what does this mean?

[hurrah]

So, against the admonitions of my SO who is reminding me that notifications will happen when schools want them to happen and not when I want them, I broke down and called the department office of one of my schools today. I was expecting the quick and formulaic response ("You will be notified by the end of March. Goodbye!") but instead the woman asked my first and last name, then put me on hold for a long time. Then she said I would hear by the end of February. What, if anything, can I figure out from this? I guess I just don't get why she had to look something up about me; I feel like that has to have some (positive or negative) significance. And yes, I am fully aware that this process has caused me to lose my mind.

[Kathiza]

So before you read this, be aware that I'm an international student and I have no idea of how this whole process works...

But I think, this either means you are not one of the students who got rejected right away (because they didn't meet the minimum requirements, because they didn't have a chance etc.). Or - in case your department/program does this: It could also mean that you are not one of the applicants who got an early acceptance (if there are already acceptances at this program/school).

Either way, I think you are still in the run. Good luck and don't freak out!

[newms]

It's possible that the person on the phone was just checking to make sure all your documents were received and that your application was in order and/or checking when the adcomm would review the applications. In either case, I think it means that you're still in the running and that you should look out for a response by the end of the month.

Edited February 3, 2011 by newms

[hurrah]

Thanks, guys! I think (and hope) you're both right.

[communications13]

Your SO and newms are right!

[UFGator]

Keep your chin up! It's not an out right rejection

[hurrah]

Am I the only one who has fallen into the "call and ask" trap? It's so pointless... yet so very, very tempting. There are people on the results board who say they were notified over the phone after calling, but that just doesn't seem plausible to me....

[TheOtherJake]

It's kind of like when you're waiting for a package and you check the status over and over again. It doesn't make the package move any faster.

Watched pot never boils situation, you know. Then again, I'm so bad at cooking I burn water.

Am I the only one who has fallen into the "call and ask" trap? It's so pointless... yet so very, very tempting. There are people on the results board who say they were notified over the phone after calling, but that just doesn't seem plausible to me....

[OnceAndFutureGrad]

I guess I just don't get why she had to look something up about me; I feel like that has to have some (positive or negative) significance.

While I concur with other posts about watched pots never boiling (potted watches don't either, btw), I will submit that last time around, after a slew of rejections, I got an email from my (now current) MA's program assistant asking me to clarify something on my application.

I freaked out, thinking that I had ruined my chances by misreading a question on the application.

But then it occurred to me that if they were asking, my application was on someone's desk instead of the trash can. Sure enough, I was at the top of the waitlist and then accepted (they only took one person!). So while I stand by others' suggestion not to think too hard about it, I know you will anyway (we all do...) and I just wanted to pass that along.

[diggergurl]

I called one school and by phone they told me I"d been rejected and would be getting formal letter soon. 3 days later, still no letter but my POI did confirm by email that was the case. Called the other school I applied to and my call was treated very well. Found out that 1st round decisions hadn't yet been made, would be done next week, then the winnowing would begin and that I should expect to hear something by the end of Feb. While not positive per se, at least I'm still in the running so far as I know. I'd emailed my POI there before making the call without any response, so that was making me pretty nervous. Has anyone else ever emailed their POI and not received a response and stll been admitted, I wonder??? Should I take that as a bad sign??