StarkDark1 Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 I was wondering how COVID will affect the timing of the admissions offers. It seems like most people are saying that fewer people are applying this year to PhD programs, but that the programs also have fewer spots open. Does that mean we can expect to hear back earlier, since there are fewer applications to review? In normal years, programs seem to send admits around early or mid February. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sad Politics Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 The short answer is that we do not know for sure, but it is clear that the number of applications has increased substantially. In a tweet, Ian Turner (Yale) said that they received around twice as many applications this year. I have read similar things about MIT, so it is safe to say that the number of applications is way up. However, it is unclear how that will affect the timing of decisions, and they have been very constant in previous years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brickinthewall Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 56 minutes ago, StarkDark1 said: fewer people are applying this year to PhD programs I would love to hear back earlier... this wait is brutal! I've been banking on early/mid February for now, though, which seems to be standard from previous years. That said, I'm intrigued where you've seen this re: a decrease in applications given the posts in this thread about various tweets suggesting huge increases in application numbers in certain programs. Presuming an increase in app numbers, I was wondering if we wouldn't hear back later than normal (sadly). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sad Politics Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 Just now, Alfonso Galicia said: In a tweet, Ian Turner (Yale) said that they received around twice as many applications this year. Here is the tweet: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polisci_gal Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 From each of the faculty that I spoke to prior to submitting applications, most of them still stuck by the previous years standard of hearing back anywhere from mid Jan to mid Feb. So i'm hopeful that even with the influx of applicants, we will still hear back in the next few weeks! Im obviously checking my e-mail way too much tho.....cant help it! funfetti and Sad Politics 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sad Politics Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 1 hour ago, polisci_gal said: From each of the faculty that I spoke to prior to submitting applications, most of them still stuck by the previous years standard of hearing back anywhere from mid Jan to mid Feb. This is very useful, thank you for sharing that info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irinmn Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 8 hours ago, StarkDark1 said: I was wondering how COVID will affect the timing of the admissions offers. It seems like most people are saying that fewer people are applying this year to PhD programs, but that the programs also have fewer spots open. Does that mean we can expect to hear back earlier, since there are fewer applications to review? In normal years, programs seem to send admits around early or mid February. Not sure where you heard/read that there are fewer applications but this would contradict history. Applications usually increase during recessions and decrease when the economy is good. See: https://news.stanford.edu/2015/03/06/higher-ed-hoxby-030615/ Not sure why it would be any different this time. The exception is if the most optimistic of economic forecasts is accurate and we have a fast recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrownSugar Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 On 1/12/2021 at 5:40 PM, polisci_gal said: From each of the faculty that I spoke to prior to submitting applications, most of them still stuck by the previous years standard of hearing back anywhere from mid Jan to mid Feb. So i'm hopeful that even with the influx of applicants, we will still hear back in the next few weeks! Im obviously checking my e-mail way too much tho.....cant help it! Thanks for sharing! I hope it is the case. Even though I know I won’t receive anything yet, I can’t help but constantly refresh my email as well. Best of luck! polisci_gal 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icemanyeo Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 35 minutes ago, BrownSugar said: Thanks for sharing! I hope it is the case. Even though I know I won’t receive anything yet, I can’t help but constantly refresh my email as well. Best of luck! I'm on winter break until mid-February, so I keep having a heart attack every time I hear the notification sound for my email. It's supposed to be my time to relax but PhD admissions are consuming it. ? Mandyz, polisci_gal, funfetti and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ovejal Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 FWIW, Vanderbilt sent out an email letting applicants know of the decision timeline, which is consistent with past years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarkDark1 Posted January 14, 2021 Author Share Posted January 14, 2021 7 minutes ago, ovejal said: FWIW, Vanderbilt sent out an email letting applicants know of the decision timeline, which is consistent with past years. Nice, when did they say they expect to send out admits? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ovejal Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 Just now, StarkDark1 said: Nice, when did they say they expect to send out admits? Week of Feb. 15 or early the following week. icemanyeo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icemanyeo Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 8 hours ago, StarkDark1 said: Nice, when did they say they expect to send out admits? I know Chicago sent out an email a couple of weeks earlier stating we can expect to hear back in the first two weeks of March as well, with the caveat that the department might informally notify an applicant earlier than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrownSugar Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 35 minutes ago, icemanyeo said: I know Chicago sent out an email a couple of weeks earlier stating we can expect to hear back in the first two weeks of March as well, with the caveat that the department might informally notify an applicant earlier than that. I remember they also mentioned we may or may not be contacted for interviews. Do you know the poli sci department’s approach on this, i.e. do they ever interview? I haven’t seen anything about that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sad Politics Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 48 minutes ago, BrownSugar said: Do you know the poli sci department’s approach on this, i.e. do they ever interview? I haven’t seen anything about that According to what has been posted in GradCafe, they don't seem to interview applicants (https://martindevaux.com/2020/11/political-science-phd-admission-decisions/). My impression is that interviews are not common in poli sci admissions, but I may be wrong. Any thoughts on this? funfetti and BrownSugar 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry B. Benson Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 9 hours ago, icemanyeo said: I'm on winter break until mid-February, so I keep having a heart attack every time I hear the notification sound for my email. It's supposed to be my time to relax but PhD admissions are consuming it. ? Something that may help: I deleted the email that I used for the applications (my old undergrad email address) from my phone, leaving only my personal email. That way, I only ever can check if I have gotten any response if I use my PC. I thought this out specifically for February, as that will probably be the busiest month for decisions. icemanyeo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polisci_gal Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 11 hours ago, icemanyeo said: I keep having a heart attack every time I hear the notification sound for my email. I feel this big time. Next few weeks are going to be rough lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icemanyeo Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 9 hours ago, Barry B. Benson said: Something that may help: I deleted the email that I used for the applications (my old undergrad email address) from my phone, leaving only my personal email. That way, I only ever can check if I have gotten any response if I use my PC. I thought this out specifically for February, as that will probably be the busiest month for decisions. Unfortunately, I registered using my grad email and am working on a co-authored paper over break, so not having mobile access to that email address isn't possible. I appreciate the suggestion though! 7 hours ago, polisci_gal said: I feel this big time. Next few weeks are going to be rough lol One of my coping mechanisms is taking part in PhD meme pages and groups on Facebook ?. Barry B. Benson 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smug-face Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 15 hours ago, icemanyeo said: Unfortunately, I registered using my grad email and am working on a co-authored paper over break, so not having mobile access to that email address isn't possible. I appreciate the suggestion though! I feel you! My strategy was to send all the emails from the domains of the programs to which I've applied to a specific mailbox (I did this with Outlook, but I'm sure any client can do that), not my inbox. So I never get notified for PhD-related emails and I need to check manually! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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