The 15th is this week! What are you doing about schools you haven't heard back from?

[BassAZ]

Well, I finally heard back from my first choice... and it was a rejection. I'm so upset, I thought I had done a pretty good interview. Now it looks like I'll have to decide between my other two acceptances... One which is in a cool city, Boston, but whose faculty I wasn't crazy about, because they were very stuffy and cold. Or a school in San Antonio, where the people were cool, but most people in the program are much older than me, and therefore I am worried I won't make much friends. Any opinions?

Just speaking of Boston in general - a lot of people from more southern/western parts of the US think of New England as just that : kinda cold and stuffy. It's just kinda personality traits among the people here. Generally you get used to it or find people more endearing as they get closer to you and vice-versa but in general up here you're going to find people a little more guarded in the short-term.

Interestingly you aren't talking about the programs and only the people that you've met in the programs. Which do you think is a better fit for you and that you'll enjoy more? That's one of the more important questions you'll have to ask. I assume you've made your choice, but I can tell you that no matter where you go you WILL find excellent people and some of those more aloof individuals.

God bless.

[kohaku]

I'm still waiting for one program. I do not even know if I'm waitlisted. I have called a few weeks ago and they said: "You are not accepted, not rejected, you are pending".

I'm calling tomorrow, I want to know the truth, and that's it.

I am debating myself, whether to call again or email again the one decision I am still waiting for (already called and emailed last week and got no response). I don't want to be pushy, but it is my first choice and I feel I need to know before I decide on anything else. I think I will likely email in the next few minutes and then call in the PM if no response. This is ridiculous....

[peppermint.beatnik]

I think so, especially since the deadline is approaching, and even if they don't follow it, they must know other schools do. I would send an email letting them know you are still interested.

captiv8ed--should I just say something to the effect that 'my primary interest is with the program?'

How should I phrase it? I don't want to say, "[school] is my first choice," or something to the effect, since the school probably hears that from most people.

[captiv8ed]

Yes, something like that. If you have other schools awaiting your decision tomorrow, I would let them know that too.

Good luck!

[rooster34]

Here's the update:

I called the grad. school last week and spoke with a very nice lady who said she'd personally look into things. Apparently OSU considered all of my undergrad record. This stupid move put my undergrad GPA at 2.89, which is below the grad. school cutoff of 3.0. (For more info. on my situation, click here: As such, the department had to petition the grad. school to let me in. Apparently the dept. did so back in early Feb. Nothing happened for two months and, quite frankly, things would have stayed that way had I not called. The petition was approved yesterday and I have been admitted. Now I just need to get a hold of the department and talk $$. Also, as far as courting me earlier, they invited me (along with about 20 others) to their grad. information day way back in early Jan.

Update Number 2!

The best I can tell, here is what happened at OSU. They looked at all of my undergrad. work (even the stuff 13+ years old!) and that put my undergrad. GPA at 2.89, which is less than the grad. school required 3.0. In early Feb. the department submitted a petition to the grad. school. At that point, the petition should have been rubber stamped approved. But, that did not happen. Instead, my online status sat at "Referred" for two months. I spoke to the grad. school again today and, according to the grad. school, the stat. dept. didn't send the file(s) to the grad. school until last week after I spoke to the lady mentioned above. After I spoke with the grad. school, I called the dept. chair. He said that he'd spoken with the grad. studies chair and that I should expect an offer shortly. He apologized for the delay. About an hour later, I got a voicemail from the grad. studies chair telling me that she is working on an offer letter and that she'd send it to me shortly. She also apologized and blamed some of the communication problems on email problems. Furthermore, I got the impression that the stat. dept. believes that they sent everything to the grad. school back in Feb. Regardless, it looks like I finally have my offer! I guess it just goes to show you that sometimes being patient is not the best course of action and that being persistent is always good!

Best of luck to those still waiting. Don't be afraid to call/email at this point. Really, what do you have to lose?

[rooster34]

Oh no. I'm still waiting on my first choice, but I have a feeling that I will have the same outcome as you. I already know where I will go if I don't get in, but I'm actually not too happy about it. It isn't a bad school or program, but the thought of not going to my absolute first choice and perfect fit program is really irritating.

Any word, Joro?

[joro]

Any word, Joro?

Still nothing...I called today and was caught off guard when the person I was hoping to speak with wasn't available. From what I got from the conversation, they mailed out all decisions so I should expect something in the mail soon?

I did receive an extension for a few schools, so I can still continue to wait. I also did receive a formal letter from OSU saying I was admitted.

[dagny851]

i'm waiting on my first choice too. i mailed them yesterday and got no reply so far. is like you go down on your knee and profess your undying love and its not reciprocated. hurts.

but it makes sense that if they haven't informed me till April 14th, they're not going to tell me anything before april 16th untill they hear back from all the people to whom they've already made offers. but the fact that they haven't informed me of a waitlist or replied to my inquiry mail does not bode well right? if they wanted me even a wee lil bit they would have bothered to tell me to hang on and wait patiently right?