RANT: Ghosted by potential advisors and admissions committee

[lmsnn]

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. 

Edited February 13, 2018 by lmsnn

[syn]

47 minutes ago, lmsnn said:

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. 

This is definitely my philosophy.  If it's that hard to get something so simple, it's not a good fit for me.  Although you were hyped and can understand the disappointment, look at it as a very visible look into the disorganization of the department and school.  I'd move on and not look back.