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Posted

Random question, trying to gauge what the usual amount of contact is with faculty/students after receiving an offer?

From 2 schools I received emails from 1 POI whereas from another I have received emails from three faculty members and a student. Just wondering.

Posted

Well, I just got the Stanford rejection, so it definitely looks staggered! Fingers crossed for waitlists for the rest of you though.

Posted

No Stanford email for me either... perhaps it's a waitlist on its way?

Perhaps. I'd take a wait list from Stanford, no question.

Posted

Perhaps. I'd take a wait list from Stanford, no question.

For sure. I mean we have people here (on gradcafe) who got into Stanford and other great schools. The chances are high that someone will decline the offer.

Posted

Well, I just got the Stanford rejection, so it definitely looks staggered! Fingers crossed for waitlists for the rest of you though.

Hm well I guess I will be probably rejected in a few minutes. I just wish it was a mass email.

Posted

No Stanford email for me either... perhaps it's a waitlist on its way?

Does Stanford even keep a waiting list? Never heard that

According to the result search record, it took Stanford 2 days to reject all applicants. The earliest rejection was dates Feb.3 2011, while another post with side note "-Balderdash" had the rejection dated Feb.4 2011.

Or maybe the staff there just went lunch and will come back to screw the rest later.

Posted

The earliest rejection was dates Feb.3 2011, while another post with side note "-Balderdash" had the rejection dated Feb.4 2011.

I was abroad last year, so I think I woke up the next morning and posted it. But it certainly looks staggered, so I'm expecting a rejection.

Posted

If Emory had their interviews last weekend should the results not be out at this point too? Has anybody heard anything??

Emory said that the final results would be out late this week or early next at the latest, so I would say sit tight--news is on its way.

Posted

I'm going to claim a Cornell (theory) offer. But is this true about Yale? I didn't see *any* theory admits on the results board....

What kind of theory? And are you going to the admit weekend?

Posted

Perhaps. I'd take a wait list from Stanford, no question.

I think I'd rather take a rejection. You really couldn't make any plans or commitments until April and it would be stressful as all hell for just a small chance at admission.

Posted

I think I'd rather take a rejection. You really couldn't make any plans or commitments until April and it would be stressful as all hell for just a small chance at admission.

I understand, but at this point, it would be comforting to know that I at least am not totally stupid for applying to top programs. Still having not heard anything back from anyone, but MIT, it is becoming kind of difficult to gauge the strength of my application.

Posted

I agree with you in principle, and being part of the process this year, certainly hate the uncertainty.

Just to clarify, I meant that a larger pool of test takers will (in your example) reduce c - as there is more data to compare against an applicants score, the value of c will tend towards 0 (assuming that the shift in format did not structurally weaken the test) - as the test is tested (pun intended!)

I contend is that while the test has predictive value, there is little if any predictive value by score. I see it as a 0 or 1 outcome. If you put time in to the process, spend lots of time studying etc then you'll get a score that triggers a signal (a 1), else 0. Schools see this and see it as the signal being sent. (As there is strong evidence that intelligence and GRE score are not nessecarily linked) - it is precisely the disaggregation of this signal (time spent preparing, dedication, tenacity etc) that could prove predictive.

This is what leads me to believe there are other factors at play this season. From what I've heard (second hand admittedly), the GRE just isnt given that much weight: a popular phrase I"ve heard is: "A great GRE score won't get you in to a program, but a poor one will probably keep you out"

Does your experience differ?

Either way - it looks like the process is almost over, and I wish you the best of luck as it comes to a close!

Justin

Yes, my experience differs; my own GRE quant score is low enough that I should not be getting in anywhere, and yet I am.

I have no idea what weights they assign to what and at which school, though I can certainly say that whoever admitted me looked well and above past mere test scores...

Which, by the way, is totally fine by me.

Posted (edited)

Yes, my experience differs; my own GRE quant score is low enough that I should not be getting in anywhere, and yet I am.

I have no idea what weights they assign to what and at which school, though I can certainly say that whoever admitted me looked well and above past mere test scores...

Which, by the way, is totally fine by me.

I wasn't trying to sound callous, my argument was that the GRE is only a signal, and not predictive beyond that. I think you are case in point - you may have a lowish quant score, but it's being compensated for. A lot of the GRE comes down to circumstances (a stressful, timed test, taken once is not a very good indicator in my opinion), and other parts of applications can make up for it.

Congrats on the acceptances!

Justin

Edited by Jwnich1
Posted

Tough going to the most recent Stanford rejection. Perfect GPA and GRE obviously isn't enough for an offer, but still...

Posted (edited)

I wasn't trying to sound callous, my argument was that the GRE is only a signal, and not predictive beyond that. I think you are case in point - you may have a lowish quant score, but it's being compensated for.

Congrats on the acceptances!

Justin

Sorry--didn't take your statement callously at all. Was just providing an experience outside what I imagine is the norm.

My own experience of the GRE has proven little: I've had first-hand experience with students who have received perfect to near-perfect scores only to be dissapointed out of my skull, while I know some students who didn't score as highly but whose imaginative qualities thrust them to the very fore of the discipline. Of course, I've met brilliant people who have done handsomely on the exam--but there simply is no correlate between the two beyond the amount of time and effort you put in to study, as you mentioned.

What I think the GRE thus "signals" is what the rest of your application tries to show--that you're serious about committing yourself to an effort that will draw you into the field. In this sense, I think you are correct, and only the extreme values of the data spread will have serious impact on admissions. Last year, I know a student who had perfect scores--he was admitted into top programs long before other students--he attributes this purely to the "shock and awe" value of his scores. Whether he is right or not I cannot say, though TOP score seems to launch you to the top of the pile. As far as my personal history, however, a seemingly terrible score does not seem to be the death-knell of my grad career.

Edited by wmplax
Posted

Tough going to the most recent Stanford rejection. Perfect GPA and GRE obviously isn't enough for an offer, but still...

Relatedly, since we've had multiple suggestions on amusing ways to bide your time waiting for a ping in your inbox, does anyone have suggestions on quick ways to boost your ego and get a pick-me-up (aside from blaring "Eye of the Tiger" and doing your best Rocky impression, for those of us whiling away with no privacy in cubicles all day)?

Posted

If Emory had their interviews last weekend should the results not be out at this point too? Has anybody heard anything??

Dr. Staton emailed a couple of days ago to say that decisions for Emory will go out today or at the beginning of next week. They are just waiting to hear back on how much funding they have available/how many offers they can make initially. Hope that helps!

Posted

Someone was accepted to Stanford just now?

EDIT: Make that two. I think the all-at-once hypothesis has been officially rejected.

Wow. Madness.

Posted (edited)

WOW... a Harvard acceptance too

congrats to the Stanford, Harvard and ND acceptances!

my inbox is still empty :(

Edited by swisschocolate
Posted (edited)

Relatedly, since we've had multiple suggestions on amusing ways to bide your time waiting for a ping in your inbox, does anyone have suggestions on quick ways to boost your ego and get a pick-me-up (aside from blaring "Eye of the Tiger" and doing your best Rocky impression, for those of us whiling away with no privacy in cubicles all day)?

I suggest making a list of all the ways in which you are awesome (such as, for example, the victory you helped land in intramural soccer in 10th grade, the really cute guy/girl who kept calling you that one time, your ability to cook amazing juevos rancheros, your kick-ass library - anything cool as long as it's unrelated to your "qualifications" as an applicant to the programs you're waiting to hear from). Write the list out on a piece of paper, and then turn the piece of paper into a hat. Wear the hat of your awesomeness while checking emails.

Edit: if you don't have any privacy in the cubicle, perhaps just visualize the hat.

Edited by saltlakecity2012

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