nrk Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 Who else is still waiting on Michigan? I saw from the board that decisions have been made last Weds.? It seems like some people got rejections already so I don't know if no news is good news or not. Also, is there anyone out there planning on declining U Pittsburgh by any chance? I'm waitlisted and the waiting is killing me! I am in the same boat of U pitt. I saw from the board that two more people in the same boat as well. How many applicants are wait-listed on it? But I've heard that there is only one or two vacancy in the contemporary sec. Hopeless....
summertouch Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 I am in the same boat of U pitt. I saw from the board that two more people in the same boat as well. How many applicants are wait-listed on it? But I've heard that there is only one or two vacancy in the contemporary sec. Hopeless.... Yup. One of the waitlist post is mine. What do you mean by one or two vacancy? does that mean one or two people will likely decline their offer and free up some space for us? ah.. I just hate being in limbo.
nrk Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 Yup. One of the waitlist post is mine. What do you mean by one or two vacancy? does that mean one or two people will likely decline their offer and free up some space for us? ah.. I just hate being in limbo. When I nagged, my POI replied, "There are places for just one or two people in the contemporary program each year, so we are waiting on the decision of those to whom we have made an offer." That is why we are on the wait list.
summertouch Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 When I nagged, my POI replied, "There are places for just one or two people in the contemporary program each year, so we are waiting on the decision of those to whom we have made an offer." That is why we are on the wait list. I see. I knew it was a small pool but one or two people..! wow. Good luck for both of us! is Pitt your top choice or are you pondering about elsewhere as well?
Herbie Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 For UNC info, I e-mailed the DGS. I'm unsure if there is a correlation, but one of my POIs e-mailed me earlier today w/ a decision.
artmuse Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 I'm still waiting for three schools! Doesn't that seem kind of crazy this close to April? If I'm on the waitlists then they are being very secretive about it. One of the schools has been completely silent, one won't respond to my emails, and the other only gives vague responses. Anyone else waiting for multiple schools at this point???
summertouch Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 I'm still waiting for three schools! Doesn't that seem kind of crazy this close to April? If I'm on the waitlists then they are being very secretive about it. One of the schools has been completely silent, one won't respond to my emails, and the other only gives vague responses. Anyone else waiting for multiple schools at this point??? I'm still waiting on one school. Also, I'm waiting on another one I'm waitlisted at and then there's another one I'm waiting to hear about funding... In the end, I too am waiting on multiple schools I guess. Ah.... April shall come soon.
BathSheba Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 I'm still waiting for three schools! Doesn't that seem kind of crazy this close to April? If I'm on the waitlists then they are being very secretive about it. One of the schools has been completely silent, one won't respond to my emails, and the other only gives vague responses. Anyone else waiting for multiple schools at this point??? I am waiting on one. After being told that my file is still pending, I emailed for clarification. No response. I agree with you. It seems very late to be still considering apps. I'll just keep telling myself that I am on a list for special people. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy.
Ramblr Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 when is too late for a wait list? i know i received word about 3 weeks ago that i was on one. haven't heard a peep since. would it be appropriate on like april 10th, if i still haven't heard anything, to write and see... like, what are the chances? by they i would expect most people who want to go to that school to say yes. gahhh!!!
violetvivian Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 when is too late for a wait list? i know i received word about 3 weeks ago that i was on one. haven't heard a peep since. would it be appropriate on like april 10th, if i still haven't heard anything, to write and see... like, what are the chances? by they i would expect most people who want to go to that school to say yes. gahhh!!! I am on a wait list and don't expect to hear anything until April 15, or even after. It's a messy process. Maybe the people who haven't accepted offers yet are on wait lists themselves If you haven't asked for clarification yet, it's well within your rights to inquire, and you should! Write a polite email asking if the wait list is ranked, where you stand in that ranking, and how deep they have gone into the wait list in recent years. The DGS at my school was very forthcoming with that information, and it gave me some guidance in how to proceed with my other offers. Ramblr 1
Manette Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 I am on a wait list and don't expect to hear anything until April 15, or even after. It's a messy process. Maybe the people who haven't accepted offers yet are on wait lists themselves If you haven't asked for clarification yet, it's well within your rights to inquire, and you should! Write a polite email asking if the wait list is ranked, where you stand in that ranking, and how deep they have gone into the wait list in recent years. The DGS at my school was very forthcoming with that information, and it gave me some guidance in how to proceed with my other offers. The domino effect! I'd really like to accept my funded offer from school A, but I'm still waiting to hear from two schools. Yet I feel terrible knowing that several people are probably waiting to hear about admission and/or funding from school A - info that would likely come after I accept my offer. Ayaiyai! Ramblr 1
Ramblr Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 (edited) I am on a wait list and don't expect to hear anything until April 15, or even after. It's a messy process. Maybe the people who haven't accepted offers yet are on wait lists themselves If you haven't asked for clarification yet, it's well within your rights to inquire, and you should! Write a polite email asking if the wait list is ranked, where you stand in that ranking, and how deep they have gone into the wait list in recent years. The DGS at my school was very forthcoming with that information, and it gave me some guidance in how to proceed with my other offers. awesome advice, greenpen! thanks. i will do... but on a related note, should i accept another offer? wouldn't that lead to a sticky situation? p.s. and i hear you manette! i've declined a couple offers in hopes that it will bring me good karma; however, I have not said yay or nay to my School A... Awkward!!!! Edited March 24, 2011 by Ramblr
violetvivian Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 You shouldn't accept another offer until you have all your cards in your hand. The agreed-upon decision date is April 15. Give yourself the time to make an informed decision! If a school is pressuring you to give them an answer, let them know that you are very interested in their program but are still waiting on responses. It's a different story if a school looks like it will keep you on hold past April 15 (a possibility). In that case, do accept another offer (if that is your backup option) and you'll deal with the stickiness as gracefully as possible if necessary down the line. And another thing: do NOT feel guilty about taking the time to think on this! You deserve to be as comfortable as possible with this big decision Ramblr 1
Ramblr Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 How did you get to become such a good counselor? thanks!
angieray85 Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 I'm curious, has anyone accepted to Duke decided to decline? I am really feeling the pressure from another school to accept/decline my funding, and my decision all hinges on Duke. The person with admissions couldn't give me any info as to my ranking or chances, so I wondered if I could do a lil detective work...
MadameNon Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Indeed! No BU love for the mesdames. Okay, I take this back. I was accepted! I am completely shocked.
snooze Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Okay, I take this back. I was accepted! I am completely shocked. Congrats!
buttress Posted March 26, 2011 Posted March 26, 2011 Since I saw a few of you waiting for Michigan, here is some info. I received my unofficial admit from my POI last Wednesday and official admit with funding yesterday. The cohort for Michigan is 6 this year. People should be receiving their decisions soon--they invited about 14 to an interview/recruitment weekend (which I did not attend). ERGH. I went to the interview weekend, where they promised us we'd hear one way or the other by last Friday, and I have yet to hear a thing. Total radio silence. No "thanks but no thank," no "waitlist," my online status hasn't changed, and I emailed the DGS (also my POI) yesterday just to check in and have heard nothing. Way to ruin my weekend U of M!!!! Any thoughts on what the heck might be going on here?
amleta Posted March 26, 2011 Posted March 26, 2011 Okay, I take this back. I was accepted! I am completely shocked. Also congrats!
fullofpink Posted March 26, 2011 Posted March 26, 2011 (edited) I must say I have been told rather the opposite: not only is it not a disadvantage to apply to PhD programs without an MA, it is sometimes a disadvantage to get a terminal master's and then apply to the PhD. Many see the MA as a less serious degree (which is why many top programs, you'll notice, don't even offer a terminal masters) and you will be required to explain why you didn't enter into a doctoral program to begin with. Some professors will assume, or suspect, that PhD candidates who already have an MA weren't initially strong enough applicants to go directly into a doctoral program. I would like to stress that this needs to stop being spread around. This is simply not true. Every application is circumstantial and it pertains to the individual and the institution. A PhD is most necessary if you want to pursue academia. Some people initially don't, and just because you want to get a higher degree after two years, work a bit, and then pursue the PhD -- no adcom is going to fault a candidate for it. In fact, no adcom is going to fault someone who thought they wanted a two year degree and then decided to head for a PhD immediately afterwards. I realize this isn't true across the board, but, well, it should be emphasized that applying without an MA under your belt should absolutely not be a hindrance. You should emphasize this more. Edited March 26, 2011 by fullofpink mooncake88 1
zoltan Posted March 27, 2011 Posted March 27, 2011 I would like to stress that this needs to stop being spread around. This is simply not true. Every application is circumstantial and it pertains to the individual and the institution. A PhD is most necessary if you want to pursue academia. Some people initially don't, and just because you want to get a higher degree after two years, work a bit, and then pursue the PhD -- no adcom is going to fault a candidate for it. In fact, no adcom is going to fault someone who thought they wanted a two year degree and then decided to head for a PhD immediately afterwards. You should emphasize this more. Just to weigh in on this... 3 of the 5 people in my first-year cohort already had an MA. Obviously, having an MA means more will be expected of your work and less financial support will likely be offered. Other than that, my understanding it makes no difference unless you lack the coursework in the discipline for which you want to pursue the PhD.
Venus_of_Urbino Posted March 27, 2011 Posted March 27, 2011 Just to weigh in on this... 3 of the 5 people in my first-year cohort already had an MA. Obviously, having an MA means more will be expected of your work and less financial support will likely be offered. Other than that, my understanding it makes no difference unless you lack the coursework in the discipline for which you want to pursue the PhD. I go to UT. People from our MA program regularly go to first tier schools who are thought not to take MAs...or so people say on this site. I think it depends on what work you do at the MA level and where you get your MA. Unfortunately, I think name matters in a lot of cases.
violetvivian Posted March 27, 2011 Posted March 27, 2011 I hope that the ongoing discussion of MA-vs-BA will be helpful to future applicants. It's nice to read so many different perspectives on the topic. I'd like to add something important I learned during this year's cycle. It may seem so obvious, but it's worth noting: there is a difference between applying with a fresh BA (or a soon to be conferred BA) and a BA plus some work experience. This comes straight from the mouth of an Ivy adcom, in my case. Many of the top direct-entry PhD programs note that a MA isn't necessary for admission, which is absolutely true. However, this doesn't mean that they commonly accept students directly out of undergraduate work. "Real world" experience is important (for your application purposes and perhaps also for your sanity)! Although I received a few MA offers this year, I'm taking a non-AH teaching job and plan to apply directly to PhDs again in a few years. Thoughts on this? Did anyone receive similar feedback?
MadameNon Posted March 27, 2011 Posted March 27, 2011 Just to weigh in on this... 3 of the 5 people in my first-year cohort already had an MA. Obviously, having an MA means more will be expected of your work and less financial support will likely be offered. Other than that, my understanding it makes no difference unless you lack the coursework in the discipline for which you want to pursue the PhD. I was offered very generous financial support and I will already have an MA. And this time I was accepted everywhere I applied.
Ramblr Posted March 28, 2011 Posted March 28, 2011 I'd like to add something important I learned during this year's cycle. It may seem so obvious, but it's worth noting: there is a difference between applying with a fresh BA (or a soon to be conferred BA) and a BA plus some work experience. This comes straight from the mouth of an Ivy adcom, in my case. My work experience (in the money making business-oriented art world) was a big topic of my interview and also was discussed after I was admitted into a competitive program with an attractive funding package. I, at least, could not have applied straight out of my BA. I'm in a totally different place after two years of working. Much more positive and clear. violetvivian 1
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