Purgatory

[piccgeek]

So, as it turns out, being on a waitlist REALLY sucks.

I thought I knew how much it would suck before it happened. But I had no idea. It sucks a LOT.

Part of me is actually thrilled...holy crap I made it onto the MIT waitlist with practically no experience! Good for me!

,...but mostly it is just more torturous waiting, without any end in sight.

Who else is in this waitlist boat? What do you think sucks about it the MOST? Any rays of sunshine or hope or optimism you want to share?

For me, the worst part is telling people I've been waitlisted, because they're not sure how to react. There's this kind of surprised "oh!" Then either "Good for you! That means you were pretty good!" or "omg I'm so SORRY, that's horrible!" or, from the more diplomatic crowd, "Hey, at least you're not outright rejected, right?" I feel like I have to supply them with my thoughts on the matter because they feel uncomfortable until they're supposed to say next. It's very frustrating.

[Social Psyc Researcher]

So, as it turns out, being on a waitlist REALLY sucks.

I thought I knew how much it would suck before it happened. But I had no idea. It sucks a LOT.

Part of me is actually thrilled...holy crap I made it onto the MIT waitlist with practically no experience! Good for me!

,...but mostly it is just more torturous waiting, without any end in sight.

Who else is in this waitlist boat? What do you think sucks about it the MOST? Any rays of sunshine or hope or optimism you want to share?

For me, the worst part is telling people I've been waitlisted, because they're not sure how to react. There's this kind of surprised "oh!" Then either "Good for you! That means you were pretty good!" or "omg I'm so SORRY, that's horrible!" or, from the more diplomatic crowd, "Hey, at least you're not outright rejected, right?" I feel like I have to supply them with my thoughts on the matter because they feel uncomfortable until they're supposed to say next. It's very frustrating.

I agree, it sucks and telling to people about it sucks too. It also sucks to tell all the people who knew you were applying that you didn't get in. The awkward responses the uncomfortable faces...believe me I know.

I applied to 14 PhD programs last year, I did the whole waiting list thing with two programs only to finally be let down in the end. Now here I am again after applying to another 15 programs waiting for good word. I think I am a lot more pessimistic this year so if/when I get the final letdown it won't be as big of a blow. Technically I am still waiting to hear back from 5 programs and I have been wait listed at 4, but my odds don't feel good at this point. If you want to hear some positives about people getting in off waiting lists or people who have been accepted this late in the game check out the other waiting list thread.

Good luck waiting out the wait list, I hope it all works out for you in the end : )

[digits2006]

Ahhhhhhh, I know how you are feeling. I am wait listed at 2 Phd Programs. It is awesome to know that an average student like myself was wait listed at a PhD programs. But also, it sucks waiting so much. I know that one of my schools is meeting tomorrow to go over wait listed candidates! So, im thinking if I don't hear back tomorrow, Im not in. But, that might not be the case. Schools like to take their time. The other school said I was first on the wait list. But, only two people were offered acceptances, so my chances are a little slimmer. It will all pay off if I am accepted into a PhD program. I have wanted this for so long, so I really wish it would just get here already!

[hil]

Definitely know how you're feeling! I was wait listed at Cornell. At first I was VERY proud of myself, then followed the "what-if"s, and now I'm wallowing in anxiety. I just want to hear the final decision, either way.

[appliqed]

I have a conflicted feeling towards my waistlist status as this year's competition was insanely fierce in CA. It is nice to be NOT rejected at my top choice school, but I spent a considerable amount of time talking to the faculty/students there and I thought I had an advantage. To make the situation worse, the future of my relationship depends on the outcome. So yes, it's killing both my boyfriend and I.

[Social Psyc Researcher]

Ahhhhhhh, I know how you are feeling. I am wait listed at 2 Phd Programs. It is awesome to know that an average student like myself was wait listed at a PhD programs. But also, it sucks waiting so much. I know that one of my schools is meeting tomorrow to go over wait listed candidates! So, im thinking if I don't hear back tomorrow, Im not in. But, that might not be the case. Schools like to take their time. The other school said I was first on the wait list. But, only two people were offered acceptances, so my chances are a little slimmer. It will all pay off if I am accepted into a PhD program. I have wanted this for so long, so I really wish it would just get here already!

Digits-

I am guessing you applied to the Law Psyc program at UTEP, if so just thought I would let you know that one of the accepted applicants just accepted an offer somewhere else...which means a spot will be opening up on the waiting list very soon if it hasn't already.

[RLJedi]

I'm on the Wait list at two places and both told me I won't hear back until the adcom meets again in mid-April. Funny thing: I only applied to these two programs because I felt they were the best of the best. I'd rather wait and reapply as opposed to settle for a school that doesn't really fit for me. The way I look at it, I'll have another years work experience (in this particular field) and better GRE scores if I need to reapply next year.

One day you're feeling positive, the next day, you're not ... it's a horrible cycle. Wait list people are waiting for April 15th for different reasons - we want people NOT to accept their spot in the school so that in another two or three weeks - we hopefully get that magical letter

[hollanding]

I'm on 2 waitlists and am still waiting to hear anything from 4 other schools (all masters programs). One of the waitlists is for my absolute dream school. Any advice on how to kindly ask them about the size of the waitlist and to insist that I will keep waiting for them, regardless of financial aid or considerations of time? Can this be done without showing my desperation?

Edited March 26, 2010 by hollanding

[RLJedi]

I'm on 2 waitlists and am still waiting to hear anything from 4 other schools (all masters programs). One of the waitlists is for my absolute dream school. Any advice on how to kindly ask them about the size of the waitlist and to insist that I will keep waiting for them, regardless of financial aid or considerations of time? Can this be done without showing my desperation?

My wait list letters actually gave me a good idea of where I was on the wait list. UCLA used the phrase "short wait list pool." They used bold and even underlined. My other school did the same thing stating "We may be able to offer you admission into the program should one or more of the original 20 applicants chose not to enroll." I took those statements to mean that I have a decent shot if the opportunity presents itself. I did send a letter to both schools thanking them for continuing to consider my application, then I added something new that I've done recently that wasn't on my resume or part of my SOP. I also expressed my interest in wanting to be a part of the program. My letter was about a page long - I think I had two sentences that hit a second page along with my signature. I mailed the letters to the individuals who mailed me the wait list letter and then made the letter out to that person and "members of the admissions committee."

Hope this helps.

[Social Psyc Researcher]

I'm on 2 waitlists and am still waiting to hear anything from 4 other schools (all masters programs). One of the waitlists is for my absolute dream school. Any advice on how to kindly ask them about the size of the waitlist and to insist that I will keep waiting for them, regardless of financial aid or considerations of time? Can this be done without showing my desperation?

My understanding is that it would be most appropriate to ask these type of questions if you can relate them to your other admissions decisions. So in your case if you have not been accepted anywhere, you could contact them letting them know

...you have been placed on another waiting list and as you may have to make a decision on very short notice about whether to accept or reject this other institution's offer, you are hoping to get an idea about how many people they are accepting, where you are on the waiting list, and how many people are on the waiting list. You could also express that their program/university is your top choice, which is why it is so important for you to have this information....

Something to that effect shows you are desirable (since you are wait listed at other schools) versus desperate. It also indicates that you see how amazing their program is (in comparison with the other waiting list school) and everyone likes to hear that they are liked.

Anyway that is my two cents...