How long does an adcom typically take to review apps...

[kohaku]

I applied to 3 grad programs (foolishly) because of geographical limitations. One that I thought would be a definite long shot, one a safe school and one a "middle of the road" school that happens to be my first choice. To my surprise, my "safe" school was the first one to reject me. That made my self-esteem hit rock bottom and after that I spent 2 weeks feeling sorry for myself, unable to focus on ANYTHING (including my current classes) and thinking about a Plan B if I were to not get in anywhere (very likely scenario at this point) My thinking of course was based on that my "safe" school flat out rejected me only a few weeks after my last LOR was submitted.

Then in Feb. came the rejection for the long shot school I was certain would reject me, so that came as no surprise to me and did not do any more "damage" to my fragile state of mind.

My last remaining app. is to my DREAM school, which I know will still be tough but which I know is the best fit for me. On average only 12-15 out of 70-90 applications students are accepted each year.

On March 1 (deadline for application submissions), I asked via email about the status of my application materials to the program's admission coordinator to make certain all docs arrived on time. She politely answered me a few days later affirmitavely and wished me luck with my application. She also stated that the adcom was just beginning to review the applications and a decision would come soon.

So how long is soon?????????????????

How long can it possibly take to review less than 100 applications?

It has been 13 days.....and I am checking e-mail at least 20 times a day and calling to inquiring about my mail every day 1 minute after I know it was delivered, checking this forum's results page, and all other sorts of obsessive behaviors that I know won't get the decision here any sooner.

[martizzle]

they 'claim' 4-6 weeks, but that depends on when they do start. and besides, there is no guarantee that they will contact you ASAP once a decision is made, or there is an update to your application/decision...i would say: sit tight and wait it out...if you find out someone got an offer/reject from the program...call/email them and ask again...

but killing yourself (with the emails...stress worrying over it, etc) over it wont change their decision...they will contact you at some point (good/bad)...no need bugging them, that wont change anything....when they contact someone, then odds are they probably know/have an idea who is in and out...who's on a waiting list, etc...then you can get info by calling/email (assuming they answer lol

good luck though...this process takes a lot out of us

Edited March 14, 2010 by martizzle

[johndiligent]

Somewhere between two weeks and 8 months. It depends. I'm sorry there's not a better or more helpful answer than that. Good luck!

[joro]

I had my application reviewed in mid-January. They said I will know decisions by end of March to early April. I would have guessed that they finished reviewing my application and ranked it accordingly. Then they will probably accept their top applicants and reject the rest. This is what I'm assuming anyways.

[fuzzylogician]

It takes a few weeks. Reviewing apps is not the only thing the professors on the adcom are doing, not to mention that it takes some time between when the app reaches the graduate school and when it has been processed and transferred to the relevant department. As joro says, some places start by immediately admitting their top applicants and rejecting the very worse-fitting applicants, and slowly work their way towards the middle-of-the-pile applicants. Other departments send out all of the acceptance notifications at once. As long as it's not the case that the department has started informing admitted applicants and you are still in the dark, you are in the running and have a fair shot. I know it's easier said than done but all you can do right now and be patient and keep your hopes up. Good luck!