seen or spoken to her in three or four years, but I felt like we had a fairly good relationship when I was in school, I got an A in her class, and she advised me to apply for a distinguished majors program in my department (which I was accepted to), and she's written me a number of recommendation letters in the past for internships, etc. I don't necessarily think this is her subtle way of saying not to ask, but I am getting paranoid... I am going back to my university soon to visit a friend who is in law school there. Would it be weird if I just dropped in to see her during office hours to ask? In my first email, I asked if she would be willing to meet with me when I was in town… If I can’t (or shouldn’t try to) see her in-person, how long should I wait to email her again? And how many times should I email her before I give up? I would prefer to use her, because the other professor I wanted to ask no longer works at any university and (if I can even get in contact with him) would be writing from a gmail address.