Following up after unofficial acceptance

[jmb04]

I received an unofficial acceptance at the beginning of the month via e-mail from two tenured professors on the adcom. They told me I'd get official notice with funding info at the end of the month.

Well, it's the last day of the month and I have yet to receive any updates in my e-mail or mailbox, nor has my status changed on the website. Results are trickling in on the results page, though they have all been rejections.

Should I contact them to follow up? Maybe give it one more week (which feels like an eternity in the pre-grad school sense)? I don't want to be a pest.

But right now, the worst case scenarios are popping into my mind: that it's all some sick, sad twisted joke they're playing on me and I'm actually rejected; or they forwarded my application to the university who denied it; or that they've simply changed their mind.

I have never felt so impatient before in my life.

Anyone else in a similar situation? Maybe I'm being overly neurotic, but it's not official until I see it in writing with the university letterhead on it.

[canlit]

I don't get it? why don't you just email them. you should have responded to the initial email right away thanking them. Don't wait another week. just ask.

[jmb04]

I don't get it? why don't you just email them. you should have responded to the initial email right away thanking them. Don't wait another week. just ask.

I did respond to the initial e-mail thanking them.

They gave me a timeline of when I can receive more information, and that time expires today.

I was just worried that I would sound like a nagging pest if I followed up. (I already asked the grad secretary when they would go out and she said it would happen last week or this week). So asking now would be like asking twice.

Edited February 27, 2010 by jmb04

[red_crayons]

Yeah, once they accept you, you can bug them all you want! I've been inundating people with questions since I got an acceptance to a program I'm likely to go to. I'd definitely follow up. Send an email ASAP, and call on Monday!

[Emilee]

I am in a similar situation (except my POI told me to not be surprised if I did not receive the letter within the timeframe stated). If I were you, I would wait a least a week more. You do not want to seem impatient. (Remember, you are going to be working with these people in the future.)

Strangely, waiting for the official acceptance has been the most painful part of the process for me, since I know I am almost there.

[mbs191]

Damn skippy, I totally know how you feel! I got a phonecall last week that I've been accepted and I actually emailed them about when I could expect the "offer in writing" so that I could review it/have it for my records, etc. I'm actually going to the University on Monday to meet with the Department and see the campus since it is not so far away, and when I was on the phone with them confirming the appointment, I again asked and they said "we can't, as the Dept. send out the letter, it has to come from the College that we are within under the University...."

So, I totally feel your pain.

If I were you, maybe I'd send an email just confirming that you never received the written offer and act like you are doing THEM a favor by letting them know its absence of arrival :-)

Good luck!

[jmb04]

Strangely, waiting for the official acceptance has been the most painful part of the process for me, since I know I am almost there.

Ditto.

I feel like I can't completely celebrate until I get the official acceptance.

[red_crayons]

I am in a similar situation (except my POI told me to not be surprised if I did not receive the letter within the timeframe stated). If I were you, I would wait a least a week more. You do not want to seem impatient. (Remember, you are going to be working with these people in the future.)

But you want to seem interested!!! I have been pestering people with questions about the program, other students, labs, etc... They're really excited about me, and the more I learn the more excited I am about THEM. Great interactions, and a great dynamic to have established before I even attend the open house!

[jmb04]

But you want to seem interested!!! I have been pestering people with questions about the program, other students, labs, etc... They're really excited about me, and the more I learn the more excited I am about THEM. Great interactions, and a great dynamic to have established before I even attend the open house!

Don't get me wrong.. I AM extremely excited about them. I met with them in person already, including a grad student and the grad secretary. They're pretty excited about me too. A prof even sent me her syllabus and some recommended readings. So we've definitely interacted already on an academic level. It just all happened a few weeks ago.

I just want the official offer in writing so I can find out what the funding situation will be like! And THAT is what makes it seem kind of "pesty" and "impatient." Or does it? I mean, isn't it natural that I want to know about the $$$ right away? Or maybe it will just seem like that's all I'm interested in?

They said they'd try to make my funding package "as attractive as possible," but that could mean anything. I do know though that they don't fully fund everyone. I can only dream that they are taking a little while longer with mine because they are trying to get me a fat recruitment fellowship haha!

[coyabean]

I am in a similar situation (except my POI told me to not be surprised if I did not receive the letter within the timeframe stated). If I were you, I would wait a least a week more. You do not want to seem impatient. (Remember, you are going to be working with these people in the future.)

Strangely, waiting for the official acceptance has been the most painful part of the process for me, since I know I am almost there.

ditto

I had the exact same experience. It's only a day or so after when they said it would be. Give it at least a week. The administrative stuff seems to take the longest. I think mine was a week later than I was told? But I'd just let it go awhile longer. Not only did I not want to bug people, but I did not want to seem overanxious. With an offer you finally get some power in this situation. I didn't want to undermine that by being too eager.

They said they'd try to make my funding package "as attractive as possible," but that could mean anything. I do know though that they don't fully fund everyone. I can only dream that they are taking a little while longer with mine because they are trying to get me a fat recruitment fellowship Posted Image haha!

And actually that's exactly what it probably is. My delay was due to being nominated for a University wide fellowship and I think they want to know how things are going to shake out before putting it all in writing. If they don't they'll just have to rewrite it after such decisions are made. Plus, it's a legally binding document. Those kinds of things, particularly the money part, often needs lots of eyes before it goes out.

Edited February 27, 2010 by coyabean

[jmb04]

Thanks all. I think I'll wait a week after all. I definitely don't want to seem overanxious!