Why the bloody hell was I rejected from this school?

[euges429]

.

[hotcupofjava]

I think details like the exact program could matter. Maybe it's a field that wants a quantitative approach and so wants his experience/coursework?

[rising_star]

You could try contacting the school and asking them why they rejected you.

[euges429]

Let's call this University M. A social sciences program, Ph.D.

Four people, including myself, went to their campus visits/interviews last week. All four were short-listed candidates, and after this meeting, the faculty would make their decisions. (They said they were only making two offers of the four.)

I was rejected, found out today. I seriously don't know why. I already have one publication in the bottom-of-top-tier journal, lots of research experience, and a Master's degree from an Ivy League. I found out that this other guy got accepted. ACCEPTED! His profile? Straight from undergrad, from a technology institute. Not like MIT or CalTech, but more like Illinois Institute of Technology, which isn't a anywhere near a strong research-intensive university as my Ivy League. He has no publications whatsoever!

Seriously, HOW THE HELL WAS I REJECTED FROM UNIVERSITY M??? It absolutely astounds me. Okok, I wasn't boasting my Ivy League M.A. at the interview, I wasn't. I guess, maybe it's because this other guy was wearing a suit, I didn't. But could something so superficial have made all the difference?

University M rejecting me isn't what's bugging me, really it's not. What's bugging me is that this school accepted him and not me.

*** I apologize if I offend anyone from the Illinois Institute of Technology. It was not my intent. I was trying to make a point about research-intensive schools. Apologies. ***

I should also note that I was always in touch with one of the profs at University M. When she first called me to invite me to the campus visit, she said "there was very strong support for your application." Our research interests are pretty much the same! So add this to all above, I'm not really sure why I was rejected.

[nertperson]

Hey, now. I'm sure you're a perfectly nice person but this post sounds pretty darn arrogant. Having been involved in research at boring public universities and at an elite big name school, I can tell you that I don't particularly value Ivy reputations.

That said, you don't know this other guy's background. Maybe he cured cancer/invented cold fusion/whatever and was too humble to rub it in your face.

Or, maybe the Magic Admissions Dart hit his application. Who knows. But why be a sore loser? You've already been accepted elsewhere, enjoy your success!

[euges429]

Hey, now. I'm sure you're a perfectly nice person but this post sounds pretty darn arrogant. Having been involved in research at boring public universities and at an elite big name school, I can tell you that I don't particularly value Ivy reputations.

That said, you don't know this other guy's background. Maybe he cured cancer/invented cold fusion/whatever and was too humble to rub it in your face.

Or, maybe the Magic Admissions Dart hit his application. Who knows. But why be a sore loser? You've already been accepted elsewhere, enjoy your success!

True.

This isn't one of my top choices anyway. =) So, like I said, I don't give a damn whether they rejected me or not. I'm just really curious about the admissions committee's decision-making processes. There was one other person there in our campus visit who's a GENIUS -- she got accepted everywhere, Stanford, Chicago, Harvard, she applied to all the Ivy Leagues and others and got all offers except for one. Not sure if she got accepted though.

[xnormajeanx]

It's probably because you had a really bad attitude!

[pointedears]

University M rejecting me isn't what's bugging me, really it's not. What's bugging me is that this school accepted him and not me.

I guess you should just move on if it's not bugging you.

[euges429]

I guess you should just move on if it's not bugging you.

Oh, I have. I just want to whine a bit, before I need to grow up for grad school. =)

[anewtypedude]

Maybe he has better people skills, or maybe he sold himself better during the interview. Disregarding other criterion for now, one thing is for sure--he kicked your ass during that interview

[euges429]

Maybe he has better people skills, or maybe he sold himself better during the interview. Disregarding other criterion for now, one thing is for sure--he kicked your ass during that interview

Yeah, he did.

I kicked ass at other interviews at other schools, however! Oh well. LIFE...

[LaraAnn85]

Maybe that other person worked with Professor X's advisor/friend/lover, you never know. Maybe that person had better LORs, closer research match, nice eyes :?:

[euges429]

Maybe that other person worked with Professor X's advisor/friend/lover, you never know. Maybe that person had better LORs, closer research match, nice eyes :?:

He did have nice eyes!

[anewtypedude]

So is that the key to interview success? (Goes and gets an eye job)

[TMP]

LaraAnn85- I have to tell you that I LOVE your decision signature!

[StarvingStudentYeah]

Lara - What program at ASU are you considering?

Have you been to campus yet?

[ColaHaha]

Hey, seriously, some superficial things actually matter in the admission process. According to an old professor of mine, plenty of our alumni whose stats were nothing competitive got accepted at ivy grad schools because their appearance stood out, like they looked nice at the interview, they were approachable and good at making conversations, etc.

[madcalicojack]

The fact that you are so incredulous may be telling. It is okay to feel disappointed, but your anger is misplaced. Your stats got you into that group of 4. After that, they are looking for someone they want to spend several years in close contact with. They may have simply liked being around the other guy better and there is nothing unfair about that. If your original post is an indication of your attitude in general, I can't say I blame them. It's a tough break. I'm sure you'll be as successful anywhere else you choose to go. But keep in mind that as a grad student you'll be around others as brilliant and qualified as you are. You'd best get over thinking yours doesn't stink.

[LaraAnn85]

LaraAnn85- I have to tell you that I LOVE your decision signature!

Hahaha! Thanks! Gotta keep it bright and cheery right? Now can you tell me which one to choose? :roll: :mrgreen:

[madcalicojack]

Hahaha! Thanks! Gotta keep it bright and cheery right? Now can you tell me which one to choose? :roll: :mrgreen:

I've done two undgrad degrees at ASU (polisci and mechE) It's a good school. The weather is great, the campus is fairly nice, and Tempe has a pretty cool vibe. The president is kind of crazy with the whole "New American University" thing, but he has brought a lot of research money to the campus. (If you want any of that money, make sure to attach "bio-" to the front of any proposal titles.) I'd say the only real drawbacks are the "party school" stigma (which is starting to fade) and the ridiculously large student body which the university is aggressively trying to increase.

Overall, If they have a good program in your research focus, I'd recommend ASU if you don't mind studying on a large campus.

[LaraAnn85]

I've done two undgrad degrees at ASU (polisci and mechE) It's a good school. The weather is great, the campus is fairly nice, and Tempe has a pretty cool vibe. The president is kind of crazy with the whole "New American University" thing, but he has brought a lot of research money to the campus. (If you want any of that money, make sure to attach "bio-" to the front of any proposal titles.) I'd say the only real drawbacks are the "party school" stigma (which is starting to fade) and the ridiculously large student body which the university is aggressively trying to increase.

Overall, If they have a good program in your research focus, I'd recommend ASU if you don't mind studying on a large campus.

Hey thanks for that! I did my undergrad at UCSD, so I'm used to a fairly big campus but nothing like ASU. I really liked the program and faculty, wasn't blown away by the area and school though. It was like 85 degrees in February, that would definitely be an adjustment. I guess I'll either be hating the summers in Arizona or the winters in Indiana, pick your poison I guess. I haven't gotten funding offers from any except for Houston, I bet they will be fairly similar though. It's a hard thing to decide!

[ahug030]

Now can you tell me which one to choose? :roll: :mrgreen:

Purdue cause the name sounds so good

[madcalicojack]

Hey thanks for that! I did my undergrad at UCSD, so I'm used to a fairly big campus but nothing like ASU. I really liked the program and faculty, wasn't blown away by the area and school though. It was like 85 degrees in February, that would definitely be an adjustment. I guess I'll either be hating the summers in Arizona or the winters in Indiana, pick your poison I guess. I haven't gotten funding offers from any except for Houston, I bet they will be fairly similar though. It's a hard thing to decide!

I guess I should have mentioned the soul-stifling summer heat. 85 in February is abnormal, but 113 in July is par for the course. The summer heat is truly miserable, but so is the winter cold just about anywhere else that isn't California or Florida. We have 8-9 months of truly gorgeous winter, and if you need to scratch an itch for snow, Flagstaff is 2.5 hrs. up the road.