Scenario: The PhD program you want to apply to is suspended due to COVID...

[kingduck]

In light of many schools announcing suspensions in their application cycles, like Columbia's statistics program, what are your plans for applications, should more programs in other schools be suspended?

[HighStat]

Hi, I'd rather find another school. BTW, where is the announcement that Columbia's Statistics program is suspended? I can't find it in the web site.

[kingduck]

@HighStat I found this out on chronicle of higher education. Article is here:

https://www.chronicle.com/article/more-doctoral-programs-suspend-admissions-that-could-have-lasting-effects-on-graduate-education?cid=gen_sign_in (scroll to where it shows a table of suspended programs)

And an article from someone I'm in a groupchat with:

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/opinion-what-is-the-future-of-the-american-phd/361192 (second paragraph last sentence)

 

[confusedbear]

Is this really true? It says on their website that math applications have been suspended (https://gsas.columbia.edu/degree-programs/phd-programs/mathematics) but it does not say the same thing for statistics (https://gsas.columbia.edu/degree-programs/phd-programs/statistics). 

[trynagetby]

I just graduated with a Bachelors from Columbia University and  talked to a Columbia Statistics professor this week. He/She indicated that they would be cutting back but they would still be accepting applications. Perhaps the chronicle has inside information and the professor isn't being straight with me idk. On a sidenote I don't think the outlookindia article is independent of the first, the language seems to be copied.

Edited October 6, 2020 by trynagetby