An odd situation, want opinions/guidance.

[nyanko]

Hi, so I'm going to make this a bit short and sweet. This year, I applied to a DVM (Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine) program as well as a Genetics PhD program here at UC Davis. Both are related to my future goals. Well, I didn't get into the Genetics PhD and I did get an interview for the DVM but ultimately was not accepted. I'm more than a little bit unimpressed with these results, but they're necessary to lead into my question. Now, the Genetics PhD got back to me in February, but nobody answered my response e-mail to ask about things I could do to improve or whether an MS admission was feasible until the end of March. I also heard back from the vet school about having gotten an interview in February, but did not get my rejection email until (again) the end of March. So at this point, I realized that I am probably aiming slightly too high with my lackluster GPA (I messed up my first 2 years in college pretty badly) and I contacted the school about possibly starting an MS in the Fall in Animal Biology. I was told, at the end of March, that if I had a PI mildly interested in taking me on that it was still not too late to apply for the Fall.

At this point I contacted a professor who I'd gone back and forth with a little bit, and she spoke with me briefly about it via email and then disappeared for 3 weeks, putting me at the end of April. I was just about losing hope at this point when she emailed me again and told me to come by her office. Well, she has 2 projects that she is interested in putting me on, so I have a professor who will take me, great. I asked the graduate coordinator if I could still apply to the program and she said yes, so I sent in the application at the end of April, 2 days after I had the professor's interest confirmed. All of my application materials (I had to ask my rec letter writers to re-submit, though my GRE scores and transcripts automatically uploaded from my Genetics PhD application) were submitted by Monday of this week (May 5).

So I guess I have a few questions. First, has anyone gone through anything like this before (super late application due to odd circumstances but having a professor willing to work with you)? Second, am I being overly paranoid in still feeling like I'm somehow going to get rejected from this? Third, if you've been in a situation like this, how long does it usually take for them to get back to you? I'm so nervous and worried that I wasted all this effort and the $60 it cost me to submit the application...and to top it all off I have a job offer for a really good job that I'd take in a second, except I may be going to grad school in the Fall. Would it be completely out of the question and/or overly rude or pushy to call the admissions counselor and ask about when I can expect a decision?

[Minnesotan]

Five days is not enough time between mailing supporting documents and pestering the department.

[nyanko]

Well TECHNICALLY the supporting documents were all received and updated in their system by May 5, not mailed by May 5, but you're probably right regardless.

I'm just so over this whole process after the ordeal with vet school admissions (September to March is a long time over which to stretch the process!).

[rising_star]

I would give them at least two weeks with the materials. Isn't it like mid-quarter anyways? Could be a busy time for them...

[Minnesotan]

What she said.

I realize you're anxious, and it's good to stay on top of things, but at the same time you do not want to seem overly needy. I've heard a couple of people tell stories about how their anxious phone calls twice a week might have landed them in the rejection pile.

[hannah]

I have read so many of Minnesotan's posts. VERY wise. I wish I had read them last fall, too, because I would have done better applications, esp SOP. This is like the end of the term at every university, and professors are all doing final exams and term papers and grades. DO give them time to reconsider your possibilities and your flexibility and resiliency. It is probably very hard to schedule meetings just now because of all this.

[nyanko]

Thanks for your responses everyone.

You're all right obviously. It's the middle of the quarter here since UCD is on the quarter system, and they have to get all the committee members together which I realize is probably hard at this point. I will wait at least another week or two to call and ask about a status update. Just gotta find something to occupy my time until then....

Persona 3 FES, that's right.

[Minnesotan]

Thesis work makes for a good distraction. If only I had stressed out a bit less during this process, mine would have been done by now. =)

Anyway, good luck. I think you should feel fairly confident, since programs rarely allow you to move your application around like that unless they like you. You can take heart in that (though nothing, of course, is guaranteed in this business).

[nyanko]

I just wanted to follow up on this since I posted it, to say that I did get into the MS program. I was notified about 2 weeks ago. Thanks for keeping me a little bit less obsessive, everyone.

[anese]

Congratulations!! This is fantastic news, which sets you firmly along your chosen academic path!