Rejected by all the schools? Now what?

[bloometal]

Hey All,

So they say it's been a bad year for grad school admissions this year. I guess I could say it's been worse for me considering I got turned down at all the 8 schools I applied to. Next step is to figure out which schools which are still accepting applications and have their deadlines earliest by the next week or two. Bluntly put, I gotta be scavenging now.

I was wondering if you guys knew any decent schools with application deadlines after the April 15th.

And where you think I could apply even though the deadline has passed (if at all there are schools with this option open).

And being cornered to such a situation, is there a point in attending american schools literally unheard off? Is that going to make my application all the more difficult next year?

R

PS: I am an international applicant.

[origin415]

This years application season is coming to a close, I don't think it would be worthwhile to try applying to places now. If I were you, I would be applying to jobs to hold you over for a year until next years season. Math related internships to enhance your resume would be best. If you're GRE scores can be improved, study over the summer and take it in october. Do more research and focus your applications better next year with what you've learned this year. Write a better SOP. Apply to safer schools than you applied to this year. Apply to more schools too. Grad school applications are a crap shoot, I got rejected by two schools I considered in the safety range, and one school I considered out of it.

Hopefully schools will loosen their belts a little and departments will be hurting less for money.

Good luck.

[peppermint.beatnik]

Write to all of the schools asking for feedback on your application. Not all schools will be helpful in their response, but those that are will provide valuable assistance.

[enigma]

I think one of the most important things for an international candidate is his/her letters of recommendation. I mean, nearly every candidate applying to the program will have good credentials like good scores, good grades etc. Along with being a fit to the program, i think its important that the student's research ability is vouched for by letters from profs who are well known in general and specifically in the univs he or she is applying to.

So if you can sustain yourself for one year (monetarily), i guess go and try doing an internship under a prof from a well known place. I think funding for a reading or a research project in math is tough, so probably u ll ve to pay from your own pocket. But i think working for around 4 months before you apply, will ensure you ll ve a good recommendation and something more concrete in your statement of purpose and you can always show ur interest towards math and how u stuck with it and tried again the next year.

Good luck !!!

[marmotee]

What are examples of math-related internships/ways of doing math research and getting LORs?

[enigma]

By a math internship, all I mean is - mimic what you would in ur first two years of PhD, i.e, do a reading project. In any case, for pure math thats how "research" begins and subsequent discussions will ensure your prof can judge your acumen.

What are examples of math-related internships/ways of doing math research and getting LORs?

[grendel]

Just a thought: Schools pretty much in all of Europe (the UK is the exception) have deadlines much later than the US, perhaps in April/May or even later. And what's more, there are no tuition fees (again, the UK is the exception). There are some very good schools for mathematics in Denmark (DTU, Copenhagen University), Sweden (KTH, Chalmers/University of Gothenburg, Lund, Uppsala), France (Paris VI, Bordeaux, etc.) and Germany. I'm just naming a few countries and schools where I would hypothetically be interested in staying.

I guess you would have to know some French or German for the schools in France or Germany respectively, but I know that the Nordic schools are very welcoming to international students and offer courses in English.

If you're really set on going to the US you could try to find a one or two year master's programme in Europe as a springboard. Or you could just stay there for your PhD. Keep in mind that you will often have to have a better idea of what you would like to study when you apply at European institutions compared to American ones. For example, you often apply for a specific PhD position with a specific advisor as opposed to a general "PhD Programme".

I have no idea if visas will be an issue but I can't imagine that they will be if the schools are willing to have you as a student.

[SpaceShuttle]

There are also still schools out there (in the US) that will have deadlines in June, usually some mid-western universities. Also, you could look into master's programs which have late deadlines and then reapply when you are ready to graduate. The Cal States have positions like these for example.

Also, I've found that using the GRE Score Report Service (where ETS sends your scores to schools for recruiting purposes) was very useful for me. Sometimes they won't be in your direct field but will be looking someone with your background. This could help you explore you interests in other areas or find schools that you would be more likely to get in. I wish I had done this more, I might have been admitted to more places. This was a pretty useful strategy for me and in fact, the only place I got in was one of these recruitment emails and it was for a Public Health PhD (Biostat empahsis), when I was looking into Stat/Biostat PhDs.

[bloometal]

Thank you all for taking your time and replying. Special thanks to enigma for taking time to advice me on options I have in the city where I live.

If you're GRE scores can be improved, study over the summer and take it in october. Do more research and focus your applications better next year with what you've learned this year. Write a better SOP... Hopefully schools will loosen their belts a little and departments will be hurting less for money.

Good luck.

Thank you origin415. As a matter of fact, I could not take the GRE math this year as it is administered only once in a year in India. But, the problem is that I have already taken a year off and I am actually wondering if taking one more off would make any difference for me.

Write to all of the schools asking for feedback on your application. Not all schools will be helpful in their response, but those that are will provide valuable assistance.

Thanks p.b! Wonderful idea! I think everyone who is planning to apply in the coming years again to grad school should try this out!

Just a thought: Schools pretty much in all of Europe (the UK is the exception) have deadlines much later than the US, perhaps in April/May or even later. And what's more, there are no tuition fees (again, the UK is the exception). There are some very good schools for mathematics in Denmark (DTU, Copenhagen University), Sweden (KTH, Chalmers/University of Gothenburg, Lund, Uppsala), France (Paris VI, Bordeaux, etc.) and Germany. I'm just naming a few countries and schools where I would hypothetically be interested in staying.

If you're really set on going to the US you could try to find a one or two year master's programme in Europe as a springboard. Or you could just stay there for your PhD. Keep in mind that you will often have to have a better idea of what you would like to study when you apply at European institutions compared to American ones. For example, you often apply for a specific PhD position with a specific advisor as opposed to a general "PhD Programme".

@grendel: That was extremely informative. Thanks for the huge list. Really appreciate it. Did you apply to EU universities?

I was infatuated with this idea until I checked with the websites of EVERY single school that you had given on your list, and EVERY one of them had deadlines real early, some even had it during the first week of January. Of course I realise there probably are more universities, but I rationalized that they all might have at least some standard structure about them.

I am applying to some UK universities. Maybe pick-up an accent before I get to the US next year.

There are also still schools out there (in the US) that will have deadlines in June, usually some mid-western universities. Also, you could look into master's programs which have late deadlines and then reapply when you are ready to graduate. The Cal States have positions like these for example.

Also, I've found that using the GRE Score Report Service (where ETS sends your scores to schools for recruiting purposes) was very useful for me. Sometimes they won't be in your direct field but will be looking someone with your background. This could help you explore you interests in other areas or find schools that you would be more likely to get in. I wish I had done this more, I might have been admitted to more places. This was a pretty useful strategy for me and in fact, the only place I got in was one of these recruitment emails and it was for a Public Health PhD (Biostat empahsis), when I was looking into Stat/Biostat PhDs.

@SS Thank you! Yeah... I am looking at options now. U of SCarolina has it open and rolling I think. UNF for one has the deadlines fast approaching in a week. And I never did hear from the GRE score report service. Except for U Alaska I think. It is funny considering I did pretty well on GRE.

Edited April 14, 2010 by rohit

[Kathryn]

Look at Ohio schools. Some of them had rolling admissions and some didn't even require the GRE.

[bloometal]

Oh! Good news! I got accepted at NCSU.. without funding though. I have lotta things to ask. That's a whole different story though. A whole different thread.

12 applications. 4 eligibility problems. 7 rejects. 1 admit! Phew!

[SpaceShuttle]

Congrats bloometal! According to the rankings NCSU is pretty high up there too! I'm sure it will be a quality education.

I feel you on the funding issue. I am running into some similar problems, since UT Pub Health hasn't told me anything about financial aid, but I have a GA interview coming up. Looking into the Office of Financial Aid may help. They also have numerous scholarships and things to apply for. Also, there are some funding opportunities for international students too through the office of financial aid. Browsing around helps!

Good luck with your stuff, I hope we all find ways to figure the financial things out!

[dcrussel]

Oh! Good news! I got accepted at NCSU.. without funding though. I have lotta things to ask. That's a whole different story though. A whole different thread.

12 applications. 4 eligibility problems. 7 rejects. 1 admit! Phew!

I'm wondering because I'm really interested in NCSU, what were your stats like when you got accepted? GRE scores, GPA, etc. I'm very nervous that I won't be able to be accepted, so any information about the program, people who have been accepted in the program, etc. is appreciated! Thanks!