3 rejections, the rest silent, feeling devastated

[verda]

I'm feeling pretty devastated.

I'm currently getting straight A's in a MA at a top 30 university (Times global scale). Over seven years I have completed 3 BA-degrees at a mid-range European university with near-perfect GPA's (translated 4.0). I have 10+ conference presentations, and 6 publications, among which one in a top journal. And in addition to this I have a Fulbright scholarship for a PhD in the US (1 year funding + 4 years partial), and lots of extracurricular experience (student-council, etc...).

And yet no acceptances, not even a waitlist, 3 rejections, and 9 silent (however acceptances have already gone out for most of them).

The only catch is that most of my work was in a different discipline, as is my current MA, and I only have 2 years worth of courses in the discipline I applied to.

Still I would have expected at least something. Is a partial discipline-switch, or work in a different field really rated that badly? Are adcoms that narrow-minded?

Anyway, I guess I am getting depressed... all these things good for nothing. Anyone feeling similar,

& any advice...?

Edited March 5, 2010 by verda

[gazelle]

Wow, sorry to hear about that but keep in mind even though those nine schools are silent, you still haven't been bona fide rejected, or even heard back yet--you could still get nine acceptances--who's to say they have sent out all of them?

The only thing I can think of is perhaps a weak SOP? You've certainly got all the other credentials.

[socialpsychg]

Likewise for letters of rec - could it be that one of your recommenders wrote you a weak (or worse) LOR?

[urbanchic]

Well, luckily, you applied to 12 schools. You have 9 more tries. I think you'll be fine.

[sleepomaniac]

A winner is always a winner!

You have every right to feel low and defeated, but no reason to do so.

I am sure you will get some good news in a few days, and the agony of this wait will add on to the euphoria of acceptance.

And just remember, PhD is just transit, you want to do good work and good research, (You already seem to be accomplishing both of these, so why the defeat)?

Cheers

[Gareth]

You will never know what part is crucial for them to accept you.

Good luck to you.

[verda]

My SOP is strong I'd say (my gf's mom, who teaches at one of the best universities of the UK, said it was good, and I stood a good chance of being accepted, a friend who's a PhD in the discipline I applied to checked it, and a slightly different version of it convinced the Fulbright committee).

Two of the 3 LOR's I was able to read, and were glowing, though one of them contained a bit about it being important that I was given the freedom to do what I want. So it would either be that bit, or the 3rd letter that killed me (or my writing-sample of course).

Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions so far. I'm slowly starting to think about alternative plans for the coming year/life...

Edited March 5, 2010 by verda

[joro]

I'm really surprised that you haven't received an acceptance anywhere since you got a scholarship. Isn't outside funding from scholarships a huge plus when it comes to admissions?

[oldlady]

Sorry you are feeling so low -- I think it is safe to say that many of us have been there at some point.

Should you not receive an admission by the time the application season is over, I suggest that you contact your top choices and see if you can get some feedback. It takes some courage, but the feedback may be quite valuable.

Hang in there!

[LadyL]

When I was first applying an adviser broke my heart by telling me that no one, not even her top students, had a guaranteed chance of admission because the process is so random. I learned that lesson the hard way when I didn't get in on round one OR two despite being told by lots of credible people that I was a strong candidate. Sometimes you just get stuck being that one outlier candidate who is almost OVER qualified, but doesn't get in. Last round, I was already working on a post doc level in my field, and I still had no offers. It sucks but it happens. It's more of a reflection on the process than on you. Don't give up. This round I got 7 interviews and have one acceptance so far; night and day from the last two rounds, and there have been only minor changes in my application, but apparently just enough to push me over the edge.

[piccgeek]

It's more of a reflection on the process than on you. Don't give up.

+1

The process is seriously SO RANDOM. Schools turn down huge amounts of qualified candidates every year. They have to. I know why you're feeling so bummed, and I know you've heard it a million times, but it's still true: you ARE an excellent candidate, you ARE smart, and if you don't get in this round, well, have an adventure for a year and then apply again and when you get in somewhere you can kick ass and take names. You'll be publishing your book and keynote speaking at some conference someday (or whatever the equivalent clout is in your field) and these adcom profs will look at each other and say "omg, we rejected Verda. VERDA! Can you believe how dumb we are??" And your colleagues at your school will laugh at them and say "suckers!"

(this was my favorite fantasy as I received my rejections last year...and trust me, I was NOT as qualified as you are you it was way less likely to actually happen.)

[verda]

Thanks for the peptalk piccgeek, LadyL, and others. The problem, piccgeek, with your description, is probably that even if I ever were to become what you described, that would be years down the line, and they would not even remember that I'd ever applied to their programs (and most schools don't keep records of applications, and if they did most academics would be too busy anyway to look them up). Also I don't think the cultivation of feelings of superiority is the best way to deal with pain.

Yesterday I started doing some new applications, for late-deadline MA-programs closer to home, and though the most difficult bit there was bugging my LOR writers again (not to mention taking the FB scholarship off my resume), yet it felt energizing.

And then yesterday evening I received a request from the director of graduate studies at one of my best fit programs, that they were finalizing decisions now, and two of my LOR's were missing (how that ever happened?), and if I could have them sent ASAP. I know that it's not an acceptance, or even a confirmed waitlist, and while it may be pathetic, but it made me so happy! :-) :-) :-)

I hope that if a LOR killed me at the other programs, it's not happening right now there as well, though...

[martizzle]

dude, dont kill your self....we r in the same boat (except I dont have a scholarship or anything, and I graduated from one of the smaller schools with a 3.6 GPA)....things will work out. Be patient and trust in god....if you are not religious (like me), its time to start believing in something, and to start praying and fasting lol

but seriously, just because the first four were negative doesnt mean the rest will...be confident in yourself and hopeful

[Nancy]

As hard as it is, do try and hang in there with the waiting. I'm from the UK, and found the whole process baffling, and was giving up hope all through Feb, and had started applying to UK masters so I could pad out my CV some more. But then I got an acceptance to the place I wanted the most, so it can still happen (I still haven't heard a word back from the others, with the exception of one rejection).

I guess what I'm saying is try and stick it out, there is still time for everything to work out, and if not, take that year and go have a great time!

Best of luck

[Liesje]

Silent =/= rejection!

These forums can psyche an aspiring scholar out pretty easily because it seems like the process is almost over. It's not. If you haven't heard from 9 schools, you're potentially still being considered at 9 schools. You have a lot of chances left. Unfortunately, (at least for me) anxiety and dread are entirely immune to reasoning, but it's just simply not time to worry yet.

[Tiglath-Pileser III]

4 out of 5 rejections. I'm feeling lower than a limbo stick in Jamaica at carnival time.

[ootg]

I know how you feel. So what if I was on the Dean's List for my MBA, and got a Distinction for my MSc (unrelated subject)? I got my 5th rejection today, out of 9 applications. Looks like I'm not supposed to do this PhD...

[ootg]

I know how you feel. So what if I was on the Dean's List for my MBA, and got a Distinction for my MSc (unrelated subject)? I got my 5th rejection today, out of 9 applications. Looks like I'm not supposed to do this PhD...