hobokennojokin Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 What would you all say is the best approach to being waitlisted? I've read a couple of threads suggesting an email to someone in the department.. what would you all reccomend? Emailing the coordinator? Sitting on your hands and waiting? Kidnapping accepted students?... (kidding)
newms Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 It's a good idea I think to email the coordinator and/or your POI to let them know that you are still very interested in the program. If there was any new information that could help your application (such you had a paper be accepted) then it would be good to let them know that. Good luck!
jordanami Posted March 2, 2011 Posted March 2, 2011 I think I would contact as well. Depending on the personality of the department you're applying to (casual, helpful, etc.), I might also ask where I sat on the wait list, because if you're near the top, you'll probably get in. What would you all say is the best approach to being waitlisted? I've read a couple of threads suggesting an email to someone in the department.. what would you all reccomend? Emailing the coordinator? Sitting on your hands and waiting? Kidnapping accepted students?... (kidding)
fall-11 Posted March 2, 2011 Posted March 2, 2011 I have a variation of this question -- I haven't heard anything from a program that has been notifying (both accepts & rejects) since 2 weeks ago. I'm hoping that means I'm on an unofficial waitlist or something. But is it a bad idea to email and ask? How long should I wait before asking? Thanks.
A_Murphy Posted March 2, 2011 Posted March 2, 2011 I have a variation of this question -- I haven't heard anything from a program that has been notifying (both accepts & rejects) since 2 weeks ago. I'm hoping that means I'm on an unofficial waitlist or something. But is it a bad idea to email and ask? How long should I wait before asking? Thanks. I'm in the same boat. Deadline was 12/1, first gradcafe result from the school was 2/11, and I haven't heard anything. I broke down and e-mailed them yesterday--nothing. Now I saw that someone else was rejected today. It's like we're in Grad School Gitmo--we can't be on the waitlist if they won't acknowledge that we exist!
Bumble Posted March 2, 2011 Posted March 2, 2011 I was put on the wait list and called up to the department asking about rankings etc... They were very nice and helpful! I would just call and make sure you give a good impression on the phone. The person I spoke with was on the admissions committee for my program
fall-11 Posted March 2, 2011 Posted March 2, 2011 It's like we're in Grad School Gitmo--we can't be on the waitlist if they won't acknowledge that we exist! Ha ha, after reading that I noticed that your field is criminology But that's a really apt analogy!
joops Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 I have a variation of this question -- I haven't heard anything from a program that has been notifying (both accepts & rejects) since 2 weeks ago. I'm hoping that means I'm on an unofficial waitlist or something. But is it a bad idea to email and ask? How long should I wait before asking? Thanks. I don't think it's a bad idea to send a quite email as long as it's super polite.
everygirl Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 I'm bumping this thread because I was hoping others had replies. I was waitlisted at my top choice and I want to email the director of grad studies. His email didn't say anything about a rank, so I don't know how far down I am on the list. If I'm really down there, I know the waitlist is an implicit rejection. If so, I'd just like to know now so I can move on. Anyway, if anyone's sent an email, is it kosher to say that this school is my top choice and I'd accept an offer of admission immediately? I think I should state my enthusiasm for the program, but I don't want to sound too pushy...
siue16171617 Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 I'm bumping this thread because I was hoping others had replies. I was waitlisted at my top choice and I want to email the director of grad studies. His email didn't say anything about a rank, so I don't know how far down I am on the list. If I'm really down there, I know the waitlist is an implicit rejection. If so, I'd just like to know now so I can move on. Anyway, if anyone's sent an email, is it kosher to say that this school is my top choice and I'd accept an offer of admission immediately? I think I should state my enthusiasm for the program, but I don't want to sound too pushy... Emailing the DGS won't hurt anything. Making it onto the waitlist is, in my opinion, a huge compliment, not a rejection! Usually, depending on your field and the particular school, hundreds of people get rejected, a handful get waitlisted, and a handful get offers. Most likely you were in the top 10% of applicants, but office politics meant it was someone else's turn to get a grad student. Send the email and say you would love to go to school there, etc. etc. I got waitlisted at a top program, and into two other ones. I was told I was first in line should someone decline an offer. I visited the two other schools, fell in love with one of them, and moved on with my life before April. Haven't regretted it for a second. everygirl 1
everygirl Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Emailing the DGS won't hurt anything. Making it onto the waitlist is, in my opinion, a huge compliment, not a rejection! Usually, depending on your field and the particular school, hundreds of people get rejected, a handful get waitlisted, and a handful get offers. Most likely you were in the top 10% of applicants, but office politics meant it was someone else's turn to get a grad student. Send the email and say you would love to go to school there, etc. etc. Thanks for the words! I feel almost better. Well, maybe a fifth of gin would be good about now, but still better...
alyss Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 My wait list letter said to contact the department asap to let them know if I was still interested in the program if a spot opens up. So I'd say its a good idea just to let the program know
kjhfcgj Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 I'm not sure if I've been wait-listed at my top choice, but I'm assuming that I have since I haven't heard anything, and there's been no change in my application status online. I'm considering emailing the department. I was recently offered and have accepted two great summer internships that are relevant to the program I applied to. Should I mention this when I email the department about my status? And if so, what would be a good way to tie it in to the email? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
glj Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 Absolutely email... I hadn't heard anything from my top choice and was starting to get antsy (today marks 1 month since my interview and I had heard nothing). So, I emailed my POI to follow up from the interview. I was then told by another faculty member that I had been wait listed and that he was more interested in taking me on as a student than my POI had been (on my personal statement I had actually listed 3 potential POIs and was assigned to interview with one that, apparently, was not a good fit). I told him I would definitely be interested in working with him and his research is more like what I'm currently doing anyway. So, the moral of the story is that by emailing someone, not only did I 1) get news that I would not have gotten otherwise, but I also may have 2) improved my chances of getting in overall by hearing from a faculty member that is more interested and communicating reciprocal interest. Really, I can't imagine it would hurt to email. The worst it does is show that you're interested enough to hassle them. As other posters said, just be sure to be polite!
kittyfan523 Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 One of my interviewers told me he was on the admissions committee, should I email him and ask him to keep me updated on the status of my wait list situation?
alyss Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 One of my interviewers told me he was on the admissions committee, should I email him and ask him to keep me updated on the status of my wait list situation? I know my wait list notification said I'd be told at the latest mid-April if I was off the waiting list. If they didn't give you any type of timeline then I'd say email with maybe when you'd find out, I feel like that couldn't hurt. They probably know everyone's getting a bit antsy as it gets later in the year.
kittyfan523 Posted March 25, 2011 Posted March 25, 2011 I heard about it over the phone. I called the admissions office and the person told me my application was wait listed and I should hear back in mid April... I forgot to ask him if there was anything further that I should do. I know my wait list notification said I'd be told at the latest mid-April if I was off the waiting list. If they didn't give you any type of timeline then I'd say email with maybe when you'd find out, I feel like that couldn't hurt. They probably know everyone's getting a bit antsy as it gets later in the year.
ra4681 Posted March 28, 2011 Posted March 28, 2011 I'm desperate to feel in control of my wait-list status. I scoped out the four people who were offered admission (I know, sort of crazy) to find out at least one of them plans on during down the offer to my top choice. I had previously learned in phone conversation that the wait-list is made up of three possible candidates. Should I be emailing a previous contact at the school to let them know that I'm still interested? Contact another faculty member to express my interest in their work? I feel like I've come too close to do nothing! Advice?
everygirl Posted March 29, 2011 Posted March 29, 2011 I'm desperate to feel in control of my wait-list status. I scoped out the four people who were offered admission (I know, sort of crazy) to find out at least one of them plans on during down the offer to my top choice. I had previously learned in phone conversation that the wait-list is made up of three possible candidates. Should I be emailing a previous contact at the school to let them know that I'm still interested? Contact another faculty member to express my interest in their work? I feel like I've come too close to do nothing! Advice? Is the waitlist you're on ranked? If so, there's not much of a point in emailing, because they're just going to go down the list. If an acceptable amount of short, polite emails makes you feel better, go for it -- because even mildly annoying them won't change your status. From what I've heard, the number you're assigned is final... I do know how you feel though -- getting waitlisted at your top choice is maddening. THIS close. I've emailed the DGS, I went to the grad student conference, visited the school... all things that made me feel better, but I know these things don't change my number. Just keep hanging in there. Any waitlist is better than a rejection.
animelover1 Posted March 29, 2011 Posted March 29, 2011 I am on 3 schools waitlists, and I still haven't heard from Akron U. Does that mean that I am likely to get into a school? And if I do get accepted into a school how soon do they notify you? Does anyone know how soon they notify you if they accept you off the waitlist? Is it soon after April 14, or do they wait until May?
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