Jump to content

Spring Break


bluellie

Recommended Posts

Since March is upon us, those of us still waiting (patiently?) for answers have to contend with the prospect of spring break. Do adcoms take an entire week off from judging us unworthy, and, thus, we are faced with another week of nail-biting silence from the universities or do adcoms use the time normally spent on classes to buckle down and get results out?

Though at this point, it might be nice to prolong the delusion for a little more...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm sure it depends on the school. However, since it's only a week and it's not like people with families are very likely to up and go someplace in the middle of the year, I'd guess that at least some adcom members will be in their offices at least some of the time. Now, if they have committee meetings scheduled for that week--who knows?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The thing about spring break is that you're just as likely to receive your decision as any other week in March, however, it's impossible to contact the department and the admin coordinator. At least, that as my experience last round. I went home for spring break, and when I got back there were four decision letters in my snail mail box, three rejects and 1 acceptance, and I know for a fact that the school that accepted me was on spring break when they sent the letter. But when I tried to contact that same school over the break to ask them some question or another, all was silent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In my experience, profs don't work over Spring Break, but admins do. So if letters are sent over Break, it's because the content was created by the profs before Break for the admins to send during Break.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One of the schools I applied to has said several times (on their website, in mass emails, in personal emails, etc.) that they will send admissions decisions by March 13, which is next Saturday, but they're also on spring break all week. Based on previous years' admissions results, it looks like they will actually stick to this deadline, so I guess that means someone is working this week.

Edited by expressionista
Link to comment
Share on other sites

One of the schools I applied to has said several times (on their website, in mass emails, in personal emails, etc.) that they will send admissions decisions by May 13, which is next Saturday, but they're also on spring break all week. Based on previous years' admissions results, it looks like they will actually stick to this deadline, so I guess that means someone is working this week.

haha i hope you meant march 13, because May 13 will be very cruel time for decisions to arrive.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It definitely depends on the school. At my current grad program the profs/adcoms are around and meeting during spring break (starting next week) but the administration staff is not. So, even if the adcoms came to an agreement, the notifications wouldn't go out until the department secretary returned the following week. My goal for spring break is to not think about pending phd applications. I have plenty of poetry portfolios to grade, and if I want to get them done I can't be checking my email every couple of hours. I'm going to think of spring break as a brief break from application season as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm guessing they probably won't send (very few if any) decision emails out during spring break but immediately before and towards the end (around sunday-ish) who knows?

I know the spring break at all of my universities (BA, MA, PhD) has not meant that administrators aren't working.

In my experience, profs don't work over Spring Break, but admins do. So if letters are sent over Break, it's because the content was created by the profs before Break for the admins to send during Break.

I think oldlady and I have had opposite experiences here. My professors do work over Spring Break, though it may not be in terms of reading applications. They also expect me to do work, in addition to doing work of their own. I'll probably take a total of 3 days off, out of the 9 days we have.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, my spring break is the last week of March, so I REALLY hope I'll receive all decisions before then. Otherwise I'll have to expect unpleasant, or, if I'm lucky, very pleasant gifts after the break.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's funny how applications make you dread things that you used to cherish (e.g. winter break, weekends, spring break). I used to love these breaks because they meant that I got to finally relax a bit. Now, they mean I have to wait extra days before I can anticipate getting a response from an adcomm. :angry:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's funny how applications make you dread things that you used to cherish (e.g. winter break, weekends, spring break). I used to love these breaks because they meant that I got to finally relax a bit. Now, they mean I have to wait extra days before I can anticipate getting a response from an adcomm. :angry:

brings back memories back in high school senior year when i was waiting for last bit of undergraduate application results... now it looks like i might have to endure that experience AGAIN, unless these admission folks pace it up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well I called my top choice over their Spring Break and asked when they'd be sending out notifications, and they'd told me they put them in the mail the previous Friday. So I pried a little deeper, and asked if they knew whether or not I got in, fully expecting to get my feelings hurt, and it turns out that I did get in!!!

Edited by eastcoastdude123
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Boy, I am so happy to have found this thread, I had not even thought about how Spring Break might delay my decision admission. Well, I just checked and found out that the college that I applied to does not start their Spring Break until April 4th. Therefore, I am now more confident of hearing something about my admission decision sometime this month.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well I called my top choice over their Spring Break and asked when they'd be sending out notifications, and they'd told me they put them in the mail the previous Friday. So I pried a little deeper, and asked if they knew whether or not I got in, fully expecting to get my feelings hurt, and it turns out that I did get in!!!

Wow, that is great news. Congrats!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well I called my top choice over their Spring Break and asked when they'd be sending out notifications, and they'd told me they put them in the mail the previous Friday. So I pried a little deeper, and asked if they knew whether or not I got in, fully expecting to get my feelings hurt, and it turns out that I did get in!!!

Congratulations on getting into your top choice school!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use