2020 Applicants

[spikeseagulls]

Has anyone else still not heard anything from UC Davis? I don't even think I'm interested in the program anymore, but the silence seems kind of odd lol, considering acceptances and rejections went out forever ago.

[AnachronisticPoet]

8 hours ago, spikeseagulls said:

Has anyone else still not heard anything from UC Davis? I don't even think I'm interested in the program anymore, but the silence seems kind of odd lol, considering acceptances and rejections went out forever ago.

I imagine at this point that it might just be an oversight. Might be worth emailing them to ask

[AnachronisticPoet]

On 3/10/2020 at 9:01 PM, tinymica said:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-harvard-colleges-closed-184640323.html

Did everybody hear about this? Harvard students have 5 days to vacate their dorms and....not come back. Many students have nowhere to go, especially international students for whom it is not an option to return home. Wtf is the world right now?

University of Dayton was given 24 hours notice. Students were scrambling for transportation and packing or finding alternative options if they couldn't go home. They could apply for extenuating circumstances to stay on campus (like international students, queer students possibly) 

[caffeinated applicant]

On 3/13/2020 at 6:32 PM, WildeThing said:

I honestly cannot think of a worse move than individual schools allowing for extensions. This is going to really mess with waitlists and force students to make decisions they might not otherwise make.

As someone sitting on two waitlists and no acceptances, I disagree with this one. Right now I'm not able to do my usual due-diligence on schools due to turmoil in my own work and personal life due to the virus sucking up every waking hour, and anyway, many schools and individual people aren't nearly as responsive as they would be otherwise in mid-March--because the virus is sucking up all their time too--so even the emails I do send don't get responses. I want the space to hold these conversations in the middle of April, instead of feeling like my time to get answers and reassure programs of my interest is going down the drain as I make sure that my family is safe and try to help others in and beyond my personal circles. Getting an acceptance on May 17th wouldn't be that different to me than getting it on April 17th, so far as the logistics of moving my entire life and my partner's life to a different state would be, but knowing that the deadline was extended would make my March less of a hellscape. 

And I know that others are in much, much worse positions! I'm like, top 10% easiest situations! I wish that the deadlines could be uniformly pushed back two weeks or a month so that professors and current students didn't have to deal with grad admissions stuff on top of their mountain of existing responsibilities due to moving classes online, childcare up in the air, professional obligations like standing on sand, etc. etc. I wish the deadlines were pushed back so that current undergrads didn't have to juggle this on top of forced evictions from their dorms. I wish, I wish... 

[gooniesneversaydie]

Gather round the campfire kids (@GoldHippie, @Emailchecker, @onerepublic96 ), ol' gooniesneversaydie has a new tale to tell about the mystical college known as BU. Legend has it that this school only appears to those who are true of heart (@tinymica) on the third new moon of the winter solstice. No, I just got a response back from the email I sent the department last week asking about my application.

Thanks for reaching out! The graduate admissions board is still reviewing applications, and they hoped to release decisions by mid-March. Because of the university closure, however, things have slowed down somewhat. Hopefully applicants will hear back with their decisions over the next couple weeks, but I'm not too sure myself because of the confusion.

So, here we are. We have no clue. Apparently, they have no clue. So.... 

 

[caffeinated applicant]

I'd like to nominate BU for the award of "Grad Café's Choice: Worst Admissions Process" for 2020 ???? 

"I'm not too sure myself"... dang. 

[Emailchecker]

It's very hard not to lose respect for them at the moment. I don't mind the waiting - we have all become experts in that by now - but I do mind the BS. The admissions board is 100% not still reviewing applications. If they are, then it is even greater BS that they have made offers before seeing all apps?!?! Ok, BU. Take a sit.

[tinymica]

@gooniesneversaydie thanks for the update! They still haven’t gotten back to me with real answers, just forwarded my email to the relevant people.

I’m very miffed about the way they’re treating admits and waiting applicants alike. I was trying to be understanding about the unprecedented circumstances, but every other university seems to be okay communicating with students! I agree with @Emailchecker; it’s tough not to lose some respect for them.

[gooniesneversaydie]

16 minutes ago, Emailchecker said:

It's very hard not to lose respect for them at the moment. I don't mind the waiting - we have all become experts in that by now - but I do mind the BS. The admissions board is 100% not still reviewing applications. If they are, then it is even greater BS that they have made offers before seeing all apps?!?! Ok, BU. Take a sit.

I'm also doubtful that they're still reviewing applications, as we know at least 4 people have already been accepted. Not to say they aren't working on a waitlist or their MA offer list, but I think the PhD admits have been chosen and sent out. It is an usual time, however, we've been waiting for responses since before shit hit the fan at the universities. And if they aren't sending out responses to admits, like @tinymica said, then it really puts a bad taste in my mouth about how the administration handles things in general. It's a big school, so I'm still trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, but c'mon now. 

[tinymica]

1 hour ago, AnachronisticPoet said:

University of Dayton was given 24 hours notice. Students were scrambling for transportation and packing or finding alternative options if they couldn't go home. They could apply for extenuating circumstances to stay on campus (like international students, queer students possibly) 

Excuse me??? 24 HOURS? This is unconscionable and disgusting.

[merry night wanderer]

I mean, a lot of us have already chosen at this point. Even if BU came by with any sort of offer I'd have to immediately respond with "taken, sorry." I'm sure a lot happens behind the scenes to complicate any admissions process, but I wouldn't be surprised if they're left scrambling to fill their cohort.

Edited March 16, 2020 by merry night wanderer

[onerepublic96]

51 minutes ago, merry night wanderer said:

I mean, a lot of us have already chosen at this point. Even if BU came by with any sort of offer I'd have to immediately respond with "taken, sorry." I'm sure a lot happens behind the scenes to complicate any admissions process, but I wouldn't be surprised if they're left scrambling to fill their cohort.

I’m also really annoyed with BU and how they’ve been handling this process, but still can I just say... BU, I volunteer as tribute! 

[onerepublic96]

Finally got my NYU rejection, with a baffling invitation to have my application considered for the MA in Irish and Irish-American studies. Strange because while I do love Joyce, Irish studies couldn’t be farther from my stated and demonstrated research interests... 

[gooniesneversaydie]

I am curious to see how next year will play out for the 2021/22 applicants. Will there be more openings in programs due to the cancellations/lack of communication? Are the cohorts going to be drastically larger? Would that impact potential funding? Will there be a ripple effect that impacts the job market in 5-6 years?

I was at my first undergrad institution during H1N1 in 2009 (I had to be escorted off campus and self-quarantined, because I had it) and schools shut down for about a week, but I don't remember it being this intense, or what the overall impact on academia was. 

[tinymica]

Shout out to all the grad students who have been graciously reading my essay-length emails and answering my 2000000 questions! (I have definitely thanked them profusely already but just saying.)

[gooniesneversaydie]

16 minutes ago, tinymica said:

Shout out to all the grad students who have been graciously reading my essay-length emails and answering my 2000000 questions! (I have definitely thanked them profusely already but just saying.)

Omg! These grad students are champs! Definitely going to have to pay it forward in the future. I'll send 25-50 questions and they'll immediately respond with, "um, let's chat on the phone!" One student was actually submitting her dissertation the day she spoke to me! Like, focus on you, girl, my inane questions can wait! 

[tinymica]

15 minutes ago, gooniesneversaydie said:

Omg! These grad students are champs! Definitely going to have to pay it forward in the future. I'll send 25-50 questions and they'll immediately respond with, "um, let's chat on the phone!" One student was actually submitting her dissertation the day she spoke to me! Like, focus on you, girl, my inane questions can wait! 

I know! I'm extremely grateful for them. I try to be super respectful of their time and let them know that they don't have to answer all my questions if they don't have time. It's just helpful if they do I also offer to buy them a coffee or something similar as thanks.

[WildeThing]

6 hours ago, caffeinated applicant said:

As someone sitting on two waitlists and no acceptances, I disagree with this one. Right now I'm not able to do my usual due-diligence on schools due to turmoil in my own work and personal life due to the virus sucking up every waking hour, and anyway, many schools and individual people aren't nearly as responsive as they would be otherwise in mid-March--because the virus is sucking up all their time too--so even the emails I do send don't get responses. I want the space to hold these conversations in the middle of April, instead of feeling like my time to get answers and reassure programs of my interest is going down the drain as I make sure that my family is safe and try to help others in and beyond my personal circles. Getting an acceptance on May 17th wouldn't be that different to me than getting it on April 17th, so far as the logistics of moving my entire life and my partner's life to a different state would be, but knowing that the deadline was extended would make my March less of a hellscape. 

And I know that others are in much, much worse positions! I'm like, top 10% easiest situations! I wish that the deadlines could be uniformly pushed back two weeks or a month so that professors and current students didn't have to deal with grad admissions stuff on top of their mountain of existing responsibilities due to moving classes online, childcare up in the air, professional obligations like standing on sand, etc. etc. I wish the deadlines were pushed back so that current undergrads didn't have to juggle this on top of forced evictions from their dorms. I wish, I wish... 

It would be great if all schools pushed the deadline back and gave people more time. It would certainly cause problems for some people because now you’re arriving late to the housing market and if you’re overseas you need to rush for visas, but overall it would be for the best.

But that is not happening. So if some schools decide to give more time but others don’t, how does that play out? Not all programs can actually still continue to give offers because the internal mechanisms need more processing time, so if someone rejects their spot late, it might not move to the next person. If someone is able to make a decision in May, the trickle effect could mean that many students lose spots that would have been available otherwise. Or what if school X does not budge so you accept but May 1st you get an offer off the waitlist for another school? This introduces a lot of chaos and while the flexibility is certainly great for those who hold multiple offers, if you are not those people I think this is more likely to affect you negatively than positively.

I hope this all works out for the best and everyone can make sound decisions and have enough time to make them but I am always wary when a mechanism that is meant to equalize the playing field and keep schools accountable can be nullified by particular schools. That said, I do see the point that perhaps the chaos and loss that might be effected is a lesser evil or worth it if it means reducing stress for others during this trying time. It’s hard to say, we can just hope for the best.

[The Hoosier Oxonian]

6 minutes ago, WildeThing said:

It would be great if all schools pushed the deadline back and gave people more time. It would certainly cause problems for some people because now you’re arriving late to the housing market and if you’re overseas you need to rush for visas, but overall it would be for the best.

The housing market is something I've been thinking about a lot - even if the worst of this crisis has passed by, say, mid-July (and I think that's probably the best case scenario at this point), I'm horrified trying to imagine the nightmare of apartment-hunting and moving at the last minute after all this chaos - and that's assuming that things are back to "normal" enough by late summer that people are allowed to move at all.

Edited March 16, 2020 by The Hoosier Oxonian
Agitated typo

[spikeseagulls]

6 hours ago, AnachronisticPoet said:

I imagine at this point that it might just be an oversight. Might be worth emailing them to ask

Thank you, I emailed the grad department a few weeks ago and he pretty much said there wasn't anything to be said since they were still making decisions, but I tried my hand with the English coordinator so lets see, lol. I wouldn't even consider my two remaining schools over the ones I was accepted to, but I honestly just need this closure at this point lol

[WildeThing]

20 minutes ago, The Hoosier Oxonian said:

The housing market is something I've been thinking about a lot - even if the worst of this crisis has passed by, say, mid-July (and I think that's probably the best case scenario at this point), I'm horrified trying to imagine the nightmare of apartment-hunting and moving at the last minute after all this chaos - and that's assuming that things are back to "normal" enough by late summer that people are allowed to move at all.

Yes, completely understandably, which is why I want to preach for calm. This is similar to the situation many international, late-off-the-waitlist, and low-income applicants find themselves in: unable to visit, needing to gather information late and second-hand, etc. And those students usually make it work, as will most people here be able to. Things are going to take longer but faculty and students will adjust to the new normal at some point and lines of communication will flow again.

The housing situation is tough because it’s something beyond the university, but I have seen students find places to live very late. They might not be ideal, but if you have some flexibility hopefully you will be able to find something good/decent/manageable. I signed my lease May 1st and some of my cohort-mates found places later, for what it’s worth (very little, admittedly).

[spikeseagulls]

1 hour ago, spikeseagulls said:

Thank you, I emailed the grad department a few weeks ago and he pretty much said there wasn't anything to be said since they were still making decisions, but I tried my hand with the English coordinator so lets see, lol. I wouldn't even consider my two remaining schools over the ones I was accepted to, but I honestly just need this closure at this point lol

So apparently I was waitlisted??!?!?! I guess they forgot to tell me...? LOL

[gooniesneversaydie]

11 minutes ago, spikeseagulls said:

So apparently I was waitlisted??!?!?! I guess they forgot to tell me...? LOL

Wow. 

My intimidation of entering academia is starting to *slightly* decrease. Dumpster fires and hot messes. Still for it!

[spikeseagulls]

Just now, gooniesneversaydie said:

Wow. 

My intimidation of entering academia is starting to *slightly* decrease. Dumpster fires and hot messes. Still for it!

Honestly! They definitely screw up all the time which lessens my imposter syndrome a bit. It's possible that they didn't contact waitlisted applicants since the only one I see on the board is mine (unless they just weren't posted on the board), but that's a pretty bad look imo. It's getting to the point of the process where people are beginning to make decisions, and I wouldn't have even thought to consider them since there's been no correspondence between us whatsoever??? 

[tinymica]

23 minutes ago, spikeseagulls said:

Honestly! They definitely screw up all the time which lessens my imposter syndrome a bit. It's possible that they didn't contact waitlisted applicants since the only one I see on the board is mine (unless they just weren't posted on the board), but that's a pretty bad look imo. It's getting to the point of the process where people are beginning to make decisions, and I wouldn't have even thought to consider them since there's been no correspondence between us whatsoever??? 

This is about UC Davis right? I was waitlisted by them, too, and they notified me about that via email on 2/14. Must've been a gross oversight that they didn't reach out to you.