The Waitlist / Waiting Anxiety

[geumdongi]

I have been waitlisted at one of my top choice college, and then another program I applied to. The whole process has been so 

disheartening that I've been compelled to write this. The application process is so long and grueling , but after giving it all you can, 

you expect , if not a speedy, then a reasonably timed decision being sent to you. But gosh, the delay of results and having been told you're 

waitlisted with NO update at all on your rank/position in the waiting list and if other candidates who were on the list have begun receiving acceptance

letters is so grueling.

 

I had also applied to Utrecht University for a master's program and expected results soon, but not only have they been horrendously delayed but all of my 

emails were also ignored. Weeks and weeks of emailing them and waiting for a response was pure agony. Last week, I finally got an email. And then another, and then another.

Each asking me to contact someone else, and when I did contact the someone else, they asked me again to contact someone else—which I did. And finally, finally, it seemed like

I had reached the end of the tunnel, and was close enough to see the light because I was told I will be given my results by the end of the week! I was so relieved. Finally.

Only to be not given my results. And upon inquiring, I was greeted with an automated email saying it was a national holiday until next week. I was so confused. How can a university 

staff member let you know you'll have your results by the end of the week and forget that the end of the week is filled with national holidays. I was very hurt and disheartened. But I tried to hold onto the last shreds of my sanity and called them today, to be told....I will receive my results by the end of the month and they don't understand the email I was sent that I will get my results soon.. Um..... How can I explain something I received from your university?

 

I am so frustrated, hurt and filled with anxiety. I just wish these universities and programs realized how much toll it takes on candidates to sit and wait for results. Even a small update means so much. Even if it is not an individualized personalized update, they can surely update on their university website as to how many candidates have applied and they shall get back to people by so-and-so date. I also wish the waiting list thing was more transparent and the candidates knew exactly where they stood. This affects our mental health and life deeply as we base our decisions on it. Right now, my life is on pause because I don't know if I will get into any/a school. I cannot join a company temporarily, and I cannot move to another country for a job that I may have to leave but won't be able to do so on time. I really hope someone reads this and understands and makes sure applicants' needs are met. Feelings of powerlessness and helplessness only further aggravate anxiety and stress.

 

 

Edited May 17, 2021 by genderwaitinglist

[labradoodle]

I'm so sorry you're going through this! As I'm assuming you're applying internationally to Utrecht, I just wanted to say that the April 15 vibe/or any other date that is nationally held on to in such a way, isn't really a thing in the Netherlands, and (speaking from a different university but in the same country) while I heard back in a somewhat timely fashion when I applied, I have heard from international students that they heard back much later. Just wanted to emphasize that things can sometimes be quite slow at Dutch universities in this respect, so that you know what process you're in (especially since national and international application deadlines tend to be quite different). You should definitely just contact them when you don't hear anything, though. Finally, the month of may is fulllll of holiday weeks as well as many public holidays, so everything is extra scattered - if you are still busy contacting them in June, you'll probably have much more luck. Just to provide some context if you're an international applicant! And good luck! ☺️

(not to diminish that this is an awful thing for them to do, I just thought some context might help your anxieties a little)

[geumdongi]

Thank you for your comment! It did make me feel better and helped me understand the process in NL. I am just really stressed out right now. Hopefully they do let me know by May end! BTW what do you think about the acceptance rates at Utrecht University for an international student at master's level? I haven't been able to find official data on it so am a bit worried. Utrecht is one of my top choices and I would really like to get in XD 

7 minutes ago, labradoodle said:

I'm so sorry you're going through this! As I'm assuming you're applying internationally to Utrecht, I just wanted to say that the April 15 vibe/or any other date that is nationally held on to in such a way, isn't really a thing in the Netherlands, and (speaking from a different university but in the same country) while I heard back in a somewhat timely fashion when I applied, I have heard from international students that they heard back much later. Just wanted to emphasize that things can sometimes be quite slow at Dutch universities in this respect, so that you know what process you're in (especially since national and international application deadlines tend to be quite different). You should definitely just contact them when you don't hear anything, though. Finally, the month of may is fulllll of holiday weeks as well as many public holidays, so everything is extra scattered - if you are still busy contacting them in June, you'll probably have much more luck. Just to provide some context if you're an international applicant! And good luck! ☺️

(not to diminish that this is an awful thing for them to do, I just thought some context might help your anxieties a little)

 

[labradoodle]

16 minutes ago, genderwaitinglist said:

Thank you for your comment! It did make me feel better and helped me understand the process in NL. I am just really stressed out right now. Hopefully they do let me know by May end! BTW what do you think about the acceptance rates at Utrecht University for an international student at master's level? I haven't been able to find official data on it so am a bit worried. Utrecht is one of my top choices and I would really like to get in XD 

 

I have no idea, to be honest. I'm assuming you're going for a research master in gender studies? My experiences with research master programmes in general are that if you meet the criteria and show in your application that this is the right programme for you, they will generally accept you. I've heard of some people being declined, but I feel they accept most candidates. However, that is at a different university and at a different programme, and while there isn't really a "this university is more prestigious/harder to get into than another" going on in NL I do feel like the gender programme in Utrecht specifically is quite prestigious, so it might be a little harder. Generally, though, I don't feel like Dutch MA programmes are as much of a gamble as they are in the US, but that's just vague impressions, and might also be based on my experience as a non-international student, which apparently does help.

Edited May 17, 2021 by labradoodle

[geumdongi]

1 minute ago, labradoodle said:

I have no idea, to be honest. I'm assuming you're going for a research master in gender studies? My experiences with research master programmes in general are that if you meet the criteria and show in your application that this is the right programme for you, they will generally accept you. I've heard of some people being declined, but I feel they accept most candidates. However, that is at a different university and at a different programme, and while there isn't really a "this university is more prestigious/harder to get into than another" going on in NL I do feel like the gender programme in Utrecht specifically is quite prestigious, so it might be a little harder. 

Ah.... I see...I guess I should've done my research and applied to some more colleges because I didn't realize it would be this hard...I've applied to only super-competitive and hard colleges this time around... and been waitlisted at two places, so it has been stressful. I should've applied to a less competitive place too. I thought Utrecht was the safe choice. Ahaha.....

[labradoodle]

Just now, genderwaitinglist said:

Ah.... I see...I guess I should've done my research and applied to some more colleges because I didn't realize it would be this hard...I've applied to only super-competitive and hard colleges this time around... and been waitlisted at two places, so it has been stressful. I should've applied to a less competitive place too. I thought Utrecht was the safe choice. Ahaha.....

Oh I definitely think it's relatively safe! I've mainly heard a lot of good things about the programme so that's why I'm assuming it might be a bit competitive, but many Dutch MA programmes don't even have selection for Dutch students, and the handful that do are just selecting to see if you're a good fit, so I don't think it's super-competitive in international terms, if that makes sense!

[geumdongi]

7 minutes ago, labradoodle said:

Oh I definitely think it's relatively safe! I've mainly heard a lot of good things about the programme so that's why I'm assuming it might be a bit competitive, but many Dutch MA programmes don't even have selection for Dutch students, and the handful that do are just selecting to see if you're a good fit, so I don't think it's super-competitive in international terms, if that makes sense!

Oh, that makes me feel immensely better! Thank you  I really hope I get in...