Chicago Admits

[buzz2010]

Hi,

If you have been accepted at Chicago, are you planning to accept their offer?

I got waitlisted ....wondering whether there are any chances for me. Thanks!!!!!

[keano1414]

i am planning on accepting the offer..but last year i applied as well, was wait-listed, and eventually received an offer (turned down for a fellowship elsewhere)

the program is ultra-competitive, so getting wait-listed is still pretty awesome..i think that you should email your potential supervisors and let them know how interested you are in the program, etc...for a top school they are surprisingly friendly, so you should not hesitate to express your desire to be picked off the wait-list..what field are you looking to specialize in?

also, if chicago is really the place you want to be, you should look into the MAPSS program (im assuming you got accepted into this in the wait-list letter that you received)..its a pretty wonderful program in and of itself, and could be a stepping stone into the phd program if the wait-list thing does not work out..

they have a recruitment weekend for this as well, and I would advise you going to this (if indeed you have been accepted into this program..if not, disregard last 3 sentences!)

i hope that it works out for you!

Edited March 5, 2010 by keano1414

[buzz2010]

keano1414, thanks for your reply. I am planning to focus on urban sociology, poverty and research methodology.

I guess the Masters Program acceptance is only offered to those who were rejected from the PhD Program. They didn't mention anything about MAPSS on my waitlist letter.

When did you find out that you finally received an offer last year? how late in April?

Edited March 5, 2010 by buzz2010

[keano1414]

keano1414, thanks for your reply. I am planning to focus on urban sociology, poverty and research methodology.

I guess the Masters Program acceptance is only offered to those who were rejected from the PhD Program. They didn't mention anything about MAPSS on my waitlist letter.

When did you find out that you finally received an offer last year? how late in April?

I found out last year quite late (around April 12th). If you end up hearing positive news, it will not be until at least April (those who received an offer usually do not commit until late, as they may be wait-listed at other schools, etc.).

With regards to MAPSS, it is possible that they may not be doing the same thing as last year (they 'referred' my application to MAPSS but kept me on the wait-list). It may be worth contacting them directly and saying you are interested (if, in fact, you are interested)

It all comes down to whether or not the people they accepted for your field of interest (not mine) matriculate..its quite capricious, but being wait-listed is certainly a positive sign

I hope that it works out for you.

[newday123]

I found out last year quite late (around April 12th). If you end up hearing positive news, it will not be until at least April (those who received an offer usually do not commit until late, as they may be wait-listed at other schools, etc.).

Wow, that is quite late. I've been accepted by MAPSS (referred by the soc department) and waitlisted by another department at the school. Now I am wondering if I should visit both programs during MAPSS admitted students' days. Do you think professors will be willing to meet with a waitlisted student? I just don't want to get accepted on, say, April 13 and then have to turn down the offer because I won't get to visit.

[keano1414]

Wow, that is quite late. I've been accepted by MAPSS (referred by the soc department) and waitlisted by another department at the school. Now I am wondering if I should visit both programs during MAPSS admitted students' days. Do you think professors will be willing to meet with a waitlisted student? I just don't want to get accepted on, say, April 13 and then have to turn down the offer because I won't get to visit.

I think you should definitely go to MAPSS day (they reimburse a major percentage of what it will cost to get there)..You will most likely be able to meet with Professors, will learn much more about the school/department, and about MAPSS..further, you can ask the MAPSS director for more money--they give out some partial tuition scholarships--and the fact that you took the time to visit and are interested may work in your favor

if you get accepted on April 13th I would take it! in the academic world it does not get much better than UC and it is a pretty stunningly vibrant intellectual community

[deckard]

If you didn't get into UChicago's PhD program but got into MAPSS, I recommend the latter. Costs aside, it's a very good way of immersing yourself into UChicago's intense academic culture, build important contacts among the faculty, and figure out whether you can survive both the elements (bitter cold, sweltering heat) and the perils of 21st Century urban life (Hyde Park). You will definitely come out of it a stronger person, and have a higher chance of getting into a good PhD program the following year.

Of course a lot of what you get out of it depends on how much you put in. Choose courses wisely, choose your thesis adviser wisely, and even though you can't choose your preceptor at the beginning, you should quickly find out if he/she is an idiot and make an early petition for a switch, if possible.