Reasons for Rejection

[COS10]

Has anyone had any luck with contacting admissions committees or departments of schools that denied admission? I am looking to find out reasons (i.e. how "close" was it, is it worth re-applying, what might I do differently?). Is this something they'd be willing to discuss?

[lovethequestions]

Has anyone had any luck with contacting admissions committees or departments of schools that denied admission? I am looking to find out reasons (i.e. how "close" was it, is it worth re-applying, what might I do differently?). Is this something they'd be willing to discuss?

My guess (admittedly based on no ACTUAL experience) would be that your best shot would be to send a personal email to the professor you're most interested in working with, or to a professor you met with when you visited, and to make it clear that a) you're asking because you're specifically interested in working in this program with this person, b ) you understand that he/she is under no obligation at all to reply and is probably super busy right now, but c) as you plan for what you're going to do next year to help your application look more attractive, it would be really helpful to know what gaps you could fill.

And then I would not be offended if you don't hear back. If you were getting 20 to 30 emails like this, and your own work was already delayed because of the time taken up by admissions meetings, wouldn't you be sick of the whole thing?

Another alternative, if you are in a program now, would be to meet with your advisor or the faculty member who knows your work best and ask him or her for an honest assessment of your application and for advice on preparing for next year's round.

Edited March 5, 2010 by lovethequestions

[jacib]

My guess (admittedly based on no ACTUAL experience) would be that your best shot would be to send a personal email to the professor you're most interested in working with, or to a professor you met with when you visited, and to make it clear that a) you're asking because you're specifically interested in working in this program with this person, b ) you understand that he/she is under no obligation at all to reply and is probably super busy right now, but c) as you plan for what you're going to do next year to help your application look more attractive, it would be really helpful to know what gaps you could fill.

And then I would not be offended if you don't hear back. If you were getting 20 to 30 emails like this, and your own work was already delayed because of the time taken up by admissions meetings, wouldn't you be sick of the whole thing?

Another alternative, if you are in a program now, would be to meet with your advisor or the faculty member who knows your work best and ask him or her for an honest assessment of your application and for advice on preparing for next year's round.

There is no harm in asking. I might not ask the professor you'd like to work with simply because he might have had no idea why you weren't accepted if he's not on the committee. I'd ask the DGS, or ask both. I'd try to put it positively, "I am interested in reapplying next year, blah blah blah, how can i strengthen blah blah blah". I would say their is a good chance that, if you get anything back, you'll get a "We had a record number of applicants this year and had to turn away many qualified candidates." If they remember your application, or its a particularly small program, they might be more forthcoming. Your best chance for a response is if they remember you, and it might be simply "You didn't have a masters degree" "Your GRE scores are low" or "You didn't have enough German". But then again, I am sure they are right--many candidates who filled all the prerequisites weren't selected. But you should ask anyway, if you're reapplying next year.

[PhdWannabee]

All good advice, so I won't repeat! I contacted and met with faculty and they were very candid (almost describing the faculty meeting where my app met its fate!), and most helpful. It's at least moved me from zero interest to on a wait list (progress, right? ). I waited until the process was fully completed, and I think that may have improved the receptivity of said faculty to actually meeting and talking about the application. I think they get just as sick of the applications as we do from January to April.